If there's one thing that stands in the way of being creative more than anything else, it's perfectionism. That horrible feeling that we're going to get it wrong so often prevents us from even trying. We worry ourselves into paralysis, to afraid to make the first mark, the first cut, the first stitch. Even if we do manage to start, so does the horrible little voice in our heads: "You're going to mess it up," "You'll ruin it," "That looks ... Read the Post...
A Sense of Place or a Sense of Belonging?
The idea of a sense of place, and how it differs to a sense of belonging, is a theme I've written about before. It was about 3 years ago, when I was researching Dorothy Caldwell and her work as part of a foundation course in textiles, when I started to think about the idea of a sense of place and a sense of belonging. If you haven't come across her before, Dorothy Caldwell is an American born Canadian artist whose work explores a sense of ... Read the Post...
Finding Inspiration in Winter Colours
It seem like an unpromising start to looking inspiration in winter colours for a creative project. Where you are it might be snowy. Here, it is dreary and bleak, muddy, cold and wet. At a first glance, everything is drab and shades of grey and mud. However, taking the time to really notice reveals winter has its own beautiful colours. Sometimes things can feel more special if they are not obvious, and that's definitely case for spotting beauty ... Read the Post...
Landscape and Creativity Part 4: Using Things Found in Nature
Getting outside in winter, unless you absolutely have to, can be tricky. Not only is the weather awful, but the days are so much shorter. In summer, it doesn't feel like a challenge to get up a bit earlier and go for a walk, or to go out for a stroll after dinner. And if it's hot during the day, those are the best times to go out. The days are starting to draw out a tiny bit now. I've noticed that it's no longer dark at 4 o'clock. But when ... Read the Post...
