How we curb creativity
I recently attended a bridal shower in the form of a tea service painting workshop. The idea was to paint some plain white tea sets and service plates as a gift to the bride and groom.
The workshop facilitator started off saying that we were free to paint what we wanted but we had to stick to the following “rules”:
A flower pattern is not art that you create.
- Use only the colors blue, turquoise, pink and orange because that’s the bride’s choice (fair enough)
- Do not mix the colors together because you might end up with a different color (?)
- Do not use too much paint because you’ll come out with a thick layer which makes for uneven surface and then you will have to even out the rest of the surface by using more paint.
- Do not use the brush to create outlines because it will not come out right.
- Use the porcelain paint pens instead of the brush to paint or fill in small figures, otherwise it will smudge.
- You can create flowers and butterflies and leaves … if you don’t know how then we have pattern papers you can trace on to the china.
- Here are examples of what the previous participants did before. (Facilitator proceeded to hand out pictures of tea sets painted by previous participants).
- You may all begin.
Everybody grabbed the flower paper patterns and traced it onto the cups and plates.
Expression of a flower pattern...
I wondered why we didn’t go to Ikea instead.
Imagine what the outcome would have been if the facilitator started off with this statement:
“Create an expression of your wish for the bride and groom by painting the images you feel towards them and their life together”.
Not quite a flower, perhaps?
Imagine the self-discovery. Imagine the creativity. Imagine the possibilities.
