The Quilters Studio Art Quilt Challenge Group                                  May 12, 2012 

Next meeting is September 8^th

Challenge for the summer:  FILLING THE WELL

Everyone has an inner reservoir of creativity, and if all we ever do is draw from that reservoir, it can get depleted. Creative people need to refill the well to keep creativity flowing.  We do that by mindfully engaging in activities and experiences that feed our creative souls, nourish our spirits, and return us to our true selves.

·         Take yourself on a leisurely Artist Date – visit a museum, botanical gardens, go to a gallery, browse an antique shop, take a hike with a sketchbook or camera in hand.  GO BY YOURSELF, ALONE!

·         Play with another Art medium – watercolor, clay, jewelry, collage, drawing, photography, basket weaving, etc

·         Take an hour or afternoon and walk around your yard, a hiking trial, downtown, to the park or anywhere outside your house.  With a notebook and/or camera, collect as many examples of textures (or lines or forms) as you can.  Record your favorites in an inspiration journal or idea file

·         Finish an UFO or give it away….get it off your plate and make room for new exciting art projects

·         Collaborate with someone on a creative project, whether it is a round robin quilt, exchange of UFO’s, Yarn bombing or other public art, nature art (think Andy Goldsworthy), or just have a play date together and do something creative.

·         Go on a retreat

·         Take a class in something other than quilting

·         Research a couple artists who work in a series a la Nancy Crow.  Compare some pieces in a series, study what they did different piece to piece, what is the main idea of the series, how did they change and progress the work.

·         Study a painting you love.  Look at all aspects of it – color, value, mood, composition.  Identify the parts you love.  Sketch it, color it in.  Try to find out the story of the painting and what the artist was intending to portray.

·         Read something completely different than your usual reading.  If you like historical fiction, try a sci-fi novel.  If you usually read People magazine, try the New Yorker magazine.  Switch it up.

·         Fill a sketchbook with doodles.  Try Zentangles http://www.zentangle.com/  Consider your doodles for free-motion quilting patterns.

·         Reorganize your stash and make notes of ideas for projects that pop in your head as you fondle your fabrics

·         Read a book on Creativity and living the Artist lifestyle  (See some suggestions below)

·         Get rid of some clutter somewhere that is bugging you

DO AT LEAST 3 OF THESE THINGS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR THIS SUMMER 

BE PREPARED TO SHOW/TELL US ABOUT YOUR SUMMER ADVENTURES IN CREATIVITY IN SEPTEMBER.

Have a great summer!

Some highly recommended books:

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
http://www.amazon.com/The-Creative-Habit-Learn-Life/dp/0743235274/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338135971&sr=1-1

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Art-Through-Creative/dp/1936891026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338136069&sr=1-1

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421472/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338135742&sr=1-3

Art & Fear:  Observations on the Perils and Rewards of Artmaking by David Bayles &Ted Orland
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Fear-Observations-Rewards-Artmaking/dp/0961454733/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338135824&sr=1-1