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Read. Think. Sleep. Repeat.
Do you read? A lot? A little? Not at all? Many people I know, do not. Or do very little. Or do only for daily tasks (e-mails, road signs, contracts, notes from kids’ school, etc…). But wait. You’re reading this. Just sayin’…. According to Mr. Warren Buffett, reading a lot helps make us smarter. My takeaway when I read his advice is this: Reading often (and varied) gives us an advantage because we can oftentimes use that information in new ways as we piece different ideas, opinions, or facts together to form new ideas, opinions, or possibly – facts. This is the essence of creativity: making something new out of…
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Notice the Details
What do you notice? Do you see that small crack in the sidewalk as you walk from your car to your office? How about that piece of red thread that’s been billowing from the skinny tree branch outside your front door? Or maybe it’s the shape of someone’s eyes…. What about that scratch of green paint on that door? Or the old house you’ve passed a gazillion times? Did you notice that vintage truck in the parking lot that makes your heart sing every time you see it? One of the hallmark characteristics of Creatives is simply We Notice. This is especially true of writers. No matter how small, we…
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Tuesday Tip: Everyday Containers Contain those Word Bits
It’s not uncommon to find random words stuck in funny places around our home… the side of a chair, between the couch cushions, the bottom of my shoe, the bottom of my foot (!), the inside of a cabinet… you name it. With more than 1,000 bits cut and waiting to be pressed into use, it’s not a far stretch to find them somewhere…. lurking. waiting. hanging out. But that’s not really where I want those word bits to live! So where are they when they aren’t roaming around our home?? I find everyday containers work great… some better than others. Three of my favorites are small mayo jars, wide-mouth…
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Art, Visual, or Creative Journaling?
Ready to do some artful journaling? Wait. What? You can’t because you’re not a trained artist? Well, that’s okay. Me neither. 😉 Commonly called Art Journaling, putting colors and words on a page to express what’s on our minds is a way to creatively say what we need to say – even when we don’t realize we need to say it. Our ideas need a place to ‘be’ – especially in this noisy world that constantly pokes at us. I’d like to share something with you that I learned recently: “Artful” journaling isn’t just for trained artists who are working out project ideas or practicing new techniques. Turns out, journaling…
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Drawing Them Out: Faces Reveal Artist’s Growth
As 2018 unfolds, I’ve been reflecting on my creative journey. What began as art discovery (a form of therapy, if you will) during a difficult time in my life – personally and professionally – has developed into a way of living that is as necessary to me as breathing and eating. My head often feels like it will burst to let the ideas out! When everything in art was brand new to me three years ago, I was taking it all in and sampling techniques, tools, and materials – but not choosing anything specific. Window shopping. I suppose that’s how I discovered ‘mixed media’ – I tinkered in a little…
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Ten Tips: Keeping Art Brushes, Sponges, and Stamps Usable
One of the things I learned from our first Creative by Discovery Mixed-Media Art Party was that sharing tips I’ve learned about the process in the past three years is a “how-to” I can gladly contribute. Here are a few things learned along the way…. Ten tips for keeping brushes, sponges, and stamps usable… (because it gets expensive replacing them!): Do not leave brushes/sponge brushes in water for long periods of time. Do not let paint, ink, or adhesives dry on brushes, sponges, or stamps. Let them rest in a brush tub, to keep them moist. Use the scrubber in the bottom to gently loosen paint. Change water often when painting, especially…
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Our First Art Party is in the Books: Feedback + Lessons Learned
Sunday, February 25, 2018, RobinLK Studios hosted our first-ever Creative by Discovery Mixed-Media Art Party. Our project: Mail Art Our party experience: Wow, it was a LOT of fun! My party experience: Wow, it was a LOT of fun and a LOT of work before and after, but very much worth it(!). Like any good party, details matter. This event was no different. Three weeks of intense planning and preparation led to wonderful feedback from guests. Here’s what they shared with me in text messages, Facebook comments, and before leaving that day: “It was sooooooo much fun!” “…a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends” “…such an enjoyable…
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I’m Not Creative! So Said She (or He)
Remember when you were little and had that GIANT box of Crayola crayons and endless sheets of blank white paper? Remember how carefree and happy you felt as you drew purple elephants, orange grass, and places no one had ever seen? What happened? For most of us, being creative is a distant memory, and depending on where you’re reading this blog post, you may or may not be tapped into your own creativity any more… you know, that rush to draw and paint and write with abandon… Why aren’t we all there? Why do adults lose that sense of carefree happiness that comes from creating? Why do adults eliminate creating/making from their…
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Art Speaks
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Corduroy Summer
words + colors guide the process
