Entries Tagged as: air

Metamorphosis

December 22nd, 2010, Comments (26)

I like to pick a theme word for the year and usually they come to me pretty easily, but this year I've been having a hard time picking one.

I went through a whole brainstorming process to come to this word and I like the path it led me on, so I thought I'd share it with you, just in case you're trying to figure out your own word for 2011.

I started out thinking of the words nest, home, and birth (can you tell what's on my mind?), but none of them felt quite right, so I kept thinking on it, letting words roll around in my mind. As I brainstormed, I thought of the words: becoming, allow, trust, and adventure.

Then I thought about breaking down the year into quarters. I already know that in first quarter of the year, I want to focus on creating space and tidying up, both in my business and home. There's all sorts of preparations to do as I get ready for the little baby who is currently kicking me in the organs.

And then I figured the next quarter would be a quieter period (in some ways), as I adjust to motherhood, deal with sleep deprivation, and help our little one adjust to life out in the world.

And then I imagined there would be a time of adjustment to life as it becomes.

And that's when the word hit me: Metamorphosis. Perfect! Just like the butterfly, I'll be spending time preparing, going within, and then transforming into something new and different. Certainly an exciting time, an adventurous one, perhaps even a little frightening. But beautiful.

I made this little art piece today to commemorate my word for the year.

Have you chosen a word for 2011? Have you thought about expressing it in a creative way, that you can keep around to remind you of your focus for the year?

Paper Snowflakes

December 16th, 2010, Comments (21)

Seeing teeny-tiny snowflakes dancing through the air this week has made me want to make my own paper snowflakes. I don't think I've made them since I was a kid!

I pulled out some fun paper I had laying around, and spent some time cutting away tonight. Later, I strung them all onto dental floss using tape and hung them from a shelf in the family room. I think my favorite part about them is the cool shadows they make on the wall!

Creative Every Day Theme for December: Air

December 1st, 2010, Comments (18)

At the end of each month I will announce the totally optional theme for the following month. Continuing with the elements theme, for the month of December, the theme will be the element of Air. 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.

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:

  • *Get outside and take pictures of the sky at different times of day.
  • *Use hot air in your work. Try blowing wet media with a blower or try encaustic.
  • *Capture the movement of wind in drawing or painting.
  • *Make clouds out of fabric.
  • *Focus on the air or negative space in your work.
  • *Write a poem about the way air feels on your skin.
  • *Turn on a fan and take some fun wind-blown self-portraits.
  • *Create more airspace around you, by clearing out some clutter.

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 sky and the strong wind have moved the spirit inside me till I am carried away trembling with joy. -Uvavnuk

p.s. The art above is adapted from my Wind in my Hair piece, prints are available here.

p.p.s. I will have info about signing up for the 2011 Challenge later this week. In the meantime, I would love to hear some of your ideas for monthly themes for next year. Brainstorm away in the comments!