If you’ve ever found yourself feeling the weight of “shoulds” in your creative life, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too, staring at a blank page, feeling like every mark has to be perfect. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t! In fact, the best art happens when you let go, play, and let the surprises show up.
That’s exactly what the free 5 day workshop, Permission to Play: Embracing Freedom, is all about. How to give yourself permission to let loose, be spontaneous, and rediscover the joy that first made you pick up a paintbrush (or a crayon, or a glue stick, or whatever makes your heart happy).
Because sometimes, the biggest creative breakthroughs come when you’re not trying so hard. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being free.
No matter what’s getting in your way, it all comes down to one thing that is stopping the play. Pressure. Whether it’s coming from inside your head or from outside expectations, it all has the same effect—it squashes the fun. But the good news? But the good news is that no matter where that pressure comes from, the way to remove it is the same.
If you’ve ever watched kids at play, you know pressure isn’t even on their radar. They’re in the moment, giggling, inventing wild games, and not once pausing to wonder if their cardboard spaceship is “good enough.” What if we could scoop up a bit of that kid magic and sprinkle it over our grown-up art tables!
Confession: my 30s were basically a tug-of-war between wanting to create and feeling like I had to do everything just right. Spoiler—perfectionism is a party pooper. It took a lot of trial, error, and colorful messes, but bit by bit, I found little tricks that helped me let go, be playful, and actually have fun with my art supplies (imagine that!).
Those playful moves turned into practical strategies—my go-to toolkit for busting out of the pressure bubble, no matter what art supply I grabbed. The more I used these strategies, the lighter everything felt. Suddenly, getting into that playful headspace wasn’t like finding a unicorn—it was just a brushstroke away.
Those playful strategies became the Play Principles—the foundation of this free workshop!
That’s big talk, but are there really practical ways to release the pressure, no matter where it’s coming from? That anyone can do? Yes! Here’s what workshop participants have said about the Play Principles.
I’m making more art and having more fun doing it, than I ever have in my life! – Sharyl P.
it was so liberating to play without any pressure. -Vera L.
I have learned quite a few new things and even though the course was geared for art journaling, it has so many applications for other art forms. Thank you for that. -Trish D.
What I’m sharing in this free workshop applies to so much more than an art journal. These Play Principles apply to any creative endeavor, in any medium at any skill level.
How does it work?
Each day in the workshop, you’ll get a new video lesson (totally free and downloadable!). You can watch or rewatch them anytime—because once you’re in, you’ve got lifetime access. We’re turning a plain old cardboard box into an art journal, but more importantly, we’re turning pressure into play.
Supplies? Nothing fancy. Grab some cardboard, whatever paints you have, gesso (or white paint), glue, collage pages (I’ve got printables for you), stencils, and even some non-traditional stuff like cotton swabs and cosmetic sponges. We’ll bind it all together with elastic and a little household magic. Substitute anything you want—this is about freedom, not following rules.
If you’re looking for practical ways to release the pressure so that it’s possible to let go, be more spontaneous, and feel the freedom of play then you’re in the right place.
Come and join the fun inside the free workshop, Permission to Play: Embracing Freedom!
When does it start? Right now! The moment you get signed up you’ve got access to the day one video! Then exactly 24 hours later you’ll get access to a new video, for a total of five days. Actually, 6 because there’s a bonus day.
Where does it take place? It all happens online, inside my private classroom that only members have access to.
Who is this workshop for? Anyone who wants to feel less pressure and have more fun with their art supplies. No experience required. The Play Principles apply to any creative endeavor, in any medium at any skill level. Really! For those brand new to art journaling or mixed media, this workshop is step by step. For experienced art journalers, seeing the Play Principles in action can open up a whole world of possibilities and spark your mojo!
I’ve taken another version of Permission to Play. Is this different? Yes! This is the third edition of Permission to Play with all new videos and the binding has changed. When you sign up for this edition, it will be added to the page where you access the other workshops you’ve taken with me.
Do the videos have closed captions? YES!
Can I watch on a mobile device? Yes, you can watch it on your phone, on a tablet, or on a computer. The videos are hosted on Vimeo.
Are the videos downloadable? Yup! That means you can stream them or download them to best fit your needs.
What supplies do I need? These are the general supplies and I encourage you to substitute at any time with what you have on hand or feel called to use.
- Cardboard to create the pages. Nothing special about the cardboard. It can be from any box you’re willing to cut up.
- To get layers on the pages, we’ll be using paints in any color or brand you have on hand, gesso (or substitute with white paint), gel medium or a tacky glue, collage pages (printables that are included for you in the workshop) and stencils. I’ll also be using non-traditional art supplies like the cotton swabs, cosmetic sponges, and the fanciest of paint spreading tools, a little scrap of cardboard. Anything goes!
- To bind the pages together, we’ll be using a very common household item to create the holes (and no it’s not a hole punch) and a piece of elastic.
