To be understood means I need to share myself deeply and completely. I won't make any impact on world transformation unless I learn how to do that with my writing and my artwork.
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
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: Exhaust Yourself. He suggests that we can "try harder to honor our ambitions and our obligations. ... this is your time on earth, your chance to create worthy things, your opportunity to conceive a startling idea...".
He reminds me that creativity is my religion, so I need to devote myself to it like a priestess would. I can take a day to exhaust myself in the service of my big idea, and write, research, then write some more all day long.
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 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; on Thursday I will choose next themes, brainstorm projects, and define the nature and skills goals; on the weekend I will gather books and supplies (and take time to stash away the last projects and supplies); and I will do all the prep on Monday and making samples.Next week is Leaf week: Ideas-
- A leaf hunt for different colors and shapes (name the trees)
- Press and coat with mod-podge to preserve colors
- Make a hanging garland with string
- Make a luminaria
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: Flappy paper bats with Aldo
- F: Begin work on EC trifold
- Sat: Start a positivity abstract
- Sun: Paint on abstract, set up ofrenda banners and candles
- M: Paint on abstract
- T: Collect leaves, dunk for apples
- W: Make garland or lumiaria
Preparations:
- Th: Collect paper, scissors, gel pen
- F: Gesso some boards
- Sat: Abstract inspiration
- Sun: Press some leaves
- M: Clean wash tub, paint leaves with mod-podge
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