Art Slam

A morgue file is a reference where you keep your sketches, doodles and clever ideas for unexpected and possible future use. I also keep previous projects and concepts in my file. I have found I use similar techniques over and over again and seeing the progression of your ideas can help spark new ones.

While attending college, my graphic design instructor maintained one of the largest morgue files I have ever seen. He had a file cabinet or five or so drawers full of magazines and interesting pictures students could use to jump start the creative process. He told us everything in the morgue is “dead” until you resurrect it and it sparks a thought, which leads to an idea, which leads to a project.

I maintain at least two morgues. One is filled with writing and quotes and the other with images, drawings and color samples. When I am creatively blocked, I go to my morgues for ideas.

Starting a morgue is really easy. You can use a sketchbook, binder, file box or whatever strikes your fancy. The hanging file approach is probley the easiest to start with. Another approach is to maintain a digital morgue. In essence, bookmarking websites is a way of putting ideas into a morgue. You can add to your morgue by gathering your favorite magazines and catalogs and rip out everything you like. Don’t worry about the image being useful. Just rip out whatever your eye is attracted to. Keep in mind the goal is to make and keep your files organized and easily accessible. If you do this, you are more likely to find and use your morgue materials.

I have found my morgue to be one of my most important creative assests. I am never lacking for inspiration and I always know where I can find a good idea when I really need it.

Here is a pretty nice article on creating a morgue file.

Today, draw something. Draw anything. As long as you draw, it does not matter what it is. And, don’t give me that crap about, “I can’t draw! I’m not artistic. I suck at this.”

Whatever.

The only way you will suck is if you do not try.

Drawing can be very liberating. We draw our thoughts and dreams. We think out our problems with drawings and we illustrate our points when we are making them. Drawing is a way of documenting what is going on around you. Sometimes, words are not enough and you need a picture to drive your thought home. So, draw…doodle…scribble. Just make art.

Some of the most famous sketchbooks are those of Leonardo Di Vinci. His books were filled with all kinds of sketches and diagrams and notes. I am fascinated by the sketchbooks of artists and creatives. Especially when they have notes and he can get a better idea of what they were thinking.

Today was one of those days were you wish it was a Friday because the beginning of the week started off so crappy. Well, I am working hard at not dwelling on bullcrap, so I decided to post something positive and creative. In hope it will change the negative energy around me to something postive.

Let’s do some Earth Art

When I was going to college, I had an instructor who created sculptures out of found objects. I took a jewelry class from him where he had our class make jewelry with “non-traditional”  materials. Lots of it came from the hardware and bead stores. I must say we created some interesting pieces.

We can use this same concept when making Earth Art. Use found objects in nature, such as twigs, stones and leaves to create a piece of art. Take a picture of it, then leave it. That’s it.  Leave it for someone else to find. You get to share your creativity and someone else gets to be surprised by your little bit of nature.

As I exchanged my cards with others at BlogHer, I heard a lot of comments about how cool my card was…then they paused at my name. You see, most people are thrown by the ‘R” at the end of my first name. I had to pull this scrapbook page out of the archives and share how I my name evolved into what it is today.

It is not by accident that the happiest people are those who make a conscious effort to live useful lives. Their happiness, of course, is not a shallow exhilaration where life is one continuous intoxicating party. Rather, their happiness is a deep sense of inner peace that comes when they believe their lives have meaning and that they are making a difference for good in the world.  Ernest A. Fitzgerald

The umbrella was taken in Chinatown, San Francisco.

I don’t think you can ever get or have too much love. Love is what heals us and makes us grow. Love can make you do crazy things for it.  Love is timeless. Love is full and transparent. Love can be complicated and extremely simple. Love is passionate and sometimes it hurts. Love is love.

I enjoyed participating in the Shutter Walk with the Shutter Sisters and many of the attendees from BlogHer. What I liked the most was seeing beauty in the ordinary. Looking for symbolism in things I pass everyday and never give a second thought to. The beauty of photography is it forces you to narrow your focus and be focused. Something I have found to be a challenge at times being a “big picture” thinker. Focus takes effort; it is almost like meditating. You get so much out of it when you put the effort into it. I am part of a great Flickr group that does photo walks every now and then. I need to do them more often…it might help me develop better focus.

I am having a love moment. Blame it on BlogHer and all the wonderful people I met while I was there.

I love texture and layers. For this card, I painted my background quickly…going with a fire pallette. I am a passionate person, so this was fitting. After the paint dried, I used a few stamps and a bone colored ink to add a subtle pattern to my background. After that, I added the chipboard heart and journaled with a gel pen in bright orange.

For those of you trying to read the journaling, it says: I love the thought of love. The way it makes me feel. An open heart.

Now get started and join me in this sappy display of words, love and art.

Day 2 was better than day one. Not that Day one was bad, I made more connections on the second day and…

Our panel, Beautiful Blogging and Positive Posting rocked the freakin’ casba! Seriously, the ladies and I received great feedback and I was told more than a few times our session made the conference for them.

My big take away from the conference was anything is possible. One idea can touch a number of people and have a positive impact. That alone is priceless and I am glad to have been a part of the conference and the panel, to have made new friends and finally meet a few kindred spirits whose blogs I love reading. I now hear your voices when I read your blogs!

My flight landed last night around 10:22 p.m., San Francisco time. Our plane must have circled about nine times over the city. Seems our pilot was a speed demon and got us here early. It was very pretty seeing the lights at night. Pretty indeed.

Debba and I woke up pretty early. We are still on Midwest time. Headed down to registration, picked up my badge and my bag of goodies. Two of my favorite exhibitors are here, Picnik and PBS Kids!! Oh, joy in the morning. If you are not hip to Picnik, you need to be. It is the next best thing to having Photoshop without having Photoshop. My favorite feature is the rounded corners feature. Very cool.

I have met lots of wonderful ladies and men. Great visionaries and inspiring souls. Gotta hit the evening keynote then off to party around the corner.

I am off to BlogHer tomorrow. I will update the Art Slam blog when I get a chance. From past bloggers, seems like it is a busy weekend ahead for me.