Articles

My friend, fellow painter, and mentor, Eileen O’Sullivan, started her watercolor career at age 60. She had no formal art training, no experience in the arts, just a burning interest in creating. She took classes, joined a watercolor society to be in the company of artists, set up a studio in her kitchen and painted daily. Ten years later, she is selling her vibrant landscapes and enjoying the recognition of being accepted in juried art shows. Eileen is a role model for me. She exemplifies the concept of “it’s never too late to do what you love.”

This is one of the best tricks ever for jump-starting your brain! Imagine the ability to enhance your mood. Imagine eliminating up the fear that prevents you from sitting down and starting. Imagine ideas flowing … at your command. Imagine not needing an extra cup of coffee before beginning your project du jour. These are all the possible benefits (and more) of incorporating “Fast Thinking” in your creative tool kit.

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." -- Norman Vincent Peale

What a beautiful hike! McCullough Gulch in Summit County, Colorado has it all: deep pine forests, masses of wildflowers, huge rock formations, and cascading waterfalls. My husband and I leisurely climbed to the top of the falls on a recent blue-sky day, and then continued above them to eat our lunch by an alpine lake.

It’s summer and for many of us that means vacation. Taking a vacation from work can be enormously beneficial. We know that a respite from the daily routine gives your body time to relax and let go of stress. Vacation time can also give an unexpected creative boost to the projects you are working on.

How can not working be helpful to your projects? Here are two examples of putting aside one’s work only to return with renewed interest and skill.

Does your social life interfere with your creativity or does it boost your creativity?

I had ample reason to explore this issue when my social life kicked into overdrive upon returning to our summer home in Colorado. This mountain community is full of eager and active seniors who tackle everything from skiing to fund raising for the local orchestra. They are Friends of the Library, mountain trail clearers, and margarita servers at the Barbecue Challenge. At various times I have been involved in all of the above and more.

This is the second in a series of articles about the thinking skills used in creativity.

"To arrive at abstraction, it is always necessary to begin with concrete reality…You must always start with something." Picasso

This is the first in a series of articles about the thinking skills used in creativity.

"Still-in a way-nobody sees a flower-really-it is so small-we haven't the time-and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." -Georgia O'Keeffe

Remember those resolutions you made around the first of the year? Are you actively pursuing them or have they languished in the “I’ll get to it later” bin? No matter what you want to create, whatever your goal is, it requires choice and action from you. You have to do something. So, choose challenging yet achievable goals and whatever you choose, do it with enthusiasm.