HANDMADE GOODNESS QUARTERLY JUNE 2014
ISSUE 2
type, color and pattern. Some students are thrilled with the freedom that open-ended
instruction offers; at the same time, I have seen many of my students freeze when they are
not provided a cookbook-style lesson. Whimpers of “I don’t know what to do!” arise along
with doubt, fear, nervousness and comments like, “Hey, I
thought this is supposed to be fun!”
I begin each 10-week beginning beading class by
explaining my teaching philosophy: that my intention is
to provide clear instruction and ample practice in the
foundational techniques, but that I do not teach
cookbook-style, “projects”. I do not expect nor would I
feel good about everyone walking out of class with a piece,
exact in color and design – in fact I would feel mortified! I
believe the learning of technique and creative expression
can be facilitated at the same time; I know also that
getting the flow of creativity moving can feel mighty
uncomfortable at first. Only half-jokingly, I tell my
students that I’m fine with that.
When starting a project, it is ok to feel like you don’t
know what to pick, how to move forward, what your end product will look like. In fact,
when shifting from a prescribed way of doing anything to an innovative path, the often
uncomfortable place of unknowing is essential. This discomfort is the doorway to problem
solving, innovation, personal vision, and invention; it is the place where creativity lives.
All this talk about discomfort and why it’s beneficial is well and good, but creating art of
any type requires actually doing something, doesn’t it? So, how do you step out of the
frozen feeling of not being able to start? How can you get out of your head and into the
creative flow?
Here’s a quick exercise I teach my students for choosing beading materials when the mind
feels confused about what to pick. This method of assessment is taken from my work in the
healing arts, and is used for “seeing” with the inner eye and tapping into intuition. You can
adapt this method for any artistic endeavor.
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