Dive Deep Art Exercise #1 Emotional Colors
Create a series of boxes on a piece of paper or in your art journal. You are going to assign a color to each box. Then each color will be assigned an emotion.
I made 16 boxes and lined them up in a grid. Make as many boxes as you want. You can arrange them in a grid like I did or place them in a random design.
To decide how many emotions you want, make a list of emotions you sometimes feel. You also can think in terms of "I feel..." (For example, I feel vibrant, I feel feminine.) Good "list of emotions" if you need help.
I also looked at my previous paintings and made a list of the colors I like to use most. I than assigned a color to each emotion on my list.
Next I am going to fill each box with one color of acrylic paint. To keep the painted boxes clean, I outlined a few boxes at a time with artist tape.
Remember your boxes can be more abstract or even another shape. Don't worry too much about making them perfect. This is not a final piece of art but a practice exercise.
Fill in all of the boxes with your chosen colors. When all the boxes are filled remove the artist tape and let your page completely dry.
The middle of your journal can look a big grungy because of the journal stitching.
So I sometimes use a strip of wash tape to cover it up.
I can even use Washi Tape around the entire facing page.
I use the facing page to take notes and write down any thoughts I have about this exercise.
After the colors are completely dry I write one emotion in each box. I recommend that you use acrylic paints, gouache or watercolors for the boxes. They dry quicker than oil and it is so difficult to write on pastels.
Lake George Reflection.
Lake George Reflection
Oil on Canvas
I thought I was very familiar with Georgia o"Keeffe's paintings. Yet I had never seen this one before. I live ½ block from a lake and have become very interested in lake art.
Lake George Reflection was created from 1921-1922 and is owned by a private collector. Such a tranquil painting.
What would your creative version of a favorite lake be?
Artists Bucket List
Many people create bucket lists for places they want to go before they die. I decided I wanted to create an Artists Bucket List - artists whose work I want to see in person. Here they are...
1. Faith Ringgold
2. Frida Kahlo
3. Robert Rauschenberg
4. Gustav Klimt
5. Mike Bernard
6. Henri Matisse
7. Elaine de Kooning
8. Romare Bearden
9. Claude Monet
10.Paul Klee
It was interesting for me to see who is on my top ten list. Most of them did some mixed media, collage. The paintings of these artists tend to be colorful. Many are abstract and some tell a story. And two of the artists created a portrait of JFK.
Who would be on your Artists Bucket List?
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
When I decided to launch Artists Inspired, I knew what I wanted it to be. I knew I wanted it to be a place where I could turn to my artist friends and say "OMG, you have got to see this, hear this, read this."
Over the years I have read many books on art and creativity. And usually I end up feeling somewhat disappointed. Something's missing. I don't feel like reading the books over and over because I am so inspired. I am not jumping up and down yelling "Read this. Read this. Read this."
Maybe I don't need a library filled with books on creativity. Maybe one will do. And, I think I have found it... The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. I just finished my third reading and it's bleeding yellow highlighter.
I had never heard of Rick Rubin until I saw him interviewed by Anderson Cooper on 60 minutes. Rubin is a well-known major success story in the music industry. He is a music executive and producer. He was named as Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People In the World.
During the 60 Minutes interview they discuss his just published book. I immediately downloaded it to my iPad and started reading. This is a book I will most likely read over and over again for the rest of my life.
The book begins with a quote from Robert Henri (1865-1929, American painter and teacher)."The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable."
Okay, I thought. That was a great start.
Rubin describes his books as 78 areas of thought. The first thought is Everyone is a Creator. He says, "Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It's our birthright... To live as an artist is a way of being in the world."
The second thought is called Tuning In. "Think of the universe as an eternal creative unfolding," he continues. "Trees blossom cells replicate. Rivers forge new tributaries. Every manifestation of this unfolding is doing its own work on behalf of the universe, each in its own way, true to its own creative impulse."
I was hooked. This book does not disappoint.
The Creative Act on Amazon - click here.
Origami Doves
I first heard about this art installation of origami birds during the pandemic. It was displayed at the Washington National Cathedral as a symbol of hope. Thousands of white paper birds hung from the 100 foot ceilings.
The exhibit was created by German artist Michael Penury and was replicated all over the world.
I have been thinking that maybe I would start making origami doves and start leaving them places and giving them away with the words "Que la paz sea contigo" Peace be with you. Is this something you might be interested in doing as well?
Want to make a more elaborate dove? Click here...
Prolific Picasso
Le Rêve, Picasso 1932, Oil on Canvas
Picasso was one of the most prolific artists of all time. It is estimated that he made over 50,000 pieces of art. Yet only about 100 are considered masterpieces today.
I am not sure what that means except create a lot. It seems he worked on his art every day, from his teens to his 90s. You'll have to do the math. It makes my eyes spin.
Do you think creating every day is a reasonable goal?
Dreaming City
Dreaming City (1921)
Paul Klee (1879 - 1940)
What would your creative version of a Dreaming City be?
Living My Dreams
I have heard so many people in Mexico say "I am living my dreams." I have never been so grateful on a daily basis than I am now. In my NOB life, my dreams often got buried under my To Do list. There was always paper work, and bills and taxes. Even good things in life seemed to create additions to that ever growing list of things that had to get done. And for those days when the ugly things took over the To Do list... I created a playlist of songs to help me remember to put a star next to the items that give me the most joy.
Songs About Dreams
1. California Dreamin' - The Mamas and Papas2. DayDreaming - Corinne Bailey Rae
3. Day Dream - The Lovein' Spoonfill
4. Follow Your Dream - Sheryl-Dawn Ryan
5. A Dream Come True - Leon Russell and Elton John
6. In Dreams - Roy Orbison
7. I Have a Dream - Amanda Seyfried - From Mama Mia
8. Sweet Dreams - The Eurythmics
9. Workin' On a Dream - Bruce Springsteen
10. Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
Mexico Has Changed My Relationship With Color
My sense of color has certainly changed while being in Mexico. It's as if there is not a color that could be too bright for me.
Yellow? I love the shade that yells "Good Morning!" Blues? I want the Caribbean. Reds? Don't give me a sophisticated burgundy. I want a red that almost tips into orange. For the first time in my life I like orange and lime green... two colors that I never would have gone near in my previous life.
I find myself repeatedly drawn to "Stiletto Love" red and "Pensive Plum" for my paintings. I also can't get enough of "Sockeye" peach, "Pacific Coast Blue", and anything copper or gold.
What colors are you drawn to for your creative works?
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