House Paint, Cardboard and Courage: The Making of 'Outside the Box'

Outside the Box – Finding Freedom in Paint, Cardboard and Play

Our recent exhibition, Outside the Box, has been one of the most invigorating and liberating art experiences I’ve ever had.

What began as an idea to shake up our usual process quickly turned into a two-week creative whirlwind that redefined how both Peter and I think about painting.

Painting Without Rules

The concept was simple — and completely different.

We decided to paint using house paint and house painting brushes, not artist materials, and to work on packing cardboard instead of canvas or board.

Immediately, that decision changed everything.

There was no pressure for perfection, no preciousness about materials — just pure, unfiltered creativity.

It gave us complete freedom: freedom to choose any subject, to experiment with style, to work on any scale, and most importantly, to follow impulse rather than plan.

Each morning, we’d decide what to paint only moments before starting, often inspired by something that caught our eye the day before. By evening, a new idea would already be forming for tomorrow.

Over those two weeks, the subjects were wildly varied — cows, bees, trucks, nudes, horses, abstracts, swagmen, allegorical scenes, sunsets, and landscapes.

It was an explosion of ideas and colour, full of spontaneity and play.

The Exhibition

When Outside the Box opened, the response was overwhelming.

A large and enthusiastic crowd filled the gallery, and the energy in the room matched the spirit of the paintings themselves — bold, playful, and alive.

Both Peter and I were thrilled to see such a positive reaction, with the majority of our works selling on opening night.

We’ve since added new pieces to replace the sold ones, and at the time of writing, the exhibition remains on show until the end of November.

Sharing the Process: The Workshop

The energy and freedom we felt while creating the exhibition made us realise we had to share this process with others.

So, the following weekend, we ran a small workshop based on the same approach — using house paint, cardboard, and big brushes to unlock creativity.

There were only four participants, but it was an incredible experience.

Without the usual pressure of materials or expectations, everyone quickly relaxed and began exploring in new ways. Watching that unfold confirmed for us that this method is a powerful way to reconnect with the joy of painting.

Reflections

Outside the Box reminded me that sometimes the best art happens when we let go of control — when we stop worrying about “good” or “bad” and just make.

This project rekindled my sense of play and curiosity. It also reminded me how important it is to try something different now and then, both for creative growth and sheer enjoyment.

The response from the exhibition and the success of the workshop have encouraged us to keep exploring this idea further — and to continue finding ways to paint outside the box.