Driven to Distraction

I don’t have much time to myself. I would like to spend more time on my work but my personal commitments will always take the biggest part of me. However, I found that when I do have time to work, I sit in my chair and fidget about with my pens, clear my desk, make a cup of coffee and flick through my music on my phone. Then I check my emails and check Facebook, make another cup of coffee, look through my sketchbooks, then fidget with my pens again. What is wrong with me? Time is ticking and I’m sat farting about doing everything and nothing all at the same time, I’m not focusing on the important stuff. If I’m honest, I must admit that I actually want to get distracted. I want to be driven to distraction.

It seems there is a restlessness inside myself that needs to be calmed. How can I do that when I have so little time and so much to do?

One day, after much fidgeting, I picked up my mark-making sketchbook and I just got some left over ink and made marks with it, I then used water to see what effects its caused. I then saw a shape so I drew a face on it. I then saw that the ink had saturated though the page so I turned the page and it looked like a little landscape, so I drew on that. It was totally free, without planning or preparation, I was satisfying a need and through play that need was fed.

I needed to see how masking fluid would work if I rubbed charcoal over it, I needed to see how oil paints would work with turps to make an oil wash. I then wanted to see how these experiments translated into a digital image. I would photocopy them and scan them in to see how it looks. After a while I feel ready to get on with my ‘real’ projects.

Reflecting on this I realize that I actually need to experiment before I can focus, the playing helps me work quicker and efficiently. I feel confident in my techniques, and I understand how they work, I can then spend time on my idea’s and making them a reality. In a sense, I feel like I am having a creative ‘work out’ and it make’s me feel better. I value my experimental experiences more and more and It’s now a necessary part of my creative process and working practice.

I don’t think I can put into words how much it means to me, except when I go through this process; I am totally absorbed and intrigued at the possibilities. I feel I am involved in something bigger than myself and loose my sense of self–importance but I get focused on discovering possibilities. I’m sure my views will evolve throughout my learning experience, but I am confident in this method of working.

This idea is nothing new, professional’s have been talking about the importance of play in the creative process for a long time. I just know what they are talking about now and they are right!