Art Experiments: Learning to Break Free from my Fears of Imperfection

Talking about art experiments, I’m feeling more and more at ease these days with doing art however and whenever the fancy strikes as compared to earlier when I had to deal with self-imposed restrictions like – the right time to do art, the right amount of time I need at hand, a tangible idea before I could start working and some more!

No more.

I’m having fun experimenting of late. This one – with white glue and food colour – was so much fun! Check out the process and the pictures and my thoughts on how I’m learning to over-come those self-imposed restrictions on my own creativity…

Why should my soul suffer due to the limitations that my mind has chained itself in?

Who ever said that I cannot do some art during a short tea break in the evening?

Why do I have to wait until I have a whole afternoon free to be able to play with colours?

How does it matter if what I make doesn’t turn out to be pleasing to the eye?

Is it not enough that the brush and colours gave my soul a vent and I relaxed in the process and enjoyed some peaceful time?

Why can’t I be okay with starting art on a whim without even a flicker of an idea about what I’m going to do…

As I let go of my own expectations of and attachment with the end result, I see that my fears start dwindling and the real self starts emerging. The more I am at ease with my imperfections, the more I let go of my expectations for my child. I want to just be and let her be, too…

As I do more and more of this, I will probably have the courage to experiment even more, make a mess of it and yet have the gumption to do a show and tell over here. (wink)

Hope you’ll bear with me. Now, and then, too. (smile)

My love affair with paper bags continue! These are turning out to be my favourite canvas to experiment on. After trying my hands on the brown variety, I recently dabbled with a lovely white bag. This one had a different paper quality – thinner than the brown bag I’d painted on earlier, which was way thicker and the texture was coarse too.

With this white paper bag, I wanted to experiment at will. I had a vague idea to begin with. It evolved as I went along.

I picked up the white glue and started piping it on the paper bag. First, some text; next – random designs.

I had no idea what I was going to do after this. At first I thought I’ll create some resist art. Which means – I’d paint all over the bag after the glue has tried and then peel off the glue. The space where glue was lined would remain white and the rest of the space would be courful.

Then, I realized, the glue would not probably peel off without lifting the paper underneath. So, I quickly changed gears.

Another fun idea struck. How about using liquid food colours – into the glue.

I visualized that once the glue is slightly dry (not fully), I would add drops of food colour and stir gently across the glue to create a marbeling effect.

It worked beautifully!

I took liquid food colours in the four colours that I had in the kitchen at the time – red, yellow, orange, green.

With the help of pointed paint brush, I added drops of colours – just enough to have it merge and marble and create stunning stained glass-like effect.

I wanted to add some blue and purple too but did not not food colours in those hues. Hence, decided to use fabric/acrylic colour. That worked too!

And, this is how it looked once it dried.

What I love about this experiment/process is it’ll work amazingly well with kids. I’m sure Pari would love doing this and will enjoy it in an open-ended way – without any idea of the end result.

I gave this to my Mom as a gift for her birthday/day we celebrated her heart.

Are you also wanting to break free from your fears and self-limiting feelings of imperfection?

What’s been your experience?

 

 

 

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Tagged as: creative thoughts, dealing with fears, glue and food color art experiment, how to be at peace with imperfections, let go and nurture your creativity, painting with liquid food color, paper bag art craft, paper bag painting