Hello peeps, after reading the piece about abstraction I thought I would share this link from my other blog. It is a series of drawings, one of which became a painting. What you'll notice is how the last 2 really became more abstract. They are all of the same group of items. Anyway, thought I would toss this into the pot. :-)
Click here.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Circle Holiday Party?
Hi all --
Julie and I were talking yesterday, I asked her if anyone had talked about a party this year. I have been wondering if you would like to come to my house and party, and Julie seconded that idea, so here is the invite.
I am thinking -- like last year, everybody bring something yummy, and whatever game you want to play, and -- if you want -- the dreaded white elephant gift exchange. Fingers crossed that no gift could possibly be worse than an old plunger.
Survey: Is this a good idea?
If yes, then what do you think about Wednesday, December 19?
We are quickly running out of December! What a shock.
Please leave your feedback.
Julie and I were talking yesterday, I asked her if anyone had talked about a party this year. I have been wondering if you would like to come to my house and party, and Julie seconded that idea, so here is the invite.
I am thinking -- like last year, everybody bring something yummy, and whatever game you want to play, and -- if you want -- the dreaded white elephant gift exchange. Fingers crossed that no gift could possibly be worse than an old plunger.
Survey: Is this a good idea?
If yes, then what do you think about Wednesday, December 19?
We are quickly running out of December! What a shock.
Please leave your feedback.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Creative Circle Week 4: EXPLORE
Greetings Circle-ettes:
This weeks reading is from Part 4 and is focused on EXPLORE!
EXPLORE:
"Our subject for the [week] is explore. Few of us do enough exploring....[As children we were constant explorers as we had not complete formed "box" of how to act or what to do] we learned a lot that way and were on our way to a lifetime of creating, the heart of which is trial and error exploration." Maisel gives a painting exercise for exploring which is OK, and it leads to an exploration of your current project.
ASK ONE QUESTION:
Maisel then brings up an exploratory exercise about asking and answering a question. His point being that asking ourselves difficult questions and then attempting to answer them, takes us on creative journeys. Reminds me of the Rilke quote, something like, "Your only responsibility is to ask the question, then simply live into the answer." It is an interesting idea I again find i like his exercise more than his verbage. the exercise (p87) is to brainstorm a list of questions, then let them sit for a day or two and then revisit and see if any of the questions really inspire you and thus is born a new creative project.
HAVE FEATHERS HANDY (AKA Make an Altar):
Next we have a discussion on having props around us to inspire our creativity. This has the same feel to me of the Artist's Way altar. The exercise here again has an interesting twist - sort of like create a temporary altar for each project. (p89).
CARVE BASALT (AKA Facing Fear):
Creators in every field stifle their creativity by announcing to themselves,'Doing that would be too hard.' ...[Creators make excuses when] the problem is the secret muffled message she sends herself about the difficulty of creating and the smallness of her ability." His exercise here is to go at this head on and define a mega-project. For example instead of writing a song, write a musical. Not sure how I feel about this one...
ABSTRACT EVERYTHING:
This discussion I really liked and I also like the exercises. It spoke to me of art, like I have heard clues to but never this clear. The idea about going deeper than the literal image or meaning of something and that this in its nature is the creative spark. I really like his exercise here (p29), to do a series of drawings first from a very literal/ real perspective and then each time going a little more abstract. Tres interesting to me!
REINVENT THE WHEEL:
Here is a conversation about how easy it is to go along with the pack or the herd and how as artists, it is important to step outside the herd, the accepted way of seeing things to add something to the mix. Good thoughts, not sure about the delivery or the exercise.
INNOVATE:
"New things occur in three ways. First we seek them out and are fortunate to discover them quickly. Second, we seek them out and they elude us, but when a surendipitous accident occurs we're prepared for it and make our discovery. Third, they just happen out of the blue, by virtue of the fact that we're alert, open and everyday creative." Here is a nice easy exercise to try (p102) change a routine/ add something new (i.e take a new way to work) and then each day stretch a little further. Try it you might like it.
LEAVE FOR THE UNKNOWN:
"[Our] instinct for survival, [our] fear of the unknow or some elemental inertia causes [us] to stay put, even though we are perfectly aware that our current [uncreative] life is unrewarding...Maybe everyday creative people really are heroic and maybe the courage they show is among the most important; the courage to leave for the unknown... The reasons to create are plentiful, but still we have to convince ourselves to take that leap and to venture into the dark territory of the familiar."
And that brings us to the end of Part 4: Explore.
Please check in:
Michael
This weeks reading is from Part 4 and is focused on EXPLORE!
EXPLORE:
"Our subject for the [week] is explore. Few of us do enough exploring....[As children we were constant explorers as we had not complete formed "box" of how to act or what to do] we learned a lot that way and were on our way to a lifetime of creating, the heart of which is trial and error exploration." Maisel gives a painting exercise for exploring which is OK, and it leads to an exploration of your current project.
ASK ONE QUESTION:
Maisel then brings up an exploratory exercise about asking and answering a question. His point being that asking ourselves difficult questions and then attempting to answer them, takes us on creative journeys. Reminds me of the Rilke quote, something like, "Your only responsibility is to ask the question, then simply live into the answer." It is an interesting idea I again find i like his exercise more than his verbage. the exercise (p87) is to brainstorm a list of questions, then let them sit for a day or two and then revisit and see if any of the questions really inspire you and thus is born a new creative project.
HAVE FEATHERS HANDY (AKA Make an Altar):
Next we have a discussion on having props around us to inspire our creativity. This has the same feel to me of the Artist's Way altar. The exercise here again has an interesting twist - sort of like create a temporary altar for each project. (p89).
CARVE BASALT (AKA Facing Fear):
Creators in every field stifle their creativity by announcing to themselves,'Doing that would be too hard.' ...[Creators make excuses when] the problem is the secret muffled message she sends herself about the difficulty of creating and the smallness of her ability." His exercise here is to go at this head on and define a mega-project. For example instead of writing a song, write a musical. Not sure how I feel about this one...
ABSTRACT EVERYTHING:
This discussion I really liked and I also like the exercises. It spoke to me of art, like I have heard clues to but never this clear. The idea about going deeper than the literal image or meaning of something and that this in its nature is the creative spark. I really like his exercise here (p29), to do a series of drawings first from a very literal/ real perspective and then each time going a little more abstract. Tres interesting to me!
REINVENT THE WHEEL:
Here is a conversation about how easy it is to go along with the pack or the herd and how as artists, it is important to step outside the herd, the accepted way of seeing things to add something to the mix. Good thoughts, not sure about the delivery or the exercise.
INNOVATE:
"New things occur in three ways. First we seek them out and are fortunate to discover them quickly. Second, we seek them out and they elude us, but when a surendipitous accident occurs we're prepared for it and make our discovery. Third, they just happen out of the blue, by virtue of the fact that we're alert, open and everyday creative." Here is a nice easy exercise to try (p102) change a routine/ add something new (i.e take a new way to work) and then each day stretch a little further. Try it you might like it.
LEAVE FOR THE UNKNOWN:
"[Our] instinct for survival, [our] fear of the unknow or some elemental inertia causes [us] to stay put, even though we are perfectly aware that our current [uncreative] life is unrewarding...Maybe everyday creative people really are heroic and maybe the courage they show is among the most important; the courage to leave for the unknown... The reasons to create are plentiful, but still we have to convince ourselves to take that leap and to venture into the dark territory of the familiar."
And that brings us to the end of Part 4: Explore.
Please check in:
- Morning Pages
- Walks
- Artist Dates
- Creative Progress/ Challenges
- Reading Connections
Michael
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