Pablo Picasso said "the chief enemy of creativity is good sense." This is probably true, but as you can tell there are some inherent issues with this statement. I am certainly not trying to argue with the master of creativity who would surely say that his art came before anything else. But many of you out there live in a home, possibly have a car, have some type of job, and eat on a regular basis. Most would say their family comes before anything. Having good sense allows us to keep our homes and jobs, eat decent meals, and stay out of jail. That being said I cannot be a complete proponent of throwing good sense to the wind. But if we can laser focus our good sense to our artistic endeavors, I think the advice is perfect.
Rejected
A few years ago I was chosen to illustrate a children's book. The text was lovely and I instantly had an idea of what the pictures should look like. I quickly put together several images and sent them over--and they were just as quickly rejected. So I tried again, and again, and again--no luck. All my great ideas were gone. At this point I had nothing to lose. I drew a far more grown up image, but the made me happy. I loved the colors and the whirling dreamy background. I figured what the hell! At least I could go out with a bang.
Accepted
Those were the pictures that were chosen for the book. I had nothing attached to them--no fear, no worries, no preconceived notions. I figured it was already too late, and a tiny voice in the back of my head said the images would never work. So I sent them. My roundabout point is this: sometimes the thing that gets in our way the most is our own negative thinking. So when it comes to art, do what they say in Frozen: LET IT GO! If any of you are true beginners here is my advice: * Go out and get whatever you like to create with--markers, paints, yarn, fabric--whatever! (Even if you are scared and you never tried, all the more reason to go for it.) * Find a magazine or Google article about whatever medium you chose. * Choose a project--a picture, a painting, anything--and copy it. (That's right--copy. You can trace, copy, recreate, or do your own version of anything you see. Some people need this little kick start for their creativity--especially if they have not used it since they were little. Plus copying or tracing actually helps you learn very quickly. Before you know it you'll be itching to create your own stuff.) *Start right away and DO NOT worry about being perfect. * Finish it! * Start another. * On the same day you start this project, get a notebook or journal--even a piece of paper will do, and write about your artistic dreams each morning. Feel free to tear out the page and rip it up after you write if you are afraid someone will read it. (Great idea from a friend). The point isn't to have a book to read when you are done, but to get your mind on creativity and what it means to you. Just do one page, and try and include one positive thing you are feeling about your creative process. Also, follow Picasso for this too--just write with abandon, write from your soul. This could be something you have waited to do for years. (I have included a downloadable journal page to hopefully inspire you HERE. It is free, and you can rip it up when you are done if you like.) * Last but not least, do art with kids. Watch how free they are, they are not worried, just happy to be in the creative moment. I'd love to see your work--especially if you are just starting. I feel art is so important and can be a wonderful way to express yourself. Here are some words of wisdom that every. single. creative needs to hear. Only two minutes and super worth it. Click HERE
Video Cat
Today's video is How to Draw a Cute Cartoon Cat. If you like it I hope you share it with a young person who likes art too.
Don't forget to enter the Six Shades of Grey Faber-Castell Giveaway HERE for a chance to win SIX Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. Good luck!
Although I am over 50, I still have a penchant for certain styles. As an artist, muted colors, animals, and flowers still make my heart flutter when I see them incorporated into fashion. (And when I say animals I do NOT mean fur!) I can't get away with the same things the twenty somethings can. Plus when you are young, people assume you are experimenting, learning, and are willing to put yourself a bit more out there when it comes to fashion.
But today I found shoes that I may not be able to resist. These grey flats (already two checks in my BUY THEM box for color and heel height), with a very faint stitched and sleeping bunny, complete with ears on the instep, make me happy just looking at them. They are fairy tales for the feet! To make us smile even harder, the same company, ModCloth, (click HERE for their website to buy) sells Tiffany blue flats (two checks), with a wide eyed cat on the front that is reminiscent of the Totoro cartoon. Who is the genius that designed these! Love them.
Okay, okay, maybe the Totoro skips are a bit too youthful for me, but the Furry Up, We're Dreaming bunny shoes might be just subtle enough for me to get away with. And ya know what, if something makes you THAT happy, go for it--opinions be damned. xo
And for those of you that have not seen Totoro yet, please see the trailer above, then rent it for the kids. It is one of the most beautifully animated shows you will ever see. Enjoy!
Pablo Picasso said, "We are all born artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." So true!
Children gain self-esteem and emotional fulfillment when they are allowed to create without judgement. They do not have preconceived notions or endless loops of internal negativity to get in the way of their thinking. If we foster the creativity in a child we are allowing them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The Whole Child of PBS states: "Theexperiences a child has during their first years of life can enhance their creativity."
For all those parents out there that want to do art with their kids but think I do not have a creative bone in my body--maybe you do, but need a little help finding it. Make it easy. Get some paper and some pencils, crayons, or paint and go for it. Don't worry about the result. Enjoy the moment and just go for it. For those that need a bit of a nudge, here are some prompts: * A lovely November morning * A yellow bird * A cup of tea * A monster in the closet * A rocket ship in space * A new planet * A flower no one has ever seen before * Constellations in the night sky * Your pet * A pet you wish you could have * A cool car * Snow flakes with faces Choose any of these items and draw one on a page, a few, or 50. Just have fun. And here is a quick how-to for Kiki the Cat :) Show me your version when you are done! xo
Kiki starts with two circles, kind of like a snowman, except the bigger one is for her head! (Only slightly bigger--mine almost look the same size and that is fine.) Draw lightly here because you will be erasing some of these lines later.
Now draw some VERY light guidelines on her face so you know where to put her eyes and nose. Her face is looking right at us, so her nose will be right in the center, on the lower guideline.
Make the nose with just a tiny triangle, and then draw another short time down from the bottom point of her nose. Then draw the top of her mouth--it looks like two very shallow Us. Her eyes fit between the top and bottom guidelines. My Kiki will be looking to the right. (Her head is facing forward, but her eyes are looking off to the side.)
Lightly draw two triangles on her head for ears. If you draw them wide apart she will look calm, if you draw them more on top of her head she will look alert, or surprised. Her front paws are just small ovals with the tops of the ovals erased. Her back paws are kind of like parenthesis with tiny cat toes. Her tail looks a bit like a large backwards C. She's starting to look like Kiki now!
Now we can darken the lines and make her look fluffy. I also left some white spots in her eyes for highlights, and lines under her for a shadow. I also added some very light whiskers and I shaded part of her ears. Voila! Kiki! I will be adding more Kiki how-tos in the weeks to come. I'd love to see what you draw!
