Courageously Creating

Monday, August 9, 2010

Art Fair Weekend Featured Artist #1 Emily Floyd

This is my good friend Emily. She makes awesome necklaces, earrings, and wrist cuffs. She uses a lot of recycled or repurposed materials in her work. You can view her website here. She works in the Minneapolis area, and is part of the Vine Arts Center. You can find some of her art for sale locally at I Like You.

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

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

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

Blog http://courageouslycreating.blogspot.com/

Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianacreates/

Twitter http://twitter.com/BrianaCreates

Etsy http://www.orangespiral.etsy.com

Friday, August 6, 2010

What's in a name?

A five year old student of mine called me "Briana Obana" today. Hmmm, does that sound like Barack Obama to anyone else? Children are so smart; it's amazing. Oh, how the young ones make me laugh!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Art Journal Pages

Above are a few pages I've been working on in my Field Notes journal from Juliana Coles' online class. She likes to use tape, so now I like to use tape, too! The sound of the masking tape peeling off of the roll and then tearing, is music to my ears. I know, I am strange. Most artists are!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Photography

Thinking about and talking about photography with my young students today . . .

Here is a list of vocabulary words:

lens

lens |lenz|

nouna piece of glass or other transparent substance with curved sides for concentrating or dispersing light rays, used singly (as in a magnifying glass) or with other lenses (as in a telescope).• the light-gathering device of a camera, typically containing a group of compound lenses.

viewfinder

viewfinder |ˈvyoōˌfīndər|

nouna device on a camera showing the field of view of the lens, used in framing and focusing the picture.

digital

digital |ˈdijitl|adjective1 relating to or using signals or information represented by discrete values (digits) of a physical quantity, such as voltage or magnetic polarization, to represent arithmetic numbers or approximations to numbers from a continuum or logical expressions and variables : digital TV.Often contrasted with analog .• (of a clock or watch) showing the time by means of displayed digits rather than hands or a pointer.

film

film |film|noun1 a thin flexible strip of plastic or other material coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera, used to produce photographs or motion pictures :he had already shot a whole roll of film | a new range of films and cameras.• material in the form of a thin flexible sheet : clear plastic film between the layers of glass.

flash

3 a camera attachment that produces a brief very bright light, used for taking photographs in poor light : an electronic flash | if in any doubt, use flash | [as adj. ]flash photography.

landscape

2 [as adj. ] (of a page, book, or illustration, or the manner in which it is set or printed) wider than it is high. Compare withportrait (sense 2).

portrait

2 [as adj. ] (of a page, book, or illustration, or the manner in which it is set or printed) higher than it is wide : you can print landscape and portrait pages in the same document. Compare with landscape(sense 2).

self-portrait

self-portraitnouna portrait of an artist produced or created by that artist.

All definitions are from the Oxford American Dictionary on my computer.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Jonas Gerard

I saw this video posted on Mary Ann Moss' blog. It goes so well with the Creative Intentions Newsletter Issue No. 8 on Creativity and Spirituality, that I have to post it here as well. Thank you Mary Ann for making us aware of this interesting artist!

Find out more on Jonas Gerard's website.

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

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

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).