Last week, Northern California's never-ending rain temporarily took a break (so needed, thank you!), the sky turned gorgeous, and it was a great moment to bring out the cotton candy machine for our dorm students.

Have you ever made cotton candy?

The process goes something like this:

Turn the machine on and heat it up (best to do this outdoors because it’s loud!)
Hold a paper cone in one hand and pour sugar into the middle of the machine with the other.
As soon as the sugar hits the heat, candy starts flying, so be ready.
Quickly catch and twirl the candy onto the cone!

With the "help" of some late afternoon wind, we swirled up not-so-perfect (but totally amazing) candy mushrooms, umbrellas, jellyfish, and goblins, and laughed through the process of catching the wispy candy.

Guess what? No matter how they looked, they tasted amazing AND we discovered that, as often happens, the process was far more important than the product 😋

This sweet process got me thinking about the creative process in art.

Like cotton candy making, art can also be adventurous and unpredictable but oh-so-worthwhile when we lean into the value of process over product and keep an eye out for surprises! 🧐🌈

How can you do this? When looking for surprise moments in art you could:

Experiment with new materials, techniques, or ideas you've never explored before.
Step out of your comfort zone by collaborating with your kids, friends, other artists, or participating in group art projects.
Act on impulse. If a wild idea comes your way, throw caution to the wind and try it.
Embrace serendipity in your work. Did you make a mistake? Celebrate your humanness and see if you can turn it into a win. Unexpected moments can lead to innovative and exciting results.

Surprises in art can teach us valuable lessons, reveal hidden truths or talents, and inspire us to push our creative boundaries.

In the words of the ever-inspiring Julia Cameron, author of one of my favorite books, The Artist's Way,

"Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise..."

Keep an eye out for those surprises,

Rachelle, Chief Candy Creator

p.s. Looking for more inspiration, fueled by surprise? Here are 3 resources to help nurture your creativity:

Discover art for every season with "Art around the Year: 36 Lessons for Every Season." Start exploring now.

Ignite your child, students', or family's creative spark with TinkerLab Schoolhouse's creativity-boosting projects, printables, and calendars. Join here.

Build your creative skills with our Live Professional Development Workshops for teachers, docents, and adult groups. Reserve your spot today.