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Creativity

A Beautiful Mess – Creativity Chaos

by Weegee May 10, 2019

written by Weegee

It isn’t until the mini loaf pan with lemon raspberry batter in the individual slots and the oven closes that I feel my intense focus shift to one of hope.

I pause to savour this moment. The moment where my creativity has been challenged and now it is up to a bit of heat to finish the process. The moment where my energy shifts to anticipation.

It is also the moment where the true depth of my creative chaos becomes evident. When the stack of measuring cups, shells of lemon rinds and egg dribble breaks through my muse and into my consciousness.

“Wow, what a beautiful mess.” I think to myself.

My kitchen, to me, is like a painter’s studio. It’s where I thrive, creative, exhaust myself and recharge. It’s the room I crave after an intense day at work. When deadlines loom or my mind is numb from the amount of output during my work day, I come home and throw myself into making a noodle bowl or black bean taquitos with homemade queso.

My measuring spoons are my paint brushes. My mixer a canvas.

Standing in my kitchen, with a mix of hope and anticipation, I feel the calm after the storm. I look forward to the clean-up as the last phase of the process and to take my mind off the waiting for the timer to signal my creation is done.

There is a calming to the chaos.

And I can’t wait for the next storm.

May 10, 2019 0 comment

Creativity

A New Spin on a “New Hope”

by Weegee April 16, 2019

written by Weegee

20190329_192419 The three shots which constitute the opening sequence of one of my favourite films starts with phrase “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” followed by the most recognizable theme song in history (in my opinion) with the “Star Wars” logo and the scrolling text outlining the story of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”

I tagged along with my husband to San Jose, California in March. When he inquired as to what I may want to do or visit, I said, “Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert.”

I had seen the beginning of the space saga hundreds of times. It was a family favourite to watch on VHS during dinner at our house.

But this time was different. This time I was in a theatre with fans who know all the characters, all the scenes . . . and all the music.

20190329_185619 While the movie was broadcast on the screen, the San Jose Symphony Silicon Valley conducted by Jeffery Schindler played the iconic music of John Williams on the stage below.

I went to the North Carolina School of the Arts for film in the 1990s and this reminded me of a special feature the school would offer once in a while. They would play the old silent movies and bring in students or special guests from the music school to play the accompanying music.

The “New Hope” and Symphony Silicon Valley was a lovely blend of art and creativity. I have no doubt that when they played the Imperial March (Vader’s theme), each player on the stage was tapping into their dark side.

20190329_204758 In addition to the talent on the stage, cosplayers added to the festive feeling with elaborate costumes and photo opportunities. Moviegoers were seen dressed as Leia and Ray and even Chewbacca.

I like the new spin on the “New Hope” film and I wished we did more collaborative art, tapping into the passion and talent each of us holds within our hearts.

April 16, 2019 0 comment

Creativity

Benefits of Creating Art in the Dark

by Weegee April 7, 2019

written by Weegee

Meet Henry.

Through a meditative art class, Henry came into my life to teach me the hidden benefits of creating art in the dark.

As a child, I only needed a box of crayons and a scrap of paper to unleash my inner artist. I would draw stick figures or clumps of colour that only I knew what it resembled. I didn’t worry about how close to the real thing I got in my representation or how well the kid next to me could draw a straight line.

Somewhere between those early years and my early 40s, I grew self-conscious about my artistic side. To the point that I wondered if I had one beyond using words to craft sentences.

It didn’t mean I didn’t try every once in awhile to test my artistic side. I would undertake a project that perhaps was out of my beginning level of expertise and get frustrated when my creation failed to live up to the expectation in my mind.

Or I would look at my creation with a very critical eye that found all the ways it was lacking and how anyone could have done it better. So, why continue to try?

I was judging my creations more harshly than anyone would have. I was tearing it apart before anyone else could.

And, I gave up without trying a second or third time. It’s rare that people are naturals. Most people I was comparing myself to have spent hours, years and decades perfecting their straight line abilities.

So, why did I sign up for a meditative art class knowing that this side of me was marred with judgement, resentment and self-doubt.

Because that is exactly what this class works beyond.

Part of the class is learning to reach into our playful past and approach art with a sense of curiosity – not criticism.

Approach it like our inner toddler would.

We do a visualization exercise and then jump into a creation. The goal isn’t to worry about the end result or what your neighbour is doing but to focus on what is in our hearts, souls that need to get out without judgement.

The night Henry was created, our instructor had two additional restrictions to our night of clay working: 1) our creation had to be a face and 2) we had to do it with our eyes closed. Once we opened our eyes, we couldn’t do any more work on the clay sculpture.

Create something just by the feel of our hands. Create something that we can’t see, can’t judge and can’t compare to the image in our head until time was up.

Surprisingly, it was the most freeing exercise I have ever participated in. It was calming to warm and work the clay into a personal creation. It was liberating to just focus on my hands as they try to form a face in the dark.

There was no expectations and I gave myself permission to have imperfections in the final reveal. I was working with a new medium in darkness. There was bound to be flaws or a sense of incompleteness.

And yet, I was pleased with what I created. I promptly named him Henry. He was supposed to be a unicorn but slowly developed cat ears with an earring and a goatee. He reminds me of the monsters that live under the bed in the 1980s movie “Little Monsters.”

More than that – I love my creation. Or perhaps it was just the feeling I had while making him.

Welcome the imperfections in your craft. Enjoy the process. Sculpt without judgement.

It’s amazing what shaping a lump of clay in the dark taught me about approaching art with my eyes open.

April 7, 2019 0 comment

Creativity

Creating Structure for My Inner Chaos

by Weegee March 16, 2019

written by Weegee

I was inspired to take a meditative art class to unless my inner creative via a new outlet.

At my first class, I was instructed to pick up an oil pastel crayon and draw a single line until I was done with that colour or wanted to start anew one. My inner toddler was enthused. I have never used oil pastels and it has been a while since I allowed myself to create messy fridge art.

I attacked the paper with 24 colours of wide abandonment — to a degree. I found myself trying to stay around the center-ish of the paper so that the colourful utensil in my hand didn’t ruin my instructors lovely dining room table.

It wasn’t until I picked up the black and created my own border around the paper (yes, I gave something with a clear border a border), that my creative inner toddler was able to be completely free. Free to go edge to edge. To scribble to my hearts delight.

The pictures don’t look like much but they were the most fun to create.

And it taught me a little something about creative boundaries that I will carry over into other areas of my life. To feel free to completely create, I need to set up a boundary. Perhaps it is a time frame in which I write every day. Or number of times I sketch per week.

Just having it on my to-do list, wish for the day isn’t enough. I need structure to unleash my inner chaos.

PS – If you live on the Sunshine Coast, BC and have a chance to take the meditative writing or art (or both as I am doing!) with Carine De Kock, you will not regret it! Ever.

P.S.S. – Note to self: Buy oil pastels STAT. How did I make it to 41 and NEVER used oil pastels? Criminal.

March 16, 2019 0 comment

Creativity DIY Creations

Getting My Craft On: Cards

by Weegee February 1, 2019

written by Weegee

I love making cards. I make holiday cards, thank you cards, new baby cards and birthday cards for anyone.

It’s a way to flex my creativity while giving a homemade creation to show some love to the recipient.

The first of the year has been a busy one for me. There are several birthdays and the arrival of a new baby to celebrate. And when I say busy, I mean fun.

It all started about five years ago when I was trying to find the perfect one for my younger sister. They were either the “another year older” cards, which doesn’t make sense to send since I’m the older one, or the overly sappy “you are my best friend” cards. Where’s the one that says, “We come from the same gene pool and that may be all we have in common but I love you anyway’ cards? Does Hallmark make those?

No? So I started. Turns out, I like playing with paper, glitter and glue.

Here are just a few of my recent creations:

1) Celebrating the arrival of my nephew!

2) My husband’s birthday

3) My brother-in-law’s birthday:

That’s it for now. I have a few in the hopper for Valentine’s Day and two birthdays in March!

February 1, 2019 0 comment

Creativity

Becoming a Bit Sketchy (Teaching Myself to Draw)

by Weegee January 27, 2019

written by Weegee

Words are my life.

I use words all day long. I write press releases, social media posts, emails and texts. I write journal entries, short stories, long stories and shopping lists. I write Toastmaster speeches, blog entries and welcome books for our vacation suite.

I write all the time.

However, lately, I have found that there are times when words escape me. I am having a hard time putting my full thought, emotion into a sentence that can be understood by myself and others. There are times when language doesn’t do my emotions justice.

Writing, words, have been my only outlet for so long. How does one express themselves when their preferred method ceases to fulfill that need?

I caught myself scanning the discount Kindle books section of Amazon.ca and spotted a “Learn to Draw” book for $1.99. That’s like taking a course in your home for less than a toonie.

I purchased it and let the book sit, undownloaded, in my Kindle library for a couple of weeks while I tried to figure out why I purchased the item.

I have never been compelled to draw or paint. I can draw a straight line with the guidance of a ruler, but that has been the extent of my artistic ability in the sketching department.

While in the school/home office supplies section of the local drugstore, I spotted charcoal pencils. Another impulse buy, along with the black notebook spotted at a thrift store.

Since mid-January, I have started sketching small things. Eyes. Dandelions from above. The island across the way.

While they aren’t any good, I realized that comes with practice. My first attempt at writing wasn’t a sentence but my name over and over. It would be years before I could write something worthy of publishing.

Drawing eyes, dandelions and the island across the way are just the first steps in my attempt to become sketchy. Wait until I draw something worth displaying.

It’s a goal.

January 27, 2019 0 comment

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