Art & Creativity
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Just do it
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” ~Andy Warhol I’ve always believed that artists are truly courageous people. When it comes to expressing creativity, fear is usually what stops other people in their tracks — not lack of talent. Fear of failure … Fear of looking foolish … Fear of being misjudged. Everyone who is reading this post has a creative gift to share or express. If you can quiet the fearful inner voices that discourage you, you’ll start to paint, write, play music,…
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Germinating
“During the times we think we’re being ‘unproductive,’ the seeds of new worlds are germinating within us, and they need peace to grow.” ~Martha Beck Somewhere along the line, I bought into the notion that I need to be working on something 24/7. I feel like a slacker if I’m not writing an article, teaching classes, organizing my home, digging in the yard, or otherwise being productive. You too? We live in a culture that celebrates busyness — so it’s not surprising that most of us are ashamed to admit that we need some time off. We’re afraid to be still. Or maybe we’re afraid that we’ll lose momentum. Today,…
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Really, it’s OK to be wrong
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” ~Anonymous One-uppers, control freaks, critics, and perfectionists always top my list of pet peeves. Afraid to look foolish, these are the rigid folks who rarely color outside the proverbial lines. They like to point out the crooked seams on your brand-new outfit, for example, or correct your errors in public. Always right, they aim to win every argument. I bet you know a few of them too — and would agree they’re a lot less fun to be around. The fear of being wrong, or appearing wrong, is a buzz kill for just about everything. Today’s quote…
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Reflecting on art
“When we look at art, we are looking for ourselves.” ~Leslie Riley I wasn’t entirely on board with today’s quote until I remembered a woman I knew who didn’t like to read novels or see films unless the plots revolved around people like her. She could only relate to characters in settings and situations similar to her own. I’ve always enjoyed paintings, films, and books that surprise and entertain me. And while I often find aspects of myself in some characters, I don’t necessarily hope to see myself reflected in what I’m viewing or reading. How about you? Do you want art and literature to mirror your own life and…
