Be Creative! : Creative Twists on Artistic Expression
Creative Twists on Artistic Expression
By Chris Dunmire
In the June 2005 Creativity Portal Newsletter, I shared a creativity tip with readers that evolved out of my own experimentation with collage art that resulted in the Innovative Collage Cubies Project.
Here's my creativity tip:
Do something radically different with your favorite form of art.
One of the most certain ways to get stuck in a creative rut is to keep doing the same ol' thing — the same way — every time. Get out of the rut by introducing a new 'twist' to your art projects.
For example, if your favorite medium is:
CLAY, infuse it with FOUND OBJECTS
PAINT, apply it to UNUSUAL SUPPORTS
COLLAGE, design it THREE DIMENSIONAL
Make it a point to try something radically different on your next art project or two, and see how quickly the 'rut' becomes a 'road'.
Next, I invited newsletter readers to share their experiences with me about this tip, whether they've applied the concept in the past; or if they found some unexpected, serendipitous results from applying it to their present projects.
Four people responded back to my invitation and were generous in allowing me to share their innovative creativity tips with everyone else. The following experiences were submitted by readers.
"I really am using found and discarded objects in my Fimo-frutsels. I use polymer clay, Fimo and Creall-therm, in combination with a tin, pine cones, stones, maple seeds, glass, drinking straws and so on.
Often I use natural and waste materials like glass (bowls, glasses, jars), bins, lids, tins and cans.
The tree-stump in Sleeping Time (pictured above) was made using a tin can... ."
Jeannie: Painting on Unusual Supports
"My mom has Benigh Essential Tremor. She comes every year or so to visit, and noticing that she was walking more slowly and unsteadily, just a bit, I contacted a friend of mine who carves willow walking sticks, and got one for her. She loved it, but doesn't use it, because it's so big.
She's coming to visit again and confided she needs more help to walk sometimes. I got an inexpensive wooden cane and painted it. She's from Texas, loves roadrunners and yellow roses, so I painted a roadrunner (I didn't know I could paint a recognizable one, but I did it!) on the handle, and abstract yellow roses all over it. It's bright and crazy. I can't wait to give it to her, but the joy I got in creating it was a gift to me."
Lawrie: Polymer Clay Creations
"I am a 58 year old man and I like to make polymer clay jewelry. I find inspiration everywhere. I am always looking for new designs from such things as packages, photos and art objects wherever I go. You would be amazed at the possibilities."
Wendy: Repainting Paintings
"Recently I've repainted two oil paintings! I used my acrylic paints and I absolutely love these two 'artworks' now!
One was an oil painting I inherited from my mother (70s era) — its LARGE but it was brown and oranges (very dark ugly colors). I really don't know why I didn't dump it long ago, but its a LARGE OIL so it was worthy of more!
I repainted the buildings to match my room — burgundy, purple, silver, teal (yes, sounds odd, but they are abstract so there's not a lot of paint on any of them, just glimmers of the color). The trees are now green and teal, the ground is periwinkle rain as is the sky above.
Hard to explain — but a tip for readers — keep your eyes open at garage sales or in redoing your own artworks! It's not difficult as the painting is right before you, you simply add color here and there to suit you! Just like painting a coloring book — grin!
These experiences demonstrate the endless possibilities that exist in our approach to art, crafts, and other creative pursuits. Inspiration is everywhere, and even more exciting is that we are not bound by any particular rules, methods, or materials when we combine our creativity with our imagination. •
funmire is a mononymous humorist and driving force behind the Creativity Portal web site.