Day 296: Feeder, 'Side by Side'

Feeder. You remember them, right? The good old days of, 'I think we're gonna make it...yeah.' Last summer these guys came to my Uni's to perform at our summer ball and now they've made a record to help out with the rescue efforts in Japan. Funny how things come and go in little loops in your life, isn't it?

They've bought out a single you can download from their website or itunes. Here's the video, just to give you a flavour.



Please buy this single for just 79p and make a difference.

Day 288: Rhianna, U2 and Justin Bieber sing to help Japan

These three musical phenomenons are just some of the artists clubbing together to make a digital album to raise money for those struggling in the Japan tragedy.

Big music label, Universal Music are putting it together and hope to have it out for the world to purchase by the end of the week, so keep your eyes peeled.

What a great way to use your creativity to help others. It got me thinking; what could us creative thinkers do to help?

Obviously these artists have fame on their side. If I made an album to help Japan, I don't think it would be as successful, but the point is, we are all creative and if we did our bit, then it will definitely help, even if only a little bit. 

What are you good at? What are your friends good at? Could you club together to make a difference? Think about other people/organisations you could include. Maybe your school/college/work?

What better way to put your creativity to good use than help support those struggling across the world? Put your creative thinking caps on folks and let's see how we can help.

Day 278: How can we create for others?

This afternoon I have spent my time baking these:

They're nothing special, just little fairy cakes.

I find I enjoy creativity the most when I can do it for other people. When I knit, I like to make something for someone I love and care for. When I write, I think about all those teenagers who need stories. If I bake, I'll usually make them for someone else (but sometimes me too!)

These cakes have been made especially for Chris Stillman's friends and family. He died a few week ago and his funeral is this Monday. Lots of people will come to pay their respects and remember Chris. If I can use my creative skills to make that day a little bit easier, then there's not much more I can ask for.

How could you use your creativity for others this week?

Day 232: Creative Juggling

You'll be pleased to know that I am a lot more level headed today compared to yesterday! And I have finally made a decision about my theme. It is (definitely)...

Curiosity.

Now, that's one creative decision out the way, it's time to move on to another. How can I create tension in the next scene of my story...?

Sometimes it can be really tricky trying to keep all your creative things going at the same time. One of my teachers likes to refer to them as spinning plate (on sticks, you know?). How can you keep them all spinning with only two hands and one brain?

Do you ever get lost in everything you have to do? Do you ever lose momentum for one when you're really enjoying something else?

Well, I do. I'm trying to organise the writing competition, planning workshops and write another chapter, but all I want to do is some knitting! (That's not even mentioning this blog!)

So what can us creative people do, eh? How can it be achieved? To be honest, I am certainly no expert. All I can say is, we all have trouble and I know how you feel.

If it helps do what I do...take one day at a time. Yesterday I was flustered about the stupid theme, but today it's sorted. Juggling is all about timing, so maybe if we focus on one bit at a time it'll all be fine...

BUT don't forget to have fun...what's the point of it all if it's no fun?

Day 231: To be or not to be...is that the question??

Ok, crunch time. Today is the day I decide the theme for my competition...

And the winner is, Chaos and Curiosity!

BUT...Is that a cop out? Is it giving the competition entrees more choice or is it just me backing out of making a decision? As the organiser of this project, I want to do what's best for the pupils. I am, after all, doing it for them...

Isn't being creative tricky sometimes! Let's be honest, there are just too many decisions to think about at times, so what do we do?

I always talk to others and get their opinions, but at the end of the day, it's my creative work, so I have to make the decision.

In this scenario, I'm going to try turning it round. If I was going to enter a competition, would I prefer one word to two to choice from? The choice would probably open up more ideas, but then I'd get confused with which word I should choose to write about.

Am I therefore pushing the decision to someone else? Are the two themes a burden or a helpful motivation...?

To many questions! I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in all this creative confusion. Sometimes you need to know that, so here I am telling you.

Come back tomorrow and hopefully you'll find a more level headed creative thinker!

Day 220: Play with Imagination - Day 1

Today, I want to focus on imagination. I've been doing a hefty amount of (text book) reading about creativity and a lot of it was to do with imagination.

It really is amazing, what, given a few objects, words, sounds...out imaginations can conjure up. I mean brilliant stories like Happy Potter and Sherlock Holmes started in someones imagination.

What will start in yours?

Here's a few thing to get you going:

A word:    torture.
An object:    riding saddle.
A smell:    fresh toast.
A sound:    muffled voices.

I bet your mind is already trying to put those things together...

For the next 5 days, I'm going to make it my mini challenge to get your imaginations going. Get started with these and see where your imagination takes your creative skills. It might even be the greatest tool we have...

Watch this space!

Day 218: Competition theme...?

Today, I NEED YOUR HELP!

I am running a writing competition at a school for 11-14 year olds and I need to chose a theme.

I've narrowed it down to three words so far, but I only want one. They are abstract nouns, so hopefully they can be interpreted in loads of different ways. The question is, which one would YOU like to write about the most?

Rumour

Curiosity

Reality

Please help me out here, guys. Just write the word you like the most by clicking on 'comment' below. Then we'll see which one wins! Oh, and feel free to do your own creative thing with these words...

Thanks for you're help.

Day 189: Elevator Pitch

What are you doing creatively at the moment? Maybe you're making an album or a series of paintings. Maybe you're writing a book or planning a massive creative festival!

If you were in an elevator/lift and someone asked you what you did (creatively) could you explain it to them in the few minutes you have with that person?

Or, perhaps more realistically, one of your relatives at Christmas asks you what you are doing with your life at the moment, could you confidently tell them about your creative work?

People like a confident, well thought out answer, don't they? Think about it today. How could you put what you do into a few sentences?

Here's my elevator pitch for my project:

I am running a creative writing competition for secondary school pupils, accompanied by workshops and one-to-one session to improve writing and creative thinking. All entries will be made into an anthology with proceeds split between the school and a charity chosen by the winner. An awards ceremony will follow with readings, prizes and anthologies on sale.

What does yours sound like...?

Day 186: A little help please...

Today I want to talk to you about a project I'm doing. I'm proper excited about it and all in all, it's coming on a real treat.

So, I'm going into a secondary school in Bath to run a creative writing competition. Anyone in years 7, 8 or 9 can enter and I'll run workshops and one-to-one sessions to help them out. All entries will be turned into an anthology sold at an awards ceremony with readings and prizes. Oh, and the anthology will be sold to raise money for the school and a charity chosen by the winner...

...but, I need a theme. That's where you guys come in. I want it to be an abstract noun like, risk, so it's not too concrete. That'll give people's imaginations plenty of room to floowwww.

Any ideas...?

I might use two contrasting themes, like love and hate (but not that 'cause it's been done a million times!) Then they can chose...interesting...

So, put your creative thinking caps on please and help me out! You know what to do, put a little old comment below!

Thank you and goodnight.

Day 171: Nick Horby

Nick Hornby is a world famous writer. He's written, amongst others, Fever Pitch and About a boy. Both of these have been made into films too, so I'd say he's up there with the greats!

As a creative person whose in the lime light, Nick Hornby is going into schools in London to help pupils with their literacy skills and encouraging them to love reading and writing, just like he does. I don't know if you've watched the news recently, but the government aren't happy with spelling, grammar etc, so Nick Hornby and some other writers have decided to do something about it.

For Nick Hornby, the most important thing in the project is, 'humour, intrigue and creativity.' You can find out more about his project here.

Nick Hornby is taking his creative skills and using them to create change. How great is that!

I don't know about you, but this really inspires me to use my skills to help people too. Creative skills are just as important as maths or science. People love to get creative in lots of different ways and it makes people happy!

What creative skills do you enjoy using? Nick Hornby obviously enjoys creating stories, so that's what he's using to help people.

What do you care about? Nick Hornby obviously cares about reading and writing, so that's what he's focusing on, using his skills to do it.

What could you do with what your skills...?

Day 168: Joshua Bell on the subway in N.Y.

Joshua Bell is a world famous violinist. He composes music and has performed all over the world. He's also done movie soundtracks and even been on Sesame Street!

But at 7.51am on 12th January, he played for 45 minutes on the New York Subway. Wanna know how much he made for his world famous playing as a busker? $32! Over 1000 people past him and how many do you think stopped to listen, watch, admire?

Watch this video to see what happened:



Isn't it crazy to think someone as creatively talented as Joshua Bell was ignored on the Tube? How do you react to busker? I know I would probably do exactly the same thing as they all did, but why?

This all got me thinking about being creative...Do I, as a creative person, support the creative work of others? Surely we need to stick together, right?

The other day I told you I went to an open mic-night, which was heaps of fun and gave me loads of inspiration and momentum for my own creative work, so it would seem that supporting each other helps us along too (creatively speaking). Maybe it's time we became more active in our support of creative thinkers!

What's going on in your area, at your school/college, or even out on the streets? How could you support them? I don't mean with money necessarily, but what could you do to encourage those who are doing similar things to you? Could you do more? Maybe you could make a pact...I'll go to yours if you come to mine...?

Something to think about...

Day 162: RCA Secret

Everyone likes a good secret, don't they? Well this one involves famous artists, illustrators and art students from all over. More than 1000 artists have designed a postcard, which go on sale this weekend at Royal college of Art in London to raise money for art students. The catch, you don't know until you buy it who it's by. What a cool idea!

Each postcard is £45 and you can buy a maximum of four per person. It's getting everyone excited about owning their pocket sized Tracey Emin or David Bailey. But you might get work by a student who could go on to become the next Picasso! How exciting!

What a great way to get the community interesting in art. Not only that but raise cash to help creative people like you and me get to uni and do what we love. With the way thing are going in government, we need all the help we can get, so thank goodness someone is sticking up for us, eh!

Check out their website for more info. If you live around London, you can go see them for free before the sale. Maybe you can guess whose is whose!

So, who'll get the postcards worth millions? We'll have to wait and see...

Day 55: The draw!

As is the tradition with uni students, every summer brings about a change, whether it be to a completely new house or back to the comforts of home. To be honest, most of this 'change' brings about all sorts of annoyances. Everything has to be put into boxes and carted from here to there. You have to clean everything and generally it's just a big pain in the butt!

Speaking of buts, there is ONE thing which I have decided is a plus (kind of). It makes you sort out that draw/cupboard (even entire rooms in some cases) which you've been avoiding for ages and getting worse is the process. We all have one, student or not, that gets filled with 'things'. Birthday cards from 3 years ago, old ticket stubs, keys, buttons, paperwork, an odd sock...you know what I'm on about.

What has this got to do with inspiring creativity, I hear you ask? Well, if you have got anything from this blog so far, it should be that creativity can be sparked by anything. Even a minial task such as clearing out a forgotten draw. (Doesn't that just scream creative possibility to you!)

This is my challenge for you today. GO to that draw, delve right in and sort it out! Is this the challenge? No! The challenge is to enter it with your creative thinking cap on. What will you find? How will it inspire you? Who knows! The only way to find out, is to do it.

Better yet (or simply to avoid that dark place), why not do someone else a favour? Offer to sort out your nan's draw. That big dresser in the hall where she keeps stuff from decades ago. Now that would be an interesting draw!

What will you find to spark your imagination today...?

Day 10: Creative Memories

I don't know about you, but creative people tend to be forgetful and generally a bit scatty. I certainly fall into both categories. Very often I will be on the way to my studio space (where I do my art) only to find I have forgotten my paintbrushes, purse, phone or whatever else I really need! Are you that kind of person?

I am also a bit of a visionary. In other words, I get an idea which then sparks off another million in my head. They all swim around getting mashed together and then I usually forget half of them (hence why I forget so many physical things like my phone all the time!). Sound familiar?

Well, this is how I try to handle my forgetful brain; carry a notebook EVERYWHERE! You never know when a creative idea is going to fly into your head, so the best thing to do is catch it and write it. It works wonders for me. When I wake up in the night after a dream, it goes in the book. When I'm on the bus and I see/hear something, it goes in the book. Even when you're on the toilet...creativity can strike anywhere, best to be prepared! At least that's what I find. It's a great way to see your ideas growing and moving forward.

So, don't just forget it, write it!