Reawakening Your Playful and Adventurous Side through Playing with Color

​When is the last time your inner child came out to play?  The one that’s full of bubbling energy and loves to play.
 
Have you ever been with young children when their eyes sparkle with delight over something new?  Soon they’re hopping up and down, smiling ear to ear.

​You probably had similar experiences as a young child too. 
 
You can tap into this abundant joy and energy of your inner child now to bring forth in creative play.
 
You don’t ever lose this playful and adventurous side. It’s always there. It just may need a little dusting off and coaxing to see the light of day!

Want to awaken your creative, playful side more to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my upcoming course Master Your Creativity, starting again this fall. 

​Join me on a playful adventure in color today. Take a moment and look around the room or space where you are right now. 
 
What do you see? What colors are in your environment? 
 
We’re surrounded by color in our lives every day. They’re everywhere – in nature, your home, stores, restaurants, your clothes and your food.
 
Have you ever considered how much color affects you? 
 
Even though we may not realize it, color has a powerful impact on our experiences each day. It can shift your mood, your feelings and even support healing in your body. 
 
It’s almost like color has a secret language. It can help you to feel calm and peaceful within or it can energize and excite you. It can give you strength and courage or it can open your heart to feel love and compassion. 
 
I can think of a particular restaurant I like to visit for brunch on the weekend that’s decorated in orange. Orange stools at a counter, orange paint on the wall in the entrance, an orange sign – a lively, energizing and active color for a Saturday or Sunday meal. 
 
I can also think of a spa where I’ve gone for massages with a subdued color palette of light blue, sage green and beige. As you enter the building, there is a quiet atmosphere with the sound of gentle running water in a fountain in the background. The colors almost embrace you and ask you to relax.
 
Think of a place you’ve visited recently. 
 
What are the colors that arise as you picture it in your mind?  How do those colors make you feel? 
 
Color can be such a helpful tool for us. Exploring the power of color can help us bring out that playful inner child and move out of our adult overwhelm into inspiration and creativity, feeling energized once again and relaxed at the same time.
 
I invite you to bring your inner child to go on a playful, color journey with some paint.
 
Playing with colors in painting is a perfect way to explore the creative and healing powers of color.
 
No judgment, no special skills needed.  Just a willingness to play with color! 

​All you really need are the colors red, yellow and blue.  And the supplies to paint and a little time to explore.  Then you’re ready to begin!
 
Playing with the Color Yellow
Start with a good amount of the color yellow on your paintbrush. Place it right in the center of your paper. Watch as the white paper transforms.
 
Start spreading the yellow paint out from the center in a circular manner like the sun radiating out until the whole paper has color. 
 
Now, set down your brush and look at the yellow on the paper. Sit quietly for a few minutes concentrating on the color.
 
How does it make you feel?  What descriptive words come to mind about the color or your feelings?
 
If yellow was walking down the sidewalk, how would it walk?  Write down your thoughts. 
 
Exploring the Color Blue
Now, let’s try blue. Clean your brush and get your paper ready.
 
Start with a strong blue on the periphery of the paper as if it were embracing the center. Then slowly start bringing the blue into the center, letting it lighten as you move it across the paper. 
 
Set down your brush again and look at the blue on the paper. Sit quietly for a few minutes concentrating on the color.
 
How does blue make you feel?  What descriptive words come to mind for the color or your feelings?
 
If blue was walking down the sidewalk, how would it walk?  Write down your thoughts once again. 
 
Discovering the Color Red
Let’s wrap up our exploration with the color red. Prepare your brush and paper.
 
Start with a strong red up in a corner.  Let it move in a diagonal direction to fill the paper, allowing it to lighten as you go.
 
Sit quietly for a few minutes concentrating on the color. Notice the difference between red and pink if you have both on your paper.

How does red make you feel? What descriptive words come to mind about this color or your feelings? 
 
If red was walking down the sidewalk, how would it walk?  Write down your thoughts. 
 
If you enjoyed this exploration in color, I encourage you to do it again sometime and start blending colors to create orange, green or violet with the same attention to how each one affects you. Let me know how it goes! 
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side more to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my upcoming course Master Your Creativity, starting again this fall.