Inspiration to use in your own creative work....

Flow... and how to get there~ 

One of my facebook friends, fabulous artist (sculptor) Ann Smith, posted these links. I found them fascinating... and helpful. I haven't been in "Flow" for a while... and now I have this handy check list to figure out why. Below is an excerpt from this article by Mihaly Csiksczentmihalyi. (Glad I don't have to introduce him... what a name!)  

"Commencement of learning something is a flow situation - everything is new and flow absorption is present as one struggles to master the skill.  As one progresses, either boredom will ensue because there is no more challenge (the skill has been learned at that level) or anxiety occurs because a bigger challenge than we can cope with presents itself. Either way, one wants to get back to flow, either by overcoming the anxiety challenge by becoming more skilled, or taking on a challenge that will overcome the boredom, thus getting back into flow at a more complex level."

Achieving enjoyment rather than pleasure (Flow) 

1. Confronting tasks that we have a chance of completing.
2. Concentration.
3. Concentration is possible because the task has clear goals.
4. Task provides immediate feedback.
5. A deep, effortless involvement removes from awareness the worries and frustrations of everyday life.
6. Enjoyable experiences allow one to exercise a sense of control over one's actions.
7. Concern for self disappears, yet paradoxically the sense of self emerges stronger after the flow experience is over.
8. Sense of time is altered - hours pass by in minutes.

Here's another interesting and related article...

 The Complexity of the Creative Personality 

Don't you just love learning new stuff?

This week, I'm Celebrating:

• spring will eventually arrive, and it will feel especially good 
• daily walks 
• Easter cards  
• the trails in Sleeping Bear Dunes park
• The King's Speech...loved it!
• new shelves in the basement
• a fixed and re-grouted shower
• anticipation of a paved driveway
• little seedlings sprouting on the porch
• a beautiful flowering plant from my hubby
• iced tea with lemon
• the serendipity of finding a neighbor who likes walking too (we just happened out at the same time and the same direction) 
• lovely ladies coming to the studio for class
• the gorgeous moon reflecting off the water
• libraries  

Tuesday, April 26  12:30-4:30

$32 members/$42 non-members

Come and unravel the mystery and magic of learning to see tonal value, which is the lightness or darkness of a color. You'll discover why value sketches can be an important part of a successful painting routine. You will complete a full color painting, using a black, white and gray under-painting...setting the value pattern down first. Lauren will supply paper, paint and brushes. If you already have a digital camera with a black and white setting, please bring it to class, but don't worry if you don't, we can share. Please also bring gallon-ish size water container, a pencil, and a black sharpie marker or uni-ball pen.