The snow drifts down in soft,
giant flakes outside my window: white puffs against the cool dark blue
of late morning. My mind drifts toward the irresistible temptation of
staying in for the day--perhaps playing with my watercolors in front
of a warm, flickering fire. Ah! The luxury and pleasure of an entire
day of watercolor!
Winter is a great time to
explore creativity. When we relax and allow a meandering hand to make
shapes or lines on paper--even though we may not necessarily produce a
finished painting--we begin to access our naturally brilliant,
creative right brain. We human beings are naturally creative, with the
innate impulse to fearlessly express ourselves in many ways: through
singing, dancing, or artwork.
Many people, however, are robbed
of these natural impulses. Their joyous, expressive natures are
squashed down by authority figures or through peer pressure. And so
they are trained to take the safe, quiet pathway, learning to keep a
low profile. Ruthless competition, disapproval or downright ridicule
may also force people to submerge their brilliance, winnowing out
everyone but the most driven, proficient or "gifted." The
message is often, "Don’t make waves. Protect your defenseless,
creative child-self from further hurt."
In reality, there’s room for
all kinds of expression, from everyone, no matter what level of
ability. In olden times, everyone in the village would get up and move
to the dances learned by heart, or sing the traditional songs. This
happens today in some Native villages, where everyone from age two to
eighty-two dances and sings the ancient songs to the best of his or
her ability. All are welcomed; indeed, all are celebrated. And that’s
the way it should be; no one should be deprived of his or her own joy
of creative expression.
I encourage you, instead of
suppressing your artistic needs, to take a courageous step. Make time
in your busy life for an occasional Saturday or Sunday afternoon of
art recreation. "Recreate" and reclaim that creative part of
yourself that’s waiting patiently for the attention it so richly
deserves. Take advantage of simple art
projects as a playful pathway into other creative endeavors, all of
which can bring untold benefits to you, your family and the world.
Playing means fooling around
with no objective in mind. It means freeing yourself from the need to
achieve a finished painting. Playtime releases stress, increases
happiness, replenishes vitality, and helps us access our creativity in
other areas. The joy of play transports us to a serene place of
restfulness, offering relief from day-to-day anxieties.
The impulse to create images is
an instinctive human quality, for art is our first language. Ancient
cave drawings show that even our distant ancestors felt the impulses
to use art for expression, for inspiration in the hunt, or to
celebrate.
Remember yourself as a child
drawing images on frosty windows, making marks in the sand, or
creating mud sculpture? These actions were your innate creativity at
work, before anyone could disapprove, ridicule or judge you. Sometimes
what cannot be said in words can be expressed in art. So, don’t
deprive yourself of this opportunity! Not sure how to begin? Follow
the suggestions below to help you make the leap to joyful creativity:
First of all, gather your art
supplies on the kitchen table. You can be as elaborate or simple as
you like, perhaps just a pencil, a brush, some inexpensive watercolors
and a pad of paper. Those will do nicely as a beginning.
Now, prepare yourself to use
your mind and body to play with color. The artist Chuck Close made a
giant self-portrait using a grid containing hundreds of his own
thumbprints in a pattern of light and shadow. Prehistoric cave
painters used aerosol blowguns to paint silhouettes of their own
hands. Remember these examples as encouragement to take the leap to
creativity.
Use your brush, but also your
fingers, arms, or elbows! I once saw a man demonstrate
"finger" painting: he used his closed fist, fingers and
fingernails, even his forearm, to make different marks on the paper.
Did your child ever bring home a painting of a turkey at Thanksgiving
time? Maybe it was a handprint, the finger marks as feathers, plus
some details that perfectly captured the spirit of "turkey!"
Try it just to see what happens.
Did you ever study cloud shapes,
or notice the way a snowdrift molds itself to ordinary objects to
create strange and wonderful new creatures? Let yourself open to that
unhurried place in your mind, imagining shapes in the watercolor as
you play.
Try wetting a sheet of paper and
floating pure colors on it, letting them blend and swirl where they
will. Lay it flat to dry, and then study the shapes that emerge when
you tip the paper in different directions. An arresting shape may
suddenly appear as you change your perspective; feel free to develop
the idea with a few brushstrokes or pencil marks.
Above all, don’t be critical
or judgmental towards the art that results from your playtime. Even if
you don’t like what you have produced, don’t be tempted to think
of the time as wasted. The action and process are important here, not
necessarily the product. Remember: you’re honoring and celebrating
your brilliant creativity.
After you’ve spent a snowy
winter afternoon with your watercolor creations, you might resolve to
allow monthly time for art play. It’s essential for a well-rounded
life. Embody that balance by allowing your own creative brilliance to
re-emerge!
Teresa Ascone,
the author of We’re All Artists: Watercolor for Everyone, has
written and illustrated The Berry Fairies of Alaska, now
available. Visit berryfairies.net,
takugraphics.com, or write
her at teresaascone@yahoo.com.
It’s been
nearly two years since I first voiced my desires and made a vow to
fulfill them. Whatever the adjustments and sacrifices, the value and
satisfaction I’ve gained have been well worth it. I’m now walking
six miles a week—an activity denied to me by pain two years ago. I
happily work in the pottery room added to my studio last summer. And
I’ve written and illustrated a fairy tale, The Berry Fairies of Alaska, to be published later this summer by my
company, Alaskan Portfolio. 
When I’m
discouraged, I remind myself that great things never come easily;
there will always be chasms to cross. It helps me to remember that
I’m not alone. I read about other creative people—artists, actors,
novelists, poets—who have faced stumbling blocks of discouragement
and found ways to overcome them.