Jan

25

Winter Lights on Second Life

January 25, 2008 | 1 Comment

[art, virtual worlds]
Winter Lights, an art and photography exhibit, has just opened in the Gallerie Octaviana. The show features work from Mad Swiss Cow, Marcel Moré, Sume, Marjie Kennedy, Pirate Johnny, Smiling da Vinci, and Nancy Waldman on the first floor of the expansive gallery space. Upstairs are two new installations of a Circleworks […]

Jan

20

The Crafty Songwriter - Tip #1

January 20, 2008 | 2 Comments

[tutorial, songwriting]

Show don’t tell
by Carson A. Metzger
Exercise #1: Practice writing a song where you avoid telling entirely
How do you do this?
Be descriptive.
Avoid universal statements by grounding or dramatizing your song in the details of a particular scene, character, or relationship between characters.
Avoid using “to be” verbs.
Forgo clichés and truisms by translating things you have […]

Nov

18

Writing Like the Wind

November 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment

This is National Novel Writing Month.
I like to put in a plug for it every year, but at over 90,000 participants (it started in 1999 with around 25 people), maybe that’s the last thing they need. That, at least, is how I’m justifying not mentioning it until past the middle of the month.
If […]

Oct

1

Cooking up Creativity

October 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Cooking is one of the few creative activities that I engage in pretty much everyday. However, I realized recently that somewhere along the line I stopped giving cooking the respect it deserves.
I have always enjoyed cooking but I guess my children—over time—with their penchant for the bland and the familiar, ate away at […]

Aug

15

“The world looks after artists”

August 15, 2007 | 2 Comments

[-painting, process, interview-]
Interview with artist, Donna Marsh
by Nancy Waldman

Aug

1

c-ART-egories

August 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-warm-up, drawing-]
Here’s a creative warm-up exercise that uses categories.
Choose a category each day to draw in your journal. Divide your paper into 8 - 12 small sections. Decide on the length of time you want to devote to this. My suggestion is to start with no more than ten minutes. Quicker sketches will loosen […]

Jul

30

Creatively Practical Painting

July 30, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-process, painting-]

Mama and baby gables

Originally uploaded by nuanc.

Hi all! I took some time off from posting during July. It’s been good to get outside and away from the computer. One of the things I’ve been doing is painting—but not my usual kind.
We are finishing […]

Jun

30

other-handed

June 30, 2007 | 2 Comments

[-journaling, c-mindfulness-]
Next time you are writing in your journal, switch the pen to your other hand and write.
I know. I know. You can’t write with your other hand. Never mind. Go on and do it anyway.
Writing with our non-dominant hand can have interesting results because it confuses our brain. Part of that protest […]

Jun

30

paper-making

June 30, 2007 | 1 Comment

[-craft, tutorial-]
Making handmade paper is an artform. In the hands of an experienced artist, the paper can be thin and smooth, molded to wonderful shapes or scenes and made into elaborate sculptures and vessels.
However, the good news is that making paper is just as rewarding for a beginner.
Last summer, I finally—after many years […]

Jun

18

Heritage Art

June 18, 2007 | 1 Comment

[-fiber art, alterations-]

mormors syskrin grandmothers sewingbox

Originally uploaded by gunnels.

This morning’s inspiration comes from Gunnel Svensson of Sweden. She posted this lovely sampler to the flickr Practically Creative pool. It’s made of things from her grandmother’s sewing box.
What treasures!
What […]

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