When Did We Stop Playing?

Terri Barnes
Jun 9
2 min read

When we were little, we didn't worry if our drawings weren't perfect.

We colored outside the lines, made up stories, created things just for fun.

My 2-year-old granddaughter is a natural artist.

As we got older, many of us stopped allowing ourselves permission to play. We had to grow up, be responsible, follow a schedule and to-do lists. Everything needed a purpose for our time spent wisely.

My grandchildren having a blast "driving."

Even for myself, I knew my painting business gave me a legitimate reason to spend my time creating. Before starting my business, it was difficult to spend all day painting just for fun when I knew I should be doing "more productive" things. So, now I HAVE to paint!😉

Fast forward to now...

I was working on a design for a paint party that I wasn't happy with. It was a bit dull, a landscape with a barn. I mentioned it to a dear customer of mine (thank you, Shannon!) who suggested a cute duck, and I decided to give it a shot.

My mind has been on America's 250th anniversary, so with a touch of patriotic flair, I designed a duck and had so much fun with it, I also painted a chicken. Both playful, a little quirky, and impossible to take too seriously.

As I painted, I felt the pressure begin to disappear. I wasn't worried about creating a masterpiece, just a couple of funny barnyard birds with a little Americana style.

With these designs, we can experiment with color, glitter paints, change the background, and come up with unique details to add personality and charm. My ideas for silliness are endless!

And here's my takeaway--

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is enjoyment.

Is there a place for more serious looking paintings? Of course! But we should also make room for the whimsical, light-hearted fun stuff too!