Hello there - I hope your week is going well. It is mid-February and here are a few things I thought were cool this week.
1. Elephant in the Room
My father-in-law was recently walking his normal route in his neighborhood and came across someone’s garbage at the curb. Amongst the typical trash was a discarded canvas (4x4 ft.) in great shape with a large elephant on it (image above.) He texted and asked if I would be interested and now the elephant is currently hanging in my studio-office waiting to turn in to something.
The moral of the story is; always be on the lookout for ways to turn something old and unused into something new and creative.
2. Uno!
One of our favorite games to play as a family is the classic card game “Uno.” As a Valentine’s Day gift, my awesome wife gave me a special edition “artist series” Keith Haring Uno set. It is super cool! The cards are covered in Keith Haring’s iconic colorful dancing characters. Haring’s art has been a big inspiration to me.
There are several other artists that take part in the Uno artist series like Shepherd Fairy and Basquiat - which looks pretty cool.
3. Rules to Live By…
Recently while listening to the Creative Pep Talk podcast - “10 Rules of a Thriving Creative Practice” (episode 349) - it got me curious about various artists that have certain creative rules or guidelines.
In the episode, podcast host Andy J. Pizza lists out his top 10 rules for creativity. Many of these “rules” have been recurring themes throughout Creative Pep Talk episodes and might need some context to explain them which I’ll provide in parenthesis.
Here’s his list:
Booby traps mean the treasure is still there (obstacles are a good sign)
Live “right side out” (be authentic to who you know you are on the inside)
Get high on your own supply (make the work you want to see, write the book you want to read)
You’re lost without a target
You art what you eat (you become what you consume)
Pedal (peddle?) faster than you are ready for…
Aim with one bean bag (cornhole reference regarding accuracy in goals)
Embrace the seasons
True over new
Write on stage
You can listen to the episode here if you’d like:
Artist, art educator and nun Sister Corita Kent had a list of her own creative rules:
I also enjoyed looking at German design genius Dieter Ram’s 10 Principles for Design:
Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design makes a product understandable (it speaks)
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is long lasting
Good design is thorough down to the last detail
Good design is environmentally friends
Good design is as little design as possible “Less, but better”
Over the years as an art educator myself I have started to compile of list of my own rules of creativity. I call them “Creative Keys” because more than a “rule” (which most people don’t like that word, especially teenagers) I think these “keys” can unlock someone’s creativity or open a door to discovery.
There is no particular order of importance and the list is growing, changing and in a state of flux. Here are my Creative Keys (so far…)
Accept
impefctionsImperfectionsPlay is the Only Way to Work
Shoot the Arrow - Then Draw the Target
Start while you’re bad and before you’re ready
Embrace Boredom
The Magic is in the Details
Follow your Curiosity
Embrace Limitations
Stay Stupid (keep learning)
Face Fear (Resistance) Head On
Don’t Stop Growing, Learning, Exploring
Combine Two Random Ideas Together
Experiment with Experimenting
Try Something Different / Something New
Find the Fun
All Effort Has Error
Keep Digging
Play Dumb
Keep a Messy Sketchbook and Use It Daily
*I realize some are redundant, some are borrowed and some I need to try myself.
What guidelines or “rules” are on your list? Whether for creativity or just life in general what principles guide you?
Thanks for following along and have a great week.
