Quotes: Carl Jung

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves."

–– Carl Jung (1875-1961), Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist 

via: Commonplace Book 2006-2009, 2009, p. 190. 

Quotes: Eric Booth

"Learning theorists now argue for the importance of non-productive play as a critical component of productive advancement. Play is one of the few universal ways in which we test what we know."

–– Eric Booth, American actor, teacher, and author 

Source: Eric Booth. The Everyday Work of Art. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, 1997; p. 143.

via: Commonplace Book 2006-2009, 2009, p. 190. 

For the past three years, I have maintained a daily sketchbook practice. It's a durational art practice and the purpose of it is for creative self-care and to see how I and the practice develop over time. In these dedicated sketchbooks (I have now filled 13), I go through phases of collage, drawing, painting, printmaking. Each day I play. Each day I "see and respond."

Quotes: Songezo Zantsi

"I close my [studio] day with a process I've come to enjoy over the years, creating small works that allow me to play outside my usual medium of oil painting. It's my way of experimenting with materials I'm not typically known for, such as polish and calamine, and working on different surfaces such as wood, paper or canvas. I also explore using watercolours, oil pastels and soft pastels. These pieces are more about embracing mistakes and letting go of the day's creative energy. I don't judge myself when creating these works; they're a space to experiment and release any built-up tension. If one of these works sparks more interest or inspiration overnight, I'll revisit it the next morning, but in the moment, it's just about letting go and playing." 

–– Songezo Zantsi (b. 1991), South African visual artist

Source: House and Leisure South Africa, Autumn 2025, Digest/Studio visits, Songezo Zantsi, p. 229. 

via: Sketchbook U 21, 2025, p. 8-9. 

Quotes: David Hockney

"People tend to forget that play is serious." 

–– David Hockney (b. 1937), English painter and printmaker

Source: David Hockney. Independent.co.uk, Friday October 15, 1993

Quotes: Robin Wall Kimmerer

"But isn't play the way we get limbered up for the work of the world?"

–– Robin Wall Kimmerer (b. 1953), American writer, ecologist, botanist, professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation 

Source: Robin Wall Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Milkweed Editions, 2013; p. 94.

Listening to Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass and then reading a physical copy once the first lockdown was over got me through the pandemic. I would read a chapter before bed to calm my stressed mind. 

Quotes: Hans Zimmer

"Life isn't as long as you think it is. You have a choice: You can go and try to live a playful life, or you can go and live a life which excludes playfulness. And it doesn't get you anywhere. Playfulness gets you somewhere." 

–– Hans Zimmer (b. 1957), German-born American film score composer and music producer 

Source: Austin Kleon newsletter Friday April 19, 2024. 

via: Art Alternatives Knapsack Sketchbook L 2024, p. 12.

Quotes: Doris Lessing

"Words. Words. I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination, will say what I want." 

–– Doris Lessing (1919-2013), British-Zimbabwean novelist 

via: Striped notebook, 2016, p.1.

Quotes: Rem Koolhaas

"Without firm limits there is no play." 

–– Rem Koolhaas (b. 1944), Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist, professor 

via Sketchbook 19, 2012, p. 26

Quotes: David Horvitz

"Do something everyday, regardless. Nothing will happen unless you first initiate a process of cause and effect. This starts with an action. Reawaken the possibility of possibility. Reawaken it with play." 

–– David Horvitz (b. 1982), American visual artist 

via: Sketchbook 15, 2011, p. 143

Quotes: George Bernard Shaw

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." 

–– George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish playwright, critic, and social activist 

via Sketchbook 13, 2010, p. 17

Creativity quotes: Abraham Maslow

"Almost all creativity requires purposeful play." 

–– Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), American psychologist

Black History quotes: Miles Davis

"Don't play what's there; play what's not there." 

–– Miles Davis (1926-1991), American musician, bandleader, and composer 

Quotes 340: Keri Smith

"Never limit your playtime. Even if your brain is telling you otherwise.

All your best stuff comes from it if you allow yourself to remain open to the unknown." 

–– Keri Smith (b. 1975) Canadian writer, illustrator, and conceptual artist

Quote from Keri Smith blogpost on December 16, 2009

via Sketchbook 9, 2009, p. 66

Studio Series: ink spots

Ink spots © Karen Thiessen, 2016

When I last saw Dorothy Caldwell at the opening of her travelling exhibition Silent Ice/Deep Patience at the IdeaExchange in Cambridge, Ontario, I asked her about the washes on her newer quilts. Dorothy told me that she had grown tired of drawing the designs, waiting for her silkscreens to be exposed with her designs, be shipped back to her, and then her finally printing the fabric. Too much time elapsed between the initial mark-making on paper and the final result on fabric. She decided to work more directly by brushing washes of India ink onto the fabric. 

Dorothy's use of a non-traditional colorant inspired me to play with India ink on fabric in my own way. I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Hi-Carb India ink in black. I discovered this brand a few years ago from Keri Smith's blog: it's her favourite ink. It's mine now too.

Studio Series: monoprint

Cabbage monoprint © Karen Thiessen, 2016

New studio rhythms means time to muck around. This cabbage monoprint really does look like the cross-section of a brain. What do you think?

Portland, Oregon: The Arthur

The Arthur Door; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

While walking around Portland, Oregon in August, this coral and striped door caught my eye. It's a first indication that the Arthur is a hip and happening place. Originally built as a hotel in 1912, the Arthur is now a modernized community-oriented apartment building featuring 50 micro-studios.

The Arthur; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

Even the sign was given special treatment with its own font.

My tired mahogany front door needs a make-over and the punchy coral with stripes gives me ideas. I've taped paint chips to the door and have until spring to audition colours and view them in varying light conditions before it's warm enough to paint. My mail carrier is probably amused by the continuously changing constellation. I see a trip to the Benjamin Moore store in my near future: my door craves (hued) chips!

Studio play

Bunny © Karen Thiessen, 2015

Recently I discovered the work of Sabine Timm. My bunny is an homage to Sabine, a.k.a. virgin honey. This is what happens when one is overcoming resistance! 

Studio Series: still life

Still life; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2015

While I was overcoming resistance, I channelled my inner Camilla Engman and played with photographing a few vignettes. Camilla makes it look so easy. It's not.

Studio Series: Lent drawings & more

An accumulation of Lent drawings © Karen Thiessen, 2014

Today marks 200 days since the beginning of Lent and this intuitive mark-making practice. Lately I've gone through a lot of acrylic ink as you can see from this pile of drawings. FW acrylic artists' inks offer a consistent quality. They cost more than other acrylic inks, but are worth it. 

Lent drawing & triangles quilt square © Karen Thiessen, 2014

The circles drawing in the above image is on an envelope with a subtle security pattern. I have a large collection of security patterns and not all of them are that interesting on their own, but they provide a nice background for my Lent drawings. To the right is my first attempt at piecing with triangles. I have more waiting to be sewn. I'm curious to see how I can push the triangle and how I will integrate it with other techniques.

Studio Series: Arrow mug

Arrow mug © Karen Thiessen, 2013

Early in 2013 I grabbed some boring mugs from the coffee cupboard at church and drew on them anonymously and then replaced them. Could I call this coffee mug bombing (an alternative to yarn bombing)? I used Pebeo Porcelaine 150 china markers. They are available at Curry's in Ontario.