My New Favorite Thing: Security Envelopes
Each year I make thank you cards for people that give my husband, Dan, a tip during the holiday season. Each year, I also wonder if I have time to create a pile of handmade cards, doubt if I have any good ideas, and consider not making them. As with all work I create, this project […]
Missing Deadlines or Making Choices?
We all make choices about what we do with our time. However, we tend to talk less about time and the choices we make and instead talk about wasting time, getting time back, saving time, or managing time. To-do list grow. Calendars are filled with meetings and appointments, all in the guise of managing our […]
How to Scaffold Your Learning
I never learned how to do paper weaving, at least not that I remember. You might not think that’s a big deal, and in some ways, it’s not, but since I spent ten years designing and selling woven textiles, it made my learning curve steeper than it needed to be. In my college weaving class, […]
Where do Ideas Come From?
When it comes to trying to develop creative ideas or solutions, we often wish that we could flip to the back of the book and consult the answer key. There is no answer key, but there are practices that you can bring into your life that will increase your ability to find ideas. Ideas are […]
How to use Mind Mapping to Your Advantage
A few weeks ago, my husband and I purchased a stock tank to turn it into a pool. The idea of turning a stock tank into a pool is much easier than actually turning it into one. Steps to make a stock tank pool: purchase stock tank find or create a level surface place the […]
Understanding Art through Artle
Students often ask me how they can prepare for AP Art History or AP Studio Art over the summer, and my response is usually more straightforward than expected. Look at art. Make art. And while looking at and making art and still the foundation of preparing for any art course, I’m going to give you […]
Learn to Observe: The Art of Noticing
Yesterday we discussed how to learn the language of art, and you were introduced to the elements and principles of art. Whether you want to learn more about art history, improve your ability as a visual artist, or get better at noticing the world around you, practicing observing and describing what you see can help. […]
If You Want to be More Creative, Find More Connections
Connections and Combinations Do you wish that you could come up with more creative ideas? You can! Creativity is a skill that you can learn, develop, and continue to grow once you understand it. Creative ideas often spur from your mind making new connections and combinations. This is why it’s essential to do what I […]
How to Gain Momentum for Your Creative Work
German filmmaker Wim Wenders defined creativity as “obsessive problem-solving.” When I read this definition of creativity, I felt so seen, you too? My creative projects always border and sometimes trip over the edge of obsession. I get an idea, get started, which spurs 20 more ideas that I ALSO must DO RIGHT NOW!! For some, […]
Intro to Visual Literacy
If you love art, art history, and problem-solving and haven’t already, Fixed. How to Prefect the Fine Art of Problem-Solving, by Amy E. Herman, I highly recommend checking it out. German filmmaker Wim Wenders defined creativity as “obsessive problem-solving.” There are A LOT of definitions of creativity, and this one ranks high on the lists […]