Heartland Play

January 4th, 2009

I hope you are enjoying being playful this month so far! Today, I did some playing by brushing a wet brush on a caran d'ache water soluble pastel and using that to paint intuitively. What came out was this woman holding flowers with her heart outside of her. I brought out the image a little more with ink and colored pencil and I'm calling it "Heartland." It felt good to play and just see what comes out.

If you having trouble getting started with your creativity this month, don't worry too much! We all tend to work in cycles, so instead of beating yourself up when your production level isn't up to where you'd like it, take the down time and play with it! Perhaps you'd like to simply play with no end product in mind! Perhaps you can get down on the floor and literally play with toys, or color a coloring book, or make home-made play-doh. I love seeing the ways you've all been embracing play. I could spend 24 hours per day visiting all of you, but since I need to do my own playing and do things like eat and shower, I can't visit as much as I'd like. But know that I'm cheering you all on and I'll visit as often as I can manage. Please be sure to check out your fellow CED participants (in the sidebar) and see for yourself what everyone is up to. Here's a small sampling of the ways we're getting playful:

Collage Diva, Kathryn is playing with adult-style blocks! Love it!
Dolly has made a simply gorgeous creativity log.
Thalia has created these super cool Artist's blocks (get it? hehe, I love a good pun.)
Shayla is getting playful in her art journal!
Claire has been playing with photoshop among other things!

I hope you've had a wonderfully creative weekend. I've got some fun things lined up for this week, so I'll be "seeing" you soon!

Posted by Leah on January 4th, 2009 in art, blogs, creative every day 2009, creativity, inspiration, intuition, mixed-media, play | Permalink | 12 Comments |

12 Responses

I am creating in my Art Journal every single day! It’s not a burden or a chore but a joy to find myself looking forward to my alone time with my “baby”, my art journal.
Thank you for reminding me to be “Creative Every Day!”
Peace & Love,
~Barb~

Posted by: ~Barb~ | Jan 4, 2009 at 11:58 pm |

Love the painting and the colors you used. I like what you said about working in cycles. I am having a hard time being creative this month. Altho I am knitting a scarf but my painting is sadly not happening right now, but you give me hope that it will all cycle back to me. Thanks.

Posted by: Cris, Artist in Oregon | Jan 5, 2009 at 12:12 am |

oh she’s beautiful… and those are my FAVORITE crayons to use!

Posted by: sheri | Jan 5, 2009 at 3:20 am |

I’ve been creating everyday and now I’ve allso find my word for the year. So doon I’m gonna scrap or journal about my word “ENERGY”

Posted by: Jenny Bergvall | Jan 5, 2009 at 10:06 am |

I have to say that this painting and the Key to Winter (is that the right name?) both have elements that remind me of Frida Kahlo. In this one the heart outside of her that’s connected (although much, much more playful than any of Frida’s paintings!) and the woman holding the key in the other painting, the way she looks out at you and is still connected to the roots underground, these parts remind me of Frida. I like her work though, so this is a good thing. And you’re no where near as freaky as she can get (also a good thing!).

Posted by: Wendy Edsall-Kerwin | Jan 5, 2009 at 10:52 am |

ah, lovely, delightful, sweet!

Posted by: Mary Stebbins Taitt | Jan 5, 2009 at 11:03 am |

Thanks for the reminder. I find I am taking January way too seriously. I’m doing the Portfolio Project too, and finding myself stuck between the process and the product.

At first, the Play theme bothered me, because I wanted this to be the year I finally took it all SERIOUSLY. But maybe Play is what I really need right now.

Posted by: rowena | Jan 5, 2009 at 11:55 am |

hi leah!
what a wonderful post. i love your new painting!
xo
melissa

Posted by: Melissa | Jan 5, 2009 at 1:01 pm |

The prompt you chose really is the best. What’s nice too is having a whole month for it. What you mentioned about creativity cycles is so true, that’s why monthly prompts seem to nourish my creativity more. Plus you know what they say about starting a new habit? Takes 30 days? Well play is got to be an artist’s best habit Thanks, Leah.