So come on now, sit down with your family or friends and make a colorful mess! Clean up is faster when there are more than one person helping out. They also may bring some supplies or ideas to the table that you have never tried before. Or set a date to jam some music or write a tune with a fellow musicians. Or maybe record some new tracks and share them on the internet and invite others to add their bits and create a world wide collaboration. We truly do live in amazing times where the imagination has no limits to what is possible and what can be accomplished with others on your creative journey. It has never been easier to have access too, work with, share and interact with other creative souls, so get on it I say! What do you want to share with the world?

So in this spirit of sharing, here is a short video and a tune which I put together about an art swap that I had hosted for some of the friends that I had met in the Doodles Unleashed workshop I took a few weeks ago. The first part shows a progression of layers for my contribution before being cut down into twenty 3.5″ inch squares. Each square was stamped with a simple design I carved out of a rubber eraser, slapped with a Chongolio sticker, signed and dated and an edition number added to the back before being mailed off to it’s new home. My first group art swap was a lot of fun, artistically satisfying and a giant success! I received art from as far off as Australia, Canada and all across the the U.S.A. from other artist who were also stoked and eager to join in on the art swappin’ fun and friendship buildin’ good times that sharing your art brings.

In a nutshell it is simply stream of conscious writing done everyday. Mornings are the preferred and suggested time to do this exercise because that is when the mind is fresh and the least distracted and worn down by the events of the day. My 750 words usually take me about a half and hour to accomplish. I use the time that I spend on my daily pages to jot down creative ideas, lyrics for songs, ideas for characters and blog posts and goals that I would like to reach as well as any problems that I am trying to solve or things that are bugging me. I have been writing fairly steadily for the last 8 months now and have only missed a few days here and there during this time. Currently I am on my longest streak to date which is 74 day straight days.

When I first started writing my morning pages, I used a pen and paper which I really enjoyed at first, However, I did not like the idea of adding even more books to my already large collection of art and sketch books, journals and notebooks that are already taking up so much space in my small studio. Also, I did not like the idea of my private writings laying around where they could be easily discovered and read by others. After a few months of writing in composition books, I switched over to a site called 750 words which is a site that offers a place to write out your 750 words for free. The site also offers statistical tools that tell you your word count, keywords, words typed per minute, writing streaks and other info for analyzing and discovering trends in your writing. You also have the ability to print out your pages, keep your writings private or share them with others, participate in monthly writing challenges and also offers achievement badges along with other whistles and bells to keep you motivated and on track with your daily writing. As mentioned before the site is free and kept going by user donations.

I plan to continue my commitment to do my morning brain dump on the 750 words site as long as I can find an internet connection. On the days that I am without an internet connection I still get my words down on paper or into a word processing program on my computer. Personally, I have found this technique of writing every day very helpful in de-cluttering my brain, helping me remember ideas and thoughts, as well as serving as a daily journal to record some of the going ons in my life. I also feel a noticeable difference in my daily attitude and don’t seem to get so worked up and agitated as easily as I have in the past which is a good thing. It doesn’t take long really just a commitment to follow through.

The good news is simple! It doesn’t need to take much time or money and the degree of commitment is entirely up to you. You will just need to figure out what it that you would like to learn or accomplish and sit yourself down for whatever time you can give yourself to follow your creative pursuits and do it… EVERYDAY!! If you want to write, write something, anything EVERYDAY! If you want to draw more pick up a pencil and paper and draw something EVERYDAY! If you want to grow a garden plant a seed or fill a planter with soil or read a book about gardening but do something EVERYDAY for a few minute at the very least that will take you a few steps closer to learning more and cultivating your artistic abilities.

Your creativity is inherent but not going to manifest on its own and it needs to be nudged and nurtured. So if you really want to be more creative in your life then it really is as simple as taking the time to make a commitment to yourself too pursue your artistic nature and ignore the voices telling you that you are no good at it. It helps to get support and get feedback from others who share your interests so if you can find a group or friend to share your experiences with and to help you stay committed then even better! Join a group or find a friend willing to make the promise together.

If you really want to be more creative in your life take ownership of your creativity, practice, nurture, refine and most of all enjoy the process and go easy on yourself. Do it today and EVERYDAY even if just for a few minutes!

One of the many artistic commitments that I have made to myself and one which I am probably the most insecure is geared towards my musical and song writing desires. I have committed myself to finish writing and recording at least one song a month for this entire year. I don’t consider myself all that good at it but I know that if I want to get better at it I need to work at it. It doesn’t have to be perfect or completely finalized but it does have to contain a beginning middle and end. So here is my song “The Story of Slippery Pete” which is my tune for the month of January. A little late I know, but until yesterday I was uncommitted to making my song writing commitment public

So the other thing that I really like about doodling, in addition to it’s attributes of being intellectually stimulating, is that it can be pretty much done anywhere and on most anything easily and inexpensively. Which makes it a pretty cool way to personalize, stylize and add some creative cheepow* to your bland gizmos and lackluster items.

I like to keep a few colored sharpies easily accessible for adding faces, creatures, designs and symbols all over the things around my house, work place and wherever I see something that could use a creative lift. Just about everything I own is fair game when it comes to getting a doodle modification. Also, it leaves no doubt about who that item belongs to. Now don’t get me wrong, I am NOT condoning defacing things that don’t belong to you! So please use some discretion when letting your doodles out into the wilds.

Ok then, here is an elaborate example of what I am talking about with using doodles as a way to spice up your swag. This video features another one my diddley bows, or more appropriately named “doodley bow”, that I built and done up with a pack of cloud doodles. And as a special bonus you get to even see and hear me play the dang ol thing!

If you want to see and hear more my diddley bow goodness take a look at:

The Sunshine Bow and The Spamboo Bow

*OK, I may be using that word out of context. When I googled it I only came up with:

Chee Pow- Cantonese paper wrapped chicken.
or
Qipao- a type of chinese dress.

But I like it and I am using in place of the word “Awesomeness.”

As the second week to the Traci Bautista’s Doodles Unleashed workshop sponsored by Strathmore comes to an end and the third week begins, my renewed interest in the humble act of doodling continues to grow. Did you know that doodling during classes, lectures and verbal presentations increases a greater retension of up to 29%! It’s true and if you don’t believe me just watch and listen to what Sunni Brown has to say about it.

Doodling has been studied and proven to help keep you focused, increase comprehension and creative thinking while sitting in class or in the boardroom. So embrace your doodlin’ birthright and all of it’s brainy benefits!

This last week I have been participating in Traci Bautista’s Doodles Unleashed workshop over on www.strathmoreartist.com. I am totally into it and have been spending a lot of time exploring the magic and fun of the doodle! I find doodlin’ is an awesome way to just relax, be creative and let it all hang out without any preconceived ideas, notions or expectations of inventing a masterpiece. This can be a challenge sometimes, to just let go, not judge and to tell your inner critic to take some time off. But when done and you allow yourself to just create and make marks with no meaning or over analysis, this is when the mind opens and speaks it’s mysterious dialogue with the superconscious. A time when the conveyance of symbols, spells and magic stories begins and the doors to other worlds open. I have been doodling for years, I have even been given the nickname Randoodle by some of my friends. My school notes are sprinkled and covered with circles, spirals, patterns, characters and creatures that have come out to say hello when I sat in class absorbing the lessons my teacher was giving. Did you know studies have been done that links the process of doodling to helping to remember and learn new things as well as a way to relieve stress and disconnect from the drama and demands of modern living? Doodling is simple and easily accessible to just about anyone. The only thing needed to get started is something to make marks with, something to put those marks on and the willingness to take some time and just let the doodles flow from your head and through your hands. So let your doodling begin! If you come up with anything you would like to share please do so!

You can also take a look at some other doodles done by other fine artists taking the workshop in this doodles unleased flickr group

In this final episode in my series on art journaling basics I go over some of the different sealers I use to protect the pages in my art books and journals.

If you found this series helpful please hit the like button and share with your friends and family who might be interested in creating their own art easily and inexpensively. You can also show your support by taking a look through my Etsy shop and Amazon store

This is number seven in my eight part series on the subject of art journaling. In this episode I go over some of my favorite pens, pencils and markers that I like to use when working in my sketch books and art journals.

If you found this series helpful please hit the like button and share with your friends and family who might be interested in creating their own art easily and inexpensively. You can also show your support by taking a look through my Etsy shop and Amazon store

In this episode, I get into some different types of paints and show a few tips and techniques to use in your art journals.

If you found this series helpful please hit the like button and share with your friends and family who might be interested in creating their own art easily and inexpensively. You can also show your support by taking a look through my Etsy shop and Amazon store