Creative Every Day Theme for January 2010: Body

December 28th, 2009

At the end of each month I will be announcing the totally optional theme for the following month. January 2010's theme will be: Body.

As always, the themes for the Creative Every Day Challenge are totally optional. Use it if it sparks you, continue being creative every day in your own way if it doesn't, or do something in between. For the theme of Body, I'm thinking in terms of the human body, a body of work, a body of water, etc... There are endless ways you can play with the theme and I'm open to any interpretation.

I'll be posting about the theme throughout the month on the blog to help keep you inspired. You can use the posts here for jumping off points or interpret the theme in your own creative way. If you need some suggestions, here are a few ideas to get you started. You could:

  • *Put your whole body into your creating. Move while you work.
  • *Make work based on the human figure. Take a life drawing class or draw yourself.
  • *Create a body of work on a common theme.
  • *Try body painting or have yourself painted with henna designs. .
  • *Incorporate daily movement into your life and see how it impacts your creativity.
  • *Write a love note to your body.
  • *Focus on your favorite part of your body and create something inspired by it.
  • *Make body prints: Finger prints, foot prints, or whole body prints! 

How to use the CED themes:

If you're feeling creatively stuck or blocked at any point during the month, use the theme as a source of inspiration to get you moving. 

Using the theme is entirely optional for CED participants. Use it if it inspires you, ignore it if it doesn't. I'll be sharing posts throughout the month around the theme (among other things) to get you thinking about how to incorporate it into your life. I'd love to hear how you use the theme in your creative world.

Feel free to focus on the theme in your creative activities for the entire month or as much as you'd like.

And have fun with it!

p.s. The art I adapted for this post, is from my mixed-media piece, titled Eve, which is available as a print here.

The body never lies.  ~Martha Graham

52 Responses

Leah, now that is a challenge, but will give some thought.

Cheers

i will be happy to challenge on the body proposal, thanks to add me

Hi Leah,

I’ve missed you and hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas and are still in the holiday mood.

I like your collage and like the theme of “body”. Don’t know how I will use it yet, but have lots of ideas/images in my mind.

xoxo

I am looking forward to learning and growing with everyone here! Thanks you for the opportunity, Leah.

I will be pondering the idea of “body” this next week and have some ideas already.

See you all soon!
Susan

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Leah Piken Kolidas, Lisa Firke. Lisa Firke said: RT @leah_art: The optional theme for the Creative Every Day Challenge in January is "Body" http://bit.ly/8iXRbB #ced2010 [...]

Love this theme, love the Martha Graham quote, which I remember reading in her memoir. I remember her father was a physician who taught her a lot of body stuff… I like to flip it and say “The Body always stands in truth.”

Looking at my 2010, I see a lot of body work involved in it, both in creating my art and simply breathing my life – in and out, in and out, in and out.

hi leah! love your theme on the body! i was just gifted some huge boards for painting and i’m wonderfully excited because i’ve never painted on such a large scale. i will be doing a lot of moving and dancing while painting. i’m also continuing to reduce clutter in my physical environment which is freeing my mind and body in so many ways.

Great theme and image, I love the ideas you have and will for sure be using some of them..

Thank you- and thank you for the starting ideas. I am so looking forward to trying out different ‘thingses’ with yez all over the year!

Great theme. Love your artwork on the body! Gorgeous!

Darling, I´m not on your list of 2010 participants.
*Pout* Remember I was so happy to be the first that I kind of wrote a telegramme instead of a mail? *grin*

I would like to change my name from Happysnappy to Paula – Buenos Aires, as people recognize me that way nowadays. :D

Thanks! :)

Great theme. It will be wonderful to work on this and see what comes about.

Gorgeous art!!!!

and how appropriate that “BODY” comes in January – after the December, the month of EAT. My butt will be grateful!
Shannan

That IS a great theme! And I love the piece in the blog post here as well *smiles*

Oh – what a wonderful theme to start off the new year with! I am looking forward to beginning a new year’s journey, and starting with this theme just seems so right! Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Great Theme,I was just thinking about what I saw on my scale after eating all those holiday goodies.This is a good subject for me this month.

Great theme to start the new year! I have an unfinished canvas with a sketch of me pregnant with my second child (who is now 3!) This is a great opportunity for me to finish it. ;) I’m excited to participate in 2010!

oooh i am excited.
my first instinct is to work with the word literally.
a big part of my journey next year is going to revolve around my body ~ so this is a perfect theme for me to start the year as i mean to go on!

hope you’ve enjoyed a peace full holiday season, and here’s to a dream-come-true 2010!

The theme “body” is so perfect for January! I was already planning to work on mine. Now to bring creativity into it. That just may help. Thanks!

Oh, this was just the perfect post for me where I am right now.

Hi Leah,
What a great way to jump into 2010 – The body! I can’t wait to see what comes up for me.

Wishing you a New Year filled with good health, love, happiness and possibilities.

LOVE LOVE LOVE your artwork for BODY!!! And I LOVE the theme! Oh, 2010 is gonna be a GOOD year!

Love your artwork. I would like to participate in the themes this year. I could use the help. Can’t wait to get started.

I love the theme for January even though think it will be extremely challenging for me. But that is why I joined. I can’t wait to begin and am looking forward to the new year.

Ooooh Leah I love love love this piece of art! And great theme, it gives me a lot to think about.

Doing a series of portraits of ethnic women around the world
great to connect with your theme and get more adventurous with composition and celebrate LIFE with you!

I love this theme. Its such an exciting project to do generally and I feel really inspired – I hope i will not drop out of this as i seem to drop out of many new years resolutions :D I think I will explore this theme in many of the different ways that you have suggested. Good luck everyone!

My theme for 2010 is “Free Yourself” I am freeing my self, my art and my entire being this year. I cannot wait.

Good topic. I’ve found that I’ve ignored my body and what she needs for much of 2009. I’m a little concerned about the thickening of said body about the waistal area, but that is nothing but a vanity, I know. Better to concern myself with eating right and exercising my body. Perhaps taking some walks for inspiration and body toning. Perhaps creating new meals, healthy ones. Perhaps painting or drawing or photographing some self portraits, nude and/or clothed. Perhaps also “body” could concern itself with a body of work. What is the body I have created with my work. What form does it hold? How have I exercised THAT body?

All good questions.

Yet again. Thanks and Happy New Year.

I am constantly moving my body — either in dance (6 hours a week) or by walking in nature — so I am in pretty good shape physically. Yet I have never been satisfied with my body when I look at it in the mirror! What a conundrum! This is the perfect starting place for a year of creativity. I am looking forward to using this as a springboard for my creativity!

Looking forward to this year…been wanting to do this sort of thing for YEARS now. Looking forward to growing with al of you

After a hip replacement at the end of 2009, the word *body* means more to me than you can possibly know! Getting my body moving back toward art and photography is the current goal….
A good way to start 2010!!!

Hello Everyone! I’ve just found out about this site and couldn’t wait to sign up. I’m really looking forward to getting my creativity flowing again. I am currently a full-time student, still readjusting to being back in school after so many years. I am studying Massage Therapy and other bodywork modalities, so it’s fitting that I will be focusing on “body” this month. I have spent the past few months studying the human body and learning how to help others and realize that I have neglected my own body in the process. My goal will be to find creative and fun ways to take care of myself. I am truly looking forward to this journey with all of you!

There is a lot to consider (no pun intended) in the theme of body. You have given some excellent suggestions and I think it is finally time for me to learn how to put pictures from my camera into the computer to send. One of my resolutions for this year…..

I am excited to start this! It is a great way to start off the New Year for our creative side. This is a great way to be inspired, challenge and have fun!

Ciao~

Leah- thank you so much for this concept! I am really looking forward to the wonderful monthly challenges for 2010!
Mary Ellen

Looking forward to joining you all Leah & having some fun with this challenge!

Sounds exciting theme. Will definitely come with something creative.

Excellent! The title of the blog I’m struggling to birth (India Ink Tattoo) comes from a tiny dot of India Ink in the cuticle of my right thumb I acquired from a crow quill mishap a very long time ago.
My art teacher let me know that my carelessness would be permanent–and then said “It will remind you that you are an artist.”
And it always does.

The body never lies ~
Martha Graham

This is an interesting statement coming from a dancer’s point of view
Martha Grahm may have been talking about the dancer’s body, rather than the human body in general .

The way I see it is our bodies often lie .
Think of all the beauty products women use in order to look younger.
Also- the many ways we can alter our bodies through plastic surgery.

I’m not saying to alter one’s body is wrong.
This is a personal decision-
And one I might make someday ( ? )

Leah- I’m enjoying your switch from blue to red.
When you were blue there was a child-like look to your work. Very soothing and innocent.
Now here you are strutting your stuff with a very grown-up Red !
Does this show us two sides of your personality ?

I started my day “painting” fabric & leather for my handmade bags & shirts–lots of big arm movements with the paint. Very freeing. Now I’m off to a thrift store sale. Very crowded, very small, contained movements. Lots of other bodies. Which means I’ll need to open up again later. But that’s what taking used coats/pants/skirts down to leather panels is about.

I am looking forward to being a part of this wonderful Creative prompt. I linked your button and site to my blog and plan on starting in February!

Thanks for the wonderful creative challenge!

Tery

body is my work of everyday, i pratcise ahstanga vinyasa yoga, on second serie learning it right now in india, mysore, and as a choreographer it is my easy topic for express, i dont draw or paint on body, busy on a travel diairy for now but i like to follow your challenge, thanks

I’ve been following your lovely blog for a while, I finally have gotten the nerve to participate in the big everyday challenge! I love the theme this month, it makes me more aware of myself as I go through the day….

I have posted a photograph of a figure running near dark already for the month of January. Plus I am trying to take my vitamins and minerals everyday. This is easy for everyone else but me, I tend to forget. I would also like to exercise 3 days a week in January. I signed up as a follower today. Remember me from Pink Saturday events?
Joyce M

Hi Leah,

I am intrigued with your challenge of the body for January. I have so many things come to mind, and I hope I can get this done before the month is over. I confess winter is getting me down, and I’m feeling somewhat blocked but will try! Thanks for your inspiration.

I couldn’t get started on the challenge ’cause my brain has gone to sleep CFS/ME and I simply couldn’t set up the Widget thingy. I have put four unexceptional pieces on Flickr for the Body challenge. There is fantastic art on Creativeeveryday.

Years ago, when I was still young and skinny, and post biopsies, mastectomies, and tubal and tubal reversal, and gallbladder, and more cancer surgeries, my soul sister was taking an art course at University. She suggested doing castings of “Body” (frontals) and using my body as one. I was not brave enough then. Now, older, heavier and battle scarred, I am sooo game but we are too far apart. It is time for me to speak of that which is NOT beneath my clothes. Thank you for reminding me that I am a survivor. Thank you for giving me a venue to express how I feel about it all. While I am a late beginner here. I do have a few days and I will do something every day on the topic.

i just joined today and there are only a few days left in the month, i keyed into this month’s inspiration of Body, this month i have been particularly on a mission to find the lifestyle/diet that most fits me and allows my body to be at its healthiest and most beautiful, so I thought the idea “write a love note to your body” was quite fitting as i’ve put “her” through a lot of changes and trials lately… so i’m off to do a journal art page on that now…

this has been fun! i just posted a new body home image on my blog… not sure how this works–am i supposed to upload it somewhere? here it is: http://katytaylor.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/my-body-home/.

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