This was supposed to be a painting of a violin, not a cello. Actually, it’s not the right depiction of a cello either. Going against all my instincts, I didn’t fuss with the shape. I made it somewhat symmetrical so I could start playing with my new paint.
My husband recently gave me one of the best sets of watercolour paints. The new paper I used didn’t work very well with the heavy wash, but I had fun watching the paints flow into each other on wet paper, followed by the salt creating a mottling pattern when contacting the wet paint.
The painting will be tucked away in a box within the next few days, but for the moment it can bask in the glory and virtue of play time.
I drew this one for my icad project on an index card last year using Prismacolor pencils. I think I will paint another violin using acrylic.
I have unravelled this pair of mitts more times than I care to remember. Finally, I decided that the Eye of Partridge stitch worked well with this yarn. Since I got the idea from Et Frais, I bought the pattern to support the designer even though I didn’t follow it. I played with the thumb area until I was happy with it.
These mitts are nothing special, but they will add colour to the still chilly, grey mornings around me.
When I go out around dawn, it’s overcast most days around here with extremely low light. It always looks great around me, but capturing that low-lit atmosphere in photography is quite another matter. So I take many photos, toss out several, and learn in the process. The mist was being very elusive; this was the best I could capture that morning.
I like tall, dry grass, but I am finding it to be tricky to capture in a photo. It either ends up looking like a giant mess or just background noise. Still, I kept on taking photos hoping to find an angle or composition that would work.
One day, my perseverance paid off. The morning dew was still on them, backlit by the rising sun.
I love the One Monthly Goal link-up since it commits me to playing with a previously-forgotten project. My goal for July is to make this sunburst star block. I can then use it on another project that I have in mind, which will require a bit of playing around with size and fabric.
All the pieces in this post are results of playing. You see, I grew up under the doctrine that every piece of work has to be great. Although “Practice makes perfect” was preached regularly, the emphasis was always on creating the best on the first try. Over time, the word “practice” got associated with “failure” in my head.
As I got older, I turned practice into playtime, be it maths, science, programming or art. Without the pressure of perfection, I started having fun. That enticed me to play more and I got better.
So I will keep blowing raspberries at those voices in my head that are telling me I am wasting my time and continue to play. I urge you to do same if you were subjected to the same doctrine growing up!
Happy Playing,
-Soma
20 thoughts on “Playful Pieces”
Paige July 4, 2016 at 21:32
That one photo looks straight out of a Sherlock Holmes movie! Great capture! I always enjoy your photos! I don’t know much about stringed instruments, but they both look nice to me. Good Luck on your OMG!
FVITH June 28, 2016 at 17:47
I really like the black and blue background in your painting. Your mitts look great, too, and your photo of the long grass looks very pretty and professional.
I like your idea of playing. I find practicing boring, and put off trying things I know I won’t get right the first time, so playing is a much better way to look at it.
Lisa @ LTTL June 26, 2016 at 18:52
I am assuming you quilt by your star block. I’d love to see some of them on Life Thur the Lens. Your paintings are pretty. You are very talented.
Lisa @ Life Thru Lens
Leanne Parsons June 23, 2016 at 04:01
I love the idea of practice as playing! I often want to get it perfect on the first try too, but this way of thinking about it is much better. And the results of your playing are so beautiful. It’s fun to find some gems among the little bits :)
Shelley Brooks June 22, 2016 at 07:21
Play, play, play!! And keep knitting – I love your fingerless mitts!
Kim Sharman June 22, 2016 at 05:26
Oh, I much prefer to play than practice as well. Your playing, Soma, does produce the most exquisite results. Love the play of colour on your cello picture…how clever is that! The photo of the tall grass is beautiful and wistful. I almost imagine a hand feathering it’s way through this gorgeous photo! Oh….I forgot the mitts. They are so very cool and so very colourful!
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts June 21, 2016 at 16:08
I think of playing as a necessary part of the creative process. If Plan A doesn’t work, then on to Plan B and so forth. But with every ‘failure’ comes learning, so therefore it must be considered success, right? I enjoy watching you play through your blog Soma, and appreciate you linking up to MCM each week. It is so delightful to see your beautiful art work and photos.
Carla June 20, 2016 at 20:04
Very pretty mitts. I’ve not heard of that stitch ; )
Kristy Life-n-reflection June 20, 2016 at 18:59
That morning mist – oh so lovely!
Lara B. June 20, 2016 at 09:36
We all should blow raspberries at that pressure to be perfect on the first try. Or even at all, because creating should be joyful. I love seeing your playtime Soma! The grasses photo is so beautiful! Oh my goodness, Kris really hit why your morning mist photo hit a chord with me… Darcy! LOL
Your mitts are so cheery and pretty! I do that too: purchase a pattern if it inspired me, even if I didn’t really need to in order to complete the project.
Janine June 20, 2016 at 00:50
Your playfulness certainly brings wonderful results to your creative projects so I think your raspberry blowing is a big success! Your painting and photos look lovely and your mitts are great. Perfect for your morning walks.Thank you for linking up with Wool on Sundays :)
MrsCraft June 19, 2016 at 12:43
Love the mitts, very colourful! Karen (via wool on Sundays)
Brooke of Passport Couture June 18, 2016 at 15:14
Always good to have reminders to keeping playing and enjoying projects. It’s important to have projects outside of the daily routine of work and responsibility, it builds your knowledge and character. Thanks for the inspiration!
bettyl - NZ June 17, 2016 at 22:50
Playing is the best way to learn, I’ve found. I like trying to photograph the tall grass along the roadside, too.
Katie V. June 16, 2016 at 20:47
Wow I love that watercolor piece. Watercolors are my favorite medium when painting and you have inspired me to pull mine out and play with them. Great job!
Kathleen June 16, 2016 at 13:01
Love the fog picture. I want to show that to my son-in-law, along with your description. He’s been so busy lately I don’t think he’s had much time to play with his camera.
Looking forward to your new starburst block!
Dixie June 16, 2016 at 11:02
I love the brightly painted violin and the other ones as well. The pattern the salt made looks very neat. Wonderful photos too!
Practice is like laughter. Both are a creative release and often surprising.
Blowing raseberries…love it, Soma!
BillieBee June 16, 2016 at 10:31
Gorgeous watercolor of the violin, not a cello. You are so talented in everything you do. What were the new watercolors called?
Mary June 16, 2016 at 07:45
You have more fun practicing than anyone else I know!!! If those pieces are just practice pieces, I can’t imagine how awesome the “real” pieces will be. I have always loved seeing your musical instruments. You do such a great job creating them. Love the salt idea.
I am looking forward to seeing how you create that design in fabrics. That is going to be incredible. Paper pieced???
krislovesfabric June 16, 2016 at 07:03
Blow those raspberries! I was watching for Darcy through the fog of your early morning pic! I think that sunburst star has such an interesting center, look forward to seeing it in fabric. I am also thinking I need to know what it looks like if you point the grey(or gold) inward and have the chunkier pieces meet in the center – does that make any sense? It looks like a flower this way with the separation though. And those mitts are perfection, such happy bouncy color, I love how the yellow bounces around!