Quilting artists: How to learn to play

'Play is the language of learning. Play requires practice and 

immersion and often needs to be relearned as an adult. 

It is the art of experimentation, 

exploration and examination of possibilities.'

Catherine Parkinson

Becoming a quilt artist takes time, energy and commitment.  It is a learning pathway and an exciting journey.  On this journey new ideas will be need to be explored, examined and experimented on.  This is the play in creating art.  Consider the process not the end result.  What we end up with is important but the journey we take to get there is the learning place.

http://catherineparkinson.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/artists-that-play.html

How can an artist learn to play again? On each wednesday my blog is going to cover different play and learning ideas for quilt artists.

Play hard 

learn hard

To start with try and change the way you think about playing.  It is for adults and kids alike.  Play is essential to progressing as a quilt artist.  Play can extend the understanding of the tools, techniques and mediums that can be used. Today's ideas are to get the play juices flowing again.

Try

• Playing with a child
• Observe how a child plays and implement one of these observations in your life
• Run through a few sprinklers (southern hemisphere at this time of the year :) play with snowballs or run through crunchy leaves up in the Northern hemisphere. 
• Play with playdough
• Throw darts at balloons full of paint
• finger paint
• Play with gloop_ Cornstarch mixed with water until it is a consistency between solid and liquid.  It is really wonderful to play with.
• Make something from clay
• Do something just for fun!!
• Rip coloured circulars and collage with them on another piece of paper
• Read a joke book.  This always brings out the kid in me
• Play on the swings at the park 
• Climb a tree
• Blow bubbles
• Go for a walk in a stream.  
• Try and catch a fish or tadpole
• Make a sandcastle
• Print some wrapping paper with an old jar lid and paint
• pop bubble wrap

Do something this week to 

bring out the play in you!!! 

and Have fun