Materials, Tools, and Attire for Creative Play

To enjoy creating, you don’t need all (or even most) of these items. At the bare minimum, you will need a surface to write or create images on, something to write or make marks with, a space where you will feel free to move and create, and willingness to move and make sound with your body. The rest is optional. That said, here are some other items that might be fun. Most can be acquired or made without a lot of money.

Art Journal

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

A sketchbook or journal can be a container that preserves some of the timeline of your work. It can be a way to look back at your process. It can be your safe, private place to play and not worry about outcomes. Think about what size will work best for you. Choose paper that can handle whatever media you might use. Heavier paper such as “multi-media” or watercolor paper allows for the most flexibility. If you choose an existing notebook, you can add pockets, decorate the cover, or add backgrounds to the pages to make it your own. Creating your own journal or altering a book can also be fun. Think about whether it’s important to you to use archival materials such as acid free paper.

A pen or pencil or both

It’s important to have something you are comfortable writing or drawing with that works well with the surface you are using. Not being able to erase can either be a useful constraint or a barrier.

Comfortable clothes you can move in

It’s fun if you like how they look, too, but most important is that you can move comfortably.

Large Newsprint Pad

I love having a large (at least 18x24) newsprint pad to use for scribbling warm ups, to catch messes under smaller work, a surface to clean tools, etc. It’s so helpful to have a large surface handy that I’m not worried about wasting or messing up.

A Musical Instrument

Percussion is the first thing that comes to mind. Small drums, shakers, and sticks are easy to create at home. Recorders, whistles, and harmonicas can be fun, too. “Children’s” versions of musical instruments are often less expensive and easier to use. If you already play an instrument, choose something for this that you feel free to jam with.

Crayons or Pastels

Crayons are my favorite for scribbling and bringing out my inner child. Pastels work, too, but they can be messier and more expensive. If that will constrain you, go with crayons.

Watercolor Paint

Children’s or student watercolors are inexpensive and readily available. The brushes in children’s sets can be terrible, though, so pay attention to whether the brush in the set seems flexible enough. You may decide to invest in one nicer brush.

Tempura Paint

Tempura is also inexpensive and easily bought. You can also make your own, if that sounds like fun. It’s non-toxic and easy to clean up.

Markers

Markers come in a variety of quality levels and prices. Water based markers will not work as well over other media. Alcohol-based markers (like sharpies) are more likely to work over other media and bleed through paper.

Collage Materials

The least expensive way to get collage materials is to save any of the paper that crosses your path that has interesting images, color or pattern on it: junk mail, brochures, catalogs, menus, calendars, wrapping paper, etc. Construction paper is usually inexpensive and can be fun to have. You can also make your own collage papers with paint, stamps, stencils, gel printing, etc. I tear up my scribbles and paint clean up papers for collage paper, too. Some people even like to use paper towels and wet wipes that they’ve used to clean up paint, ink, etc.

Glue

A glue stick is useful for quick work on the go. Wetter glue with a brush may have a stronger bond and work with a wider variety of materials. You can make paste at home with flour and water. Glue also comes in archival forms. Is it important to you that this work will last without yellowing?

Music

I may play music while we work, but you may choose a particular song or genre to set the mood or even to respond to as you work.

Play Dough, Air Dry Clay, Etc

Play dough (purchased or home made) is fun for temporary art work. Air dry clay is an easy way to create something more lasting. There are other products available too. Explore as you will.

Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash

Natural Objects

Small objects from nature such as stones, shells, leaves, seeds, dead insects, etc, can be interesting to use in sculpture or to create temporary installations, altars, mandalas, and more.

Artifacts

Similar to above, you can use small objects such as toys, statues, beads, cloth, string, etc, to create installations, sculpture, altars, and more.

Books

Books can be fun to flip through at random to gather words for found poetry, quotes, or bibliomantic inspiration. Images in books can be used for reference or even collage if you don’t mind altering the book.

Play with these materials when you join one of my upcoming Creative Play Groups. You can sign up here