“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” – Pablo Picasso
When we grow up we tend to lose much of what makes children so special. Life becomes so blasé and our day to day tasks become tedious at best. Adults get bogged down in the stresses of the day and fail to see all the good around them. Why is that?
We seem to become preoccupied with what others may think of us and do not want ‘them’ to see us as frivolous or silly. We think that we need to always be serious or no one will take us seriously. I would like to see more adults view life differently; to approach it with the wonder of a child or in the very least, to enjoy it. Do you remember playing at recess and the way that a fifteen minute break outside was often the driving force to get through your studies? I think that we still need to take a recess from our daily grind. Hey, stop and speak with the birds and the squirrels, they may have the answer to the meaning of life. Well, probably not the squirrels, they are too busy contemplating the overthrow of humankind.
We have been doing some abstract painting in the laboratory as of late to illustrate the interaction of oil and water on varied surfaces. I had forgotten how much enjoyment you can get from creating with your own two hands. I have always been a ‘creator’ of sorts, which my arts and crafts drawers at home can attest to, but the type of painting we have been doing has been without any real parameters (except the science behind it). It is completely different than anything else I have ever done. I tend towards realism and/or pointillism and it can be all consuming and frustrating. (Anyone who has ever done pointillism will tell you, it can almost drive you crazy. All those little dots not only can ruin your vision but also play with your brain.)
The playing with the cups of colour is so different and creating for the sake of creating is quite liberating and I think that this sort of thing is needed in our lives. Playing with paint. It reminds me of finger painting in primary school.
Let’s take a moment and look at the way a child sees the world and consider how these world views can fit into the adult viewpoint.
1. Children live in the present.
2. Everything is new and exciting.
3. They have no worries about money, what they produce, or how others view them.
4. Their imaginations are usually boundless.
5. Children lose themselves in play.
6. They create and daydream with abandon.
7. They are endlessly curious and never cease to ask questions.
How can any of these things be bad? You do not have to be silly or ridiculous but why not try it out once in a while. Take the time to play, to create, to make friends with someone new, to see that the world is full of possibilities. What will you lose if you lose yourself in your imagination? And if you feel incapable to do these things, please do not look down upon those that can and do. Many of us like to take a moment to twirl and prefer to see things through rosy glasses. It doesn’t (necessarily) mean that we are ready for the asylum.
–Janice Willson
