CREATIVITY AND PLAY
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Play is where pure freedom exists and new ideas are born – there are no rules and a lightness infuses all that we do. From this place we discover new things, and invite in possibilities that we didn’t know existed for us.
There are no mistakes to be made and the pressure is off because we are just messing about. Everything is valuable and allowed. We can take big risks, be completely wild and surprise ourselves in the process. And, it’s fun!
For many of us we experienced this type of freedom when we played as children. But at some point, we forget about the value of play and the potential it has in generating creative energy and ideas.
As artists we have a particularly unique relationship to creative play, and we engage with it for several reasons. Often play is a helpful tool to warm ourselves up after a break from our creative work, or before beginning our more formal studio work. For some artists, play is a part of their starting rituals, helping them get in the zone and shaking off some of the daily routines that they’ve had to turn their focus towards.
But there is another, really valuable, reason we need to play as artists…and it is rooted in a more conscious approach to play – play that has a purpose, while remaining uninhibited. Conscious play is a way to innovate and discover what else is possible for us. It’s a very different approach to playing for the pure joy of expressing. It’s more intentional and focused…but only in that we’re looking to discover something through the act of play.
We may begin by setting out some ideas of what we want to play with, and then let things unfold. Afterwards we ask ourselves what we discovered and how might that be useful in our art-making.
These intentional, playful periods unlock parts of ourselves that may have become dormant, stuck or rigid – locked into habitual ways of working. Play loosens us up. It’s an important part of the creative process – and assists us in the further development of our work.
How could you utilize play to help your creative work?
What would help you to feel more able to engage with play? What might you need to let go of? What attitude might help you?
If you were to adopt the belief that play was integral to the development of your work, how might your relationship to play change?
Are there specific areas of your art-making that could benefit from conscious play?
This short version blog post is a part of my Mindset Moment series, an accompanying edition to my bi-monthly blog post. My intention for these Mindset Moments is to speak to some of the common challenges artists face with their creative work, and how a mindset shift can make a difference.
They are short reads, with a suggestion or writing prompt that you can work with…as well as an invitation to join in the conversation, sharing your experience and insights.
You can join the conversation by leaving a comment under this blog post, or on my social media posts. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, wherever you find me.
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