Today I encourage you to pick up a new craft/trade/creative thingy. I'm thinking along the lines of sewing, web design, drawing, blogging, tap dancing, singing...whatever you fancy. What have you always wanted to know how to do (creatively speaking), but never got round to it? Well, make this the summer of discovery!
I hear what you're saying, 'that's all well and good Emma, but how exactly am I supose to learn this new thingy? I have no money!'
Well, I am suggesting that the first step to achieving this new goal is to find someone you know. Pull on the resources you have. You MUST know someone who has a talent you admire. Well, if so ask them to teach you. Simple! It could be your auntie, cousin, friend, brother, your brother's friend, a friend-of-a-friend (you get it!).
People love it when you compliment them on what they are good at/love doing, so make this your way in!
For example, my friend Beth is AMAZING at knitting. She can knit, socks, gloves, hats and she just invents her own woolen gadgets (she's really is exceedingly good!). Although I learnt when I was younger, I've never been very good at it. So, I asked Beth if she could help me and hey presto, I am at least a little better than I was before. I even started making a hat on round needles (sounds impressive huh)!
Who did Beth learn from? Her Nan of course. And so the links go on...
Without my friend Rhea, this blog wouldn't exist cause she helped me set it up (I really am useless when it comes to computoer, but I'm learning, yay!)
Take up the challenge. What will you learn this summer...?
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Friday, 2 July 2010
Day 25: Creativity changing the world
It would seem that all over this country people are using their creative talents to make big changes to our world. Animals of all shapes and sizes have ruled our streets in the last few years and its all in aid of charities.
'What is she on about,' I hear you say? Well, check out the creative projects below. All of them have painted and decorated some kind of animal to raise money for charities.
See The Elephant Parade in London which is raising money for the endangered Indian Elephant. I didn't even know they were endangered and it would seem not many people did! What better way to let people know and respond than to paint massive elephants and stick them all around the capital! Brilliant, I say!
In 2002 it turns out they did a similar thing with cows around London. You've guessed it, The Cow Parade. Check it out. (I don't think it was to raise money for endangered cows though!)
Visit Bath too! At the moments the streets are filled with beautifully painted lions. Two years ago, it was pigs that covered Bath to celebrate its heritage (and the legend King Bladad). Both of these public art projects provided artistic employment and raised money for local charities. Events like this rally up the community, getting everyone involved, including local schools. Even the central library has a pig (and a lion)!
Its amazing what people can do with their creative talents when motivated. I hope you are inspired to use your creativity to make a difference.
The world needs creativity. If I didn't believe that then I wouldn't be writing this blog! Creativity changes stuff...
How will you change the world with what you got...?
'What is she on about,' I hear you say? Well, check out the creative projects below. All of them have painted and decorated some kind of animal to raise money for charities.
See The Elephant Parade in London which is raising money for the endangered Indian Elephant. I didn't even know they were endangered and it would seem not many people did! What better way to let people know and respond than to paint massive elephants and stick them all around the capital! Brilliant, I say!
In 2002 it turns out they did a similar thing with cows around London. You've guessed it, The Cow Parade. Check it out. (I don't think it was to raise money for endangered cows though!)
Visit Bath too! At the moments the streets are filled with beautifully painted lions. Two years ago, it was pigs that covered Bath to celebrate its heritage (and the legend King Bladad). Both of these public art projects provided artistic employment and raised money for local charities. Events like this rally up the community, getting everyone involved, including local schools. Even the central library has a pig (and a lion)!
Its amazing what people can do with their creative talents when motivated. I hope you are inspired to use your creativity to make a difference.
The world needs creativity. If I didn't believe that then I wouldn't be writing this blog! Creativity changes stuff...
How will you change the world with what you got...?
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Day 24: Collaboration!
Today I want a talk about team-work-creativity. Yes, that's right, working together to produce a super inspiring creative masterpiece!
Who do you know? Dancers, musicians, painters, writers, actors, sculptors, photographers, animators, makers, breakers....Creativity attracts creativity, so get it together guys and gals. See what will happen if you combine your creative talents and passions.
This idea was given to me yesterday (of course) where there was lots of websites I could sign up to and collaborate with other artists. You know what I thought? 'What a FANTASTIC idea,' that's what!
Want some examples? Check out INFRA, a collaboration piece between contemporary dance choreographer, Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie.
or
Take a peek at this collaboration animation by David Ellis and BLU.
So, why don't you mix it up a bit. Dancers, get in contact with musicians. Artists, talk to some animators etc etc.
It's like my dad always says, 'two heads are better than one.' (I'm sure someone else said it first, but I'm going to give him the credit today!)
Who do you know? Dancers, musicians, painters, writers, actors, sculptors, photographers, animators, makers, breakers....Creativity attracts creativity, so get it together guys and gals. See what will happen if you combine your creative talents and passions.
This idea was given to me yesterday (of course) where there was lots of websites I could sign up to and collaborate with other artists. You know what I thought? 'What a FANTASTIC idea,' that's what!
Want some examples? Check out INFRA, a collaboration piece between contemporary dance choreographer, Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie.
or
Take a peek at this collaboration animation by David Ellis and BLU.
So, why don't you mix it up a bit. Dancers, get in contact with musicians. Artists, talk to some animators etc etc.
It's like my dad always says, 'two heads are better than one.' (I'm sure someone else said it first, but I'm going to give him the credit today!)
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Day 23: Creativity is EVERYWHERE!
So much creative input, I don't know where to begin...
...well, today I've been to London (as I said yesterday) and I DID go to somewhere new. It really is true, if you're on the lookout for creativity it will come and practically hit you in the face. Get ready for a creative burst...
The reason I was in London was to go to a creative fair thingy for students/graduates. It was held in an abandoned building, which was originally a big factory/warehouse (probably). It's amazing what you can do with an abandoned building. What would you do...?
I went on the underground to get there, of course. You know the little maps you can pick up? They've always got different pictures on. Check them out at: http://art.tfl.gov.uk/
It turns out there are sculptures all over London. It's one of those things I knew but never really realised if you know what I mean!
The diversity of people was inspiring too. I saw a punk, and a lady with dreadlocks down to her bum. Oh, and all the arty types too (like this girl who was wearing bright red tights and high heels to match, cropped blonde hair wrapped in a scarf, accompanied with big red stud earrings). Inspiring characters...?
Watch this space, there's loads more to come...! Woop woop!
...well, today I've been to London (as I said yesterday) and I DID go to somewhere new. It really is true, if you're on the lookout for creativity it will come and practically hit you in the face. Get ready for a creative burst...
The reason I was in London was to go to a creative fair thingy for students/graduates. It was held in an abandoned building, which was originally a big factory/warehouse (probably). It's amazing what you can do with an abandoned building. What would you do...?
I went on the underground to get there, of course. You know the little maps you can pick up? They've always got different pictures on. Check them out at: http://art.tfl.gov.uk/
It turns out there are sculptures all over London. It's one of those things I knew but never really realised if you know what I mean!
The diversity of people was inspiring too. I saw a punk, and a lady with dreadlocks down to her bum. Oh, and all the arty types too (like this girl who was wearing bright red tights and high heels to match, cropped blonde hair wrapped in a scarf, accompanied with big red stud earrings). Inspiring characters...?
Watch this space, there's loads more to come...! Woop woop!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Day 22: Go go...
If you need inspiration where do you go? Do you go to your bedroom, on a long walk, to a gallary or a gig...?
My advise for you today is 'go'...
Preferably somewhere new. It doesn't have to be far. Go down that road you've never been down before, into that museum in your town/city, to the woods near your house...
Maybe you could venture further a field. I'm going to London tomorrow, which I do quite frequantly, but I'm will make it my 'mini mission' to go somewhere I've never been before and I encourage you to do the same. Find out something new, and write it down in your notebook.
I'll let you know what I find...
Where will YOU go? How will you be inspired?
My advise for you today is 'go'...
Preferably somewhere new. It doesn't have to be far. Go down that road you've never been down before, into that museum in your town/city, to the woods near your house...
Maybe you could venture further a field. I'm going to London tomorrow, which I do quite frequantly, but I'm will make it my 'mini mission' to go somewhere I've never been before and I encourage you to do the same. Find out something new, and write it down in your notebook.
I'll let you know what I find...
Where will YOU go? How will you be inspired?
Monday, 28 June 2010
Day 21: Eco fashion
All you who are into fashion and textiles listen up. I wanted to find something inspiring for you guys and gals to get your fingers busy with. Lucky for you I did!
Check out Julia Barbee. She has her own eco fashion label called 'Frocky Jack Morgan.' She takes old clothes and makes them into new fashions. She's got her own website and there are loads of videos on You Tube where she shows YOU how to create fashionable new clothes out of old stuff. There's one video where she talks all about wedding dresses for all of you who are interested! (There's also a blog featuring her wedding clothing line too!) So much information...!
So, if you're into fashion and want to create, use what you've got and help the planet out as you go! Brilliant.
See what you can do...
Check out Julia Barbee. She has her own eco fashion label called 'Frocky Jack Morgan.' She takes old clothes and makes them into new fashions. She's got her own website and there are loads of videos on You Tube where she shows YOU how to create fashionable new clothes out of old stuff. There's one video where she talks all about wedding dresses for all of you who are interested! (There's also a blog featuring her wedding clothing line too!) So much information...!
So, if you're into fashion and want to create, use what you've got and help the planet out as you go! Brilliant.
See what you can do...
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Day 20: Light
Recently I have been thinking about light as creative matter. Is light creative? Perhaps it's just a scientific element of our planet and so cannot be creative.
But can we use light in creative ways? Well, that's a different question all together...
Take stain-glass windows for example. They are coloured glass which would be nothing if it wasn't for the light streaming through to make it look incredible. I love stain glass windows! Type in 'stained glass windows' into Google and see if you are inspired by their beauty. It amazes me how light changes the appearance of things.
A great artist to look at is Matisse. He designed and made a chapel just before he died. In it are the most beautiful stained glass windows. He loved to experiment with colour, so if you love playing around with colour, then definitely check him out.
What about artificial light? Light bulbs, strobe lighting, neon. Lots of visual artists have experimented with these. Neon is commonly used in text based art (check this out on Google too). Perhaps there is something here that interests you.
Creative thinking is so wide...I think light can definitely creep into it somehow...what do you think?
But can we use light in creative ways? Well, that's a different question all together...
Take stain-glass windows for example. They are coloured glass which would be nothing if it wasn't for the light streaming through to make it look incredible. I love stain glass windows! Type in 'stained glass windows' into Google and see if you are inspired by their beauty. It amazes me how light changes the appearance of things.
A great artist to look at is Matisse. He designed and made a chapel just before he died. In it are the most beautiful stained glass windows. He loved to experiment with colour, so if you love playing around with colour, then definitely check him out.
What about artificial light? Light bulbs, strobe lighting, neon. Lots of visual artists have experimented with these. Neon is commonly used in text based art (check this out on Google too). Perhaps there is something here that interests you.
Creative thinking is so wide...I think light can definitely creep into it somehow...what do you think?
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