Our creativity is like a secret only we know about. We can choose to keep it hidden within us or we can choose to express it with our minds and hearts, to help it take form, and to set it free. I think by sharing this particular secret we make the world around us richer and the best part is that sometimes even the keeper of the secret can be surprised by what is created with their imagination and intention! I am excited to see what becomes of this prompt--here are some ideas to help you begin… |
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- Secret Inspiration Boards Pick one without knowing what's on it and use it as your prompt (or if you really want, you can look at all 3 and decide--but I suggest keeping it a surprise :))
- Your Secret Garden “The sun shone down for nearly a week on the secret garden. The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was. It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place.” - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- What would your secret garden look and feel like? Create it using printed out photos and magazine cut outs, paints, hand written words, or a combination for a mixed media piece.
- Take a quote from this book that you connect with and write it down on your blank sketchbook page and go from there. Cover it, layer, write it again--see what comes up for you during the process.
- Look Again I love finding a random smiley face on inanimate objects--here are 8 fun examples to take inspiration from or consider optical illusions and picture searches we used to do as kids. What can you have the viewer search for? Can you hide a face / object / message in your piece? Maybe you can only see it if the page is turned at a certain angle or if you look at it upside down…or maybe you have to look closely at a particular detail or it's very small or so big it doesn't register at first.
- Art History Is Full Of Buried Treasure Here are 11 images found beneath famous paintings
- Architecture Secret stairways, hidden bookcases, mysterious mansions – find inspiration in the secrets found in architecture by literally sketching / painting one of these elements or creating something more abstract (making marks that mimic the curves and lines or making a loose interpretation of it)
- Mystery What's a mystery in life, history, a book, or a movie that intrigues you? Recreate a scene or use a quote from it or create your own mystery that plays out on the your page.
- Expose Why keep things a secret? What parts of your process can you share (leaving the original pencil sketches, taking photos of your process from start to finish, etc.)? Share what isn't typically seen (in embroidery share the messy knotted backside, in collage share all the scraps, etc.) or create a piece using only those elements. What parts of you do you hide, what is a secret you don't want to hide anymore (this can be more cryptic if it's personal, make it a reveal only you would understand)? And if you want to share it anonymously, you can create a postcard to send to PostSecret.
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Symbolism was an art and literary movement focusing on expressing ideas through symbols and the meaning behind the forms, lines, shapes, and colors. Symbolists artists believed art should reflect an emotion or idea, not objective reality. Here are a few examples of symbolism art plus a few ideas to try: |
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The Eye Like A Strange Balloon Mounts Towards Infinity by Odilon Redon - The head or eyeball dissociated from the physical body is a symbol for freedom from the constraints of everyday life, and the attainment of a higher plane of consciousness. The Blind House by William Degouve de Nuncques - This painting is to give the observer the feeling that life has come to a standstill: 'The blind house; that was a case of the silent, somber nature that held its mirror to my face, and in the mirror I saw emotive life that had foundered in death'. |
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- What Symbolizes You? Pick an animal, flower, object, element, landscape that you connect with and create a piece around it as a reflection of you.
- Pick An Emotion to express.
- Pick An Idea to recreate on your page.
Consider colors, shapes, and textures that help convey the mood / attitude you want to capture. Don't be afraid to make something odd or different. |
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It's fall and it's October, one of my favorite times of the year! I love the fun of spooky season and the creativity behind it--candy, costumes, decorations! Personally, I am a big chicken so I stay away from the scarier aspects but if you enjoy it, I hope you lean into it. The mystery and possibilities behind “secret” felt like an interesting way to kick off the month and I am excited to see what you create! Have a great weekend and beginning to your month. Talk to you soon, |
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