February 5, 2010

Today's tip is brought to you from a website called Creativity Portal and is an article by creativity coach Dan Goodwin

Nourishing Now Wows
By Dan Goodwin
As creative artists we often think wistfully of how an idyllic creative life might be, without the problems we perceive as being present today. We say to ourselves: “One day, when I have (the time / enough ideas / the energy...) I will (write my book / return to painting / learn piano / etc).” By placing such idealistic conditions on our creative lives, in effect we drastically reduce the chance of us ever creating with what we have NOW.
This Creativity Cookie is called Nourishing Now Wows and will help you focus on putting to use all the skills and resources you have available to you right NOW, right here today, instead of putting creating off until a tomorrow that never seems to arrive.
Little Nibble:
The first step here is accepting that conditions will never be perfect for you to create. Write a list of all the things you think you need to have in place, and how they each need to be, for you to be as creative as you can be. Include every last detail you can think of, from having the right equipment, having time, having the right ideas to develop, having the sun shine 24 hours a day...
List everything you think of when you say “I’d be more creative if only I had _______________.”
Then, do the same for everything you have now that you feel stops you creating at your best. Write “I’d be more creative if only I didn’t have _______________.”
Big Bite:
You’ll now see from your two lists all that you perceive as limiting your creativity. Ask yourself honestly, how realistic is it that all of these conditions will EVER be perfectly in place for you to create?
The answer is they won’t.
When you see this truth, it actually gives you great liberation. You realise that because you’ve been waiting for an ideal set of circumstances that won’t ever come to you — or to ANY of us who create — you are now free to do the best you can with what you have. And what you have is a whole lot more than you give yourself credit for.
Focusing on all the shortcomings and “if onlys” is a sure way of overlooking all your creative abilities and the resources available to you right now. So it’s time to readjust that lens.
Write another list, this time beginning each line with: “I can start creating today because _______________.”
Your answers might be things like “I have enough materials”, “I’ve got a good idea I’ve been wanting to develop for a few months”, and “I enjoy creating so much.” List everything you can think of and you’ll soon begin to realise that the reasons why you CAN get creating right here and now are overwhelming.
You know the next step. Motivated by your new realisations, set a little time aside and go create!

February 4, 2010

At some point you must find quiet time. Hopefully you can use some part of every day to find this quiet time, but at least a few times a week, you must and it is essential. Silence from the outside world is where we can find peace and clarity. Do what you have to to find that time away from everything else. Take a walk, meditate, listen to music, whatever works for you to turn down the volume of the outside world.

Quote by Susan Ann Darley – creativity coach
“ Every artists, whether an actor, writer, musician, or visual artist, stands before a blank canvas waiting to be filled. Then, as if by magic, creative intention transforms a vacant stage, a blank page or tightly stretched canvas through colors sounds and images. The intangible becomes tangible. Vision is made concrete by an act of will. “

February 3, 2010 tip

Talk to someone you have never taken the time to talk to before. Maybe there is someone you mostly ignored because they did not seem interesting at first or maybe you pass by a guy everyday on the way to work and never stopped to talk to them. don't you ever wonder what their story is or who they are. I pass by this guy on the way to work sometimes who wears a cowboy outfit and practices lasso'in saw horses. Being a city gal to the core at first I go ugh to cowboy culture, but I love that this guy gets out there without caring who is watching and just does what he loves and it makes me want to stop to talk to him and find out more or just to say hi and thanks for breaking up the monotony of my drive to work. Maybe you don't think talking to these strangers will interest you or help your creativity but it is one of those " you never know until you take the time to try" moments. Talking to people outside your own little circle or world is just another simple way to open your mind to new things.

feb 2, 2010

By some traditions who follow the earth's calender, today is the beginning of Spring planting season and what we actually consider the first day of Spring in March is actually the middle of Spring. As part of it they believed in celebrating and reflecting on a new season and new beginnings.
I think that in sort of keeping with this we should reflect on bringing something new into our lives, maybe learn a new skill, discover a new author, try food you have never tried, or take a new class.Better yet maybe you could even share and introduce something new to someone else and then they could share something new with you.

February 1, 2010

Legacy...
What do you think folks will say when your gone? It doesn't have to be so deep as what would they say on your epitaph when you die, but more what sort of impact to you have on a daily basis. If you were to leave your job what do you think they would say? when you take a class what do you think the instructor would say about you as a student? Or even if you moved away what footprint would you feel you left? It doesn't have to be big, sometimes the small impacts we make in people's lives are just as important.And if you really feel like you have done nothing, then now is the time to turn that around and get creative and make that legacy.

NEw month...

So we have reached the end of the first month of the year. I first am going to apologoze for getting behind several times and not having the days tip up on that day. I do hope that folks are still able to get something out of the tips even when they are delayed though. As I said before, doing this every day has proven to be more of a challenge than I thought since sometimes I go a few days without even looking at the computer. I am still working in getting better on having them up ahead of time at least though so hopefully that will help.While I try to do most of the tips out of my own head or from books I have read in the past, I find that I still have to do a bit more research to find a better variety as I get worried that too many of the tips will seem repetitive and as I discover new places for my own inspiration I will make sure to add the link with the rest.Okay so here we go February, let's Get Creative!

january 31, 2010

Okay so to end the month I think we will go back to a tip from the beginning using color. Before I had you pick 3 colors and only use those in something. This time we are going to pick one color and use it the whole day. Try to document the color in some way noticing all the places you saw that color but also challenge yourself to think about where that color wasn't and why it might have been good for that space that it did not exist in. Would trees or dirt be fun in that color if they aren't already. Get Creative!

january 30, 2010

Yesterday's prompt was deeper I will keep it light and basic for today. If you were a creature other than a human what would you be? Maybe you would be a mouse, a moose, or a dragon, or maybe even a jackelope. It doesn't have to be a real creature. you can get as creative as your brain takes you, just enjoy thinking about it and deciding.

January 29th tip

What would you do if money were no longer what we used to pay for things. No more credit cards, no more cash/checks but we could go back to trade.What would you have to trade.No matter what your creative dreams and aspirations are , think about this becuase it is the time when your creativity would be needed most. If you were a cook could you trade meals and what would you trade for, how would you get your food?Would you grow it yourself or trade for it. If you are a writer what would you do? Could you tell your stories to entertain or self publish? Artists can make things to trade, what would you make? Just take this time and maybe even journal your thoughts about what you would do in a society that no longer used money.

January 28, 2010

For today I am going to get you thinking a bit linear which for some of you probably consider more logical brain then creative brain, but surprisingly can actually stimulate the more abstract creative side.
This exercise may seem silly or simple but it also might make you think about various thought if you don't already.
Draw a line from one side of the page to the other and then flip the page and continue the line at the same level of page as other line which should cause it to be even with the end of line on other side too.
Now this line is obviously flat, yet you have technically just made a circle from two straight lines.
The relation to your creation and this is to make you open your mind to possibilities and to remember that your logical brain will try to tell you that a straight line is just a straight line that follows the same path but in fact it is a circle which connects to it's beginnings and continually evolves and recreates itself.
I know you are thinking ooh "deep thoughts" but it can be a helpful exercise and if you play with circles and lines and testing your mind to see how many times you think they cross each other and can stimulate the mind.
This exercise can be helpful and comparable to writing too because classic writing rules have you bring a story literally "full circle" by connecting the end of a story to the beginning.
okie have fun and get creative

January 27, 2010

"Conformity is inevitable when folks huddle together in rebellion"
-Herbert Gold
This is from a book he wrote on the history of Bohemia(not the country but the lifestyle that has always been around in someway and he believes you can find a community or at least cafe associated with it in just about every country and every large town or city in the U.S.
Think about what you consider to be Bohemian in the past and the present.In his book his considers the old beat writers and poets to have been Bohemian and before them the Dadaist.Do you find yourself influenced by some of the old writers and artists that were a part of creating Bohemia in the US in places like New York and San Francisco and all the little colleg towns.
If not then who does influence you.....

January 26, 2010

Today's tip is pretty basic but still always a good help. If your having one of those days where you just can't get anything done, your mind won't quite focus and your feeling completely unproductive and have decided to just sit or your butt and just watch TV. Well, even though I smashed my own TV up with a hammer, I do except that those are just those days where you can't work.So use it to your advantage and at least document what you are watching.Grab a piece of paper and write or draw what you see on the TV or maybe even just document your own reactions to the people you see. Now if you are way ahead of the creative game and have also gotten rid of your TV then you could just veg out and look out the window or even just people watch somewhere. I can't avoid over hearing loud talkers conversations and sometimes hear myself reacting to them in my head. Sometimes I write it in my journal in case it can be useful for some type of character later. I have even overheard a conversation one time where a girl was talking about something she wanted to make and it lead me to come up with a new idea in my head for something to make( no I did not steal her idea, it inspired a totally new one).So get out there and observe- oh yeah I mean sit on your butt, don't do anything but chill and observe.

January 25, 2010

Write a letter or create some mail art and send it to someone. Everyone loves mail and we get way to caught up in electronic communications. My fav is a pal's musings stuffed in some creatively decorated envelope or maybe they challenges themselves to write on something other than a plain piece of paper. I also still love a good postcard(especially the one's who someone really thought about what you would like or show off their personality)
Did you know that as long as it's flat and not harmful and can hold the right amount of postage that it can be mailed. You would really be surprised at what people have turned into postcards. If those furry postcards and even the astroturf ones can be mailed then surely your creation can make it.
Okay so get creative and mail something!

January 24, 2010

Storytelling- I know some people might think sitting around listening to someone tell stories might be a time-waster but it actually can be quite helpful, not matter what your medium. If you don't have access to public storytelling or a friend or family member , or even the old guy who hangs out on the corner telling “stories” , you could always rent a documentary video or check one out from library. I love documentaries about old blues musicians because there are always good stories that go along with their music. Heck you could even catch some good story telling on cooking shows sometimes. Whatever stories you find will hopefully inspire your mind. While they may not directly inspire some specific creation, they do quite often stimulate that part of your brain and can get your imagination going. remember some of these tips and exercises are just to help stimulate the creative portion of the brain and to entice it to want more.

January 23, 2010

sorry i got behind again, as I mentioned before I don't get to get to my compuetr quite daily but still work to get these up for you even if they are delayed.Okie here goes:

Collaborate! Finding someone to share creative brainstorming can be very stimulating. You can bounce ideas off each other, share input on each other's projects or even work together on a collaborative project. A fresh outlook is always helpful.

Creative Reuse Center

I spent the last few years working on getting a proper creative reuse center and was never able to get it going other then little small material swaps and workshops here and there. I am excited to say that it looks like their is another group out there who will hopefully soon be bringing a creative reuse center to the Oklahoma City area and I can't wait. If this is something you are interested in also you should check out their site and get in touch with them to help.
So go check out www.saveitforart.org

January 22, 2010

Unfinished projects...
I am sure many of us are prone to starting projects and then putting them aside. Maybe we just get bored with them or maybe put them aside thinking we will get back to them later, yet that later never quite comes around. In the last year I have however found myself picking up a few of those projects and actually working on them and even sometimes finishing. The tip on how this is happening isn't especially prolific either. All  I did was reorganize my workspace and look at the project again and go back and read old notes. I always thought talking about projects to friends and fellow creators would help me , and while on occasion it does help work things out in your brain talking them out to others, most of the time I just felt like I was one of those folks that always talked about projects but then never followed through and finished them. So, if you don't want to become that person either, you HAVE to remember to pull those old notes or half started projects out and look at them. There is a good chance some ideas might start flowing in and you can finally finish it.

January 21, 2010 tip o' the day

Every once in awhile I find it helpful to immerse oneself in the creations of another culture. Look at the art, read the literature, watch the movies, and eat the food. A few months ago I was on an Indian kick and watched a weeks worth of suspenseful Bollywood style films, cooked some Indian food and glanced through some books on Hindu art. One week it is Asian, another Mexican, and even occasional different cultures within the United States like deep south Outsider Art , literature, and food sometimes influences me. I just find that this really opens the mind and if you already immerse yourself in one or two of these cultures then just remember to switch it up a bit for variety. Your mind and tastebuds are hungry for it.

January 20, 2010 tip o' the day

Dream a little dream...
  Everyone dreams, just like everyone is creative. Even if you are just a daydreamer thinking about what you wish you could do or thinking about what kind of meal you want to cook, these are still types of dreaming. The big ones at sleepytime are the best though and these are often the ones you need to document the most, but really you should document all your dreamin even the kind you get riding in the car looking out the window. Tapping into this part of your mind that sends the dreamin message is the same part you are trying to exercise to activate the creativity so write them down, draw them, speak them into a recorder or even share them with a pal. Some of the best movies, novels, art work , and even fashion have stemmed from someones dreams

January 19, 2010

One of the biggest reasons many of us find ourselves creatively blocked is self censorship.This often comes from a fear of revealing too much . You might be nervous someone will find out something or see a part of you that you didn't want to share. We have to get over this though and choose to open up. It isn't good to keep things locked up inside you and you can't move on from them without releasing them. If it is something you totally don't want to share  then burn it afterwards! (obviously as long as it is safe) I often write things out or draw things that I need to get out but don't really want to share and then I put them in a fire pit or fire safe bowl and burn them. It really feels like a good purging.
Now sometimes our fears are irrational and may be something we should share with others like for example I was scared to do this blog becuase I didn't want to come across like a goober and actually didn't tell people I knew that I was doing it at first. I had to get over that and remember that even though I may not be a great writer, if these tips helped me then hopefully they can help someone else.And there ya go, just do it.
(heck you may luck out like me and no one will read or look at your art anyway, but that doesn't matter becuase you are doing this for your self first, not others)Okay no I have babbled, but you get it, FEAR NOT and do not censor yourself! it causes creative constipation.