Inner Child Musings
This week I explored the world of mixed media and collage in a weekend class called The Mythical Makeover Experience by Dr. Minette Riordan. Since most of my work is centered around illustration, I don't often need to get my hands dirty. Most of my work involves sketching, then scanning and coloring with the help of Adobe Illustrator. But when I heard about this class, something about the theme spoke to me. The class centered around The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and how we can use elements of story to redefine our lives.
The picture above is from one of the first exercises involving the inner child. We were asked to choose from a list of words that most described how our inner child was feeling that day. I chose spirited, fierce, and radiant. We were invited to use imagery to represent these aspects of ourselves and even include a picture of our inner child. I found an enchanting picture of a little girl that reminded me of pictures of me when I was little. After placing the initial images, I began scribbling around the page with my brush pen, just making marks. I grabbed art supplies I haven't used in years like my stash of colorful water-soluable Gelato's. I doodled and I played.
After our creations were complete, we journaled with the help of some prompts. The prompt that sticks with me the most is "What does your inner child want you to know?" My inner child let me know that she likes to make a mess and explore. I realized that I don't often indulge my messy or exploratory impulses. My need to do it right, color inside the lines, and keep things neat and tidy get in the way. And while I understand the value of exploration, my inner critic hates it when I don't have a specific destination in mind. It feels like a waste of time. A task that may never be complete.
But in the world of creativity there is no right or wrong. There are no rules about productivity. There is just the work, whatever form it takes. The exercises I did this weekend served as a great reminder to loosen up, have fun, and play with ideas. Even as I write that, my inner critic still has a lot to say about getting the work done. Fortunately, I was able to set that voice aside this weekend and just create for the sake of creating. I now have a new homemade journal that I plan to use for other explorations that I hope will lead to new ideas and new paths to travel. I'm sure I'll continue to resist being messy or not having a destination in mind, but I will also remember the joy of simple creation that I can return to again and again.
I hope I've inspired you to get a little messy and explore new possibilities in your life. It's The Year of the Rabbit and we've only just begun. Anything is possible.