How often do you feel tired in a project or group?
Without even trying, we all get tired or settled in routines and find a comfortable role in a group setting. We often need something to booster us out and awaken us to the creative ideas and excitement around us once again.
I have found that small, hands on, creative warm ups can do just that. A creative prompt can be just what is needed to switch the brain from autopilot and release the ability to play. As John Cleese says, “the most creative people have this childlike facility to play.”
Here’s a quick activity where you can encourage play before your next team meeting or group setting. While it is a pretty non-intimidating activity, it also reinforces we all have a different perspective-and that is what makes a beautiful, well-balanced team!
The first step is to glue a bottle cap to another solid surface. We used scrap wood, but you could use paper, cardboard, or a number of other surfaces.
Next, we asked our group to see what that circle could be. I didn’t want to give too many examples, because I really wanted to get their perspective on how they saw that circle. My example was to use the bottle cap as an “o” in the word “pop”.
It was so fun to encourage the artists to just start drawing. This wood slice creation did not have to live in their homes as long as they do. We used paint markers, but you could use pens, sharpies, crayola markers or a number of other writing utensils as well!
Every artist saw something different in that bottle cap. Even those that saw it as an “o” as well, saw it in a different word. Those that saw it as part of a flower, saw a different type or color of flower.
We all have different experiences and outlooks on the world. This quick little activity demonstrated that belief. We then attached all the individual projects together on one big piece of wood. I love how it shows us all coming together to make something beautiful. The collaborative piece can then hang somewhere for everyone to see and be reminded that we have something to offer as individuals that is vital to the bigger picture.
If you want to see this idea in a video form, please check out our video on our YouTube channel, Spoonful of imagination.
Give this project a try and let us know how it goes! Share on social media with #spoonfulofimagination.
