Creative Every Day Theme for July: Life
June 27th, 2010
I apologize for being missing in action this month, everyone! I've been taking some time to rest and heal and I'm still on that path. However, I'm ready to return and am excited to share this month's theme!
At the end of each month I will announce the totally optional theme for the following month. July 2010's theme will be: Life. As always, this month's theme for the Creative Every Day Challenge is 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.
I'm thinking of this theme in terms of exploring life in creative ways, writing about it, making art inspired by it, and noticing the life in your everyday world. 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:
- *Write about your life, autobiography style.
- *Notice the life that surrounds you and make art inspired by it.
- *Create collages that explore the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
- *Make art that explores your life's history.
- *Pay attention to how it feels to be alive. What does this inspire you to create?
- *Spend some time in nature, sketching or writing about the life around you.
- *Use plants or flowers you find in nature to make prints with.
- *Breathe some life into your space. Maybe a plant, a bouquet of flowers, a splash of color?
- *Paint your favorite creatures.
- *Draw portraits of the beings (human or animal that live in your space.)
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!
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~Mary Oliver
p.s. The art above is adapted from "One Rabbit Night" which is available as the original and prints here.
14 Responses
dear leah, i’ve been thinking about you a lot lately and sending love and healing vibes.
and i love the jumping bunny!
Posted by: ABCcreativity | Jun 27, 2010 at 7:55 pm |
I know its not July yet, but this theme will be very apt for my current situation
Thanks Leah, and I hope the rest of your road to recovery goes quickly & smoothly 
Posted by: Mousey | Jun 27, 2010 at 8:05 pm |
I hope your are feeling better soon…. Thanks for all you do!
Posted by: Karen | Jun 27, 2010 at 8:17 pm |
Stay on that path to healing! x o x o
Posted by: sherry goodloe | Jun 27, 2010 at 9:34 pm |
The theme “Life” is a perfect one for you right now and I know it will be meaningful to so many others. 20 years or so ago, I was really into the Celtic tree of life motif – I may just revisit this theme at this time. Thank you for the inspiration.
Sending you warm {{soul hugs}},
Kathryn
Posted by: Kathryn – Collage Diva | Jun 28, 2010 at 6:42 am |
absolutely no reason to apologize for taking your time to heal. I think you are being a phenomenal example to all of us.
Posted by: Julie Jordan Scott | Jun 28, 2010 at 1:21 pm |
Hi Leah, I hope your time to heal has been fruitful. I particularly like your festive “One Rabbit Night”!
Posted by: Peggy Stermer-Cox | Jun 28, 2010 at 8:18 pm |
Hi Leah I really like your Life painting, jumping onwards, leaping through all those life hurdles!
Posted by: Katrina | Jul 2, 2010 at 4:07 pm |
Leah, you take as much time as you need. Healing happens on its own schedule and can’t be rushed. We’re big kids. We’ll manage.
Posted by: Susan Reep | Jul 4, 2010 at 1:40 am |
I am a lover of astrology amateur though I am. I have known about the energy of the planet Mercury going retrograde 3 or 4 times a year. But I have just learned about Pluto’s retrograde. Mercury’s energy is about communication and travel. Pluto’s retrograde is about death, birth and regeneration and I believe the cycle lasts from about February to September this year. Very interesting that you chose this theme at this time. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to honor your grief and heal. It just takes as long as it takes and I send you love and prayers.
Posted by: Sherrie Phillips | Jul 4, 2010 at 3:54 pm |
[...] cinnamontoastsquirrel in Creative Tags: life New month, new theme. Even though I rarely touched on last month’s theme of Bliss. This month’s theme is [...]
Posted by: Life, it’s not just a game « Desperately seeking | Jul 6, 2010 at 11:00 pm |
That’s a great, life-enhancing painting, Leah. Be gentle with yourself and take time to heal. x
Posted by: Elizabeth Stanforth-Sharpe. | Jul 15, 2010 at 7:42 am |
Your painting seems to be a way of healing. Yes ?
I’m glad you took the month off to rest and heal.
Leah, you are obviously a highly sensitive soul-
Naturally you’re healing process will take some time.
Take care, honey.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth Colvin | Jul 17, 2010 at 11:01 pm |
What a wonderful creative way to live each month. Right now I have the smell of fresh bread everywhere in the apartment. To me that is one of the smells of a rich and creative life. The tradition passed down from generations of smart creative women. All my best…Tamara Jo
Posted by: Tamara | Jul 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm |