Wanting to make but not sure where to begin?
Art is another language, you were making before you could speak, but this may have been halted at some point through your life. This could have been due to a parent who struggled with “mess” just not having access to making materials, or the most common an adult telling you usually with a laugh “well you won’t be an artist”.
Our creativity can also be stopped when we are over corrected through our learning years. We can move into judgment and carry this through our lives. This is not the intention of those around us and can be so so subtle but the impact can result in a lack of trusting your creative abilities and development, stopping play and curiosity in its tracks.
Some ideas for creative expression
Here are some ideas to use to take the stress out of making and ultimately playing. You do not have to use them all take what is helpful and leave what is not. This is the first step to reclaiming your own creative connection.
1. Prepare your space
First preparing your space, I find the environment really helps me when it comes to making and reduces that sticky bit of the brain that is saying “what am I supposed to make” that can lead to “what if it doesn’t turn out right” that can lead to “I’m not good enough so won’t bother”.
This is just fear meet it with kindness the way you would a small child and carry on.
I like a warm space lightly lit with some soothing music, but do explore what works for you. I always put out a range of materials. It can be really helpful to switch material if you start to feel overwhelmed. Simple washable paints pens and crayons work well. Believe or not a pencil can be more intimidating that painting remember this is all about playing.
2. Get comfortable and take a seat
Take a seat, sit on the floor or work up against the wall, play around with this and see how your body feels in each of these positions. Be comfortable so the body can stay relaxed (no constricted stress positions this will heighten those difficult emotions)
Now take some time to close your eyes, take your attention to both hands, can you feel them? Begin to wake them up tapping squeezing, shaking what ever feels good.
3. Choose your materials and begin
Choose some materials and start at the corner of the page any corner. Begin to mark make slowly, if you start to judge yourself shut down the eyes but keep moving across the page.
Switch hands and repeat moving gently and slowly. This may feel strange at first but remember you have trusted both hands all day there is no need to doubt them now.
Keep the breath and body relaxed and remind yourself you’re just playing. Change colours and repeat from a different corner and so on.
This is a warm up exercise, and you may want to try it a few times before building into something bigger.
You can leave it while and come back to it later, try and focus on the process rather than the art for now. Journal the experience and see how this changes over time.
Ultimately be kind and patient with yourself, through practice and compassion you can build grow and make anything your heart desires.
Lots of love,
Becky
If you are still struggling and need some support I offer one off sessions to open up strengthen and build your creative core.
Contact me here and we can arrange a a holding space for your creativity today.
