» Listings for 2016

1. Life is for questioning

   Posted on 6:18am Friday 19th Aug 2016

   It’s really hard to believe in life sometimes

   It knocks you down too many times

   and sometimes you just don’t want to get back up

   Don’t you make mistakes ?

   Get the wrong end of the stick ?

   Live life too much sometimes by your emotions, how you feel

   is it the right way ?

   Am not sure

   Is it just the way you do things or the pattern you learn

   Is it a habit

   or just the way you react to things

   by being defensive to protect you from getting hurt

   is this learnt naturally or are we nurtured?

   I don’t know

   Lifes about questioning

   leave your questions here

   

2. 3 Ways to Watercolour (Not)

   Posted on 2:46pm Saturday 18th Jun 2016

   Getting back into the swing of painting has not been as easy as I hoped

   

   No !

   not quite like riding a bike that you never forget, like I had though just a bit wobbly

   No I had completely forgotten

   Everything, even little basics, practices, tips

   Let me tell you how not to paint in watercolours.

    

   I first started with making this quick sketch of a ladybird on a flower and started painting it

   in watercolours my first painting in ages 

   I still can't believe its been over 20 years since I last got really creative

    

   So I got all my things ready, and started painted this yukkie green that I had mixed up for my grass background colour 

   

   letting it dry a while I had a quick go with some red for my base coat of the ladybird

   and then started on my blue sky colour which I realised I hadn't made enough of (ninny)

   but decided I would just cut it down to size later.

    

    

   Then mixed my yellow paint ready for the flower

   again waiting for it to dry slightly each time, it takes a long time waiting for paint to dry

   I completely forgotten about that with watercolour paint was so thin

   I didn't like the pencil marks showing through 

   Forgotten how you either should paint freehand not quite that ready lol

   or use very light pencil or draw in watercolour pencils (note to self - remember that for next time)

   

   painting on the yellow it appeared even worst with such a light yellow

   my pencil drawing showed up too much for my liking

    

   I didn't get far just blending the yellow paint in, my paper started coming away

   It was quite funny

   I started on the stalk with a darker green and looked around to see where I could use this green

   for shading but my yellow was even getting worst by then coming off in tiny wet clumps

   the paper was definitely the wrong paper

   and was spreading into my green even with drying it first.

   So I gave up on this painting!

    

   Learning is part of the fun, don't you think? learning from our mistakes

   where you go wrong you just learn a little bit more about yourself

   whether you've patient, a perfectionist or just expressing yourself

   I did notice I would have liked more blending I don't like the line between the grass and the sky

   it needed to blend in together more.  Doesn't look natural

   I may have another go at this project at a later date I do like this picture

   and watercolours are not the right medium for layering which I wanted for this painting

   Watercolours are best for blending light and dark and sticking to one colour which I had forgotten

    

   Tell me in the comments what project you're working on at this moment or in the future

   I would love you to share any tips you feel are needed to improve our journey into creativity or tips we can learn from 

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3. Getting back to drawing

   Posted on 11:12am Monday 6th Jun 2016

   

   My first drawing

   After over 20 years without drawing

   life just got in the way

   and took over with a life of arty farty, and who do they think they are, wanting a different lifestyle

   something else has kept coming back in my thoughts for years 

   but I have a deep-seated "not good enough" vibe

   and along with can't stand my photo being taken I don't really like putting my art or myself out in public 

   I've watched from the sidelines for many years

   I know I have a bit of talent in drawing

   a bit ok and I am good enough

   I have a big creativity gene in my DNA and its been dying to be let loose for years

   I often watch my granddaughter just enjoy life, its fun, its exciting, 

   and she just gets up and does it again 

   loving life 

   that's what I want!

   And think you do too!

   so just start with anything you want

   whatever your're passionate about

   that's been hiding in you and dying to get out

   "Let it Go!" 

   and enjoy 

   celebrate being you!

   

4. Messy Creativity

   Posted on 9:05am Monday 6th Jun 2016

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   Kaz's Art

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   Hi Kaz here

   I set myself a challenge last week to make a gift box

   I thought it would be a really good idea to have my jewellery send out to you 

   in these little charming hand made gift boxes spreading a bit of my art around too

   but I have since found out that I can't follow instructions

   Which I thought I was really good at, actually

   as being a single parent for many years I have put up many things such as wardrobes, cupboards, beds,

   and a number of very hard to follow instructions that always come along with set up toys etc

   so I did think I was quite a handy DIY sort of gal

   maybe thats my problem I thought I knew it all already

   so I just went ahead and thought on my first attempt

   I would use this as my template for making more of my charming little hand made boxes

   But trying to put them together was impossible!

   So silly handy DIY sort of gal went back to it with the same template again to try a more tougher cardboard this time

   which I glued with PVA glue (note to self get some adhesive spray glue) and decorated it with this cute shiny wrapping paper 

   which i found very cute - will look the picture this will wow

   then an hour later the glue still hadn't dried, my charming little hand made mess looked awful with its wrinkles everywhere!

   Warning: Do Not Use PVA glue with wrapping paper (unless want a wrinkly look)

   and after all that I still tried to follow it, yes i did with sticky fingers and my wrapping paper 

   slowly disappearing around me

   I again folded it up again and declared I was absolutely rubbish at box making lol

   What a complete and utter mess

   it did look a kinda cute looking mess in the now disappearing wrinkly wrapping paper

   So by my third attempt I went back to the instructions I realised I had cut pieces where I should have been folding

   so template number 3 was made

   this time back to card I cut and tweaked and finally got a gift box "Yipeeeeee"

   but not very charming 

   handmade yes

   and still not ready!

   So for now I will continue to send out my jewellery wrapped and packed.

    

   Shout out about any creative messes you have in the comments below

   Creativity is all about having fun and carrying on 

   so see you here next week      

   Kaz x

5. Creativity

   Posted on 3:58pm Thursday 19th May 2016

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   Kaz's Art

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   Wikipedia says

   Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work or a painting).

   Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

   "It's funny"

   as we grow older it seems of all the parts of us that make us who we are

   its our creative self that can be the most neglected

   Its often at the bottom of our to do lists

   or else we see creativity as a big " C " a different way of life

   and the property of artists and poets.

    

   But real creativity with a small " c " belongs to all of us

   and can be applied to anything

   from painting to fixing things or starting a business

   It is less about what you do than how you do it.

   "By connecting with our creative self, it puts us in touch with our inner compass.  We see where we have made decisions that are making us unhappy" says Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way (Pan Books) 

   These exercises will nurture and cultivate your creative side.  

   Within days you will notice how different your world starts to look

   Take a fresh look at you - Seeing ourselves through a very narrow prism is a sign that our creative side is in desperate need of nurturing.

   Start your creative journey with this exercise:

   For five minutes write a description of yourself.

   Stop. Cross that one out.

   Set the timer for three more minutes and describe yourself again without using anything from the first description.

   Stop. Cross that one out.

   Set the timer for three more minutes and describe yourself again without using anything from the first two descriptions.

   Now you're finally getting to the beneath all that other stuff.

   In this last description, you may find the real you, the one beneath all those titles and awards and achievements.  

   Getting to that might help you set different, more authentic goals.

    

   All set to nurture our journey into creativity ?

   Its starts in really being curious and interested

   acting on our impulses

   with just paying attention to our own experiences in life

   • what do you really want to do?
   • What is it that really interests you?
   • something that moves us in a special way.

   Then we just have to find time to do it as much as we can.

   Shout out your answers in the comments below and lets explore our answers

   dreams and ideas together

   Kaz :)