If you’ve ever participated in one of my workshops or interactive keynote presentations, you’ll know there are epic levels of craft supplies involved!
In the lead-up to any event, big or small, my garage is a veritable tsunami of coloured paper, glitter, oil pastels, stickers, pipecleaners, and paint as I plan what interactions and activities I’ll use.
To a fly on the wall, it probably looks like I go to my (epic) collection of craft materials and randomly throw things into boxes!
But in reality, a significant amount of thought and consideration goes into selecting the materials that find their way into the boot of my car, onto my little wheelie cart, and patiently wait on the table at each event.
Sometimes the decision is a logistical one, based on the numbers in the room or the space available to me (anyone want to roll balls of plasticine for 600 people in five different colours?!).
Other times, I choose a particular material because it offers a concrete way to help specific information resonate.
And yes, every so often, I deliberately pick a creative exploration that I know will be met with some resistance.
Here’s the thing…. each medium has a unique personality and provides ways for people to engage and interact using a creative vocabulary that goes beyond human words.
When the art supplies come out, it might not be as random as you first thought.
I avoid using markers on anything people don’t want to record permanently. But they’re great for locking in positives, goals, ambition, or consolidating actions.
Plasticine is a beautiful medium to explore the idea of things that are hard to move at first, but over time become pliable; colours mix (are you twitching at the thought?!), and one thing can be moulded into another.
Paint is flowy (and messy!). You can move and create action with it, especially when you leave imperfection at the door and go brush-free.
When you need to put the pieces together, yep, hello collage!
Figurines are good for seeing stories from different perspectives. The list goes on.
Just like we use symbols and metaphors to describe things, art materials work in the same way.
Best of all, it’s great FUN!
Here’s to a week of being well.
Bel
PS: I’d LOVE to bring paint, glitter, or pipecleaners to your workplace, organisation, or team. Find out more about how interactive wellbeing workshops and creative exploration build more confident, cohesive, and connected teams HERE (or hit reply and arrange a time to chat).