How to Get Creative©
Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011
by Arlene Wright-Correll
http://www.learn-america.com
This week’s email question asks, “Do you ever get into an artistic slump and if so how do you get out of it?”
First off you have to realize that slumps, whether artistic or not, happen to everyone in every part of their life so do not let one get you down. When I get into an artistic slump I try to force myself out of my creative comfort zone.
I have an inspiration file and it is easy to maintain because most of it is on my computer. Prior to having a computer I used an accordion file folder or a shoe box into which I put pictures of things that appealed to me such as photos or magazine pictures. Another thing I use is a plain student notebook where I jot down ideas. I also keep a small notebook in the car where I, as a passenger, seem to get a lot of ideas that flit in and out of my head so unless I quickly jot them down they will disappear as quickly as they appeared. Each time I need to find some sort of inspiration I look through these inspiration files. The trick is to record your ideas as quickly as they come into your mind.
Go to an art exhibition or a museum and spend the time looking at other people’s work. You will quickly find a lot of ideas and inspiration that you can take home with you to build upon. I recently attended an art exhibition where there was a very large woven wall hanging where the creator had incorporated some UScurrency. The other day I was racking my brain about giving our oldest son something for his upcoming birthday. He is one of these fortunate people who have worked so hard and successfully all his life to date that he basically has everything he wants or needs.
However his greatest pride and joy is his two sons. I remembered the woven wall piece so I put a pile of UScurrency on my scanner and scanned it and believe it or not my printer was not allowed to print out but just a small part of this large scan. Apparently there is something in those magnetic strips in our currency that stops printers from creating a whole picture of currency. Nevertheless I solved the problem by printing lots of little bits and pieces, cutting them up and I decoupage them unto my canvas. When it was dry I did a one finger painting of two of my grandsons, Scott and Ryan. When this dried the work was sprayed with archival varnish, dried, packaged and shipped to their dad as his birthday gift. This piece is titled "A Man's True Wealth are His Sons"©. Without taking the time to go to an art exhibition I would not have noticed an idea in one totally unrelated field that I could use in my field. Plus I had a chance to work on my finger painting technique which is done with one finger dipped in a paint pot and absolutely no brushes.
I believe I once mentioned in another article about going to a dictionary and randomly picking out a word and drawing about it. This is also good for a writer’s slump. Just take 15 to 60 minutes in which you find one or more words not necessary related and draw pictures of those words. When you are done look at what you have accomplished and you may have the start of a new technique, a new idea or a new project.
Some times I just sit and meditate for 30 minutes or listen to some mind relaxing music and let myself go deep into myself where there apparently is a mother lode of creativity waiting to come out.
Perhaps some of my methods will work for you.
May the Creative Force be with you!
Arlene Wright-Correll
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