When I schedule creative time with people who care about me, I’m far more likely to show up. I’m also more likely to enjoy myself.
Working on projects with people makes me happy. Honestly, this is news to me. I thought I had to be alone to make real art. That, evidently, has changed. Having people around, people who care about me, and people who also want to make stuff, it helps me focus.
Sharing studio with good quality people is dang good quality fun. Sometimes there is music, sometimes snacks. This week it got hot, and someone came in with watermelon. Occasionally the stressful world comes in the door with them, but soon everyone settles in, and becomes relaxed and happy. It usually takes a little while – about 20 minutes of friendly chatter. Then, one by one, each person’s attention turns to their project, and the chatter turns to rustling. That’s about the time Lendy catches me deeply engrossed in scribbles, my tongue sticking out like a little kid’s, and I realize I haven’t heard a word anyone has said for…. how long was I gone?
Shared experiences, the moments when I get to say “Hey look what this ink did!” or “How the heck do I do this?” or “Look! I made a thing!” and friends look up and say “That’s fabulous!” – those shared experiences, they feel good, and they build camaraderie.
When I have a creative date with people, I show up.I catch the infectiousness of their interests. I try things I wouldn’t otherwise had tried. I make stuff. When I don’t, well – you’ll likely find me on the computer again, or doing things that are supposedly important, but really could wait another day.
So I’ve learned to schedule my creative time with classes. The set studio times secure my creative dedication on the calendar. Surrounded by other people who make stuff, I am constantly expanding, and sharing experiences with a growing community of people who care about me. I feel focused, honed, and connected. Art classes make me happy.
[image_with_animation image_url=”7922″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Vincent Bal Place an object that makes an interesting shadow, and use the shadow as the beginning of a doodle. Share your work to this post on our Facebook page. (#salchallenge). See more of Bal’s shadow doodles here. The January Creative Challenge: 15 minutes, once a day, for 30 days – BONUS …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7962″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Michele Yanow In January we sent out 30 days of Creative Challenges. I heard that many of you were doing the challenges at home, and a few of you were outgoing enough to post your projects to our facebook page. It was a thrill to see them every day. …
Some artworks were mentioned at the recent WTF Art History Lecture about Andy Warhol (IT WAS EFF-ING FABULOUS) last Saturday: artworks that I hadn’t seen before. You may have seen the Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn Monroe series countless times, but have you seen these? Sunsets Warhol was a big fan of Joseph Albers, and …
Ingrid Calame is an American artist based in Los Angeles, known for her abstract, map-like paintings inspired by human detritus. Calame’s works come from a painstaking process of recording cracks and stains from the physical environment. She first began tracing the shapes, textures and stains on pavements, cultural and industrial sites, reconstructing the places that …
This is what happens when I don’t take art classes
You know this already:
When I don’t schedule creative time, I lose it.
But you might not know this:
When I schedule creative time with people who care about me, I’m far more likely to show up. I’m also more likely to enjoy myself.
Working on projects with people makes me happy. Honestly, this is news to me. I thought I had to be alone to make real art. That, evidently, has changed. Having people around, people who care about me, and people who also want to make stuff, it helps me focus.
Sharing studio with good quality people is dang good quality fun. Sometimes there is music, sometimes snacks. This week it got hot, and someone came in with watermelon. Occasionally the stressful world comes in the door with them, but soon everyone settles in, and becomes relaxed and happy. It usually takes a little while – about 20 minutes of friendly chatter. Then, one by one, each person’s attention turns to their project, and the chatter turns to rustling. That’s about the time Lendy catches me deeply engrossed in scribbles, my tongue sticking out like a little kid’s, and I realize I haven’t heard a word anyone has said for…. how long was I gone?
Shared experiences, the moments when I get to say “Hey look what this ink did!” or “How the heck do I do this?” or “Look! I made a thing!” and friends look up and say “That’s fabulous!” – those shared experiences, they feel good, and they build camaraderie.
When I have a creative date with people, I show up. I catch the infectiousness of their interests. I try things I wouldn’t otherwise had tried. I make stuff. When I don’t, well – you’ll likely find me on the computer again, or doing things that are supposedly important, but really could wait another day.
So I’ve learned to schedule my creative time with classes. The set studio times secure my creative dedication on the calendar. Surrounded by other people who make stuff, I am constantly expanding, and sharing experiences with a growing community of people who care about me. I feel focused, honed, and connected. Art classes make me happy.
Hey look, fall classes are up. Come join us!
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[image_with_animation image_url=”7922″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Vincent Bal Place an object that makes an interesting shadow, and use the shadow as the beginning of a doodle. Share your work to this post on our Facebook page. (#salchallenge). See more of Bal’s shadow doodles here. The January Creative Challenge: 15 minutes, once a day, for 30 days – BONUS …
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Some artworks were mentioned at the recent WTF Art History Lecture about Andy Warhol (IT WAS EFF-ING FABULOUS) last Saturday: artworks that I hadn’t seen before. You may have seen the Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn Monroe series countless times, but have you seen these? Sunsets Warhol was a big fan of Joseph Albers, and …
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Ingrid Calame is an American artist based in Los Angeles, known for her abstract, map-like paintings inspired by human detritus. Calame’s works come from a painstaking process of recording cracks and stains from the physical environment. She first began tracing the shapes, textures and stains on pavements, cultural and industrial sites, reconstructing the places that …