Dabbling as Practice
On Embracing Karen Walrond’s Invitation to be an Amateur
I’ve been spending time with my friend, Karen Walrond’s new book In Defense of Dabbling, and it’s giving me exactly what I hoped it would: a reminder that being an amateur is not a weakness. Being an amateur is an act of love. Amateur literally means one who loves.
That’s the energy I’ve been bringing into my art practice lately. I’ve been teaching myself Adobe Fresco, and let me tell you, friend, YouTube University is unmatched. Whatever you want to learn, there’s a tutorial for it. Before you say “I could never do that” or “I’m not as good as them,” pause and check. Chances are, someone has uploaded a guide that can walk you through step by step.
That’s the joy of dabbling: you don’t have to know everything to begin. You just begin. You try the brush, the color, the texture. You see what happens when you mix things, layer things, cover things. Instead of worrying about whether it’s perfect or polished, you’re just curious about what unfolds.
I started Layered to:
Invite people into the joy of beginning, not to showcase flawless pages.
Share art journaling that’s messy, curious, playful.
Show your handwriting and pages do not need to match anyone’s.
Create a space where you get to be the amateur simply because you love words and art.
For me, dabbling is also how I practice peace. When I pick up a brush (digital or paper), I’m reminded that art doesn’t have to perform. It just has to be. And in that space, I get to just be, too.
So this is your invitation: What would you love to dabble in? What might bring you joy if you let yourself begin, without expectation of mastery, just desire, curiosity and love?