Recently I took my grandson and daughter to the pool. Riley has never been to a pool, much less a pool with slides and sprinklers and tunnels. At first he just didn’t know what to do. Where am I? What’s going on? What’s all that noise?
He began his exploration in the shallow end where water streams from a ground sprinkler, creating a sparkling arch . He reached out and got splashed with cold water. Over the next 45 minutes Riley explored the sprinklers and created games for himself. He used these games to teach himself about how the water worked. He touched the water and watched it change form, as it sprayed him in the face and chest. He figured out that there were two places where the water touched the ground. He stood on the hole where the water came out and let it go up his pant leg. His last, and most exciting discovery was, that there are five sprinkles that span the length of the pool. He could run under the sprinklers and not get wet at all!
Flowers for My Mom by Ella 2nd Grade
How does this relate to art making? To me it speaks of our innate ability to explore and create new things - or things that are new to us. Child’s play is really the child’s work. Just like Riley had to explore the water sprinkler, we should always approach our art making with wonder and expectation.
Familiarize your self with how your materials work. Play with them to discover how far you can push their properties. Remember to never stop exploring and learning. Much of art making does involve practice and discipline, but process is where all the joy and inspiration comes from.
“Inspiration exists, but it must find you working.” (Pablo Picasso) - or should I say playing.