Day 309: Art and Poetry Collaborations

Today in class we were talking about combining art and poetry and how it could work. Generally, people that write poetry aren't that great at visuals, but people who are good with visuals (painting, sculpture, graphic design etc) aren't that great at poetry. Usually people have one specific creative gift they lean towards, but I find that create things I'm no good at (like dance) really inspire me to get creative with words. It's good to work with people of different creative disaplines so we can learn from each other, don't you think?

So how do we make visuals and poetry come together? Which do you enjoy? Do you know anyone who's good at the other? Why not have a chat and see where it goes...?

When I did some digging I found all sorts of collaborations going on. This video was created by James Wray, using typography to animate Robert Frost's 'Mending Wall' poem.

> This poetry sculpture was produced by poet, Linda France and blacksmith, William Pym.



What could you do...?

Day 289: Design the World...

Today, I decided to walk back to my house the long way round, through the park to make the most of the sunshine. You never know when you'll next see it, so it's best to catch it while you can.

Everyone obviously had the same idea as me. There were people everywhere; walking, sun bathing, playing football. The kid's park was rammed!

Naturally, on my stole, my thoughts wondered all over the place and I got to noticing all the things I could see. It started off with a lamp post. It was one of those ones which looks really old fashioned, like it should have a real flame in it at night, but you know it's really a fake, 'in keeping with the surroundings.' You know the ones. Someone designed that deliberately to have in that exact place, next to Bath's Royal Crescent.

In fact, everything I could see was designed by someone; the clothes people were wearing, the cars parked up, the posters on show, the bandstand, the dog leads, the playground equipment, even the way the flowers were arranged. Everything. It's all designed by someone and then redesigned by someone else.

Look around you now, wherever you are. I bet most things you can see were designed to be a certain way. Even the devise you're reading this on.

I don't know about you, but that blows my mind! We don't even think about it, but actually everything has a designer....

I wonder what they're like. Where do they live? Do they like their job? How did they get into it?

In fact even the objects themselves have a story. Where were they made? Who by? Where were they sold?How did they get here now...?

If everything is designed everything has a designer. Everything has a story.

Just a thought...

Day 240: creative make-up

I was searching around the Internet today, trying to find something creative to inspire you all and I found this:

This has been created using make-up. Look how detailed it is. This image was taken from pixiwoo, which had a creative masterpiece competition back in 2009. To see some more amazing entries click here and be inspired to get creative yourself. There's loads of videos you can watch too.

Creativity really is everywhere.

Day 233: Oscar Nominations 2011

It's official, the nominations for the Ocsars 2011 are here!

I love this time of year. There's loads of interesting films coming out rather than just big Hollywood blockbusters and everyone's talking films!

The film industry is such a big creative machine. Just think about all the different ways you can be involved in a movie; acting, film editing, music, storyboarding, set design, costume design, animation, make up, filming, directing, script writing...the list goes on.

Even the watching of it can be a creative experience. Thinking about how it all came together or getting sucked into the character's world.

The fact that it's celebrated through different award ceremonies all over the world shows how much it's affects our cultures. So much creativity...I can hardly hold it all in my head!

So, anyway, predictions anyone...?

Day 226: Colaborative Creativity

Us creative types need to stick together, especially in times like these where the government seem to be squashing all the we love out of their national budgets. Perhaps with a bit of team work, we can make what we do stronger and get our talents noticed...

This year is my last year at uni, which means I get to do loads of cool creative stuff exactly the way I want to (woop)! As you might already know, I'm running a writing competition in a local school, making an anthology out of the entries and selling it for charity. I'm pretty excited about it, but, to be honest, I know very little about actually making an anthology. I can't do design and I don't know a thing about layout. That's where collaboration comes in. My friend Fleur is a graphic design student in her final year, so she gets to pick cool creative stuff too. To cut a long story short she's designing the layout for my anthology. She gets experience in her creative field and I get an amazing anthology. Both of us win!

Plus, another girl I met called Laura is dramatising a scene from my novel for her final year Film and Media project. She gets a project, I get a video to promote my story. All are winners! (Watch this space for video excitement!)

So there you go, proof that creative collaboration works and is really exciting.

Who do you know that's creative? Could you work together to help each other out and make both your work more exciting? ALL creativity works well together. You just need a little creative thinking to get it going...

Day 192: What's your duvet like?

I've just put my new double duvet on my bed to keep me warm on these winter nights. It's got a really cool duvet cover which got me thinking about how many millions of duvet cover designs there must be in the world.

When I was a kid I have loads of Disney ones like 101 Dalmatians. I had a Snatch the dog one too, complete with lampshade and bin. (so cool, I know!) I had a panda one too. Everyone has one with their favourite animal on, right? Then as I 'matured,' I had, Lord of the Rings 'cause I was obsessed! When Uni started it was bright pink and now I have a brand new green one with flowers and dots. (it's actually way nicer than it sounds!)

I loved all of them at one stage or another, but I can't help but think it would be infinitely cooler to create my own duvet design...

What design would you create...? Here's some ideas to get you started on your creation!

Day 182: Be Disney's designer!

Take a look at these logos. The chances are, you will know what company most of them belong too, we see them so much. That's the power of advertising.

But what do these symbols really mean? Why did they chose those colours, patterns, arrangements?

The cool thing is, it's someones job to design them and they get to see their work all over the world. When I was 14, I entered a competition to design a logo for a local bowls club and I won (yay). It was really fun and as far as I know, they're still using it.

Big companies like the ones above are always looking for ways to re-style their brands to keep it fresh and new...My challenge for you today is to design you own logo. It could be for your own future company or for an existing one you think needs to get with the times.

You your creative fingers going and design your way to the top!

Day 103: David Nicholls got me thinking...

At the moment I am reading One Day by David Nicholls which I guess you would call an 'adult book'. One of the main characters is called Emma, which I find a little weird. Perhaps weirder is how much she reminds me of myself. Have you ever had that when you're reading a book?

Anyway, it turns out she's quite a thinker and a creative one at that and when talking about her play she's performing for schools she says, 'once again life is failing to imitate art.'

Her irony got me thinking. Unfortunately life doesn't imitate art (that's all forms of art, not just fine art), but should art imitate life?

When I was wandering from painting to painting in London (look at yesterday's post for more of that) I found myself getting really annoyed at how unrealistic some of the paintings were. Would Jesus really have white skin living in Israel? Are medieval science experiments really performed in a darkened room with only one candle creating dramatic lighting on the faces of the onlookers? Was the young Lady Grey really wearing a brilliantly white dress at her execution to contrast the drab clothes of the others present? Would farmers from hundreds of years ago really wear purple trousers to work? The answer is, probably not. All of these are artistic details to emphasize certain areas of the painting, creating mood, depth, colour balance...

Art is escapism, entertainment, meaningful representations...so does it have to replicate 'real life'? Not if the creator doesn't want it to. Then again, the creator can make it whatever they want. That's the beauty of art isn't it? Its an interpretation of the world or maybe an experimentation of what the world could be...

What do you want to say through your creations? Do you want to imitate reality, show injustice in the world? Do you want to create a safe haven for people to escape to? Do you want to experiment with boundaries or try something no one has ever done before? You really can do anything! So, go for it. Be inspired by what has come before you and make it your own. Being creative means, when you've got something interesting to say, you have an interesting way of saying it! So, what are you waiting for?

Day 71: Unique creations?

Technically, I've already spoken about the lions in Bath (check out day 25 if you didn't read it) but today's entry is a little different (so it's allowed!).

Just in case you don't know, for the past couple of months, Bath has been over run with lots of brightly decorated lion sculptors, 100 to be exact, to raise money for local charities. Each lion is painted by a different artist and sponsored by a different organisation (like a shop or the library).

Today, I was walking around Bath and it struck me how every single lion is completely different, but equally imaginative. There is one covered in scalpel knife heads to form it's mane. Another is covered with Mosaic tiles. Another, in material like a collage. One even in scrabble tiles!

Creativity really is amazing and what's even better is how every person has something different to give. All of these lions started the same, white. But each of these artists has transformed them into something unique.

Did you ever get given the task at primary school of decorating boiled eggs for Easter? Do you remember how every one looked different by the end. Well it's the same with these lions. That's the great thing about creativity. Each of us has something new to share.

What can you bring to the world? What are your ideas and skills? Where will your imaginations take you? Anyone can decorate a white lion sculptor, but no one can do it exactly like YOU.

Let it go and see where it takes you...

Day 47: Pick a picture

When we are being creative, I think it would be fair to say that most of us have a picture in our mind to work from; where we want it to go, how it will look post creation...

Writers (of all kinds), do you know what your characters, settings look like before you start? How do you know...? What about designers (fashion or otherwise)? Where do you get your ideas from?

Well, I am suggesting a 'tool' today to help you visually create your masterpieces.

Check out Flickr.com. Its' a sight where lots of people put their photos up and you can search through them all to find exactly what you're looking for.

For example, if you were writing a story where a character finds an old book, you could type book into the search and find it. You never know what picture's you'll see and how it will inspire your stories.

Or, type in your character's name and see what comes up...

This sight is GREAT for all you photographers too. It's a place where you can share your work with the world and get feedback. Who knows where that might lead...You can even set up a photo blog! It doesn't have to stop with photographers. Artists, sculptors put your work up too.

So, all of those needing a visual boost, you know where to go. Try it. What will you be inspired by...?

Day 45: The Tate movie project

As always, I have found something really exciting for you all to get involved in! The Tate (big art gallery) is making a movie and they need your help. It's for 5-13 year olds. Perhaps a little young for some of you, but have a peek anyhow.

I've been on the website and it looks like there's LOADS going on. Basically they are going to make a movie in Summer 2011, but right now they need YOUR ideas/designs/storyboards to make it happen. They are calling writers, artists, sound techies, editors...to get involved in their production. If your work is chosen you get your name in the credits and everything!

This is there 3 stages on their site:
1) Design a character and make new friends
2) Get new skills and be creative
3)Your work could be in the movie!

Perfect for creative thinkers like yourselves, I think!

So check it out here and see if stardom could be on the cards for you!

Creativity really is everywhere...woop woop!