When was the last time you had the chance to decide you wanted to be a beginner?
As I turned on the faucet and watched the cold water trickle across the paper turning the light shade of blue deep and rich, I was reminded of how special it is when we find something new that peaks our interest and we decide to dive in as a beginner.
That feeling of a whole new world of possibilities opening up right before your eyes, excitement (and maybe a bit of nervousness), wonder and curiosity, anticipation, getting the chance to experience and learn something new.
During these past few weeks I've been testing out cyanotype treated paper for May's Creative Spark Club mail and it was my first time using it! I've always loved how it looked and had so much fun finally getting to try this process and figuring things out. There were definitely times when I didn't know what I was doing and things didn't work out but it surprisingly didn't feel frustrating--more like an experiment where I needed to make some adjustments and try again. It was exciting to see what would happen next, even if the results weren't perfect!
As an adult, the opportunities to be a beginner can get smaller and smaller and I think it's important to seek it out in areas we're curious about, to get the opportunity it be a humble student, add something new to our routine, and to go outside our comfort zones. In this space we can find growth, joy, and connection with different parts of ourselves.
If cyanotype is also something you've been curious about, you can try it with May's Creative Spark Club project! All you'll need is the paper I'll provide, some items to place on it, and a bit of sunshine and water. Below are more details.
