365 Days of Creativity
It’s been a really long time since I’ve posted anything. I’ve found that It’s all too easy to get caught up in the day to day grind of making a living and taking care of business. My soul suffers when I don’t take the time to create, so I’m embarking on an adventure to do something creative every day for the next 365 days. The ‘image bank’ in my mind has run dry. My ultimate goal is to produce more pieces to post here! Follow along with me, or jump into this challenge yourself. Check out my blog: www.lisas365daysofcreativity.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Time for ‘Doing Nothing’
I had a day off from ‘regular’ work today—you know, the work that pays the bills? For the next few weeks, I’m actually working 2 jobs, adding up to almost 60 hours a week. I’m tired, . . . really tired! But today is my only day off and I found myself in a dilemma. Because this is my only day off during the week, there are so many things calling for my attention, things screaming to be done. I had planned on working in the yard today; mowing the grass, preparing a new flower bed and a new veggie bed. But, it’s raining, . . . .
Ok, then there are dishes in the sink, I need groceries, there is dust on the furniture and the floors, clothes to be laundered, . . . . and the list goes on, and on, and on.
Then, of course, there are drawings waiting impatiently on the easel and the drawing board, also calling for my attention. Problem is, I can’t focus when there are so many things that need attention, so here I sit at the computer, surfing and thinking and typing away.
I felt really guilty at first, just sitting and letting all the ‘work’ call to me only to be ignored. However, the longer I sat, the better my soul felt; and I began to think about ‘stillness’. Yes, that’s what has been missing of late—great art can and does come from chaos, but there must be the times of stillness in order for the mind to gather up the chaos and organize it on paper—whether you are a visual artist, a writer, or a musician.
And so, . . . the art will come in its own time, after this time of mixed chaos and stillness, . . . stay tuned, . . .
Ok, then there are dishes in the sink, I need groceries, there is dust on the furniture and the floors, clothes to be laundered, . . . . and the list goes on, and on, and on.
Then, of course, there are drawings waiting impatiently on the easel and the drawing board, also calling for my attention. Problem is, I can’t focus when there are so many things that need attention, so here I sit at the computer, surfing and thinking and typing away.
I felt really guilty at first, just sitting and letting all the ‘work’ call to me only to be ignored. However, the longer I sat, the better my soul felt; and I began to think about ‘stillness’. Yes, that’s what has been missing of late—great art can and does come from chaos, but there must be the times of stillness in order for the mind to gather up the chaos and organize it on paper—whether you are a visual artist, a writer, or a musician.
And so, . . . the art will come in its own time, after this time of mixed chaos and stillness, . . . stay tuned, . . .
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Music and Creativity
No images to post today, . . . just some rambling thoughts!
How does music affect our creativity? Does it inspire us to create? Does it set a ‘mood’ for us? Do we choose music that enhances the mood we’re trying to create?
For me, it’s all of the above and more sometimes! At times, when I’m in the mood to brainstorm for ideas, I sit down with a friend and we listen to different genres of music and we watch music videos to get some visual stimulation. Then we begin! We fire ideas back and forth and write down ideas that we think we want to pursue further. Sometimes a piece will come from these sessions and sometimes not, but always it adds to our visual bank accounts and will eventually show up somewhere.
Then there are the times that I have a piece already begun and I want some music in the background as I work. If I’m working on a difficult piece, I’ll choose something instrumental so that I can concentrate on the work. If I’m working on a fairly easy section, I’ll choose something that inspires me with the lyrics—something I can sing along to. A Celtic inspired piece requires Celtic music; a ‘darker’ piece, I’ll choose music that relates to that kind of a mood.
My friend wondered aloud a couple of weeks ago, . . . ‘do you suppose that the music we listen to while we create an art piece somehow embeds itself into the paint?’ Hmmm, . . . I’m sure that it does—as I put myself on the paper, the music comes along for the ride!
How does music affect our creativity? Does it inspire us to create? Does it set a ‘mood’ for us? Do we choose music that enhances the mood we’re trying to create?
For me, it’s all of the above and more sometimes! At times, when I’m in the mood to brainstorm for ideas, I sit down with a friend and we listen to different genres of music and we watch music videos to get some visual stimulation. Then we begin! We fire ideas back and forth and write down ideas that we think we want to pursue further. Sometimes a piece will come from these sessions and sometimes not, but always it adds to our visual bank accounts and will eventually show up somewhere.
Then there are the times that I have a piece already begun and I want some music in the background as I work. If I’m working on a difficult piece, I’ll choose something instrumental so that I can concentrate on the work. If I’m working on a fairly easy section, I’ll choose something that inspires me with the lyrics—something I can sing along to. A Celtic inspired piece requires Celtic music; a ‘darker’ piece, I’ll choose music that relates to that kind of a mood.
My friend wondered aloud a couple of weeks ago, . . . ‘do you suppose that the music we listen to while we create an art piece somehow embeds itself into the paint?’ Hmmm, . . . I’m sure that it does—as I put myself on the paper, the music comes along for the ride!
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