If you don’t break the rules – how do you inspire your inner creativity?
When we’re young we’re taught to color inside the lines.
Create what you know to be true. Don’t mix colors or you’ll just get black. The clouds should be white on a blue sky. And the sun should be yellow.
But those rules confine us when it comes to creativity. I don’t remember ever being given the chance to just doodle in school? Were you given the chance to do so?
I felt that way yesterday – I was stuck in the confines of creativity rules. And I felt the tug on my heartstrings, I was missing my kids. Rainy days always do that to me.
I remember fondly of those days when we’d sit quietly coloring and watching and listening to the rain fall.
In an attempt to recreate a creative inspiring afternoon, I grabbed this book.
I rescued it from the thrift sale, in hopes that maybe she’d want it again to help her creativity flow. But she didn’t want it. She had completed art school with a BFA, so I’m guessing that doodle tools aren’t needed? She learned plenty about how to be creative, I’m jealous as to how easy it comes to her. As any good empty nest mom would do, I kept the book, just in case.
I grabbed the twisty colors (we never had those when I was growing up!) and set out to be creative.
I opened to the first page and challenged myself – can I be creative? Or am I too much of a what I was taught in grade school about art rule follower?
It should be easy right?
I stared at the page, doodling felt odd to me, and all I could come up with at first was red apples.
And the tree branches should be brown and the leaves green. Color inside the lines. Apples should be next to the leaves…
And then the rain started to down pour outside. At least something was flowing…
Do you have hands? Excellent. That’s a good start. Can you hold a pencil? Great. If you have a sketchbook, open it and start by making a line, a mark, wherever. Doodle. – Chris Riddell
My thoughts wandered…Why can’t I think of more fruit? I’m stuck because I’m following the rules. The instructions are to fill the trees with fruit. It doesn’t say, just one kind of fruit, it doesn’t say just apples, there weren’t any restrictions. Just fill it with fruit.
I looked out the window for inspiration. Grabbed my camera, because that is my favorite form of play and I set out to get inspired.
I captured the sheets of rain.
The rain drops on the window.
The reflections on the base of the table.
The silhouettes of the new succulent plants.
And the tiny drops as they pooled at the bottom of the window.
And the hail and heavy rain drops splashing.
I returned to my doodling and let the fruit flow. I added, green apples, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, coconuts, bananas, mixed colored plums, and cherries.
I looked out again at the rain, smiled because we needed the rain.
And I smiled again, I needed this time to break the rules (slightly…)!
And the cherry on the top – I was inspired enough I colored one more picture just to enjoy the act of coloring.
We may never outgrow the rules we learned in childhood, but we can always break them and find ways to play or doodle like a child again!
Post inspiration: Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge
PS – Tell me about the last time you doodled…did it feel odd or great? What did you draw, what did you learn about yourself and your inner creativity? Have you rescued something from a thrift sale – just in case…do confess?!
Fun stuff. I love to doodle. But my doodles are weird and abstract.
Thank you – That’s great that you do doodle, I’m hoping to find time to do it more!
I often doodle during meetings. Sometimes in the margins and sometimes a letter or word will grow into a picture. It seems to actually help me concentrate.
I’ve seen that work for a co-worker I had a few years ago. She even brought colored pencils and coloring books with her to meetings to stay focused. You may be onto something your brain needs, don’t fight it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Oh…and by the way, I’ve tried to check out your blog from your name, but the settings indicate it is a protected blog – perhaps that is your intent, but if not, check your settings in WordPress so you can get visitors to your site or redirect your Gravitar to the right site?! PS – I had my settings wrong at first for a long time!
Lovely post and I like the pictures of the rain! I often take these kind of photos myself 🙂
Thank you, Tatiana! Rain is so fun to try and capture – you never know what you’ll get, glad to hear you enjoy it as well! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
First of all, a brilliant post! Rainy days and creativity always go hand in hand. Yes I did doodle on my notebooks to stay awake in school sometimes😃 doodling is so freeing!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the post. Doodling and staying awake in school…thanks for reminding me, I’m positive I did that a time or two over the years! That’s a great way to describe it – freeing! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
😀👍
I like your apple/fruit tree! That would be fun to have a real tree that had all different ones on it. Doodling is fun, and I do it all the time. I never took an art class, so no rules to follow.
Wonderful rain photos! 🙂
Oh, yes I’ve rescued things from being thrown out.
Aw, you’re sweet to like my fruit tree! It would be fun to have a real tree with all the different fruit! I can see why people doodle, it was kind of fun! Glad you enjoyed the post, and thank you for confessing to rescuing stuff from being discarded!! We’re not alone!! 🙂
The only thing I’ve ever really doodled, funny enough, is flowers or butterflies. My daughter is ALWAYS drawing and has a constant flow of ideas. I tell her she has overcome my ongoing hurdle…. figuring out an idea. Love the rain photos!
Aw, that’s awesome – keep encouraging her, you won’t regret it! That’s awesome that you do doodle flowers and butterflies – so fitting! Glad you enjoyed the rain photos! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Doodling IS fun! A few college notebooks I still have are fun to look through because of the massive doodles (that, and the hysterical comments written back and forth with the girl sitting next to me). Apparently some classes did not require as much of my attention as others. Otherwise it was always color inside the lines for me. But, as you show, it’s never too late.
Your fruit salad tree is wonderful. Yum!
Awesome that you still have college notebooks to peruse! If I looked back at mine I might fine doodles of shrinking words when I fell asleep during note taking! It is never too late to learn how to enjoy doodling for fun! Thank you for sharing your thoughts – your comments brought a smile to my day!
Those rain drops and that table base are really wonderful 🙂
Aw, thank you, I appreciate you sharing your feedback!
Great pictures. They make me want to snuggle in bed and nap.
Thank you, I hope you took the opportunity to do so! Enjoy!