Happy New Year! I hope all is well with you and your family. By now most of you are back in the swing of your normal schedule.  Many of you may have made resolutions for the new year and may be trying hard to keep them. Some of you may have already broken your resolutions and given up. Many people don’t make resolutions because they do not want to fail or feel guilty. They put too much pressure on themselves.

I don’t make resolutions for others to hear, but I do make some mental wishes that I try to follow through on. Some of those wishes involve getting healthier mentally and spiritually, exercising more, reading my Bible every day and losing weight. Sound familiar?

Am I always going to eat healthier? No, so when I have a day where it just doesn’t happen should I throw in the towel and give up? No. I will try to remember the words of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind.  Scarlet said,  “For Tomorrow is another day”.

Some of you may be like me and want to start 2012 with a creative bang. If that is the case, make those desires known. If you want to be more creative and to create more often, add those desires to your mental wish list. Or for added support  share the experience with someone else. You may need that added support to follow through.

What are some things you can do to start 2012 with a creative bang?

1. Sign up for an art class.

2. Buy the art book you’ve always wanted but never got around to purchasing.

3. Create an area in your home just for your art work so you can leave supplies and projects out.

4. Go to an art supply store to see what supplies grab your attention and desire. You can also do this by going to art supply stores online or through a catalog.

5. Go to the library and check out art books or art instructional DVDs.

6. Keep a sketchbook and pencil next to the spot where you watch television. Doodle or draw while watching your shows.

7. Start an altered book. You can read more about this here.

8. Find an art group online where you can share your art work.

9. Visit a museum or art gallery.

I could go on and on but I won’t. I think you get the idea. Inspiration for creativity often comes from the simplest of activities. The main thing is to have the desire. Start out trying to be creative once a month, then once every two weeks, then once a week, then once a day. It may not come naturally. You may have to work at it.  Don’t kick yourself if you postpone your creativity, for tomorrow is another day.

I hope you have a wonderfully creative 2012. I would love to hear some of the things you are going to do this year to be more creative.

Cadavre Exquis

“The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine.”

Some of you may be thinking, “What in the world is this woman talking about?” Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Apparently I don’t get around much because the exquisite corpse is something that has been around since possibly before the 1920’s.

How did I not hear about it? I don’t know. But luckily the student teacher I mentored this semester taught me how to use it in my art classes.

“The exquisite corpse” is a fun activity to help you come up with fresh ideas. Surrealists used the game to create some crazy art work. There are many websites dedicated to playing the game in some manner. The exquisite corpse can be played with words, images, and even video.

My student teacher gave my Art II students a brief introduction to ” the exquisite corpse” with a power point presentation. The presentation showed some art work that was created or influenced by the exquisite corpse.

If you want to read more about the exquisite corpse go to the sites below:

Wikipedia Article

ExquisiteCorpse.com

For Poets

The students were shown one site that is really quite fun and can be addicting if you are not careful. It is Corpsify.com. If you go to this site you can see images in the gallery of art work that has already been created. It takes three artists to create one piece of work and you are not allowed to see the other artists work until it is finished. If you have time, check it out!

So what did my students create? They created drawings of some crazy looking creatures. This is an easy activity. All you need: pencil and paper. If you want to create colored drawings, then the students could use colored pencil or markers. 

The students were given a piece of paper, 12″ x 18″. The paper was folded into thirds. Each student drew a head in the top third of the paper. I had to remind them to cover their work up when they were done. They also had to make sure at least two lines came down into the middle third of the paper so the next artist could see where to start their drawing. They traded papers.

The next artist drew the torso and arms making sure to make two lines into the bottom third for the third artist to attach to. I taped each section of the paper closed so that people would not be tempted to peek. Then the papers were traded.

The third artist was told to create the bottom portion of the creature. It could be feet or whatever their imaginations came up with. At the end of the class, the students were very anxious to see the artwork that was created. I had different students come to the front of the class and reveal the work. Then the creations were displayed on the bulletin board for all to enjoy.

 In introduction to this activity, my students played a word game. I wrote three words and then covered up the first two. The next person wrote three words after seeing my last word. They covered all the words except their last one. We continued adding words until everyone had been given a chance to contribute.  Some of the things we came up with were:

Blue Polar bears jump rope fast and furiously.

Foxes fainted in the heat .

Burning red leaves falling into my pockets .

Hot, buttered, yummy cookies make you fat.

Little fingers tickle pink kittens.

Slim, tall little pigs bite sweet delicious candy.

Do you get a visual from reading those? I do. Now all the words we put together did not make sense. Another way to play with words is to have a system. The way most people do this is to combine words from many people in a certain order. The order is:

The adjective noun adverb verb the adjective noun.

That is how the saying at the top of this article came to be. The originators of the game came up with that saying as they played the game.

So if you are having trouble coming up with some fresh creative ideas you might want to give “the exquisite corpse” a try. Have fun!

Detail of a Seurat Painting

Georges Pierre Seurat’s work has been a source of inspiration for my Art I classes. I created a power point showing his work and gave a general definition of pointillism. The students were then given an assignment to create a watercolor painting of a flower or butterfly using this technique.

I chose flowers and butterflies as the subject matter because I felt they were well suited for pointillism and relatively easy to draw. I found numerous images on the web of flowers and butterflies. I printed out two photographs of each and made a class set for the class to use a reference. To save on ink I printed them out in black and white with only one copy of each subject in color. The color images were posted on the wall for the students to refer to if they needed help with color choices. Most of my students did not really care about having color influences. They easily came up with their own color themes.

The students drew their chosen subject on a piece of 9 x 12 inch sulphite paper. Then they were told to paint the subject using Q-tips dipped in watercolor. The painting had to be created with dots on the page. This was difficult for some students because it did take more time and patience. The students were also instructed to only use the primary colors. So if they wanted to have green leaves on a flower, they had to paint yellow and blue dots. The combined dots would create the green for them. Many students found this impossible to comprehend and they used the secondary colors in their watercolor palette.  I could easily tell which students followed directions.

All in all the art work produced was vibrant and fresh. I am very pleased with the results of this project and will definitely do this one again next year. I was so inspired by the project, that I started a large watercolor of my own in pointillism. I wanted to see if I could do the assignment myself. I used a paintbrush instead of a Q-tip so I had dots that were much smaller. Plus, I cheated and actually mixed my colors. I have been working on the painting for at least two months now. I really like the way it is coming along. When I get finished I will post it here. In the meantime, enjoy viewing the finished products of some of my students. Maybe you will be inspired to try creating using pointillism.

Who hasn’t heared of the famous show by Disney, Art Attack? It’s a show about art that is watched by children all over the world. When I was a kid I remember never missing an episode of Art Attack. I would always be amazed at the different materials that were used to create art – materials that weren’t commonly used. It’s no wonder why it was the longest running show in ITV. It was on air for almost 20 years. It was originally presented by Neil Buchanan. On June 2011 it was relaunched, this time with a new host – Jassa Ahluwalia. The show is still fun to watch and you can learn many things by watching it. The main difference was that Jassa does not make the art himself. He only does a voice over of the step by step process showing an artist doing the art. I liked the way Neil Buchanan did things because he would create everything on his own. The art that Buchanan created was usually different. It wasn’t always clean and pretty. Most of the time it was unconventional and even messy. They had Splat Attack’s wherein eggs filled with paint would be dropped on paper or cottonballs dipped in paint would be squashed on a blank canvass. At first Buchanan would do a small version. After he would then recreate everything on a larger scale.

The big art attacks were one of the reasons for the show’s success. He would use all kinds of material for creating all types of art work. As a self acclaimed artist I really enjoy watching this show. Watching something like this inspires me. I thought that art did not come cheap. There are materials to consider – some of which can really be expensive. But watching this show made me realize that you dont have to buy expensive stuff to create art. You can be resourceful and use materials you regularly see around you everyday. Art Attack stimulates creativity. When you regularly watch something that is related to art then the side effect of that is that your creativity is going to be stimulated. You will start coming up with your own way of doing things.

Art is not just about paintings and sculptures. It can be present in normal and everyday things. It all depends on how creative you are in using the things you see around.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming Solar Fountains
and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”

Cover of Altered Book

In order to give my Art II students something to look forward to at the end of the school week, I have given them an altered book assignment to work on every Friday. The assignment is something that I have always wanted to do myself, so I am also creating an altered book at home in the evenings. I have found that having an example of an assignment that students can hold helps them understand what I want. So each Friday I bring my altered book to show them.

So, what exactly is an altered book? It is a book that has been altered with various art media in order to change it from a book to an original work of art. The theme for my students’ altered books is ART. That theme is not exactly original, but I feel it is a great theme in order to stress the elements of art, the principles of design, and various art techniques.

Our school librarian donated numerous hardbound books for us to use. The books are old obsolete encyclopedias. It feels good to be able to recycle these books. I asked my students to look for things at home that they might be able to use in their books. Some of the items I mentioned are:

junk mail, coupons, puzzle pieces,
magazines, feathers, ticket stubs,
stickers, old postmarks, stamps,
ribbons, yarn, thread, old jewelry,
beads, shells, and candy wrappers.

Design with Markers

The altered book counts as a major test grade. This nine weeks the students are being graded on the cover design and three double pages. When I say “double page” I mean two pages facing each other when the book is open. The cover design is 40 points and each of the 3 double pages counts as 20 points each for a total of 100. I will grade the student on their creativity, originality, effort, following directions and craftsmanship.

Last year I gave my students a similar assignment but the students were allowed to pick their own theme. That did not work well because many of my students lacked motivation and self-direction. So I learned from my mistake. This year, not only have I specified a theme but I have also told them certain requirements for their pages. I have also set a deadline of October 7. This deadline will be the first of several since the students will work on their altered books for the full semester.

Pages of Texture

The three double pages required this nine weeks are:

• drawings that express the students interests and personality,

• a creative design using markers,

• and a page that incorporates collage with pictures and words.

I have quite a list of altered book pages that I will assign in the future. I will let you know how it goes and will post some of the pages from the books for you to see as they get turned in.

When it comes to being creative there is no right or wrong, black or white. It is not bound by rules or rigid policies. Many people think that only artists can be creative. But the truth is anyone can have a creative streak. All it takes is a little imagination and unconventional thinking. Here are some of the benefits of being creative.

Provides an outlet for our emotions. In life there will be times when we are confronted with all sorts of trials and problems. Being creative gives us an avenue for self expression. It can act as a catharsis for negative emotions.

Stimulates neural activity. Our brain is like a muscle. In order for it create new cells it has to be used often. Situations that call for creativity forces us to think. Thinking stimulates neural activity which in turn enhances brain power.

Helps us develop a positive mindset. Creative people are usually positive people. Those who are too structured and bookish will find it hard to solve problems they are not familiar with. But creative people are not bounded by what is normal. They think out of the box. They are willing to try new things, to step out of their comfort zones.

Enhances sense of self. Being creative allows us to explore many aspects of our personality. We can learn things about ourselves and discover new talents that we didn’t know about before. It can reinforce what we do know about ourselves. This process can enhance our sense of self and increase our level of confidence.

The beauty of enhancing our creativity is that we can learn to look at the world in a different perspective. Being creative is not only about art or music. It’s the way we approach life. It also boils down to attitude. Adults have the tendency to become too structured. Life can do that to us sometimes. As we grow older let us always remember to keep on being creative and to continually challenge ourselves to grow and become better.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming solar fountains and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”

When it comes to food, all most people think about is eating it. We can’t really blame them either. Food tastes good and eating is an extremely pleasurable activity. Look at all the obese people around. But did you know that there is such a thing as food art? Food art is the method of using food to create works of art. With food art your dish won’t only taste good it will look good as well. Here are 5 reasons why you should get creative with food art.

• Eye candy. There is no doubt about it. Getting creative with food will make your dish look good. Food art is eye candy. It’s nice to look at. Sometime when I serve food art to my friends they take a while admiring it. At least they not only get to enjoy the taste, they get to appreciate the presentation as well.
• Its fun to do. Creating food art is a fun activity to do during your free time. It becomes even more fun if you do it with a friend or two.
• Stimulates creativity. Playing around with food stimulates creativity. As an artist I find it an interesting change from my oil paints and charcoal pencil. It has become a way for me to get creative in a different avenue.
• Provides bonding time with your children. Kids love food. And normally we tell them not to play with their food. But in this case, food art provides them with the perfect excuse to do so. Of course you still have to maintain parental guidance to make sure that they don’t end up wasting food.
• Entice your kids to eat healthy. Food art is one way to entice your kids to eat healthy. Children these days prefer fast food and junk food over vegetables and fruits. But if your dishes look interesting and taste good, even if it’s a vegetable dish they will barely notice. They will be so preoccupied with how it looks that they will want to consume everything.

When it comes to art there are no rules because art is where you see it. Art is not only about sculptures or paintings. It can also be about food. It may not last but it is also one way of providing beauty to the world.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes art and employs this in testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming solar fountains and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”

There are some people who think that art is unnecessary, that it is just a waste of time. Such people are too busy making a living to appreciate the finer things in life. But no matter how busy you may be you should learn to take a step back and smell the roses. After all we only live once. We’ve got to make it count. One way to live life to the fullest is by learning to appreciate art.

Here are some reasons why you need art in your life.

Expression. Art is one way of expressing yourself. For some people they say through art what they can’t express through words. There are different kinds of art. Some say it through dance, through music or through a painting. When we keep our emotions to ourselves they can build up and eventually end up destroying us. Don’t let this happen. Express yourself. If you can’t do it through words then say it with your art.

Imagination. Indulging in art can broaden your imagination. It teaches us to take a more creative approach to solving problems. Sometimes taking a cognitive approach to solving things can be limiting. This is because this focuses on the rational and sensible way to do so. But when it comes to spatial thinking there are no rules. You can be as creative as you want.

Stress buster. Dabbling in art is a very effective way to combat stress. When you look at a painting you don’t think about your problems. Instead you focus on the well drawn lines, the texture…You focus on appreciating it. Creating your own art is even better. Because through it you can express the things that you are feeling. Instead of having those feelings bottled up inside you, you get the opportunity to let it all out.

We don’t have to be artistic to reap the benefits that art provides. We all need art in our lives and these are just a few reasons why. Art comes in different forms. It is up to you to find what fits you best.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming indoor fountains and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”

A lot of people ask, what is the point of art? Is it only for beauty and to give people something nice to look at? According to psychologists the benefits of art go far beyond aesthetic purposes. It does much more than just give beauty to a room. It also has cognitive and psychological benefits. Art is said to be able to help the brain achieve its full potential.

Studies suggest that art stimulates our brains creative side – the part that can be expressed non-verbally. The part of our brain that triggers our intuitive and spatial side. Art induces our brain to think in new ways. Sometimes logical thinking won’t do the trick. In order to solve some problems we have to think differently. This requires the use of our creative side which can be brought out by art.

Exposing children to art at a young age teaches them to understand novel concepts more easily. Thus it helps them achieve better grades, generate solutions to problems and even get along better with others. Art is not just the property of artists. It is for everyone. Another benefit of art is that it opens your mind. This is why artists are usually open minded people. They think of people in the same way they regard art. There are different kinds of art. Each one is not necessarily better than the other because it all depends on how the viewer sees it. I guess you could say that in many ways, art has helped make the world a better place.

Many studies have been conducted regarding art and its relationship to the brain. According to a neurobiology professor, Semir Zeki, art expands our brain function. It is the key to understanding ourselves. For this reason, art can be used in different areas. Psychologists use art therapy to help their clients understand themselves and relieve stress. Teachers can use it to help their students improve their capabilities in the classroom. Parents can employ art to help their children become more creative and open minded.

Indeed, art serves a bigger purpose in our lives that what we normally give it credit for. What about you? When was the last time you took the time to appreciate the benefits of art? Learn to see art in through different eyes and reap its many rewards.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming indoor fountains and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”

When most people think of art they think of paintings or sculptures or sketches. Although these things represent art it is much more than that. Art is wherever you choose to see it. Look around you. Look at the trees, the skies or the mountains. Nature is art in its simplest form. And yet we are slowly destroying all these. But don’t despair. You can help save the world through art.

A significance of art is that you can use it to tell a message or share a story. Take for example a painting. For most artists a painting is not just a piece of art to be admired for its superficial beauty. Paintings contain the feelings, desires and emotions of its artist. Every stroke of the brush over the canvas has a story to tell. One way to help save the world through your art is by telling a story that many people can relate to. It doesn’t have to be in the form of a painting either. Art has many forms. The latest of which is digital. Maybe you can make collage of what is happening to mother earth. You can take pictures of trash thrown in the street, desecrated forests or extinct animals and piece them all together. This can awaken the desire of people to start doing their part in saving our planet.

Another thing you can do is to use recycled materials to create art. Many artists are now into creating art from trash. It is one way of telling the world that they too can recycle their trash. Eco-friendly art is now becoming more and more popular these days. This can aid in conserving natural resources like glass, wood and paper. This can also be financially beneficial for you since using recycled materials can reduce costs as they are either cheap or free. Creating eco-friendly art will not only bring beauty but it will also give the message that trash is not completely useless. You can still make it work if you so choose.

Are you an artist? If so then you can make a difference through your art. You don’t have to post signs or fliers or go plants trees to help save the world. You help the world in your own way. You can do it by letting your art speak for itself.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer.  She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes.  In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming indoor fountains and glass art.  Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”