Do High Ceilings Increase Creativity?

According to research out of the University of Minnesota, people in rooms with 10 foot high ceilings were found to have more abstract thoughts than those, who focused more on specific details, in 8 foot high ceiling rooms.

So does this mean people who think outdoors are the most creative because the sky is their ceiling? Just curious.

• Read it here.

Creativity Cure 4

• Dedicate a space to creativity, whether it’s a room, desk or even a notebook. Keep your inspiration area easily accessible for new ideas to bloom. For more inspiration, check out Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women by Jo Packham.
  
  
  

Guerilla Art Kit

After promoting Keri Smith's guerilla art techniques, I discovered that she now has a full length book on the topic. Hurrah!

It covers everything from what is guerilla art to what to be aware of when creating art in public spaces and exercises and templates to fuel your creativity. I love how she describes that you don't have to be able to draw or paint to be a guerilla artist; you just need to care about something and want to express yourself.

She describes 3 ways to approach guerilla art:

1. beautifying - altering your surroundings
2. questioning - using your voice, challenging the status quo
3. interacting - with the environment or people

As a public art enthusiast, I appreciate that the exercises are easy to follow and most importantly create a community connection. From guerilla gardening (she shows you how to make a seed bomb to throw in vacant lots) to chalk quotes and book leave-behinds, Smith will get you thinking about your own environment and questioning how you can change it for the better. There's even a list for you to find solutions and create your own guerrila art projects.

• Pick up a copy of the Guerilla Art Kit and try out some more ideas.

Icons of American Photography

If you haven't visited the Cleveland Museum of Art's exhibition covering a century of photography, there is still time. Icons of American Photography is a well researched and even more so visually stimulating exhibition.

• Check it out before it closes on September 16.

Try the Scribbler

Create a simple sketch, then click on the Scribbler and watch it transform into a more complex drawing. You can even add color.

• Try it here.

More Collage

(note the collage is not crooked but the image is due to my lack of camera skills)

Here is another one I created at the CVAC workshop. This one includes tiny seashells and an old belt.

• For inspiration, check out this museum devoted to collage.

Changing the World Through Design

This is an impressive goal, but a creative non-profit is trying. Nest, based in St. Louis, was founded to support women artisans in developing countries. It does this by selling products, including clothing, accessories and home goods by an exclusive group of designers. The profits from these sales are used to create micro-loans offered to international artisans, who in turn sell their goods on the nest website. It's a creative approach to supporting global communities.

• Find out how you can volunteer. (It doesn't matter where you live)!

Creativity Cure 3

• Stop living up to the standards of other people's ideas about creativity. Everyone’s innate sense of creativity is unique. It’s that quality that allows us all to continually shape our lives. For one day, suspend all judgment, including your own.

Dose of CREATIVITY Live

I am thrilled to announce my participation in the Second Annual Back to School Family Rally.

My workshop How a Dose of Creativity Can Reduce Stress, Boost Self-Esteem, and Increase Success will be held from 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm. This interactive parent seminar will dispel the myths of creativity, highlight the benefits and provide tools to encourage your child's imagination.

For instance, did you know that participating in the arts, even badly is a whole body activity that promotes a mind, body and spirit connection? Making art and engaging in creative activities involves the whole self, both logical and emotional. Tension is released when you get into the flow of your creative passion. Plus our self-esteem is boosted after we successfully finish a creative project. All of this helps us to succeed in life and work.

• Find out more on Saturday, August 11!

Lakewood Arts Festival

Art festivals are a staple of summer in Northeastern Ohio. Normally, the endless jewelery and photography booths bore me and don't even get me started on all the pottery! But Lakewood's festival usually contains a few creative surprises and even some interesting artists.

• Check it out this Saturday, August 4 from 10 am - 6 pm

Creative Thinking

A specific type of creative thinking involves using images. Since most of us are visual learners by nature, and frankly can't escape not being so in our society, thinking in images is a natural progression to creativity.

• That's the point of this fun tutorial on creative thinking.