I have found on my journey that the most exhausting and overwhelming question for someone trying to have any creative experience is the basic question of "How do I get started?" Let's face it, when we are allowing ourselves the gift of a new experience, it is scary and unfamiliar. For many of us, it has been so long since we have let our guard down for some play time, we don't know quite how to approach it. I have found statistically that the people that have the most anxiety and frustration over starting a new artistic endeavor are those that are living in the false belief that they may never have another experience. Follow me on this one for a moment....for those in the busy work-a-day away, tasking, family raising households, there is seldom a free moment. When we finally hit the limit and decide a creative break is in order, it becomes so terribly crucial for that experience to be a success! Not familiar with this creative process once it begins, I am not instantly creating the masterpiece I already envisioned in my head. Panic begins to arise and I think to myself how I really wanted this to be a good experience. Self sabotoge can kick in at that state and the process can become dreadful rather than relaxing. What we need to understand is that the awareness to have an experience sometimes is the first step. If I can't relax or at least learn to relax when I have creative time, it won't be enjoyable for me. Here are a few basic tips to make your experience a good one.

1) schedule your play time (and keep the date)- you'll be amazed at how many people, places and things want to encroach on your time!

2) make your creative space a safe place--whatever area you designate as a safe place, whether public or private, protect it from interruptions or distractions. Turn of your cell phone and turn on some music. (Or tune in to the sounds of your surroundings) 

3) treat play time as just that...Playtime! Allow yourself to have an experience. This means gain experience! Learn what the substrate can do,

how will the paint look when thick, thin, watered down and drippy, etc. Seek a better process, not a better product!

Meet yourself where you are but step 1 is always making the decision to have an experience and making a plan including time and place!

I look forward to hearing what comes up for you!