There was something called ‘Messy Play’ when my twins were toddlers. It was a morning when kids were encouraged to roll around in paint, and stick their hands in cold spaghetti. Some kids LOVED it. Mine were always desperate to leave. I did try!
I’ve been having a messy play week. No spaghetti, but oil paint, which is outside my comfort zone. But that was rather the point.
I was playing with oils and cold wax and the point was to have no pre-conceived ideas. I just wanted to see what emerged. You apply the media with a squeedgy in layers, and use tools to mark or cut into the layers beneath. The more you play; the richer the surface. The colours are vivid. You can’t be too precious!
I make a TERRIBLE mess when I use oils. Daniel came to take some photos and I got paint on the phone, the intercom, the door handle. I got alizarin crimson on my head and on the tops of my ears from taking my glasses on and off. This is a strictly at the Linden Mill studio process. I’m banned at home.
I played with cutting stencils, scraping away with sharp tools. With torn paper and splashing solvent. Things began to emerge: a mood, a hill, a familiar place. It was lovely to find the colours of the Northumberland beaches, and the autumn colours of my moors.
I’d been complaining to my friend Toni that I never had any time to just play. She said it wasn’t play, but personal development, and that in most other jobs time would be set aside to develop new skills. This means I must take a ‘personal development day’ often – and come home with painty ears. It was very liberating, but now I have to stop and get on with some proper work. I’ll come back to it though. I felt, towards the end of the week, that I was finding my own way with it .
There will be things to see at Hebden Bridge Open Studios – which is only 3 weeks away!!
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