Introducing:
One of the things I am focusing on in 2008 is how to bring more creativity into my everyday in different ways. I am broadening my scope, checking out new things, finding different ways of seeing the world around me. I also want to work on including my family in some of these creative activities so that we can all grow in this area.
Here's the plan: Each Friday I will post a new prompt/thought/project to think about/do/add to you list for the weekend. Sometimes they will be really simple and other times a bit more involved. Sometimes you won't have to do anything other than consider a concept and other times, such as this weekend, there will be the potential for you to add a little project to plans you may already have in place. Some will be scrapbook-related and others will focus on different areas of crafts, photography, and creativity.
Ready?
Last November I got to spend some time with girlfriends down in Southern California. There was lots of laughing and sharing and shopping and eating - all those good things to do when getting together with friends. On one of our outings I grabbed these three letters that were sitting on Emily's fireplace and decided to take them along as a creative project for the day. (Tara had picked these up for Emily at Timeless Treasures in San Francisco.)
Our creative plan was simple: bring the letters + photograph them in different environments throughout the day. And that is exactly what we did.
This is a project in seeing. A project where you place something into a new context. As I was placing the letters here and there I was especially looking for textures and contrast. It brought a different twist to our shopping + eating + chatting adventure.
Here's something to consider: your word for the year.
What if this weekend you gathered up some letters (could be ABC blocks, alphabet magnets, metal letters (check your supply stash for letters), typeset letters, etc) and took them along with you as you go about your weekend adventures. What interesting, creative photos could you take? Remember, this is an exercise in seeing, in becoming aware of the environment we are in at the moment.
If you really get into this it could become a something of a series that you work on throughout the year in relation to your word. Consider choosing letters that are small enough to keep in your purse/bag and then photograph them at interesting times and in interesting environments.
Maybe your kids or spouse will want to get involved. Or maybe this will be something just for you.
Whatever you decide, have a great weekend.
PS: Don't forget to come by Scrapbook Attack in Portland tomorrow from 1pm-2:30pm for a book signing (I will be bringing some albums along that you can check out). Hope to see you there! And then afterwards...Ikea here I come!
What an awesome idea --- I already my son that we are going to take on this project.
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This is just exactly the boost I need--on a weekly basis to step outside my creative box in this new year! Thanks!!!
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this is great - reminds me of the old sock monkey that would be mailed to friends around the country/world to be photographed and returned home ... only with a more focused, directed purpose. Something about that park bench though cracks me up. "ahhh, hey art ... has the bus already come by here?" or something. Definately doing diligence on my WOTY (word of the year) this weekend. Like this prompt and just may work it into my plans. have a happy day, Ali!
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OOOOH! Aah! the textures, so miksang! They're SINGING to me. What a kick-ass idea!
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AWESOME.
This is brilliant!
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what a fun adventure in "seeing"! love the idea and will start today. my kids will have a blast helping me :)
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What a great idea! LOVE how you took Art with you to so many different locales... thanks for the "push" to think differently... now I have to go think of my word for 2008! Great blog, glad I found you, all my best!
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thanks for the idea.
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http://flickr.com/photos/gingerkitty4/ Here are some of my pictures in case you didn't have a chance to see my vlog I posted in an earlier comment. Again thank you for this idea. I turned my friend on to you and she loves the artist life concept!
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Very cool!!!!
Wish I was in Savannah doing this!
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This is perfect! I finally figured out a word that would work for me this year - it took a while, and then of course I didn't have a project in mind. This idea is perfect - quick, quirky, and something I wouldn't have even considered. Thanks for the inspiration!
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As usual you've come up with an wonderfully fun and inspiring idea. You are bursting with inspiration, lady. :-) I will be participating as much as I can.
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Here is another alphabet idea. I'm in a digital photgraphy class right now that we have to take 26 pictures of the alphabet, all formed from objects or things you see laying around (like a tree shaped like a "Y", or the street light that looks like a "r"). Then we will be making a layout with our letters spelling out different words. It's been fun searching!
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I wish my word was shorter, I picked balance.
I would love to find vintage letter, but don't know how much of undertaking it would be.
I am playing around with the idea od visual
symbol.
Great inspiration, Ali. can't wait to see what uou do with your word.
Jess
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I wish my word was shorter, I picked balance.
I would love to find vintage letter, but don't know how much of undertaking it would be.
I am playing around with the idea od visual
symbol.
Great inspiration, Ali. can't wait to see what uou do with your word.
Jess
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What a great idea as a way of being creative and seeing art and the wor(l)d in different ways! Thanks for the inspiration.
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This is cool I have my letters in a baggie ready to go....Ali can you start a Flickr group for this too? so we can share all of our cool pics we're about to take?
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Such a FUN idea!
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Art is everywhere! we just did a similar thing, hunting for "tags" at Granville Island in Vancouver BC (which is a where a whole community of creativity, art stores and an art school are) Ya gotta love the little things that make art art! Kudos Ali, love your spirit!
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Sounds way fun! I've got to find some letters. I've been looking at some for my new scrap area - now time to buy them!
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I'm playing along and have already created some fun photos.
But instead of using my original word with individual letters, I'll be using a vintage stamp with words that I think define me pretty well (at least I hope so) - "USER FRIENDLY". Having a ball with it too!
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This is amazing. I really love this idea and all the cool spots you found to take your photos. Thanks for the inspiration!
I hope your day at Scrapbook Attack was good. I was really hoping to make it there! Hope you had fun at Ikea too!
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That's such a cool idea! I'm off to find me some phrases!!!
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Such a very cool idea! Off to find my Word!
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Love this! Love the colors of the letters and the varying widths. I happen to have chunky letters that spelled "CREATE" and chose to use jut the A, R and T - Painted and covered with designer papers. never thought to take them a step further.
My brother doesn't use the letters but "sees" his art in parking stalls, trash bins, etc. I love seeing how we all view our world.
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