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

[Just Sara]

Thankyou so much Pepper!

My first memory of being completely at one with myself was at 8 yrs old dancing around my yard at sunrise.

Music and dance has played a major role in my creative and inner sanctum my whole life. When I was down I put music on full blast and danced till I was smiling, which didn't take long at all. 🙂

A nice reminder...thanks again.

Sara xo

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Sara,

Thanks for the post and sharing a beautiful memory. It brought a smile to my face 🙂 I hope you never lose the 8 year old dancer in you.

I agree that music and dance can be incredibly healing for so many people. Side note: I read something about how musicians brains look distinctly different from non-musicians' brains. Oversimplifying but they show increased grey matter in parts of the brain. Here's another excuse to pick up an instrument, right? Lol.

Anyway, I can empathise with the joy you get from dancing to music. Sometimes, you just have to let the beat takeover 😉

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Just Sara]

Thanks lovely;

I'm interested in what you wrote about grey matter and musicians. I suppose anyone concentrating on one specific area for many yrs will ultimately improve brain function/capacity in that region.

I watched a doco last week about a baby born with under 10% of his brain. His parents refused to believe he'd be incapable of living a full life, so they set about filling his day with learning; from day 1.

From sun up to sun down they made daily living an intensive course in education. Even getting a spoon in his mouth was made into a learning game. They (Mum, Dad, Aunt, Nanna etc) all participated and never became emotional. They did it as though it was a normal part of his development and life in his environment.

He wasn't expected to live, talk, walk, have normal intellect or develop normally. At age 4, (yes he was still alive) they scanned his brain again. The reason was because he could talk, sing, do maths and read, had movement from his chest up (due to spinal issues at birth) so he got around in a purpose built wheelchair, and had the most amazing joyful laugh. All in appropriate manner for the situation.

The scan showed an improvement to 78% brain mass!!!!!! He grew a brain! A miracle that has scientists around the globe doing backflips.

I've included this info on this particular thread, because of all the creative activities, abilities or success we have, creating his own brain is the ultimate in what we as humans can (now) achieve. 🙂

Miles of smiles...

Sara xo

[Peppermintbach]

Hi one and all,

Sara- wow, what a story. I'm not entirely sure how one comments on something like that but that's truly remarkable! I suppose it's as much about science as it is about hope. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂

I'm not a neuroscience expert by any means but from what I have read, it seems there's something about music that changes the brain in a way that other pursuits don't necessarily do the same...a neuroscientist said he could instantly tell the difference between the brain of a trained musician and a non-musician. But he (or was it she?) couldn't tell the difference between, for example, the brain of a professional artist versus non-artist. And I think sometimes music is used to help people who have suffered a stroke to regain speech. Again, I'm not an expert but it's just fascinating...speaking of music, Hamsolo, it looks like you might be enjoying some extra grey matter in your brain 😉 Keep at the trombone! Lol.

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hello fellow humans,

I just thought that I would share a couple of creative rut buster (or potential busters anyway):

1. Art prompt journals

I don't know if anyone has stumbled upon art prompt journals? You can get them online or at art shops and some book shops.

I mean the ones where each page has a written prompt to sketch something e.g. sketch a tree, bird, skyscraper, etc. I figured that art journals would be pretty handy if you're feeling stuck. I guess it's a similar concept to the wreck-it-journals back when they were popular a few years ago.

2. "creative cross training."

I read something online called "creative cross training", which is much more pretentious and fancier than it sounds. Basically, it's venturing out of your creative comfort zone.

For example, if you're typically poetically inclined, you could try your hand at sketching instead. Or if you're more of a musician, maybe you could give short story writing a go. The rationale behind it was to explore different ways of creative expression and it's apparently a good way to get "unstuck" if you're in a bit of a creative rut.

Hmmm....I might give poetry a go as my "creative cross training." It's definitely out of my comfort zone and I anticipate some pretty cringe worthy poems (shudders). Wish me luck because I definitely need it lol!

Food for thought. Just thought I would share. Anyhoos, I'm off.

Talk later 🙂

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Just Sara]

Hey Pepper;

Maybe you could write a musical piece first. Then you'd have rhythm to bounce off.

Just a thought; it might open the creative flow before hand to continue with words.

🙂

Sara x

[Peppermintbach]

Thanks Sara 🙂 Appreciate the tip!

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Cheeseball quote time 🙂

I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art. - Ernst Fischer

To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable. - Beethoven

The world today doesn't make sense so why I should I paint pictures that do? - Pablo Picasso

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi,

I thought this might amuse some of you...about how truly terrible I am at poetry. Lol. My somewhat failed attempt.

The only line that popped in my head was "the sky is blue."

Then my brain went blank, blank, blank...you could hear a pin drop. Nothing. Zilch.

Then of course, my mind wandered to mentally complaining about "why is this so hard?" to lunch to shopping to art prompt journals to sketching.

Actually, I feel like sketching come to think of it...I'll re-attempt this poetry challenge another time.

Good for you guys out there who seem to have words roll off your tongue and into poems. It makes me appreciate how hard it is...or maybe it's just me who finds it hard. lol. Maybe I should give Sara's tip a go next time.

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[The_Possum]

Ohh I love this thread! Can't believe I just found it.

I have some stuff to contribute in relationship to photography and writing but I have to run right now.

So will get back soon x