Woman in Charge

“The Woman in Charge”

A creative task I really enjoy doing is what I call “text page art”. Starting with a page from a paperback, read through it, find a few words that catch your eye. Use that as the title for an image that you can either sketch directly on the page or look through magazines for something.

The image above: I used a text page from “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown. The image on top of the text was borrowed from art director Andrew P. Kner, Print Magazine cover 1979. I had a postcard with that image and I believe subconsciously the title and image came together well before I decided they would.

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote. I did not realize that when I created this in my notebook.

I love how the magic of creativity works. But is it really magic or is it that when we are prepared, creativity is more readily available? I’d like to think that it’s a combination of both.

~Maria

Blackout Poetry

The best part about magazines is making things up with paper and scissors, an idea, a visual concept—And basically real pleasure in “the making of” beauty.

When I first discovered blackout poetry, I thought the creative gods had just informed me of something new. But the truth is, this concept has been around for some time. The fun part of doing this is instilling your own style into it and discovering a new meaning for existing words on a page. So get some old magazines or junk mail, a black marker, and start recreating something new and fun with words. You can search for ideas and inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest. I’ve used many of mine to make special cards for friends.

“Everything is raw material. Everything is relevant. Everything is usable. Everything feeds into my creativity. But without proper preparation, I cannot see it, retain it, and use it.” Twyla Tharp

~Maria

Daily Notebook Sketches

Daily Sketch: Just one thing out of my day.

Last week I gave myself the challenge of documenting just one thing out of my day with a sketch. My rule is that it doesn’t have to be perfect, just quick. But once I begin, I find myself immersed in the moment enjoying the process. Like anything you do over and over, you become better at it. I am wanting to think more and more in layers and apply what I learn to the next and the next and the next. Check out my post on 10 sketching tips if you are also practicing sketching more.

Happy Sketching! ~Maria

“Do them anyway — you can never spend enough time on the basics.”

— Twyla Tharp

10 sketching tips

No. 2 Pencil

The simple act of sketching can do wonders for our soul! It’s not about great art or perfect drawings. For the moment, try to forget about perfection and expectations and just practice sketching as another means to communicate. Enjoy the process as if nobody is watching or expecting great art from you...because that’s the way it is.

This is a collection of tips I have gathered from many sources. Not all of these tips will always apply, but it’s my go-to when I’m sketching in my notebook. Eventually, it becomes a habit like anything you do over and over.

1. Choose your subject.

2. Decide what to keep and what not to keep in your drawing.

3. Break it up into shapes such as cubes, spheres, etc.

4. Look for the contours of your scene.

5. Practice single line sketching. Draw your horizon line using one single line.

6. Loosen up. Capture the essence and not all the details. Keep it simple.

7. Speed forces you to simplify.

8. Contrast gives you depth.

9. Add variations of thick and thin lines and don’t connect all your lines.

10. Think in layers.

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”

— Malcolm Gladwell

Creating Together During Corona

I’ve been missing some real face to face time with my creatives lately. I don’t experience the same kind of energy and humanistic interaction on a Zoom call or online session. When it comes to creativity, it’s the tactile elements, spontaneity and interaction between everyone sitting around my table which creates the magic I love about our gatherings. But we are all making great efforts to continue sharing our weekly creative happenings using technology for the time being. Every Friday, I lead with a thread of images and short list of what I created for the week and everyone follows with theirs. A follow up call is just a way for everyone to see each other on screen, say hi and fill in the blanks. This small group (four of us total) has varied talent and learns from each other. Inspiration is everywhere, even in times of a pandemic—finding it and capturing it is crucial to our daily mental survival. I am grateful to have these creative ladies in my life.

This week I am sharing the work of my very creative ladies.

Photo Below By Jina Kasel: (image on right using Waterlogue App)

Artwork Below By Anita Alvarez Dickinson

Creations Below By Donna O’Klock

“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

Make a list.

a visual of my list of unfinished projects

Hello Creatives,

A lot has changed since my last post. It’s not that I haven’t been creating or holding workshops…I have been consistent with that, holding small group monthly workshops in my home, having my weekly creativity group meet. But now that we are all doing our part to slow the coronavirus spread by staying put, I realized I have a lot of unfinished projects at home that need my attention.

Here’s my list:

1. My small garden in my backyard is full of weeds—clean it up.

2. A few clothing items need some mending—get the sewing machine out and fix these.

3. My photo album project is in total disarray—put those photos in any photo album.

4. There are currently 7 unfinished canvases waiting to be completed—good grief, I could paint for months!

5. My digital photo files need some cleaning out. Delete all those pics that look so similar to each other.

Here’s Your Creative Task:

Find a blank page in your notebook and make your list. Add pics as I did in my notebook.

When you complete your projects, take another pic and glue it on that same page.

Let’s share our completed projects with each other for support and accountability.

Until next time, be well, be informed, be creative. ~Maria

Coffee Break Creativity

Coffee Break Creativity Mini-Workshop at my home with a group of wonderful ladies.

I held a workshop based on my workbook, Coffee Break Creativity, at my home. Some of you know how difficult it is to plan, schedule AND pay for space. I think I found the perfect place for small group workshops—my kitchen table.

I set out to offer this experience in this workshop: 

• Cultivate creativity in you.

• Reinforce short creative sparks and ideas.

• Inspiration to use creativity as a lifestyle enrichment.

• Share and be inspired by each other.

• Mostly, just have fun with a mix of creative ideas.

I think we achieved that and more! This encouraged me to do it again and plan other workshops as well.

You can order my workbook on LuLu.com but if you’d like to experience this with a small group, sign up on my Contact page and send me a note.

And just in case you have a birthday coming up, why not host a creativity party for yourself and a few close friends. Ask me about the details.

~Maria

10 Sketching Tips

“To silence your mind and say something at the same time, try sketching.” Maria

This is a collection of tips I have gathered from many sources. Although not all of these tips will always apply, it’s my go-to when I’m sketching in my notebook. Eventually, it becomes a habit like anything you do over and over. I’m hoping some of these tips will help you.

1. Choose your subject.

2. Decide what to keep in your drawing and what not to keep.

3. Keep it simple. (Speed forces you to simplify)

4. Break it up into shapes such as cubes, spheres, etc.

5. Look for the contours of your scene.

6. Practice single line sketching. Draw your horizon line using one single line.

7. Loosen up. Capture the essence and not all the details.

8. Contrast gives you depth.

9. Add variations of thick and thin lines and don’t connect all your lines.

10. Think in layers.

In My Own Words

I love quotes! I collect them, I read them, I post them on social media as well as physically on my inspiration board above my desk. Throughout the years I have written words and thoughts of my own in my notebooks. This is just one of the 52 in my book/workbook, Project 52. Today I was encouraged to begin sharing these with my audience. Let me know what you think?

The Art of Growing Up

My husband bought me this little gem of a book while we were on vacation. He said it sounded like something I would enjoy reading and he was right. In The Art of Growing Up, best-selling author Véronique Vienne gives us wisdom, wit, and encouragement for aging glamorously and discovering the true art of living. I typically dislike self-help books and I wouldn’t consider this book to fall into that category. I enjoyed every word of it because of her wit and light heartedness. This book was so easy to read and would be good to leave out on a coffee table or guest room.