Reconnected with Playfulness in Art
Warm-ups are something many artists associate with their early years—whether it was in school or as a beginner, it was always something led by a teacher. For me, warm-ups were just that: something from childhood art classes or university courses where the exercises were prescribed, and you simply followed along. I have always enjoyed these exercises, but hadn’t really given them much thought in my own practice as an adult artist—until my time at Arteles.
At Arteles, a fellow studio mate and I decided to bring back the spirit of those warm-ups, but in a way that was much more self-led and spontaneous. We made a list of exercises, some from our past experiences and others completely new, and tossed them into a bowl to draw from. We kept them on a shared table and would invite people once a week to take part. This was key—it was about allowing ourselves the freedom to pick something at random, making the process feel like a fun, collaborative game rather than a rigid task.
Some of my favorite warm-ups included drawing with both hands, sketching with my eyes closed, or drawing without looking at the paper. We’d switch papers with the person next to us every 30 seconds, or draw multiple poses on the same page. The time limit meant you couldn’t worry about the final product being “ugly” or “bad.” It forced you to let go of perfectionism and just create. The short time frame demanded a strategic approach—how much could you get down in just a few moments? There was no time to get caught up in making something perfect, which added an incredible amount of energy and movement to the work.
This reintroduction of warm-ups had an immediate impact on my creativity. I found myself more open and willing to let go of perfectionism. These exercises helped me see the beauty in imperfect marks and made me realize how much energy you can inject into your art if you just let go a little. In a way, they broke me out of my habits and routine ways of seeing a subject or making marks. After each warm-up, I noticed how energized and creative I felt, ready to dive into my work with a fresh perspective.
One of the joys of these warm-ups was the group aspect. Drawing with other artists, sharing a laugh, and seeing all the unique marks being made by everyone—it felt like group play. It was such a lighthearted, fun way to warm up together, especially if we had been working on a piece for too long and needed a break. It helped us not take ourselves too seriously and brought a refreshing playfulness back into our art.
Since leaving Arteles, I’ve continued to incorporate warm-ups into my practice, though I’ve had to adjust the approach. I’ve started using the book Creative Block: Get Unstuck, Discover New Ideas: Advice & Projects from 50 Successful Artists by Danielle Krysa. I’ll open it to a random page, read a bit, and take on the suggestions for the day. It’s like stretching before a run—it helps you limber up and get the creativity flowing. However, I do miss the group dynamic. I find it harder to do warm-up exercises by myself; there’s something about being in a group that keeps the exercises playful and fun, and it lowers my self-criticism.
This has inspired me to think about hosting a workshop in my studio focused on these fun, light drawing exercises. It would be a way to bring that group energy back and allow others to experience the power of playful warm-ups.
For any artist who isn’t currently using warm-ups, I can’t recommend them enough. It’s so important to change up your practice and maintain that beginner mindset. We need to keep experimenting and finding ways to bring playfulness back into our work. These quick exercises might seem like a waste of time at first, but I’ve never regretted doing them. They always teach me something new and unexpected about my creative process.
