2011 Resolution 4: Daily Creative Activity

Unlock Your Creativity

Collage, Derwent Intense Watercolor Pencils,
Office Max brand metallic markers,
acrylic paint, key embellishment.

Whether it's journaling or writing or making artist cards or planning other creative projects I resolve to not let my creative endeavors be put off until another day. I recently listened to a another woman lament that she needed to find a place in her home to do art, and I recognized the excuse I used to make. I think we often wait for the time/space/money we think we need to express our creativity.

I used to say that I needed to wait to do art until I had a dedicated room or studio. Now I know that a TV tray will do, or the kitchen table. Supplies can be purchased at craft stores with 40% off coupons or during sales. And supplies don't have to be fancy. You will find good art supplies at Office supply stores and your local Target. Finally, artist cards, with their small size do not require a lot of time to complete. No excuses.

More About the Creative Process

"Unlock" (series, 2 0f 6)

I was thinking about what I wrote about the creative process last night. I wanted to talk about the pitfalls on the path of the creative process. Here's were you can fall into and get stuck:

• Never getting beyond the inspiration (bolt from the blue) stage.
  I tend to be a dreamer as opposed to a doer, so I really understand this one. Daydreaming and brainstorming are very pleasurable but there are next steps that must not be ignored. There is more "real" pleasure in bringing you ideas to life rather than just dreaming about them.
• Stopping when the hard work starts.I've heard creatives call this part of the process "the shitty part". That's a good way to say it, in some ways, because it acknowledges there is a "shitty part" that is part of an often rather pleasant voyage. You may feel lost at sea but don't give up. You may need to truly experience the storm, or sea creatures, or just look up through our atmosphere and into the mystery of space, or chart an entirely different course. But know this: breakthrough follows breakdown when we are talking about the creative journey. It's not really that hard but you have to keep working. As an exercise keep on working on a drawing, painting, whatever until you have passed through the ugly duckling stage. Takes time.
• Not realizing that it takes some pushing and persistence to birth your project.This is related to the bullet above. The creative process takes not only skipping through the daisies but also a bit of sweat and blood. If it takes work it does NOT mean that you are somehow doing it wrong. It is not all easy but it all turns out to be worth it.
• Asking for feedback from those who do not mean you well.Hate to tell you but there are those just waiting to stomp on your creative effort. Beware of those who offer devastating "advice".
• Asking for feedback from those who are blocked creatives or who fear the creative process.
  There are those who are themselves blocked creatives who fear the unknown or have been taught that the creative process is a waste of time, waste of materials, just for children or the soft of head or heart.
• Asking for feedback from those who think artists are weird, incomprehensible, insane, (fill in the blank).
  People are really different from each other in many ways. Some people live exclusively in their logical, rational minds and can not comprehend why anyone would even want to go to the "right side" of their brains. Just see what happens when you ask a logical/rational predominate person to make a mind map instead of an outline (this is the college teacher part of myself talking). Humorous, expect insults. Sometimes is not that they don't want to "be creative". It's just really, really foreign to them.
• Giving up because you mistake the "happy accidents" for insurmountable problems.My favorite parts of the creative process are the moments when something does not turn out the way you expected and you have to come up with a new idea to go on. When you say--"Oh, this is a door--wonder what's behind it" rather than "Oh, I messed up, there's a brick wall, better stop" you will discover what the creative process is really all about.
• Perfectionism/Over controlBottom line, need to give it up to the Great Creative. You could call it your muse, your creative impulse, your guardian angel or anything you like, but, I'm telling you, there is a force greater than yourself that gets expressed when you let go to the creative process. You don't control everything, you know (smile).
• Fear of Cracking EggsTell that maternal voice that is telling you to not make a mess to just go iron some sheets or something. Ever heard the saying "You can't make an omelet without cracking some eggs"? Get cracking. Remember when you inner child wanted to play in the mud and let the child play. We've got plenty of soap, water and clean clothes for later.
• Post-project depressionThis common reality has ruined many a famous (and unknown) artist. At the end of each creative project there is often a let down. It's like a hormone drop after giving birth. It can be a powerful biological reality. What to do: overlap projects so the new project high overlaps the finished project let down. Prepare for the letdown by planning for future projects, taking a holiday or adding a positive new routine (walking, exercise, going to a new place to journal and sketch or write). Meditate. Get plenty of sleep.
  What not to do: drink to excess or drug or other self medication or self or other attack strategies.
• Fear of completion/the end/being finished/looking at the "results"This can be related to stopping when the going gets tougher than you expected. But there are some who fear the journey's end. Fear of failure? Fear of success? Not wanting the fun to end? You know (or are beginning to know) where you fall on this continuum. Journal about it. Come to terms with the fact that everything that exists in time has a beginning, middle and end. But there is no shortage of creative ideas available to you. You literally can't use them all up. There is always a new journey to be begun. Love what you create, or hate it or use it as fertilizer to grow your next project. Not every one of your brain children is going to win a beauty contest--but guaranteed that each of your completed projects will have a unique and compelling quality or two.
  So go an MAKE something!

The Blue Door Re-Opened

"Unlock" series (1 of 6)

I used the "Blue Door" Artist Card as a background for a series of 6 cards with the "Key" theme for a swap on the Yahoo ATC Anonymous group. I cut up and collaged a photo of brushes, used part of RedLine stamp "Unlock Your Creativity". A little bit of embossing, key charm from K & Company, hammered brad (I love hammering brads). I like that this card has that same story book quality that the Blue Door card does.

To me the way to "unlock your creativity" is to get out your brushes (or what have you) and keep on working (actually playing) through all the phases of the creative process. Briefly those stages are (I'm making up the stage names as I'm going along): Re-charging, Bolt From the Blue, Imagining the Possibilities, Making a Plan, Gathering Supplies, Making a Start, Honeymoon, Hitting Obstacles, Persistance, Breakthrough, Big Finish (or little, medium or indifferent finish), Possible Post-project Depression (avoided or lessened by overlapping projects), Re-charging, Bolt From the Blue, Imagining the Possibilities, Making a Plan, Gathering Supplies, Making a Start, Honeymoon, Hitting Obstacles, Persistance, Breakthrough, Big Finish, Post-partum Depression, Re-charging...

My favorite parts: well, of course, the Bolt From the Blue, then the happy accidents that happen all along the way, and, oh, I like looking at what I made, and showing my friends. The creative journey's path is cobbled with happy accidents. I am so grateful. The unexpected problems/solutions--they tickle.

Live in Harmony

"Live in Harmony"

I found a nice picture of a castle in the Sunday paper and made a transfer of it with soft gel matte medium (Golden). I placed this on a piece of scrapbook paper from a scrapbook pad from K & Company (Life's Journey). The paper had a handwritten musical notations on it. Since the acrylic transfer "skin" is semi transparent the notes ghosted through. I emphasized them with Glossy Accents (Ranger) and then inked them with a permanent marker. I added a bit of color with the Derwent Intense Watercolor Pencils and added a caption with a Dymo labeler. I not totally sure about the Dymo script. May change that. The notes call for more of a calligraphy text. Put a music score and a castle together and it can only be "Live in Harmony". I like that the notes flow through the house and that the windows are lit and the door is open. I like that the music comes into the foreground.

Blue Door

This is another card I made today. It is a hand drawing of a blue door. I was working on cards with a "key" theme but decided to first draw a few doors. The blue door was drawn with Derwent Intense Watercolor Pencils and a gold pen (Sanford). I also did a new version of the the art card "Open". Also with the "key" theme.

Open 2

The actual card has a background that is less mauve and more the color of leather. This card is very similar to the first Open card but has had a lot more Glossy Accents (Ranger) added. I really like that this product stays where you draw it on and dries crystal clear.

I'm going to have to pay attention to the door, lock, and key theme. I know that, although I am an introvert, or I guess because I'm an introvert, I am working to push my limits in terms of opening my creative self up to others with this blog, teaching art and other subjects, and putting my art cards out there for others to see on facebook and elsewhere. Everyone has been so supportive. So the opening, however tentative and scary, continues. You open me by being willing to look and comment and share your own work. I open by responding and sharing more.