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How to randomly pick colors and let go of control art journaling video tutorialBeing in control makes sense in many areas of my life but not when it comes to play and creativity.  Many of the struggles and the uphill climbing that plagued me in the beginning of my colorful journey were due to my attempts to control.

Being in control and making logical decisions was so familiar and ingrained that when I attempted to play, I didn’t know how to let go of control.  But I needed to let go so I had to find ways to help myself let go of control.   In this month’s Let’s Play videos, I’m sharing some of the specific ways that I helped myself begin to let go of control.

In the video, you’ll see how I randomly chose the colors…plus you’ll see that highly skilled fine art drawing of mine in the very first layer…hint…it isn’t really fine art…

Watch How to let go of control with color in an art journal on YouTube.

How to randomly pick colors and let go of control art journaling video tutorialA simple wooden block painted with six colors allowed me to create a colorful art journal background.  Blocks like this are available in craft stores or you can repurpose an old children’s block to create a colorful die for you to roll!  The rubber stamps are from Judikins

What is Let’s Play?  It’s all about rediscovering the ability to play. Each month, I share a specific strategy that helped me recapture the freedom and fun of creative play.  This month’s theme is letting go of control. You can see more of the Let’s Play series here.

 

How to randomly pick colors and let go of control art journaling video tutorial

You can see what happened next to this page as I added another layer of play here.

Now you’ve seen my play, let’s see yours!  Share what you’re creating with us all in the Facebook group and be inspired by what others are creating! And be sure to leave a comment here to get entered in the monthly $50 gift certificate giveaway!

 

September's Let's Play all about HOW to let yourself play and be creative!

Want to see more Let’s Play videos? You can find all the weekly posts here.

Sharing your play:   I, and a whole bunch of others, would love to see what you’re creating!  We’re sharing it in the Facebook group called A Colorful Place to Play. Why Facebook?  I’ve listened to your feedback about how and where you’d like to share your play instead of the link parties.

Monthly giveaways:  Leave comment on any (and all for more chances) of the weekly Let’s Play blog posts to be entered and one winner each month will be chosen by random.org.  Want more chances to win a $50 gift certificate to DickBlick.com?  Pin any of the images from the page or share about it on Facebook- then come back and leave a comment telling me what you did and you can have more chances to win! Giveaway closes the Sunday,October 3rd at 11 pm EST and the winner will announced on the blog the following Monday.

Congrats to Barbara, last month’s winner!

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Congrats to Barbara -the winner of the August Let’s Play $50 gift certificate to Dick Blick!  Barbara, send me your information (carolyn at acolorfuljourney dot com) and I’ll get you your gift certificate pronto!

August's Let's Play winner!

What is the theme for September?  It’s all about letting go of control!  Each week I’ll share a new video with you with a specific way to let go of control and play!

September's Let's Play all about HOW to let yourself play and be creative!

Missed any of the previous Let’s Play videos?  You can find them all here.

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What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...It was one of those “what’s the meaning of life” kind of days.  Recent life events had me waxing philosophically and I was looking for deep answers inside my art studio.

Here are the exact words of the muse…and she said them quite forcefully in my head…”Shut up and play.”  She wasn’t into the deeper levels of understanding life that I was pursing…she just wanted me to get may hands busy playing with paint.

I turned on the David Cassidy playlist and took out this old canvas that has been lingering around for ages then followed her advice.  This has been a hot mess of an experimental canvas for a long long time now.

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

She was right (but don’t tell her I said that).  I was over thinking choices and really I just needed to start making a mess!  Do the circles represent the infinite cycle of creativity?  Did I choose this canvas to work on as a metaphor for my life right now?  Once again, the muse said, “Shut up and play!”

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

My hands needed to get into the action- and I covered the whole thing with modeling paste.  Clearly, I did not wait for the purple Dylusions paint to dry.

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

Would yellow go with the vibe of the painting?  Guess what the muse said.  “Shut up and play!”

I followed my impulse and grabbed the yellow.  The paint flew as I made a splattering mess on the canvas and more than a few drops landed on me.

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

Should I leave it as it is or add more color.  You probably know what the muse said to me…”Shut up and play!”.  Out came the rainbow.

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

All the sudden the dark turquoise at the bottom became a big wave…not intentionally mind you…but then I started to paint more waves…and I immediately wanted to grab meaning…the rough seas of the soul?

What did the muse say?  “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar…”

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

I kept grasping for meaning so my ornery muse joined in…the circles are the wheels of a Transformer in the middle of transforming…it’s a bunch of jelly beans rolling along the ground…it’s the marbles you’re losing trying to find meaning in the play…

What happened when I tried to find the deeper, meaning of life, messages in my art...and what my ornery muse said to me about it...

I still haven’t found the meaning of life.  I still haven’t plumbed the depths of my soul today.  I didn’t even finish this canvas.  However, I did play and got lost in creating, so I call it a good day!

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