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The Problem with “Play” in Creativity (And What It Actually Means)

Play and perfectionism

A few weeks ago, someone in The Studio brought a perfectionism problem to our Friday gathering. She couldn’t start projects, or if she did, she felt she’d already ruined them before she’d really begun. Everyone offered advice, and the same word kept coming up: “Play. Just play with it.”

But I noticed I was having a strong physical reaction to that word. It conjured up bright colours, noise, children’s TV energy - everything that makes me uncomfortable. So I went for a walk to figure out what was going on.

Turns out, my understanding of creative play was completely wrong - or at least unnecessarily narrow.

What Play Actually Means

Play in making isn’t about being loud or messy or forcing yourself to be spontaneous. It’s simpler than that: making something with no set outcome, no purpose to measure against, and therefore no way to be perfectionist about it.

In this week’s Friday Film, I share three real examples from Studio members showing what this looks like in practice:

  • Making quilts in deliberately uncomfortable colours
  • Drawing with your non-dominant hand to see what emerges
  • Understanding that nobody else knows what you were trying to make

Plus the story of my embroidered duck that, according to my friend, looks like it’s been run over. She’s not entirely wrong.

Watch: Creative Play & Perfectionism

If you struggle with perfectionism or getting started on creative projects, this might help. It’s not about adding another practice to your day - it’s about recognizing the play that’s probably already there in your making.

 

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Comments: 9 (Add)

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Julie McRobbie

I love this Jane - and I love creative play too. I really enjoy the random outputs from creative play - which sounds counterintuitive when also saying play doesn’t have any expected outcomes. Yesterday I took myself to the GFT to see a spontaneous film - The History of Sound. Fabulous! I drew faces from the film as I sat watching it in the dark, allowing my pencil to follow the profile of each character, moving between characters as they moved around. Just an eye-to-hand exercise really, but fun, and a good way to relax into the film. They look nothing like the characters but there are a few recognisable faces in there ?

SnapdragonJane

In reply to Julie McRobbie
I love this Julie - especially the quote you have written with your drawings - it is so apt. J x
Joelle Harris

Inspired by the collage conversations and collage course on here. I have been playing with my tiny scraps of dyed fabrics and an old sheet of bonaweb. Had to stop myself thinking 'they could become greeting cards' no, they are just play!

SnapdragonJane

In reply to Joelle Harris
I love these - an so nice to use fabric and bondaweb - very inspiring; J x
Genevieve Jackman

Happy Friday , I enjoyed your chat Jane and it was funny because what you said about the idea of play and your first take on it resonated with me although its mixed feeling for instance on the one hand as a teacher of little ones many moons ago our art sessions would be every table in the room had an array of papers, colours , textures , glitters , paints etc and we would have a common theme say underwater creatures and free reign to interpret however we each thought fit ! it was great fun and produced amazing artwork ! As an adult years later I get very hot under the collar if anyone mention playing charades , card games , board games etc as it also spells pressure, competition, stress, overstimulation and often arguments !!! I tried doodling with my left hand whilst listening to you and came up with a very scribbly snail whom I love !! thankyou

Tama White

This was lovely! I like the idea of a "play cloth." Thanks for including my silliness. This is the full page of left-handed drawings at the end of our session.

Tama White

In reply to Genevieve Jackman
Your snail is terrific. Aren't our left hands amazing!
Tama White

In reply to Julie McRobbie
And in the dark!
Genevieve Jackman

In reply to Tama White
Oh wow! Tama your left handed artwork is wonderful ! its inspired me to try and use my left hand more and believe its good for the brain too so all good !! happy lefty art !
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