Courageously Creating: Creative Intentions Newsletter

http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Companion-Journal-Writing-Spiritual/dp/0553352024/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281359777&sr=8-1

Monday, August 9, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 9

Welcome to the ninth issue of Creative Intentions. We only have three more issues to go after this!

With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Please leave your feedback and comments, as I need to know how I am doing with my goals. Thank you in advance for reading the newsletter and for offering your comments.

Feature Article Topic:

Creativity and Keeping a Journal

Jour·nal (jûr’nl), n. 1. a daily record of occurrences or observations.

No wonder we feel guilty if we don’t write every day in our journal! Somebody’s got to write to Webster’s about this! According to many avid journal keepers and diarists throughout history, there is no right or wrong way to keep a journal. Isn’t that good news! In fact, thinking that there is a right or a wrong way is a terrific way to stifle creativity (trust me- I’ve done this to myself!). You might notice that the format of the journal is not specified, either. Your journal can be a series of napkin poems, a spiral notebook, a blog on the computer, a sketchbook, a fancy leather bound book, or whatever works best for you.

I once had an idea to keep journals based on themes. For example, I’d have a Dream Journal, a Love Journal, a Relationship Journal, an Ideas Journal, a Visual Journal/Sketchbook, etc. I’d also have a portable journal that I’d carry with me all of the time, just because it is so frustrating when those important thoughts escape me if I don’t write them down! Everybody journals in their own unique way. Some people actually do journal everyday, and that is marvelous. Some choose to double their daily planner or calendar as a journal; that works, too! When thinking about keeping a journal, be creative. Take the pressure off and experiment with various formats, styles, and timelines until it feels good to you. Journal when you are stressed out. Try journaling in the morning. Then try journaling in the evening. What time of day works better for you? Paint the pages ahead of time and then write on top of your own painted paper! Be wild and free in your journal.

Suggestion:

Go to the library or book store and look for the diaries of: Alice James, Katherine Mansfield, Virginia Woolf, May Sarton, Anaïs Nin, Anne Frank, Henry David Thoreau, William S. Burroughs, Henry Miller, etc.

There are also several great books on keeping journals. Here is a list of titles:

Life’s Companion: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest By Christina Baldwin

The Creative Journal: The Art of Finding Yourself By Lucia Capacchione

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+creative+journal+the+art+of+finding+yourself&sprefix=The+Creative+Journal&ih=19_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_2.67_463&fsc=19

Leaving a Trace: The Art of Transforming a Life into Stories

By Alexandra Johnson

http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Trace-Keeping-Alexandra-Johnson/dp/0316121568/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281359883&sr=1-1

The New Diary: How to Use a Journal for Self-Guidance and Expanded Creativity

By Tristine Rainer

http://www.amazon.com/New-Diary-Tristine-Rainer/dp/0874771501/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281359922&sr=1-1

How to Make a Journal of Your Life By Dan Price

http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Journal-Your-Life/dp/1580080936/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281359968&sr=1-1

Visual Journaling: Going Deeper than Words By Barbara Ganim & Susan Fox

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Journaling-Going-Deeper-Words/dp/0835607771/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360009&sr=1-1

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Journaling By Joan R. Neubauer

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Journaling-Neubauer/dp/0028639804/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360044&sr=1-1

The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful

By Gwen Diehn

http://www.amazon.com/Decorated-Page-Journals-Scrapbooks-Beautiful/dp/1579905129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360072&sr=1-1

The Decorated Journal: Creating Beautifully Expressive Journal Pages By Gwen Diehn

http://www.amazon.com/Decorated-Journal-Creating-Beautifully-Expressive/dp/1579909566/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360111&sr=1-2

Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books By Linda Woods and Karen Dinino

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Chronicles-Creating-Journals-Manifestos/dp/1581807708/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360182&sr=1-3

Journal Spilling: Mixed-Media Techniques for Free Expression By Diana Trout

http://www.amazon.com/Journal-Spilling-Mixed-Media-Techniques-Expression/dp/1600613195/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1281360285&sr=1-1-fkmr1

Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric By Violette

http://www.amazon.com/Journal-Bliss-Creative-Prompts-Eccentric/dp/1600611893/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360357&sr=1-6

True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling By L.K. Ludwig

http://www.amazon.com/True-Vision-Authentic-Art-Journaling/dp/1592534260/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360430&sr=1-8

Creative Wildfire: An Introduction to Art Journaling Basics and Beyond By L.K. Ludwig

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Wildfire-Introduction-Journaling-Basics/dp/1592536018/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360487&sr=1-12

The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be The Artist You Truly Are By Danny Gregory

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-License-Giving-Yourself-Permission/dp/1401307922/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360614&sr=1-11

An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers By Danny Gregory

http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Life-Inspiration-Sketchbooks-Illustrators/dp/1600610862/ref=sr_1_32?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281361079&sr=1-32

1,000 Artist Journal Pages: Personal Pages and Inspirations By Dawn DeVries Sokol

http://www.amazon.com/000-Artist-Journal-Pages-Inspirations/dp/1592534120/ref=sr_1_20?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360675&sr=1-20

Wide Open: Inspiration and Techniques for Art Journaling on the Edge (Book & Card Kit) By Randi Feuerhelm-Watts

http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Open-Inspiration-Techniques-Journaling/dp/1581809115/ref=sr_1_23?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360769&sr=1-23

The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict By Eric M. Scott and David R. Modler

http://www.amazon.com/Journal-Junkies-Workshop-Visual-Ammunition/dp/1600614566/ref=sr_1_24?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360864&sr=1-24

Art Journals and Creative Healing: Restoring the Spirit Through Self-Expression By Sharon Soneff

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Journals-Creative-Healing-Self-Expression/dp/1592533647/ref=sr_1_26?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281360942&sr=1-26

Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings By Kelly Rae Roberts

http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Flight-Inspiration-Techniques-Creative/dp/160061082X/ref=sr_1_30?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281361006&sr=1-30

Wreck This Journal By Keri Smith

http://www.amazon.com/Wreck-This-Journal-Keri-Smith/dp/039953346X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281361266&sr=1-1

Announcements:

August 16, 2010 Issue No. 10 will feature an article on

Creativity and Awareness

May your journal reach out and grab you this week!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net

http://www.amazon.com/Artist-Inside-Spiritual-Cultivating-Creative/dp/0767903943/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280750968&sr=1-1

Monday, August 2, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 8

Welcome to the eighth issue of Creative Intentions. With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Feature Article Topic:

Creativity and Spirituality

I used to think that creativity meant the act of engaging in a form of the arts, whether it was in theater, visual art, music, dance, writing, or storytelling. I still see these areas as avenues for being creatively expressive, but there is so much more that I notice now. For example, I now understand that one can make creative choices throughout the day. There are various ways to solve problems, interact with others, cook, clean, spend time, etc. In each of these choices lies an element of imagination. I now define creativity as a way of opening; a way of listening to that still, small voice inside. In this way, creativity and spirituality are linked. According to Natalie Rogers, the author of The Creative Connection, “creativity is a life-force energy that flows like a river through each of us” (p. 187). Although some people don’t know it’s there, or don’t believe it is there for them, I do. When we engage our creativity, we experience where the human and the “Great Spirit” connect. There is a lot of mystery in our world, and connecting to that mysterious force can be quite illuminating. It’s like feeling that you are constantly supported and loved. And when you are being creative, this kind of acceptance is exactly what is needed. Connecting to the life force inside of you is connecting to your inner wisdom and universal wisdom at the same time. It is trusting your own new ideas and working with them. Creativity and spirituality are linked in a powerful way. Give yourself a gift, and allow yourself to open to the life-force energy flowing through you. It is such an amazing experience. And isn’t life meant to feel amazing?

Suggestion:

This week, try quieting yourself before you begin a creative project. Take several relaxing breaths, and then begin your creative work. Notice if this step of “opening” impacts what you do, or how you do your work.

Resources:

The Artist Inside: A Spiritual Guide to Cultivating Your Creative Self

A Big New Free Happy Unusual Life: Self Expression and Spiritual Practice for Those Who Have Time for Neither

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Free-Happy-Unusual-Life/dp/0767910079/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280751114&sr=1-1

The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts As Healing

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Connection-Expressive-Arts-Healing/dp/0831400803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280750596&sr=8-1

Drawing as a Sacred Activity: Simple Steps to Explore Your Feelings and Heal Your Consciousness

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=drawing+as+a+sacred+activity&x=0&y=0&sprefix=drawing+as+a+s&ih=11_1_1_0_0_0_1_0_0_1.68_169&fsc=13

How To Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum

http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Explorer-World-Portable/dp/0399534601/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280751296&sr=1-1

Inspiring Creativity: An Anthology of Powerful Insights and Practical Ideas to Guide You to Successful Creating

http://www.amazon.com/Inspiring-Creativity-Anthology-Practical-Successful/dp/0976737108/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280751366&sr=1-1

(Note: I have an article in this book called “Creativity and Your Inner Guide: Connecting to Your Power Within”. The contact info in my bio statement is out of date in the book, however. If you are interested in purchasing this book, I have a few copies for sale for $10.00 plus s&h).

Announcements:

August 9, 2010 Issue No. 9 will feature an article on

Creativity and Keeping a Journal

May the Creative Force Be With You!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Down-Bones-Freeing-Writer/dp/1590302613/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1279579525&sr=8-1

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 7

Welcome to the seventh issue of Creative Intentions. With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Feature Article Topic:

Creativity and the Writing Process

Writing has got to be one of my favorite topics to share with you. I have written as a way to express myself and get in touch with my inner feelings since I was a child. For my personal writing, I keep journals, write lyrics and poems, and I do free writing exercises. I recently was reading a book called Expressive Therapies edited by Cathy Malchiodi, in which I learned that writing as a form of expression is a great tool for people to heal, in particular, people with posttraumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Healing is a complex subject, but I will say that in order to heal, one must move through their pain, rather than ignore, burry, or cover it up. To be on the safe side, if any of you have experienced trauma in your life and you try writing as a way to heal, I strongly recommend that you are concurrently seeing a therapist for support.

That being said, how does writing relate to creativity? When you write, you open up parts of yourself that often remain hidden, particularly in your subconscious mind. For example, if you begin to record your dreams upon waking, the images and ideas in your dreams can be used to inspire story, music, dance, or art.

Another technique is doing free writing exercises. Often a “free write” lasts for about 10-15 minutes, and the only rule is that you cannot stop writing. If you get stuck, just keep writing what you last wrote over and over until something new comes out. Setting a kitchen timer or writing to a piece of classical music that lasts for 10-20 minutes can be useful in helping you know when to stop the free write. After you have completed several free writes (perhaps over a few weeks time), go back and find interesting lines, thoughts, or phrases and use what you find in another form, such as poetry or story. Let writing inspire your creative juices!

Suggestion:

This week, try to do at least one free writing exercise. You might put a heading on the top of your paper that says, “I remember . . .” then write for 10 minutes. Next, right after you finish the “I remember” free write, start your place with “I don’t remember . . .” and write for another 10 minutes. This exercise comes from Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones.

Here is a brief list of writing resources (I have too many favorites to list them all):

Writing Down the Bones

Writing as a Way of Healing

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Way-Healing-Telling-Transforms/dp/0807072435/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279579596&sr=1-4

Bird by Bird

http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279579682&sr=1-1

Soul Between the Lines

http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Between-Lines-Strengthen-Conscious/dp/B0017RQW1G/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279579738&sr=1-9

Writing the Sacred Journey

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Sacred-Journey-Practice-Spiritual/dp/1558964703/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279579800&sr=1-5

Writing Down Your Soul

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Down-Your-Soul-Extraordinary/dp/1573243566/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279579854&sr=1-2

Announcements:

August 2, 2010 Issue No. 8 will feature an article on

Creativity and Spirituality

Happy Writing!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 5

Welcome to the fifth issue of Creative Intentions. With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Feature Article Topic:

Creativity and Health

Have you ever felt uncomfortable, anxious, and upset, but you didn’t really know why? OR Have you ever felt truly inspired to write, dance, paint, keep a journal, design clothing, or try the latest craft technique? In either case, I would recommend that you pay attention to your feelings and express them through a creative endeavor. When you honor your feelings of anxiety and/or inspiration, you take a great step toward self-understanding and fulfillment.

Most of us want to feel that our life is good and fulfilling, but sometimes things happen in our lives that cause us to feel pain, to suffer. These feelings are inevitable; it is the nature of life. However, when we recognize our suffering and take creative action to move through the hard times, we not only grow emotionally, we often grow creatively as well. At first glance, this idea of “moving through” difficult times seems quite abstract. However, once you try a few techniques and work through a difficulty in your life, the idea and the process are much more concrete. For example, I recently took a workshop from a licensed expressive art therapist. In the workshop, we did an exercise called “The Bridge”. The directions were to create a bridge going from some place to some place, and to put yourself in the drawing. The bridge could be connecting two areas of your life that are challenging each other, etc. The options were open to almost anything, with a variety of materials for either 3-D or 2-D bridges. After we made our bridges, we were to think about a variety of things, such as, “What matter crossed or was drawn under the bridge?” We were encouraged to write about our process, and how the exercise led to new understanding.

Doing an activity such as this really does help a person to process a difficult issue because you are looking at the issue from a different perspective. Your unconscious mind is given space to speak, and your mind, body, and spirit are working together to solve a problem. It is healthy to deal with difficult issues, rather than suppress them. And, it is healthy to use your creativity to express your pain or joy.

Suggestion:

This week, try a creative exercise that helps you to move through a difficult issue in your life. It might be helpful to ask a friend to listen to your process, or it may be necessary for you to do this with a therapist. The support piece is important to think about.

There are several good books that you could find at your local library or bookstore. Here are a couple of titles I recommend:

Trust the process: An artist’s guide to letting go by Shaun McNiff

Creative healing: How to heal yourself by tapping your hidden creativity by Michael Samuels

Announcements:

July 19, 2010 Issue No. 6 will feature an article on

Creativity and Body Awareness

Create for your health!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net

http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Lab-Mixed-Media-Artists-Exercises/dp/1592536131/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278357353&sr=8-1

Monday, July 5, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 4

Welcome to the fourth issue of Creative Intentions. With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Feature Article Topic:

Creativity and Renewal

In Minnesota, April is the month where signs of spring start to peek out from the earth, from the trees and speak through the wind. As we open our windows, bird songs are heard loud and clear, including the high-pitched screechy songs of baby birds. The sun feels warm and good as we dress in fewer layers. All of this seems like an invitation to a fresh start, a time for renewal. But how do we release the darkness that we’ve been holding? How do we enjoy this gift of spring or summer? One reply is, “Through creativity”. Each of us has inner creativity, and each of us will tap this inner creativity in our own way. When we access this inner creativity and let it out, we feel very deep, meaningful, and powerful experiences. Through the process of these experiences, we are better able to understand what has been bothering us, and we are able to release the darkness we’ve been carrying inside.

This process isn’t necessarily easy, though sometimes just getting started is the hardest part. One way to help you get started is simply to sit quietly and breathe. Once relaxed, begin to create. You want to center yourself enough to be able to focus on what you need to let go of. If you are too wound up to sit, then just get out some paper and scribble on it. This provides a very satisfying release. This approach is good for those who have difficulty identifying their needs. However, the more you release through scribbling or whichever technique you choose, you are breaking through layers, and the truth will eventually come. In either scenario, it feels good to let go. Our whole being responds well to a needed release of energy. Our creative work renews us, our new understanding of ourselves renews us, being present renews us, and the wonder of nature renews us.

Suggestion:

This week, I encourage you to paint wildly, write honestly and fervently, play music with passion, stomp and sway your body with feeling, sing whatever arrives when you allow your song to come out of your body. However you choose to release this energy, you will receive a renewal of energy in return for your efforts.

A terrific new book that is out that might help with releasing creativity through drawing is Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists by Carla Sonheim.

You can find the book on Amazon.com here

Her blog is http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

Carla was also recently interviewed on Fiber Arts and Mixed Media radio (FAMM) on July 1, 2010 about her new book. You can listen to the interview here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fammlive/2010/07/01/book-launch-party-for-artist-carla-sonheim

Announcements:

July 12^th, 2010 Issue No. 5 will feature an article on

Creativity and Health

I wish you all a wonderful sense of renewal!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net

Monday, June 28, 2010

Creative Intentions Issue No. 3

Welcome to week three of Creative Intentions. With this newsletter, I hope to inspire all creative types to learn about their personal creativity and how to grow from their creative work. Each week, for twelve weeks, you can look forward to a feature article with information, tips and ideas surrounding the realm of creativity.

Feature Article Topic:

Creative Flow

One evening, I was sitting at my living room table. I had some music playing in the background, while I began to make four journals by hand. I had to tear down paper, fold pages, stitch the signatures together, and finally put the covers on. Before I started this project, I was feeling anxious and nervous about my skills. However, once I started, something amazing happened. I had no sense of time, I felt confident with what I was doing, and I was completely enjoying myself. This experience would best be described as being in flow. Author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has written a book called Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. In chapter five on “The Flow of Creativity”, he describes what flow is and nine main elements he finds people have in common when asking them to describe when an experience feels enjoyable. Csikszentmihalyi defines flow as an optimal experience when things are going well as an almost automatic, effortless, yet highly focused state of consciousness (p. 110).

The nine main elements describing how it feels when an experience is enjoyable are as follows:

There are clear goals every step of the way.
There is immediate feedback to one’s actions.
There is a balance between challenges and skills.
Action and awareness are merged.
Distractions are excluded from consciousness.
There is no worry of failure.
Self-consciousness disappears.
The sense of time becomes distorted.
The activity becomes autotelic.

Csikszentmihalyi goes further with each one of these elements in his book Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. I do think it is worth mentioning here a quote from his book. “In many ways, the secret to a happy life is to learn to get flow from as many of the things we have to do as possible” (p. 113).

Suggestion:

This week, think of something that you really enjoy doing and DO IT. Did you lose track of time? Did you feel confident? Did you find yourself extremely focused and less distracted? Did the activity bring you joy for no other reason than being in the experience of it? If you answered YES, then you were in FLOW!

Announcements:

Next week Issue No. 4 will feature an article on

Creativity and Renewal.

To find out more about Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060928204/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0JMSW7XRGHDK8RSJ4XD4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Go With the Flow!

Briana: Artist, Writer, Teacher, and Creativity Coach

Contact at bmriskin@earthlink.net