Increase Your Creativity
People often say to me that they have very little creativity. They describe how difficult it is for them to let go when crafting or making art. I assume that everybody have blocks in their creativity. I struggle with them too. But here’s how I managed to get rid of many obstacles and enjoy creating.
First, speed up! Create faster. You will get into uncomfortable, unbalanced state where the voices in your head say: “Slow down! You need to think first! Don’t do that! NO!” And then it’s easy, you just do the exact opposite: increase your speed, stop thinking what color you choose, implement all the wildest ideas (like mess up the areas which begin to look ok). Replace your NO with YES! You can do anything!
Stop drawing lines that do not intersect! Put the elements on the top of each other. Get rid of the clear shapes. If you work fast enough you will stop comparing your work with others. You will have your unique thing going on. The truth is that somewhere under the surface is your own style, your own creativity, your own spirit.
Just a while ago I read an article about visual culture now and after 25 years. An expert was interviewed. He said that it will be proven that all the images are equal. It hit me: even if there are great masters in art, great talents, in the end all the images are equal in the general perspective. And even more important: in the personal perspective the most important images are created by ourselves. Only our creative mind can reveal all the wonderful things that are hidden behind the no’s and dont’s.
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Choosing Creativity
This watercolor piece was made last summer. It was found when I organized my papers. During a long summer night I browsed one of my favorite books: Alphonse Mucha Masterworks. After closing the book I wanted to make something Art Nouveau myself!
My sisters used to say that I am an affective person. I get easily excited and affected by everything that surrounds me. Within years I have learned to steer myself by choosing what’s around me. No one can choose everything, but there’s plenty of choices that can be made during the day. Like which book to open.
More than before I choose to close the television. I also try to stop browsing endlessly what others have made. It is surprising how little input is needed to get the creativity flowing. Having a glimpse of Mucha’s masterpieces can be enough. Limiting consuming and increasing creating can take us closer what we want, like time traveling to Art Nouveau.
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The Greatest Joy of All
When I was a child my treasure was a chalkboard. I also had 7 little plastic dwarf figures which were my pupils. When I got home after a shcool day I began to teach my silent dwarfs. I loved school and wanted to become a teacher.
But then, some years later, I heard about computers and that was it. I fell in love. I went to study computer science and my career in IT began. I do have taught IT professionals but nothing beats what I have been able to do lately: teach art!
Teaching is giving and there’s nothing greater than that. I have experienced big moments of happiness when creating art and it is wonferful if I can give even a small amount of that for others.
I created these two flying birds when leading a workshop called “Birds of Happiness”. We created not only birds but also bird themed decorative papers, feathers and bird’s nests.
(The photo by Askartelu Amalia)
All the elements were created by hand, using pens and colour pencils, watercolors and acrylic paints. I had made instructions for various elements but they were guidelines and everybody used their creativity for the end result.
We put the birds together in the end of the day and took pictures. I am so inspired by seeing how people have their own styles and how they express themselves while learning to let go and trust their inner voice. Plenty was done in only four hours.
I hope that in the future I could give you more with this blog, with my newsletter and with my services. The most importantly: bring you back in time when you were a child and wholeheartedly enjoyed creating. Giving that back to you would truly be the greatest joy of all.
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Decorated Business Cards
I had run out of business cards, so I made some! I blogged about this idea a few years ago for the first time. This time I made it a bit simpler.
I took a business cards sheet and sketched circles here and there. Then I colored them with watercolors, leaving white background visible in some areas.
Then I used markers to add details. The white is from Copic White Pigment Jar, my newest purchase. If you have not found the perfect white pen yet (Uniball Signo Broad gel pen is my favorite so far), the Copic pigment is a great choice.
Here’s a close-up. Drawing these little doily type flowers with circles was so much fun!
Finally, I tore the business cards out from the sheet. Here’s a finished card.
I feel like I am repeating myself, but again: why buy when you can make it yourself?
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