Dear fellow creatives...tips and tricks on leading a creative life

[Peppermintbach]

Hi everyone,

As the title suggests, this thread is pretty much exactly as per the thread title. In some ways, I feel as though I'm a bit of a creative rut, which is awful when you're a creative person.

So I thought that I would try to ask for inspiration in terms of ideas and stories from fellow creatives. Hopefully other people also find this thread helpful in terms of reading and sharing.

So whether you're a professional or amateur graphic designer, industrial designer, architect, musician, writer, choreographer, dancer, landscaper, etc, etc...I would LOVE to hear your tips and anecdotes on how you inject creativity in your world and how your keep the creative spark alive.

Thank you!

Pepper

[HamSolo01]

Hey

I'll be sure to check it out

also, are you familiar with jamiroquai? idk exactly what genre of music he sits in but his music is pretty damn catchy. It's got a unique feel to it. He's just released an album actually, it's all on youtube too. The song Could 9 is ridiculously catchy too, it actually makes me feel like I can dance despite having no coordination xD plus the video has pretty much everything a guy needs in life 😛

I've also recently discovered The Avalanches, first heard of them last year while watching the Tour de France - a song of theirs came on. Think it was Subways. Anyway, both of those artists are pretty good.

And on language, check out Wittgenstein. He's a philosopher, but I can't remember when he wrote... basically he argues a similar idea about language, saying that it limits (by its very nature) the capacity for understanding. Pretty thought provoking stuff.

Take care

[Guest_1055]

Hi Peppermint,

I was thinking as I was reading here that perhaps you like to write as a form of creativity. And so with that in mind , starting this thread might be helping you for an outlet for that or something. ie you are sort of allowing the creative side of you flow right here. Just a thought that popped into my mind.

I also get bored in my life, and I find doing things creative helps me express my self somehow. Some days I don't feel motivated at all though.

Anyway one way that I can be creative is in serving food like beautiful like. It does help me, feel...what is the word?? Cannot think of the word. Oh well, not to worry...

Anyway at home, I try to serve the food I cook with eatable garnishes. In an attempt to make it look as attractive and inviting as possible . For instance when I make homemade burgers I will stick a cute little wooden thick toothpick right through the layers of it. It holds the burger together and it looks more inviting. I also make sure there is lots af the green lettuce, tomato showing, as it makes the burger look fresh, yummy etc.Or I may garnish the tops of soups. Or serve colourful vege stir fries, in a way that makes you want to chomp into them. So by doing all this, it feels creative I guess for me anyway. I even collect straws of all different colours and types to match the smoothies or juices that I make. They juices look better or something.

I also like visiting museums, especially one with old things and even antique shops.

Writing also helps me , but not factual stuff.

May you find something creative to do today. I am even thinking as I am looking at this pillow here, that arranging them to your liking, can also be creative and give you a bit of a lift. So I myself am going to do it.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Shell xx

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Hamsolo and Shell,

Thank you so much for your responses 🙂 I'll get back to both of you individually in due course.

Feeling somewhat more inspired after a good day's worth of self pity. I think that I might create a mood board for inspiration.

Also, I suddenly had an idea pop into my head to buy some fresh flowers to spray paint. Believe me, this will be one of my more conservative projects. There have been some wilder/more experimental art projects where friends have explicitly told me not to send them photos lol.

Talk later,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi,

I just wanted to leave you some cheeseball quotes before I signout and enjoy the weekend.

"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." Cesar Cruz

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Picasso

"Music is what feelings sound like." Unknown

Enjoy your weekend.

Signing out for the week,

Pepper

[Guest_1055]

Hi Peppermint, What is the purpose of spraying the fresh flowers with paint? Does it make them last longer, or intensify there colours. I have never come across that before. Like the flowers would have moisture , so how does it work, if you don't mind me asking? You have awakened me curiosity, so I will most likely research myself.

Shell xx

[Moonstruck]

Loved the quotes Peppermint.........

[Peppermintbach]

Hi wonderful people,

Hamsolo- thank you for the recommendations 🙂 I watched the Cloud 9 music video and agree that it's a catchy song. Oh I've heard of The Avalanches and it's always nice when you discover music from unexpected places.

Hmm...I'll have to google this Wittgenstein. I have heard of the name but I don't know too much about him or her. Sounds like an intriguing person with even more intriguing views. Thanks!

Shell- I'm happy to hear that cooking gives you a creative outlet. Although I feel in you case, it's half cooking and half the presentation. I love how you put so much thought and heart into how your edible creations. I imagine herbs and edible flowers might also be "friends" of yours if you like colour 🙂

The boredom struggle, yes, I can relate very much. But I think it's great you find ways to inject some imagination and change in your daily life like rearranging your pillows. It's all in the details right?

I hear what you're saying and maybe there is an element of creative expression in this thread for me. But above all, it's kind of a "personal therapy" for me- to feel heard and interact with like minded people.

Lol. The purpose of spray painting those flowers has no real purpose other than the idea suddenly popped into my head. Yes, the flowers are likely to shrivel up from the paint and some will even fall off the stem but that's okay with me...I kind of like that deconstructed, "decaying" effect. I'm going to use it to create a ginormous wall art.

Moon- I appreciate the drop in and I'm pleased that those quotes have maybe struck a chord with you.

Thanks everyone 🙂

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi everyone,

I kind of think of this thread as "metaphorical baby" and a place for me to share my musings (and learn from you guys as well).

Whatever one's medium of creative expression, I like to think of it as a paradoxical way to both self express and escape at the same time.
Sometimes fantastical images flash in my head; I can't force them, they come and go of their own accord but I'm always grateful for them.

Those images represent my own demons in visual form, which is probably why some of my friends find my artwork very unsettling. I had 2 visual flashes late this week, which was weirdly cathartic. I don't really like drawing still life (other than to practice my drawing technique) because I lack an emotional connection to it. I like art that is a bit twisted and warped.

I remember having to compose about 5 or 6 bars as part of an exercise with a music teacher years ago, and in typical style, I managed to come up with something quite jarring but it worked at the same time. She said something along the lines of how it was very odd but that she really liked it (best compliment ever!)

Anyway, I don't even know what my point is anymore. Long live the creative spirit...make up your own "rules"...actually just ignore them altogether. Experiment with different media, play with different colours, read widely, practice different techniques, visit galleries and museums, spend time at the beach or in the bush...find your "voice" in your creative expression (whatever that means to you).

If there's pain, maybe you can channel some of it in a painting or poem. If there's a happy moment, maybe you can capture it in a photo or song. Just keep the creative spirit alive...there has been considerable pain in my own life, which I don't necessarily want to talk about but I'm happy for it to come out in some sort of creative medium. I get a real sense of peace if I can translate that pain into something tangible.

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[james1]

Hey pepper,

I know what you mean about liking composing jarring music, or at least sometimes feeling like that.

Hans Zimmer's track for the dark knight, "WHy so serious?", includes a weird buzzing noise at the beginning which is the Joker's 'theme'. I love that it's super unsettling yet so simple.

And then his weird boingy (bouncy isn't the right word) theme for Sherlock Holmes is also great (in the track discombobulate).

I just love really simple yet effective themes.

James

[HamSolo01]

hey all

peppermintbach - i agree. I think creativity is fundamental to our existence in fact. That actually reminded me of the fact that i love comedy, listening to my favourite comedians is something i really enjoy. Theres something about humour that seems creative to me. Creative moments are cool too. Just now im at the airport for volunteer training and i can see all these people heading to their flights and it made me think of a migration of animals in the plains of africa or something. Its a kind of throwback to the savannah from where we came. Even more fitting that its all the more common for 21st century society. Migration is both a social phenomenon as much as a naturalistic one.

Also walking past arrivals gates you see people in a state of wonder as they arrive in a new place, or sense of comfort as they arrive home. Ive always thought of sunset as you land at sydney airport was a kinda poetic symbolism for the end of a journey, or the end of an era that existed prior to that journey commencing. As soon as i walked in here i remember the last time i was here was when i got back from vietnam. Couldnt help but think how times had changed since. Ill be back here at years end, once i finish my degree i will go on a trip. Its also cool seeing people around my age on their own, makes me realise that there are many people out in this world. Facing it. Embracing it. My folks met while travelling, so maybe the same will happen? but im worried id get distracted by that rather than enjoy the trip right? haha. A friend told me we must focus on making our lives as happy as possible in order to truly live and meet new people. I love catch22's haha

Ive found myself doing this lately.. tying things together. Another is when im out somewhere and i have a memory of that area. Happened in newtown in sydney the other day. Just different places ive been and differebt people ive met.

James1 - Hans Zimmer is an awesome composer, close 2nd to John Williams though 😛 (star wars tragic). I believe the instrument you are thinking of is a harpischord thats at the start of the discombobulate piece. Could be wrong though haha.

anywho, training calls.. laters