Today, I’m thinking about the importance of play in art.
I feel pulled in so many different ways on a daily basis. There’s so much to get done – finishing my new course, writing and organizing blog posts, updating my websites (hah!), nevermind painting. And oh yeah, what about fun time, downtime, a balanced life?!
I’m reading a fascinating book called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less which is all about doing more of the right things. This morning, I skipped to the chapter on ‘Play’. Author Greg McKeown defines ‘play’ as, “anything we do simply for the joy of doing rather than a means to an end.”
This brought me to the idea of play in art. I really try to play when I’m in the studio. But most times, I find playing the way McKeown defines it, really difficult to do! I always feel I need to be creating for a reason namely, a successful or not so successful piece. (Okay, let’s be truthful here – I really mean a piece that’s successful everytime!) It’s hard not to worry about messing up and yet as I always tell my student, failure is a good thing!! You grow by learning from things that just don’t work out.
I have that four-letter word up in my studio (given to me by my friend Louise). It’s supposed to remind me to take time to play for heavens sake!
Or should I say:
Okay, that’s more like it.
I haven’t pastelled for what seems like ages, certainly not since making my last YouTube video and that almost doesn’t count. I’m working diligently on my next online course and that’s taken me away from studio time. So today, inspired by McKeown’s chapter on Play, I went into the studio for some playtime – to have fun with colour and the feel of pastel on paper. And I decided to photograph the process so I could show you the outcome. (Of course it was hard NOT to think that there would be an outcome considering I was going to write a blog on the process but I just kept saying, Play Gail, Play!)
So let me take you through my play today.
Here are a couple close-ups:
And the pastels I used:
This was tremendous fun. I got wrapped up in the colour, the mark-making, and trying to make the piece speak. I also began to think about how the viewer’s eye moved through the piece and how to make that flow more easily. I think play is a lot about letting go, of following intuition and desire.
Do you play when you paint? Or are you always thinking of the outcome? What do you think of the importance of play in terms of art-making? I’d love to hear your thoughts around play.
Thanks for joining me on this playful journey 🙂
Until next time,
~ Gail
PS. Click here a great little video of Greg McKeown talking about Essentialism.
PPS. Here’s the book I was telling you about that has a chapter on the importance of play in our lives:
For international buyers:
For Canadian buyers:
8 thoughts on “The Importance Of Play In Art-Making”
Enjoyed your “playtime” and the results. You reminded me that even in a representational painting it helps to turn the painting upside down and just work the shapes and values.
I haven’t done that recently and I will now. I’m heading to my studioette( my small area I paint in at home) to “play like Gail”. Really like those paintings!
Sandi
Thanks Sandi!
Yes, turning a painting upside down is a wonderful way to become a bit detached from it and work on the painting itself – colour, value, shape – especially in a representational painting.
Glad you’re going to go play 🙂
Gail, I am “playing” more too, thanks to having more studio time due to retirement. Challenging myself to use some of those delicious pastels that typically remain in my box because the color is just too vibrant and/or electrifying. Still I struggle as you do, with not ending up with a “finished” painting, it feels like I’m doodling. Need to be reminded that this is okay, thanks for addressing this part of the process. K
Karole it’s wonderful to hear you are playing!! I love to think of all those too vibrant colours. It’s great to challenge yourself by getting out of your comfort zone, in this case with colours. I think from playing can come new ideas, new directions, many discoveries. Sometimes though, it’s just so dang hard to let go and be a kid again 🙂
Gail, thank you so much for this!! I have to get this book! I also have been stuck in the busy-ness of life and feel starved for some studio time! I look forward to all my How to Pastels!!!
Off topic…where do you find your Wallis paper?!!
Becky so glad this helped you along! And it’s a treat to hear you look forward to all the howtopastel blogs 😀
Now go play!!
Wallis paper – I am lucky enough to have a small stash. I really am hesitant to use it but I keep reminding myself, I can always wash it off!
I have not done any “play” work in years. My portrait work is so exacting and takes allot out of me that there is not much left after a session at the easel. I need to let go and release the constant need for perfection.
I love your end result. It Gives me the feeling that I am in a park at night …looking through the trees at the sparkling lights of the city.
Yes Heather, you do such amazing work that is, as you say, pretty exacting. I hope maybe you can give yourself the gift of play once in awhile to explore, have fun and be unattached to the outcome.
Thank you for your lovely comment about the piece. I love the image you see!!