5 Ways to be More Creative

Three of a Kind ~ 6" x 8" original oil on canvas panel $60.00 CAN

I finally got some photos taken of the paintings I've been working on this week. I did a series of three tomato paintings and this is the first.
It's called "Three of a Kind". If you want to see the rest, you'll have to come back tomorrow.


~Whatever you dream you can do or dream you can, begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.~
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


Whew, finally, the kids are asleep. Blissful silence. I long for this part of the day. The quiet hours. I don't get enough of them. In fact, I think I get less sleep because I try to cram so much into these few hours before exhaustion forces me to my bed. For many of us, it's the only time to create. Do you ever have creative blocks though, those days (or nights) when nothing will come, no matter how much you want it to? Personally, I have few. My creative stumbling blocks come from an over-stimulated mind, too many things to paint...so little time...which one first...
Well, here are a few ideas to get you kick-started.

1. CONNECT WITH YOUR “INNER ARTIST” - That part of you that's naturally exuberant and joyful. Approach your art as child's play. Make mistakes...on purpose. Laugh.
Make a picture with your kids' crayons, or markers or lipstick. Dive at the page...scribble...make a mess. Then start. Defile the blank page, or canvas, don't let it intimidate you.
2. START LOOKING: No, really looking. How often do we actually notice the details?
What color was the "Starbuck's" lady's shirt, or even better, her eyes? Walk into a room and look at the details. Actually see the flowers on the table, the way the lilies curl, how the shadows are kind of blue. Then, close your eyes and try to remember. Do this several times a day, and it's guaranteed that you will start to remember the details more and more often. This really helps when you're trying to paint from photos and you just can't quite see what's in that shadow, or in that blurry background. You can think back to what it was like when you took the picture and the details will come back to you.
3. CHALLENGE YOUR INNER CRITIC: Ignore the nagging voices that tell you you're no good at this, you can't paint. Who do you think you are, trying to play guitar. Musicians, artists, never make it...and so on and so on. They might be our mother, our father, our University college professor, or just our own insecure doubter. Don't give them any credit, or they'll steal your power. Instead, say, "Oh yeah, I'll show you what I can do! And do it...CREATE! Because that is what we are meant to do.
4. IDENTIFY FEARS - There can be fears just under the surface of every choice we make. Fear of being rejected keeps us from asking someone to join us for coffee. Fear of failure keeps us from starting or finishing a new project. Name one fear that’s guiding your actions today. Write a poem about it, or a song, or draw a picture. Now, identify one small step towards the action you’ve been afraid to do and commit to when you’ll do it. If the action is small enough to be done in two minutes or less – do it today!
5. PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN: Look at the world through their eyes, as something to be discovered and explored. Experience things as if it were the very first time. Wail on that guitar, even if you don't know a song. Do some finger paintings, just to remember what it feels like. Sing at the top of your lungs, just to feel the joy of singing. Walk in a puddle without your shoes and socks, just to feel the mud squishing between your toes. It helps you get in touch with your senses, and your kids will think you're great, too.

Well, I hope these help.

Goodnight all.
Tahirih