CREATIVE SPARK NEWSLETTER |
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2024 Summer Sketchbook Un-Slump |
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SUMMER SKETCHBOOK UNSLUMP PROMPT 1 |
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When it comes to our creative practices, there is one challenge that I've seen get mentioned a lot--perfectionism. The second and third runner up are lack of motivation and time. Are these things that you struggle with sometimes? I wanted to begin our summer un-slump by addressing these very common and normal issues the majority of us deal with. For me there's one thing that has been the answer and helped me over these humps and it's taking action. I ended up having a lot more to say about this below but if you're ready to get to the prompts, feel free to skip to that part and come back to this later! :) |
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When it comes to perfectionism, taking action to create something helps us grow and improve our skills. And it's only by looking at what we created that we can take steps to let perfectionism go by finding beauty and the positives in the piece that's in front of you (even if it didn't turn out how you wanted or there's a lot that you dislike--I believe there's at least ONE thing you can take away from it that you don't think is so bad :)) We are also all so much more critical of ourselves and I think it takes practice to undo that. Lack of motivation can be tough but taking that action to start (which can be the hardest part!) is the only way we can start to build momentum and feel the flow again. I also think feeling excited and inspired helps to address this and I hope the prompts and ideas can help with this! Time is a tricky one but in my own personal experience, I realized that as busy as I was, somehow I was finding time to scroll and dilly dally on social media/the internet. 😅 What if I took just 5-10 minutes of that and go make some art instead? We all have a lot of different responsibilities and unique full lives and you might/probably have way better social media habits than me :) but your days can still be so busy that carving out time is very difficult! This is a friendly reminder that if creativity brings you joy and makes you feel something, finding that time for you is important and it's OK to make it a priority. The great thing about a sketchbook is that you can take it with you anywhere so while we might have to get creative in finding that 5 minutes--waiting during appointments, while dinner comes to a boil, right before bed, when little ones are doing homework or taking a nap--that 5 minutes still counts and is a great start! |
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Below are ideas and suggestions to help you get started! See which one feels the best for you or let them spark another idea and another until you settle on the one that excites you or sounds the most fun! If you feel stuck or have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. I will be working through this prompt too and deciding how I want to interpret it! |
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- Start small If your sketchbook page feels big and intimidating, split it up into 2, 4, or 6 sections. Commit to filling in at least 1 section this week!
Pick an easy or familiar tool to use. Keep it black and white or add color. Remember it doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate, it's about taking action and getting started! Here are a few ideas on how you can fill in your section:
- Add doodles of favorite things, repeat a shape you like
- Draw a pattern you saw
- Fill it with colors--try something neat or something more free form.
- Create movement within your art Try one of these tutorials (feel free to use these as a reference then do your own thing/pick your own subject!):
- Recreate a reference photo inspired by action (such as the photos at the start of this email or this silhouette of a person jumping or these dancers--search for more free images on Unsplash). You can interpret it as is or in a more abstract way (loose lines, overall shape instead of focusing on details), look at the image as a whole or zoom in on a detail/shape/line you like (which you can then repeat and create a pattern with!)
- React start, begin, motion, movement, push, leap, dive in Sometimes related words can trigger a feeling, thought, memory that you have a stronger connection with and can build off of. If action doesn't inspire ideas, think of other words that represent it that might.
- Stillness, calm, rest, and idleness The way I like to use prompts is to see where they lead and not limit it to anything which means considering the opposite! If action connects you with a lack of action, use that as your inspiration.
- Lights, camera, action! Pick an action film to check out and create a page while you are watching inspired by the scenes as they appear or make one afterwards. Recreate an image of your favorite scene, use a favorite quote as the focal point, or make an abstract painting or collage about the theme(s) that came up. (Jumanji, The Goonies, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are some of my favorites :))
- Explore an art movement Browse this list that include examples and pick one to explore. Create a sketchbook page using the key techniques and characteristics of the movement you chose.
- Active mark making Pick items that are “active” (marbles that roll, toy trucks with wheels, rubber bands, electric drill with a paintbrush attached to it, putting bubble warp on a rolling pin, etc.) to create marks with. Take a look at what you have around your home--don't forget to check the kitchen drawers and garage--and see what weird and interesting things you can make marks with and how they turn out! Try filling your page with all different marks or you can make each mark without overlapping and label them to create a key that you can use for future reference! Here are some additional examples:
- If you haven't tried one of the warm up exercises yet, it's not too late! You can find the details in the Week 0 email.
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I can't wait to see what you create for Action! If you're sharing your work, please don't forget to tag me @atiliay on Instagram so I can repost or feel free to email me with photos as well. At the very end of the slump I will send out a final recap and I would love to include your work! Have fun, experiment, enjoy--and trust!--the process :) I hope you have a great weekend and I will talk to you next Friday for Prompt #2! |
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Brought to you from the road! Currently in
Toronto, -, Canada |
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