creative problem-solving – Page 2

January 21, 2012January 25, 2012

In the Studio~Work & Inspiration…

In the studio this week, several things were accomplished, including enlarging the pattern for the graphic flower. It is now ready to begin piecing and I am excited about the creative process.

Using the printer’s poster setting, I was able to enlarge the pattern to about 44″x 32″, which will make a more dramatic piece!

Several fabrics have been selected for this wall-hanging, though additional colors and textures will be chosen along the way…After reviewing different methods to transfer the pattern to fabric, I have decided to try an apparel design technique of using drafting paper to trace pattern pieces directly onto the fabric. A 1/4” seam allowance will be added as each piece is cut out. Another decision to make will be what type of applique method to use–raw-edge fused?, layered and glued?, or edge hand-turned and basted?

Last week I received a gift in the mail–a beautiful piece of fabric–from someone who knows me very well! The piece is quite an inspiration with vivid, warm colors and a bold, graphic design. The panel is from the Dreamweavers series, designed by artist Stephanie Brandenburg and printed by Camelot Cottons. Visit Camelot Cottons’ website to read about this artist and view her work! Also, to learn more about her design process view the video, Meet Stephanie Brandenburg.

This was a good week in the studio and next week it will be great to continue the creative process!

In the Studio…Reorganization (jonibeach.com)
In the Studio~”It’s Back to the Drawing Board!” (jonibeach.com)
Fabrics I like (thehousewhisperereu.wordpress.com)

November 2, 2011December 3, 2011

Living Life Using Creativity

How do we use creativity in living our lives? Everyday…

1. In our thinking--Imagining…many times life presents us with situations that do not follow a typical path. For example, the economy downturns and the professional positions we have trained for evaporate…a spouse becomes ill just as the children graduate from college…the safety in the community where we live has been compromised. Creative problem-solving helps us to consider possible solutions.

2. In our hearing–We respond to the sounds around us. For example, in engaging in conversations we have with others…as we play an instrument and create music…in singing a melody. We both make and respond to sound in creative ways to express our emotions and ideas.

3. In our visualizing–What we see as shapes and colors impacts our daily lives. For example, we can visually study the characteristics of something to better understand it…artists sketch as a way to design and work out the details of their creation…we watch someone else do something and imitate them. Leonardo da Vinci was a master at using drawing as a way to think about how a machine might work or how a bird flies. Using our sight, we visually take in information about the world around us that can be used to design and create in our daily lives.

4. In our life experiences and family interactions–Whenever we change from what is to what could be. For example, reaching a new stage of life and making some changes…parents finding positive ways to teach their children good behaviors…adult children helping their older parents adjust to a disability. We can use information and design the future to be different from the past, bringing into being something that is new, or novel in its perspective.

One of my favorite books on using creativity and holistic thinking is How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb. Gelb presents the ways da Vinci used a holistic approach to create major works of art, as well as to understand the subjects of science. Da Vinci was ahead of his time in using art and science to inform one another.

So, in answer to the question, How do we use creativity?

People use creativity everyday to meet the challenges of daily living and to design and create new ideas, solutions, conversations, music, visual works of art, life stage transitions, and family traits & values.

Leonardo da Vinci: the wonder years (telegraph.co.uk)
Creativity in Everyday Life (www.goodlifecoaching.com)
Dewitt Jones, professional photographer/National Geographic and speaker on creativity (www.dewittjones.com)

October 3, 2011October 6, 2011

Goals…Discouragement or Motivation?

One of the most difficult things for me to deal with is to fail to meet a goal. Not particularly when I procrastinate and run out of time, or begin but never finish, but whenever I put all of my time and energy into a project, finish it, but fail to get the results I had expected and hoped for. Being a bit of a perfectionist in some things, I usually expect that if I work on something hard enough it will be a success, so when it doesn’t, I have a problem!

Many times in the studio I become discouraged for this reason. In working toward my artistic goals, I often must remind myself of the importance in finding a balance between the artistic expression of an idea and certain end goals, such as entering exhibits and selling pieces. While professional artists engage in many tasks related to running a business, the skills are not always taught in colleges and must be acquired after graduation on their own. So, at times discouragement and self-doubt creeps in and hinders creative and professional development.

Backing Lifeweaving #3 — A Studio Goal: Lifeweavings #3, Quilt the Top, Finish Details and Photograph...Enter Into a Juried Exhibit.

As my week begins there are previous projects to finish and new tasks to begin. I plan to turn on music (instrumental, no vocals), focus, and quilt Lifeweaving #3. For awhile I need to push myself to create many art pieces of various sizes, experiment with techniques, and play around with ideas–with less concern about the end goals. Some research shows that this approach results in more creative outcomes than working very slowly on only a few pieces. Perhaps it frees the creative, right-brain processes or just allows for a break and new motivation to continue.

Though disappointing at times, I need to continue working and realize that perhaps not all goals are meant to be met…