Creative Every Day Theme for April: Small
March 29th, 2011
At the end of each month I will announce the totally optional theme for the following month. For the month of April 2011, the theme will be Small.
As always, this month's theme for the Creative Every Day Challenge is totally optional. Use it if it inspires you, continue being creative every day in your own way if it doesn't, or do something in between. You can sign up for the 2011 Creative Every Day Challenge anytime. More info can be found here and the sign-up page is here.
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:
- *Fill a page with thirty 1" squares and fill one each day with drawing, paint, words, whatever!
- *Take your camera outside and focus on the little things around you.
- *Make a list of the small things you are grateful for in your life.
- *Write about what it was like to be small.
- *Work with your favorite medium in a small format. How small can you get?
- *Make a series of tiny paper airplanes, small boxes, or miniature charms.
- *Make or buy a mini sketchbook. Use a page to record each day.
- *Make a view finder to look at your world in a new way.
- *Eat a meal of small things...finger sandwiches, tiny tarts, small sips. Savor every bite.
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. Feel free to focus on the theme in your creative activities for the entire month or as much as you'd like.
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.
And have fun with it!
*The art above is modified from one of my Itty Bitty Kitty art pieces.
A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark. ~Dante Alighieri
26 Responses
Oh I love working on a smaller scale and going to do the 1″ sq format for sure! thanks for the idea
Posted by: DinDin | Mar 29, 2011 at 3:40 am |
ooohh….I LOVE this theme! Just posted two “small” paintings so maybe I’m ahead of the curve for a change! lol!
Posted by: Maron | Mar 29, 2011 at 8:36 am |
interesting. This is getting me thinking!
Posted by: Melissa | Mar 29, 2011 at 9:18 am |
small is good for me. I need to find a way to get back to my creativity, and as usual, starting small, taking baby steps, lowering expectations and pressure is the way I get going. I think I am slowly coming back, so I might be more visible soon. I think I am starting a new series of art pieces. Lets see if they catch on in my brain. Or maybe they will go someplace entirely different.
Posted by: rowena | Mar 29, 2011 at 9:26 am |
I am loving this post – what a great cat – ha
Posted by: dthaase | Mar 29, 2011 at 10:13 am |
great theme. of course, as usual, I’ll end up not following it and going off on other tangents, but in a…small…way:P Look forward to a creative April!
Posted by: sarah-anne | Mar 29, 2011 at 6:29 pm |
Thanks for the theme, Leah. At first I balked at the idea. I a BIG, LOUD person and artist. This will be good for me to go small and feel less pressure trying to complete larger pieces. Looking forward to it.
Posted by: Sandy Coleman | Mar 30, 2011 at 9:46 am |
This theme allows me the gentle inspiration to savor the moments of my dailies … To allow “small” to be enough.
Gratitude for these prompts and inspirations! ♥
Posted by: stargardener | Mar 30, 2011 at 10:15 am |
Hi Leah, Your kitty is sweetness personified! Small is good!
Posted by: Peggy Stermer-Cox | Mar 30, 2011 at 10:44 am |
[...] Lastly … I am inspired by the April Theme for #CED2011: Small [...]
Posted by: Morning Musing | Mar 30, 2011 at 10:56 am |
I love how cats always thinks they are so very tiny and want to sleep in boxes and bags that are too small for them. somehow they manage though, right? Love your sketch, made me smile!
Posted by: iHanna | Mar 30, 2011 at 4:29 pm |
small, that brings to mind a number of ideas. could be fun.
Posted by: cyndee | Mar 30, 2011 at 6:59 pm |
Very inspiring theme!
Posted by: Yvonne | Mar 31, 2011 at 10:01 am |
Interesting… I usually like to work BIG but am poorly at the moment and confined to the sofa, so this is very good timing and very good practice for me to try Other Things, in between naps! I’m going to have a go at dividing up the page into 30 squares and doing something small in each one…
Posted by: Tara | Mar 31, 2011 at 11:53 am |
I just started working small again last week. I’m going to continue with this size (5×7) for a while, so this theme is perfect for me.
Posted by: miz katie | Apr 1, 2011 at 8:46 am |
Ohmigosh! I just saw ths months theme and I got chills ’cause i have been tossing around some ideas for tiny art I want to make. I’m taking it as a sign. Thanks Leah.:o)
Posted by: Mari | Apr 2, 2011 at 8:37 pm |
Hi, I would love to participate, but I can’t find how to sign up, maybe because my computer is acting up this last few days, thanks for the inspiration
Posted by: Clemencia | Apr 3, 2011 at 12:11 am |
Hi Clemencia,
The sign-up page is here: http://creativeeveryday.com/2011-creative-every-day-challenge-participant-page
If you don’t have a blog of flickr page to link to, then email me with your first name and last initial and I’ll add you to the list of participants without a blog. Thanks!!
Posted by: Leah | Apr 3, 2011 at 9:49 am |
[...] month’s CED Theme of Small is a magical part of my therapy. When I feel the frustration of wanting to do more in the midst of [...]
Posted by: Starting Small | Apr 4, 2011 at 12:14 pm |
I am looking forward to “small” this month and have started over at Creative Potager with a post about our small community and the opening of the new Farm Gate local and organic food store and springs small blossoms. Thank you as always Leah
Posted by: Terrill Welch | Apr 4, 2011 at 1:29 pm |
I’m just starting out and “small” is a great place to begin. I’m inspired by the 30 boxes idea. I’m going to put a sheet in my day planner now and get doodling.
Thank you for facilitating this! Grabbing the beautiful badge too.
Posted by: Kirsten Olson Malinee | Apr 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm |
Hi! Have lots of ideas for “SMALL” theme. But confused where to start from. Many a times one is more confused when you have many ideas to jot down… Happy BLogging…
Posted by: Sarika Sharma | Apr 9, 2011 at 4:40 am |
great theme…thinking about all those small blessings we take for granted. Looking forward to posting
Posted by: Amanda | Apr 10, 2011 at 9:39 am |
i love small papers! and play very often with it
Posted by: lilas | Apr 14, 2011 at 7:29 am |
Loving the ‘Small’ challenge – have just posted pics of a few small things I found in my immediate environment that I am grateful for and that bring me joy
Posted by: Karoline | Apr 15, 2011 at 10:21 pm |
really looking forward to the small theme, great choice
Posted by: Fiona | Apr 16, 2011 at 5:47 pm |