ART Playbook ART Playbook - Summer 2014 - Premier Issue | Page 13

Premier Issue - Summer 2014 | 13

Preparing for the FUN!
Pre-Event Prep:
Review this guide thoroughly and
be sure to find all the resources we
have created for you. Watch the
project video to get familiar with
the process. Decide on the format
you would like to use for the activity. This will depend on a number of
factors: budget, supplies available,
your desire to find ways to recycle,
skill level of participants, what you
are comfortable working with, and
time available. We typically plan
for a 2 1/2 - 3 hour session. On
the following pages you will see two
formats illustrated. One (Format
A) is on canvas and is a bit more
involv ed as far as the number of layers painted. The other (Format B)
is a slightly simpler version of the
same activity using mostly recycled
materials. The intention of both is
to start by working collaboratively
on one large piece of either paper or
canvas and then later divide it up
into individual pieces to be worked
on further by each individual. Depending on the materials you choose
to use, this may or may not be
possible. Our process includes this
collaborative stage of the project so
if you choose not to, or are unable
to do so due to the supplies you
are using, just adjust the activity
accordingly to eliminate the collaborative work and have participants work individually right from
the start. (We don’t recommend
this for this project given that the
theme is largely about our connections to one another, however it will
work either way.) The final decision
you need to make is how you will
finish the project….again, time and

supplies are a factor. The painted
background could be used as a banner, it could become the cover for a
book, or sewn into a sleeve that can
be used over and over to cover and
protect books, or it could be simply
left ready for framing. If you do
plan to use it for covering books or
for framing, you will want to decide
on a specific finished size that will
work. For instance, a finished size
of 8”x10” will be easy to find a
standard frame for. A sleeve for
a book will need to be calculated
based on the size of book to be covered. In that case it would be wise
to make up a rough sample to see
what size will fit best. Just know
this….this is YOUR project…adjust
it the way you like, that suits you
and your “audience” the best. Once
all decisions are made, you can begin your scavenger hunt for supplies
and cool tools for mark making.
Send out your invitations if you
choose to use them. (Downloadable
blank invitations are provided on
the resources page.)

Set-Up Your Space:
1. Gather all supplies and before
set up, take a moment to be still.
Set an intention for yourself and for
the group, and then sit in silence for
10-15 minutes to ground and centre
yourself. Play soothing and calming music if this supports you. It
is a great help to take these moments for yourself so that you are
relaxed and can focus on the energy
of the group once everyone gathers.
It also puts you in a space where
you can hear your own intuitive
voice and not be distracted by the
laundry list of things that you think

need to be done. This is play time
for everyone, including you - the one
who is leading the session.
2. Set up each play station with
access to a container of water, paint
tray or pallet, (these can be shared),
and name tags if you choose to use
them. Set up a separate area for
food and drinks. Set up a central
area for all your art supplies and
tools with a space big enough for
the collaborative work and for you
to demo. We like to give ourselves a full hour to complete all
of the above so that we can move
at a calm pace. Leaving the usual
frenetic pace behind begins early so
that the energy of the room is calming when guests arrive.

Roll Out the

Welcome Mat:
1. Welcome participants as they
arrive. Play light upbeat music.
Encourage people to grab snacks,
make themselves comfortable, etc.
Once everyone has arrived, begin.
(See Agenda Overview to help guide
you through the process - Pg. 18.) It’s
OK to wait 5 min or so for stragglers,
but any longer than that is going to
throw the timing off and could have
you rushing people to finish….not
exactly the fun and relaxed way to
experience the time together. So, err
on the side of starting right on time.
Leave the door open for stragglers
right up until you are ready to begin
the meditation / visualization. If
you still have some who have not
yet arrived, it would be fine to post
a sign on the door asking them to