The Value of Non-Productivity
Recenlty, after completing a problematic quilt, I just wasn’t ready to tackle the next one. I wanted some instant gratification, plus I felt like I needed to exercise my creative “muscles.” Knowing the value of design and creativity exercises, I decided to spend some time working through a few.
First, I played around with abstracting a zinnia. In the sketchbook pages shown below, you can see a somewhat stylized zinnia, top right, that drew quite some time ago. From there, I played with just the shadows and the outline. I think the bottom right sketch is pretty viable.
Click any image for a larger view
Although I mentioned the viability of the sketch above, let me make it clear that producing a usable design is NOT my goal when working through such exercises. For me, I’ve found that such a mindset generates too much pressure to “get it right.” Instead, I have to tell myself that I’m completely playing, simply for the sake of experimentation. I’m NOT trying to be productive. IF a design plan happens to come from this exploration, it’s a bonus.
Such an attitude made it easy for me to see the merit in this two-handed drawing exercise, below. I definitely want to do more of these!
Next, I worked with some favorite photos. This photo of stone steps on a trail was an excellent candidate for exploring shadows. (Although I didn’t finish it,) simply tracing shapes onto tracing paper made it easy to accurately depict the dark values.
I also did some rough sketches of this palm frond detail shot. I really like the intersecting lines.
I’ve often made sketches inspired by photos. But this time I added something new, prompted by Elizabeth Barton’s book “Inspired to Design.” She suggests adding notes about the entire experience that goes with each photo. Sounds, emotions, occasions, etc. A very valid idea, I think.
What have I produced during this time? Not much: a bunch of sketches, most of which will never become quilt ideas. But, I’ve also produced:
– More creativity.
– More joy in the design sketch process.
– More ideas for future exploration.
– More enthusiasm for the next quilt.
I think this is a great (and fun) way to spend my time! What “non-productive” art activities do you enjoy?
Ellen Lindner
P.S. I’m really enjoying Elizabeth’s book. You’ll be hearing more about it.
Hi Ellen! I enjoy your newsletters so much. This article about sketching reminds me of what I have been doing lately. Just taking a few minutes to make a quick sketch of something around me, detailing some of it, leaving out some of it, just having fun. Sometimes I just doodle all over the page. It is relaxing, to say the least. And while not productive in the same sense as making something or painting, etc., it soothes the creative spirit within me while at the same time possibly igniting a new path to follow when I do feel like “doing”. It can become a take-off point – or not. It is simply fun. Thanks for sharing with us!
Hi Maeve,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. It’s so relaxing to just consider the sketching play, isn’t it?