June 20 2011--Questions about a Daily Creative Practice

ANSWER TO QUESTIONS

Cultivating a Daily Creative Practice

 How did you figure out what your practice would be?

My original rules were: try to do this the first thing in the morning, so it’s not following me around with guilt all day long. AND wait to see what moves me as being the right thing to do. It could be writing and it could be drawing-doodle-collage.

Originally I told myself to look for beauty/synchronicity/excitement but I usually ended up writing/drawing about something that was gnawing at me.

 Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things re: your practice throughout the weeks?

Yes, as I woke up I began obsessing about my topic for the day. Usually an event the day before would point me to what I needed to investigate creatively. Or sometimes the wispy memories of a morning dream pointed to the subject of the day.

 What are your rules? Have they evolved?

Yes, they did evolve. I started my creative practice when it was cold out and I had not started my 2 porch gardens yet or my garden in the front of my house or my garden in the backyard. When I began planting, I told myself that spending 2 hours in the garden center picking out hundred of plants –will this coleus with a tinge of hot pink in its leaves go with this New Guinea impatiens I’d picked out--- and will they both grow together, was definitely a creative practice.

Besides the planting of all my gardens, I continued writing in the morning for about 15 to 20 minutes.

 What helped you keep doing it?

It’s a perfect attendance kind of mindset—although in truth I live my life making creative decisions every day—I didn’t do the creative practice every single day.

 What hindered you? And how do you deal with it?

My body hindered me. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Time hindered me. Appointments too. I’d have to be somewhere at 9 and by the time I got home, I was tired. Some days, I was a rebel. I am too tired and cranky to do anything that resembles a creative practice and so I didn’t do it.

But then, I’d wake up the next morning and start fresh.

 Did you write about your creative practice, take notes, journal?

Yes, I mostly wrote about how I came to the idea of doing the visual part of the DCP. But as an art major who was really going to major in journalism, I have to admit that my first and favored mode of expression is writing. The visual I can usually see in my mind. It’s the craft of nailing myself to a chair and getting out my art materials and doing the piece that took me hours sometimes.

 Are you documenting your progress? How?

I really wish I had documented more but this was one step in the process that I didn’t do.

 What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?

Try it for 7 days in a row. And for the days that you are too tired or too congested with activities, take 10 minutes and tell what you would have done if you had the time.

 Have you noticed any changes, awarenesses, in the quality of your life since you’ve started your practice?

This is a loaded question! You can’t help but notice. That is the purpose: to heighten your awareness. If, after doing a DCP for 49 days, you don’t feel more aware, check in with a doctor or therapist. The purpose of DCP is to ENLIVEN your spirit, to reflect on yourself, your life, and to feel more spirited.

 How does your original intention for the practice compare to where you are now?

My original intent didn’t include time (See what I can do in 15-20 minutes, then stop).

And so, I went overboard each day and burned out after 4 weeks. And I went back to writing for 15 or 20 minutes, no drawings, for the last 2 weeks.

Where I am now is in a state of delight and gratitude and heightened awareness. I am also in a state of conflict, wanting to record and document everything, and knowing I can’t do that and also wash the dishes and feed the cats.

 Are you having fun yet? Do you think you’ll continue?

Some days it’s fun. Some days it’s work. I’m not sure I will continue every single day, but I definitely have the tools to do something different than just write each day.

Final Exam

• How did you figure out what your practice would be?
• I was already doing a sketch a day, so I knew I wanted to work on the development of some of the sketches into other artwork.

• Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things re your practice throughout the weeks?
• Yes, I found myself looking at the world more in terms of composition -- always trying to figure out what masses made arresting arrangements, etc.  Also discussing the practice with other people definitely puts it to the front of my mind. Not only being prepared with something to report on, but listening to how others interpret DCP and  what different ways there are to approach it.

• What are your rules?  Have they evolved?  
• My rules are to sketch a small sketch once a day and to think about and/or develop my sketches into paintings, collages, other sketches, etc.

• What helped you keep doing it? 
• The group meeting, the Sketch-a-Day book.

• What hindered you?  And how do you deal with it? 
• Thinking about it and not doing it. I try to make up for lost sketches by doing a couple at a time. But I'm not really concerned if I miss a day or two. I know I'll come back to it.

• Did you write about your creative practice, take notes, journal?
• Sporadically. I like to write down the ideas and thoughts that come to me while I'm making art in class.

• Are you documenting your progress?  How?
• Sporadically. The actual daily sketches are documentation of a sort. 

• What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?
• Let everything count in the beginning. These are not big art projects. These are little daily events. It's the accumulation of these little daily events that are going to change your life. 

• Have you noticed any changes, awarenesses, in the quality of your life since you’ve started your practice?
• Yes, all of the above changes are making art more a continuous part of my life on a daily basis. I think about it when I'm stressed out by work or family, and it's like taking a little vacation.

• How does your original intention for the practice compare to where you are now?
• I would still say I'm pretty much on track. It's a method for developing an approach to art/creativity that I can use for the rest of my life.

• Are you having fun yet?  Do you think you’ll continue?
• I am having fun in a way. Yes I will continue. 

The survey!

How did you figure out what your daily creative practice would be?
It just came to me that day on the way home—and seemed totally right.

Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things re your practice throughout the weeks?
Yes.

What are your rules? Have they evolved?
Identify and document one good thing that happens each day. It doesn’t have to be the “best” thing, just “a” good thing. As for documentation, my preferred form is sketching (for the side benefit of skill development), but that’s not set in stone. As for evolution, yes, I’ve become less adamant about sketching and I’ve sometimes gotten downright lazy about documentation.

What helped you keep going?
It’s fun when I do it—and I knew I’d have to touch base with others. That keeps you accountable.

What hindered you? And how did you deal with it?
Time—and not being in the mood some days. Mostly I gave in, but missed doing it.

Did you write about your practice, take notes, journal?
Not extensively. Mostly margin notes around the sketches. Ideally, this is personal and the sketch brings back to me the thoughts and feelings that I’d otherwise be writing about.

Are you documenting your practice?
Sporadically.

How?
Mostly visually. Sketches and photos. Here’s the interesting thing. I really see the value in documentation. It heightens the experience and keeps me on track and actually doing this. What I’m ambivalent about, though, is posting the documentation. I don’t know that it’s of any interest or value to anyone but me and I’d rather spend the time doing than posting.

What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?
Just do it. (I know that’s not very creative, but it’s true. Don’t overthink. Just do.)

What changes, if any, have you noticed in the quality of life since you’ve started your practice?
When I actually do it, I’m calmer and more serene.

How does your original intention for the workshop compare to where you are now?
Sort of. I’d be further along if I practiced more diligently, but I’m moving in the intended direction.

Are you having fun yet?
Yes, I am.

Do you think you’ll continue?
Yes. It’s definitely worth it.

They Can Be

They Can Be (Itself the Author of Selves) by TisaSounds

Totem is Watching

 

 Totem on printer

Guard Totem on umbrella

                                                      
                                                         Totem on flower pot on couch
                                                          

 

Totem on couch

I so couldn't resist this!  After our class Totem effort I worked on my hawk more at home and got really into it.  I photoed it all over the house. On the computer monitor, easy chair, book case, Totem sitting on top of the TV watching Joy Behar. No telling where it will end up, maybe on somebody's shoulder. 

Answers to Cultivating a Daily Creative Practice

Cultivating A Daily Creative Practice

With Pat Otto

How did you figure out what your practice would be?

“Where’s My Soul” popped into my mind when we were committing to practice on the first day.  I think I got it from the intro to the class and because it occurred to me so suddenly I knew it had to be relevant. 

Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things re your practice throughout the weeks?

Yes, I noticed more possible venues of creativity. I noticed more that things and events interact and have a strong relationship to one another. There seems to be a rhythm to it all.  I think that’s what synchronicity means.  I noticed more positive events in my life.  

·       What are your rules?  Have they evolved?  

At first I believed I had to have rules. Admittedly it was often based on what my classmates were doing.  Then I realized that the soul does not have creative rules.  This helped me to be more honest with myself as opposed to caring about other peoples’ tastes and preferences.  

·       What helped you keep doing it?

It was a lot of fun.  No academic technical boundaries or requirements was most important to me. Once I started the process it continued evolving, no stopping it and I felt I had to expand and to express it.   Sharing it with supportive and appreciative classmates helped a lot.  

·       What hindered you?  And how do you deal with it?

I was resentful of the daily necessary chores butting heads with creative play. Though I’ve always thought about making difficult things more interesting and exciting,  I started to combine work and play more often—I could even make plans for my next creative project while doing some of the chores.

·       Did you write about your creative practice, take notes, journal? 

Yes, daily. I noticed that creative moments were fleeting and photography helped with documenting that. I also realized that in documentation I could put my creative thoughts into physical form more quickly than I originally thought in order to document.   I was cavalier about documentation as something that was done for official even legal purposes and I discovered a more spiritual component of recording my creations.  Documentation became important in my own framework.  It gave my thoughts, feelings, and actions a physical grounding.  It’s a thrill to observe  my soul physically in my journal.

·       Are you documenting your progress now?  How?

I’m answering this questionnaire as part of my daily creative practice.  I see this as important in noting where I am creatively and then using this exercise as a spring board to move on.  

·       What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?  

Relax, enjoy. 

·       Have you noticed any changes, awarenesses, in the quality of your life since you’ve started your practice? 

There were many areas of awareness but the main level is that I value myself and my creative efforts even more. This expands to embrace the value and tof others’ creativity as well. 

·       How does your original intention for the practice compare to where you are now? 

When we began the class the term soul was something that was an abstract idea to me. To me now my soul includes the energy that makes me who I am.  I appreciate myself and other people and things (and the beauty of their souls) even more because of my search and discovery.  

·       Are you having fun yet?  Do you think you’ll continue?  

Yes, I’m having lots of fun!  I hope to continue growing creatively (maybe outside my journal) with perhaps a new topic to focus on.  I will continue my artwork in new ways and the idea of documentation is now very important to me. 

Thank you thank you thank you very much

I have to send a bunch of thank you cards. I always think I should create my own cards with little watercolor paintings, which I have done in the past, but it's a lot of work! So instead, I decided to collage the cards. I bought a pack of creative cards with the deckle edge and a pack of cut up handmade paper samples for $3. Here are the first attempts.It's fun, I can do it while watching So You Think You Can Dance, and they count for my sketch a day!

Answers to the Q&A

• How did you figure out what your practice would be?
I’m not really into making visual art; I’m more of a words person. So, I chose poetry.

• Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things regarding your practice throughout the weeks?
I did. Taking the class helped me be more mindful throughout my day. As a consequence, my ability to “notice” and “be aware” was enhanced.

• What are your rules? Have they evolved?
The hardest rule to learn was that there are no rules. I found myself wanting to produce a polished, finished poem everyday. Well, that’s just not realistic. Some days I would write stream-of-consciousness pages. Some days I would just think about stuff. Some days I wouldn’t do a darn thing! But participating in the class helped me assume an “inner position” of intentionality. And that’s the most important “practice” of all!

• What helped you keep doing it?
I really loved showing up in class each week and sharing with the other participants. It was also helpful to contribute regularly to the class blog.

• What hindered you? And how do you deal with it?
Pure, unadulterated laziness! Most of the time, I dealt with it by giving in to it.

• Did you write about your creative practice, take notes, journal?
I didn’t journal about it specifically. But, often the class-time sharing helped me become aware of some particular awareness or life lesson I was learning, and I certainly journaled about this in the broader context of my life.

• Are you documenting your progress? How?
Yes—through posting on the class blog.

• What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?
I think it’s vital to interact and share with other people during the process. This opens you up to a lot of possibilities you don’t see just working on your own.

• Have you noticed any changes, awarenesses, in the quality of your life since you’ve started your practice?
I have! I know what it is to experience an inner awareness, and I know what it is to experience an outer awareness. However, I don’t think I really had much experience in meshing the two. The daily creative practice is the space where that happens.

• How does your original intention for the practice compare to where you are now?
I came in thinking more about the product than the process. Now, the product doesn’t really matter, but engaging in the process is where the gold is found.

• Are you having fun yet? Do you think you’ll continue?
I am having fun! I do think I will continue to reconcile my inner and outer worlds through poetry.

Q & A with Daily Creative Practitioners

• How did you figure out what your daily creative practice would be?
• Did you find yourself thinking about or noticing things re your practice throughout the weeks?
• What are your rules?  Have they evolved?
• What helped you keep going?
• What hindered you?  And how did you deal with it?
• Did you write about your practice, take notes, journal?
• Are you documenting your practice?  How?
• What advice would you offer others interested in a creative practice?
• What changes, if any, have you noticed in the quality of life since you’ve started your practice?
• How does your original intention for the workshop compare to where you are now?
• Are you having fun yet?  Do you think you’ll continue?

Weekend Haikus

Weekend chores provide some reasons for my mind escaping to create...in this case writing haiku.

LAUNDRY:

The hamper  is full, 

Suds, swirling in the machine,

Whipping up cool jazz.

HOUSEWORK:

Dust, grease, grime, oh woe,

Chores, that dreaded work to do,

In the window...wings

BAKING BREAD: 

Flour, sugar, beer,

Simple recipe, now mix,

-the color turquoise.

--Marble 

My Soul Is In My Garden

I'm grateful I have a resilient and scrubby garden this year considering the little time I've taken to work on it. These roses were planted over 30 years ago.   

-Marble

Sights of Summer

Lithe ladies draped in airy sundresses
parading along city boulevards
enchanting male onlookers

A large, well endowed black woman
strolling down the sidewalk
cell phone tucked in her cleavage

A little Asian girl happily waving her
half-eaten chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream on a stick and
delighting her father and groups of passersby while
flashing her wide chocolate-covered smile

The warm summer air
frees us to relax, live
and be

A Sound Community

Red styrofoam tambourine
sand and rocks running through
paper towel rolls
car keys jostling
shells clanging in the homemade breeze

Millions of pieces of pink glitter, shaken
masking tape screeches and scratches while
peeled back again and again

A long stick with strings for bass plucking
two primitives, primed for mating
the soft shush of a brush against a coarsely woven basket

Sounds

The sounds mate and
birth rhythms that
shake and clang and tear into
the beat of each heart until
nine hearts beat as one

Sound Bytes

In my journal:  my view of our creative sharing in class using different materials in making sound.  Is this one of the ways ancient people started to orchestrate music? How long ago?  

Marble

Ode to Horseraddish: A Kind of A Limerick

There once was a gal named Gladys,
She was in an event eating haggis,
She gnashed with a grin,
When she plopped some stuff in,
From a pot of vintage horseraddish


(What else do you do wating in a dentist's office?)

Screaming MRI

Yesterday I endured an MRI for 90 minutes. Did you ever have one?

Headphones with classical music playing tried to obscure the screeching, booming, teenager in a car bass speakers booming, throbbing, banging, car alarm at 4 am piercing sound.

Some power within directed me to erect a nuclear fallout shelter in my mind to do what victims of sexual abuse describe how they coped.

I went out of my body, hovered above, in my fallout shelter to hide from the sound. There is no safe place, there is no pill you can take. You just wait it out. Endure.

Jeannie and the Yellow Finch, version 2

Jeannie, my 1st cousin, died of cancer.

The funeral was May 31 so I met my sister and her husband to make the trek up to our hometown, Milwaukee. We meet at the intersection of 22 and 294, where I park my car and ride up with them. We've done this for years. The years that my mother had her stroke and we drove up at least once a week and then when my father's health was failing in his mid and late eighties, we drove together from this particular spot on the map.

Jeannie's funeral Mass is celebrated by her brother, Fr. Russ. He is our family's resident priest. He has married most of us, baptized many and buried a few as well.

One of Jeannie's sons offered a eulogy after the Mass. They were visiting her in the nursing home and wanted to bring flowers the next time. "What's your favorite color, Mom?""Yellow", she said. "It's always been yellow."

She died on May 13th and 2 weeks later, as a memorial to his mother, he brought a plaque with her name inscribed and had it attached to the bird house she loved to watch from her room. The worker at the nursing home said the birdhouse had been quite busy the last couple of weeks."There must be a family of those yellow finches coming to nest there."

Her son said he know his mother's spirit was close by and had sent this sign.

Safari on Halsted

When I open the door of a cab
I simply don't expect to be surprised
time and time again it's the
same ole same ole
black or grey vinyl interior

Today when I opened the door to get in
I was attacked
by the leopard-print cloth covering
the two front bucket seats and
the whole of the back seat and even
a leopard print pillow resting under the back windshield

Hearing African natives drumming in my mind
I smiled inside and said,
"Hey, why not?" as I
safaried to my next appointment

The Pencil

Tried starting to write with two pens but
both crapped out on me

Saw a pencil on the desk but
pooh-poohed it and
walked to the drawer to get a new pen

But then I thought again about the pencil and
memories wafted into my mind, like

using the same one the first nine weeks of fifth grade and
taking my end-of-term exams with a two-inch nub, counting the eraser

selling them as a fundraiser for middle school student council
for ten cents a pop

tickling then scratching my ear with the tip
when bored in class

I like writing with the pencil because
I can feel and hear the words being created on the paper
and the words themselves seem safer, more inviting to read, like

will you be my friend
then two boxes drawn underneath with the words
"yes" and "no"