Abundant creativity

Since abundance is my theme this month, I'm finding ways each day to create abundance. Today I will make some plans for creativity.  

Agenda Today:

1. Read "The Creativity Book"

2. Evaluate my creativity habits

3. Craftivism plans

4. Preschool plans

5. Studio

6. Do the smallest thing

7. Abundance journal

1. Read "the Creativity Book":  

A few years ago I started but didn't finish this book by Eric Maisel (one of my favorite writers). The subtitle is "A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance." Who doesn't want that? 

I'm on part 7, Connect, and Week 31: Change Radically. He suggests that I can make a big change, to go in the direction my wisdom and desire is telling me to go. Because I have the clear sense that some radical change is needed, today I will give it some thought.

First, contemplate my life so far as an artist. Then ask, what would constitute a radical change, and give it a try.

Journal: Well, I have painted since I was young, especially still life. At my peak I really got the way light and color worked, and I branched into some close-up landscape. I loved that, but can no longer seem to get the effects I want. I really want to make art with a message, and I love to look at abstract work with big bold color and texture. I did some abstract work, but it seems jarring to me now - too busy and clashing. So maybe the radical change I could try is simple, peaceful, complementary, organic abstracts. 

2. Evaluate my creativity habits:

Once a week I try to take stock of my creative habits: 

Have I launched into a large creative project, one worth exhausting myself on, and if not, why? 

Have I constructed a schedule for my creative work and am I keeping to it? 

Do I set goals at the beginning of each week? 

Do I have a daily routine that supports my creative efforts?

3. Craftivism plans:

I've defined three areas for What I Want and What I Will Do to Get it: The first is to make things with my hands to give away - useful things, things that inspire and teach, gifts and craftivism. This is my late week focus, Thursday and Friday, and I plan and prepare on Thursday morning.

This week my plan is to draft a new Earth Care pamphlet, and next week I'll prepare to make butterfly tags with the Earthcare group. 

4. Preschool plans:

The second kind of creativity I want is to make things with my grandsons - fun things, exploring basic skills, seasonal materials, and folk crafts. This will be my mid-week focus, Tuesday and Wednesday, and I will do all the prep on Monday, gathering all the supplies and making samples.

This week the focus was on skeletons and bones! We made kid hands with Q-tip bones, and still need to look at X-ray books, make Calaveras scull masks, and refrigerator magnet bones.

Next week is Halloween week: We will make spiders, bats, and ghosts, decorate the house and yard, and have an apple-dunking party. 

5. Studio:

Thirdly, I want to make artworks with a message - things that explore and support my Nature-Culture writing. This will be my weekend focus, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with at least two hours in the studio, and I'll envision, explore, write, and set out supplies on Saturday morning.

I've been piddling around with an old painting, and now I'm ready to get busy on a new project that evokes positive feelings of wonder, comfort, love, and grandeur, and that is a simple, peaceful, complementary, organic abstract.  

 

6. Do the smallest thing:

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time. 

Today I will list specific goals for each day's creative projects and identify the first step; also itemize the supplies and preparation steps on a separate check list. 

My creative projects plan this week:

• Th: Bone magnets with Aldo, set up ofrenda banners and candles
• F: Begin work on EC trifold
• Sat: Start a positivity abstract
• Sun: Paint on abstract
• M: Paint on abstract
• T: Make spiders; hang ghosts
• W: Make flapping bats; dunk for apples

Preparations:

• Th: Get X-ray books and cover stock, print bones
• F: Gesso some boards
• Sat: Abstract inspiration
• Sun: Get apples
• M: Prep for bats and spiders

7. Abundance journal:

To attract abundance into my life (and into the world), I need an abundance consciousness: That is, I need to be aware of the abundance already in my life, connect with it, feel grateful for it, and be ready to accept more of it. 

Abundance consciousness opens my mind and helps me to operate at a higher-level; I see my prospects clearly and welcome obstacles as opportunities. When I believe there’s enough for everybody, I will take it as a challenge to figure out how to make it so; I will work harder to create a bright future for myself, my family, and my world.

I start with a few minutes of quiet meditation to expand my awareness of what I want for myself and for others in my life. “Expansion is the great friend of abundance. It brings in the light, opening up new possibilities. In a relaxed, open state, your awareness sees farther, and life isn’t so confined.” (Deepak Chopra)

Then I write very short, simple answers to these queries:

1. What do I want today, for myself and for others?

2. What step can I take today towards abundance?

3. What one thing could I create today, to expand abundance in the world?

Today I want an abundance of peaceful but energetic flow. I will stay in the moment and on task throughout the day, as I create an EC news page, lesson plans, and bone magnets!