The Value of Play

9.23.22

I am in a constant battle with myself. I have great ideas for things I would like to make but once I make one, figure out what was in my head, I’m done. My mind shifts to something else and I wander down a new path.


Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone else? I know I am not alone, it just feels that way.

I am at a crucial point in this new adventure with crochet, lace, and art. My first instinct was to make earrings as my primary “product.” My thought was that no two pairs would be alike and I can explore all kinds of different processes, stitches and techniques. All of which is still true. There is a major artistic flaw in this train of thought.

When I am making a product I move into my retail mode and begin thinking more about the end user than about the creative process. This time I am not giving up and trying something new. I must work through this or I will never grow in my art practice. I want to grow. I want to make beautiful, amazing pieces of art that speak to the soul of whomever sees my work.






This morning, I realized there is a vital step in this process that I had totally eliminated: the importance of play. If, in my mind, the earrings are the play then I have set myself up for failure. The product cannot be the the play.


I need to play without any plan or purpose; to be free to try different things just to see what happens. Then, and only then will I be ready to complete a finished piece of art.


I literally put the cart before the horse, which obviously means I’m going nowhere.


What an amazingly obvious revelation.

Play!

I make it a practice to follow a wide variety of artists - primarily textile and mixed media - and devour whatever wisdom I can about their practice. An Instagram post by one such artist this morning was the match that lit this fire. I have heard similar stories from others, but today I was ready to really hear it.

So, I’m off to play with hooks and thread an maybe a rock or a stick. It is Friday, a good day to play and have fun. The most amazing surprises come our way when we least expect them.