Embrace Life

Creativity Boot Camp: (Last) Day 13

I have really enjoyed the last two weeks participating in the Creativity Boot Camp. Huge thanks go to Meagan for developing and nurturing this project. I've "met" a number of lovely ladies, and certainly many creative folk, all of us artists! I'm not sad to see it end, as for me it is part of a continuing process, one of the many sources I can draw upon when I feel my creative spark extinguishing.

This project dovetailed nicely with my current thoughts regarding me and my approach to and expectation of my creativity. I've been thinking much of my process, my projects, my progress and what will stay and what will go. The last two weeks provided great clarity. 

JOURNAL PROMPT

I want you to think of some concrete actions that you can begin taking tomorrow to continue nurturing you creative soul. I want you to make some promises to yourself

I promise to spend at least an hour each day creating. 
The amount of time was left blank - for us to fill in. I figured one hour should work, even on days when I'm less productive! I am very fortunate to have chosen a pretty portable method of creativity. I'm thinking I might find myself something a bit more tactile and messy - something for which I have to dedicate time and focus.

I promise to talk about my creativity with others.
Well, more than likely not real life others. When people ask what I do, because I don't have a body of work I can easily share or oodles of samples, I proudly state I'm a mum. I conveniently forget to mention what I do with the time my kids are in school!

I promise to continue to challenge myself creatively because that is how I get better.
I have the list, now I just have to execute. Who knows. I might find something there!

I promise to be kind to my creative spirit.
I have to admit, it is becoming easier.

I promise to applaud my achievements.
Keep reading the blog, I promise to share any of the achievements bestowed upon me!

I promise to cultivate relationships with people who share my creative interests.
I don't know that I'm familiar with too many local people who share my creative interests, that may just mean I have to get in the car! If you're local, let me know! We can have coffee ... a chat ... wine! I will continue to cultivate my cyber relationships through blogs, courses and collectives.

I promise to call myself an artist.

Quietly, to myself right now. I actually do have a goal in mind - that thing I will achieve that will then qualify me to call myself an artist. It has more to do with a wall, a coffee table, a place than it does anything monetary or celebratory.

Random Word Prompt

Smile

Today was the Closing Ceremonies for Claire and Cole who survived, with enthusiasm, grade 9 and 7 respectively.

And, a better shot (once we got home and it sunk in a little bit!!)

What's next? Glad you asked! Directly from the Creativity Boot Camp blog:

In an effort to help you keep your creative fires burning and to foster the relationships and the community that we’ve all developed here at CBC, I’m going to be starting a new series over at my personal blog, Life Set to Words. Each Sunday, I will be giving a weekly creative prompt along with a weekly post where we can all link our work. I will post the week’s theme on Sunday morning and you can link up through the entire week. The themes will start next Sunday, June 27th. You may take a button, spread the word, and let us all see together where this journey will take us!

Will you join in? I hope to see you there :)

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 12

Journal Prompt

It can be scary to think about dreams; really scary. I’m sure there are a few of you who are put off thinking about dreams right now…assuring yourself that you are happy right where you are. But today, I’d like you to stretch and think about one or two dreams that you have for your future. They can be about a place you’d like to travel, a job you’d like to have, a business you’d like to own…but don’t feel restricted by reality. Try and see if you can stretch more, believing that anything is possible, what would you wish for?

Now, as you think of these dreams {big or small} what might be some small baby steps you could start taking right now to begin clearing the path towards those dreams?

I am firmly entrenched in the world of teens and pre-teens. My dreams are currently taking a new direction: focused on supporting the dreams of my children. I have learned that dreams require patience. You can't have it all, all the time, when you want it. Immediate gratification often has a far heavier cost than taking the slow and more steady road to fulfilment. Taking a break to focus on more important things, my kids, gives me time to have my ideas percolate and form fully before I expend time, energy and often expense only to have them fall apart. My creative dreams today are not necessarily my creative dreams of 2, 5, 10 years ago. The great thing is they grow as you grow, change as you change.

CLAIRE has just finished her first year of high school. She is a sweet and responsible girl ... with edge. She is social, smart, hard working and sure. No push over, my girl. She has a great sense of self. It was the one thing I dreamed for her and she has worked hard, against many obstacles, to attain a strong spirit and great confidence and humour. She started on a new athletic journey abandoning baseball after 8 or 9 years and now plays rugby, canoeing and I'm hoping by the end of the summer, golf! She understands the importance of her studies and is focused on getting good marks and picking a good university as she wants to be a Chiropractor/Sports Therapist. I am doing all I can to make sure her dream is reached - I'm supportive and happy to sign her up for anything that will further her ambitions. I am a sounding board always open and available to encourage her to be all that which she is capable. 

COLE has just finished his first year of middle school. He is a kind, intense and mature guy ... with enough self doubt to keep him from being too cocky. This year he saw evidence that hard work pays off as he was chosen to join the AAA hockey team after two dreadful seasons of toil. His response? Work harder. He is the poster child for focus. He is also very social and becoming very comfortable in the man he is becoming: well read, opinionated and thoughtful. He's also very active: he canoes/kayaks, plays rugby, runs cross country, plays football and goofs off with his younger brother. He has already decided that he is going to further his studies at McGill and pursue a career as a lawyer. I am doing all I can as his greatest cheerleader to provide him with sound council and encouragement. My greatest dream for Cole would be to forget about perfection and focus his considerable energy on attaining excellence. I have no doubt he will.

CHLOE is finishing up grade 5 and enjoyed her stint as Prime Minister of her class, honour student and playground organizer. Her siblings call her bossy, I call her organized :) Chloe discovered a love for volleyball which will be perused with gusto next season. She also quite enjoyed being a member of the Oakville Children's Choir this past season. She wants for so many things! A dreamer this one is! Right now she wants to be a marine biologist; a singer/actress; a teacher and a mum. Right now, the only dream I have for Chloe is happiness. She is such a force she doesn't always see how her actions effect others. Resilience is not the same as happiness. Oh, and I also hope she will finally turn off the television and embrace the books she's currently enjoying!

CADEN will forever be my "thank god he's alive" child. We almost lost him in 2003 to a drowning incident which left him in a coma for over a week. He is a continual marvel. When we left the hospital we were told to keep our expectations low, that among other things, he would never be able to use a Gameboy. I bought him one on the way home, not only does he play, he's mastered it and ever helps his big brother when he gets stuck on levels. Every time I have a dream for him, albeit a cautious one, he moves beyond it and I have to come up with something else. He's a big, funny, goofy comedian who loves to make people laugh and loathes being laughed at, ah, performer indeed. He's a stats freak and just when you think "it can't be", you google for an answer and realize he's right. My dream for Caden is that he finds joy in whatever he does.

Why a big entry about my children?

Simple.

They are my dream.

When I was growing up and had no dreams left, the only thing I wanted was a family of my own.

For you who are suspicious that I'm avoiding the practical question of what is my dream, here is my current, long-term list:

• Write a book, or series of books
• Drag out my watercolours and see where that goes
• Maybe combine the two?
• Lose 100 pounds
• Get published in Canadian Scrapbooker magazine
• Put together that notebook/card idea I had a couple of years ago
• Play tennis and golf again
• Multi media canvases, hmm
• That stationery store idea is always niggling at the back of my head - maybe Etsy makes more sense?
• Create an on-line class a la Susannah Conway? Ali Edwards? Share what I've learned, teach something altogether new? Be content to realize I'm not a teacher?
• Take a photo tour of Europe
• The poster quotes is another niggling plan
• What ever happened to that ceramic idea? Etching plans? Glass painting?

And from there it goes on ... and on.

Random Word Prompt

Smooth

Scotch? Marble? Jazz? Glass? Transition? So many choices!

Then I remembered all of the gorgeous smooth and flat rocks at the cove where the kids launch their kayaks. So indicative of our life here in Bronte. Whiling away hours skipping the lake rocks throughout the summer.

What was your interpretation of "smooth"?

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 11

aka Mama's Epic Fail Assignment.

Journal Prompt

Briefly map out a timeline of your life up until this point. Make sure to note school studies, periods of happiness, life changes, major decisions, jobs, periods of happiness and comfort, etc. Now, looking back at your life, can you see how each of those points led you to where you are right this minute?

For instance, can you see how if you had never have done _____, then you would never have met _____, who inspired you to do ______, where you suffered _______, which ultimately made you _____, which turned out to be the best thing. And then because you had to ______, you started doing ______, and that’s how you got here!

Yours might sound a bit different, but the principle will most likely be the same. You are exactly where you should be. If you’d like to take this exercise one step further, attempt to take out one rather significant element and think of how your life would have played out differently without it. Now, can you see how this particular sequence of events {ie: your life} is “launching” you into your creative destiny?

This particular prompt is going to take a bit more time to percolate than the one day provided!

I find my creative core to be so inherent to my person the idea that some outside force in some way influenced me to be where I am now is a bit strange and somewhat shocking! My life, outside of my creative control, has certainly been influenced by people and circumstance. The good, the bad, the ugly of it all. I'm resistant to the idea that I would have ended up anywhere but where I am right now had things been different.

I'll spend some time on it, if I get something good, I'll post it :)

Random Word Prompt

Hush

I have to say I am a big fan of silence. Hush is something I revel in and can often find, just not today. I have two kids now out of school, stormy weather and I live on a lake, the phone rang NON STOP, the blackberry was dinging and buzzing at every opportunity, I was even woken to a clap of thunder! Hush was not going to happen today. But it has happened. My most favourite photo representing silence in my world was taken just after we moved into this house on a deliciously eerie and damp foggy day.

NOTE: I've categorized this under "Embrace Imperfection". You will find many of my blog entries, in and out of this challenge, listed there. (I am one of the most imperfect people you will ever meet. I am so okay with that. Once I got rid of my need to meet self-imposed deadlines and my inherent need to please those who don't matter my life became my own.) I entered this process to learn, not for the "gold star" - thank you Gretchen Rubin for that phrase, it is perfect! I will process and mull the assignment today. Who knows, maybe I'll find some hush?

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 10

Journal Prompt

At the end of your day, think about the millions of sensations you experienced. Try to answer these questions…

Which ones stand out in your mind as being the most pleasant?

So many more pleasant events than less pleasant events today especially since I started the day, after a restorative 12-hour sleep, without yelling for the kids to wake up. They got up the first time! Showered, dressed, breakfast and to school on time. I think the olders were motivated by it being the last day of exams. The youngers were just happy to be greeted with sunshine! Cole was so happy when I collected him after his last exam, he figures he did very well, as he always does. Because of his hockey schedule he was unable to go to any school dances all year long: start of the year, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Spring but tonight he's going to his first dance. He is nervous, excited and relieved we let him miss football practice. Claire was less confident when I collected her from her exam. She gets good marks but exams are never her most comfortable experience. She knows how important this Science exam was as she wants to go into medicine. I purged ALL of my old scrapbook magazines! And we got rid of a bunch of "junk" that has been hanging around for the big pick-up. Relieved to get rid of it. Any purge day is a good day! Chloe and Caden were content to enjoy the sunshine and ride their bikes around the neighbourhood.

Were there any that were repulsive?

Some things in the news today were rather disturbing: a Canadian shot to death in Mexico, point blank, twice in his face, for his car. (The visual, and circumstances disturbing and repulsive.) An "honour" crime reported of a woman stabbing her daughter after the nineteen year old daughter stayed out all night. Mother in jail, daughter in hospital. (I don't know what is more repulsive, the act itself or the television report trying to justify an "honour" crime is somehow not the same as domestic violence.) The ridiculous suspension of the football program at University of Waterloo. With 9 of the 60 players caught using illegal steroids they suspended the whole program. Essentially punishing the remaining 51 players (and coaches, and parents) for the stupidity of 9. (I find it amazing and repulsive how we as a society react and punish the good along with the bad - grocery stores where you can't easily access product, security detectors and cameras everywhere you turn, on and on.)

Did any bring back memories from your past? 

I was an excellent student but absolutely FROZE during exams, I can feel for my Claire and her unwarranted lack of confidence. I remember being tremendously nervous about attending dances but loving the chance to people-watch (and clothing watch!). Cole is going with his buddies and has already saved a dozen dances to a dozen different girls - many requesting a slow dance. I don't remember girls being so forward! I remember anticipating the freedom of summer. The promise of good weather, free time, visiting friends, biking, tennis and swimming, lemonade and picnics, lazy days of reading and no place to be was wonderful. I know exactly how my kids feel and hope to have their summer be everything they anticipate and more.

Did any motivate you to do anything particular? Did any of these sensations inspire you in your creations?

It did. I registered the youngers (finally) for the camps they've been asking to attend. I was trying to refrain, have them have a more unstructured summer, but they really, really, really want to go. I remember that feeling and so they're all signed up. As for creativity? I'm just getting myself in to a creative place physically rather than mentally. Eventually, it will come out as a creative expression.

If you were to try and capture creatively any of these sensations, how would you do it?

I would paint it. All of it. The good, the not good. Lots of paint - bold watercolours. Very abstract and emotion based. Nothing "real".

Random Word Prompt:

Full Bodied

My first reaction was red wine, but I don't drink red wine, so it would go to waste. I suppose I could call a friend over to drink it for me. Hmm. Should have thought of that this morning! My next reaction was to take a photo of me since I'm as full bodied as it gets. Let me just say, I really didn't want to, but, my cyber-friend Lizzie has made mention that I don't include photos of myself - anywhere, which is completely on purpose and by design, but I figured I'd relent this one time and go for it. Not just a head shot, but a full nasty side view:

And there you have me, in my full bodied glory. A reminder that I have to get Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred while out this weekend!

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 9

Too fast! I've been enjoying the Creativity Boot Camp and now that I'm in the swing of things I've realized it is going to end. Soon.

JOURNAL PROMPT

There is no journal writing assignment today. {didn’t you all do enough writing this weekend???} Instead, I’d like you to create in a way that you haven’t for years. Paint, color, doodle, sew, write, work with clay {or play doh}…you get the drift. Mix it up. Practice art for the simple love of art itself.

I have to agree that plenty of writing was completed this weekend and I finished another stream of consciousness writing exercise today. So cathartic! Unsharable since it is metaphorically ripped up - I deleted the file - but still a great process.

My creative project today was to dust off my charcoal and pulled out my sketchbook. Wonderfully messy. I'm terrible, totally lost my eye after a couple of decades of no eye-hand coordination required, but it was fun, comical really, implementing old exercises.

Random Word Prompt

Drizzle

My immediate thought when I read the word was raspberry coulée on cheesecake, but I figured I'd save my waistline! Next I thought of chocolate syrup drizzled on vanilla ice cream, with maybe a sprig of mint. Again, my waistline rebelled. (I watched the Jillian Michael's new show on Sunday night and I'm clearly still traumatized!)

There was no drizzle today even though the forecast called for rain all day. Figures, eh? So with my handy assistant Chloe and a full pitcher of water, we simulated drizzle on the super big black golf umbrella. We tried my leopard print - which is a lovely accessory, but it just wasn't as effective. I'm quite enjoying figuring out props. I've never really done that before.

And you? How is your Creativity Boot Camp coming along? Are you stretching yourself? Having fun?

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 6, 7 & 8!

Day 6

JOURNAL PROMPT

What are your self-imposed “rules” of creating. What are some characteristics of your work that you seem to inhabit in each of your works? Do you find that you have these same tendencies when you work in a different medium or do you tend to switch rule sets? Brainstorm some alternatives methods, ideas, or techniques for how to escape your traditional style.

My rules are pretty simple:

1. When you think you're done, take at least 10 more photos.
2. SOOC is the best way to hone the craft of photography. That is not to say that actions and tweaking are not fun, just not necessary. Especially not for every photo.
3. Good enough is not.

I see some similarities in my work:

1. I like taking photos when my kids aren't watching - especially from behind.
   
2. I like taking a "still-life" to hilight the activity - racquet and balls and then photos of the actual activity. I take photos like a scrapbooker. I see the layout, see the story while I'm capturing the subject.
   
3. I do not enjoy posed photos and don't even mind when the kids get goofy as it shows their personality. 
4. Though I modelled for over a decade, I do not like my photo taken.
5. My photos are the story of my life.

I do not implement or like:

1. I am trying to force myself to take vertical photos, I'm using this Creativity Boot Camp to focus more on vertical. They're turning out pretty well, but it is a definite change to mindset.
2. I do not like the current trend of washed out photos, nor do I like the over-saturated look some seem to love. Well, I certainly don't like them for my photos, for some it is lovely, for some it is not. They take away the personality of the photographer when all the captures look the same.
   
3. I do not like when people take my photos and either claim them as their own or do not give photographic credit. Not that I'm a pro or anything, but that is just rude.
4. I do not take enough photos of the people in our lives. Many of my friends don't want their photos taken, but I should take them anyway!

I am ever-evolving as a photographer:

I take courses, free and not, all the time. I do what I can to challenge myself and how I see things. I needed to learn how to take better sport photos so I read everything I could find; I was not capturing light the way I wanted so I took a couple of courses and read tons of blogs and websites; I wasn't using my camera the way I wanted so I took myself off to YouTube and learned all that was there about my specific camera: a Canon 40D.

The brilliant Angie Warren from The Creative Mama is teaching a course starting on June 20th and I'm all signed up! I like learning little bits of brilliance from a variety of sources. I don't want to take photos "like" anyone but I can greatly benefit from the lessons they teach.

A question for you reading my blog, what do YOU see as the similarities in my photos? This was tough. So hard to be objective! I see every capture as singular and special. I'm not trained to look for the similarities, I'm trained to challenge myself and change things up :)

RANDOM WORD (Creativity) PROMPT

Fluid

I should have read the journal prompt before I took the photo, but I did incorporate some of the things I don't do: vertical orientation and some of the retaining wall for context.

The first thing that occurred to me when I read the word "fluid" was Cole skating. But you know, there have been PLENTY of photos on this blog of Cole skating! Then there is my favourite fluids: coffee, white wine and Perrier. I'm glad I settled on the fluid motion of Caden figuring out how to kayak.

* * * * * * * * * *

Day 7 & 8

JOURNAL PROMPT

Today and tomorrow, set aside roughly 45 minutes to yourselves to sit down and complete three full notebook pages of stream of consciousness writing. Don't think about what you should write…just write. And if you don’t know what to write about, just write “I don’t know what to write about. Maegan has me doing this stupid activity. What does she want me to say. I’m tired and I have a million things to do…” Before you know, you’ll be getting to the good stuff. But here’s the kicker…once you’re done, throw them out. I do not want you to go back and read these pages…ever. They are merely an emptying. Enjoy.

I often do a "brain dump" though not a whole 45 minutes, usually a half hour or so. Yesterday, while purging my iPhoto, I took a bit of a break and wrote for close to an hour. Very cathartic. If you have never attempted a stream-of-consciousness exercise, you should try it!

RANDOM WORD PROMPT (Saturday)

Fly

So much for sticking with the vertical. I had a few shots, but this really feels the best:

RANDOM WORD PROMPT (Sunday)

Ornament

To me, an ornament is something a little special; something unexpected. I love metal art. I have such admiration for anyone who can twist and turn and bang and mold metal into something beautiful. Each room in our house has one piece of metal art. It is my ornament of choice.

Our dining room has a wall in between two windows. The room isn't deep enough to have a side board so we had to be creative. Louis saw and fell in love with this circular bubble-mirror. It is a bronze piece finished in an espresso colour. It is huge and heavy. One of my favourite ornaments in our house.

Sorry to throw all of Day 6, 7 & 8 at you at once. Between Chloe's birthday, 12 of 12 and purging iPhoto (I'm back at August 2009, yay, with 7,000+ deleted) on Saturday, Caden's birthday party on Sunday, I was  more than a little distracted from this project, but way focused on others! That and the search for the hard wood floor tool for the vacuum (I got creative and used the upholstery tool, a bit small, but effective - I know every inch is clean), I'm now happy with clean floors, organized photos and content children. 

What about you? Are you keeping up?

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 5

Wow, Day 5 already!

I've really enjoyed all of the challenges thus far, even my wet photo walk! This was the toughest day yet. It is so big. Music has been such a huge part of my life both as a performer and a listener. I took little more than 10 years of voice training and really enjoyed my time in church choirs and bar karaoke! I never became an Opera singer or a rock star, but I am one of those mums your kids point at because I'm totally capable of rocking out at a traffic light.

JOURNAL PROMPT

As you listen to the music of your past, begin to think about what your hopes and expectations for life were when you were young and the world was wide open. {If you are young and the world is wide open, get crazy and write your wildest dreams right now.}

Honestly, I was going to skip today. I am not a dwell-in-the-past type. I've taken those lessons, the painful and the rewarding, and moved on. I apply the lessons but don't often feel the need to re-live the experience which was the source of the lesson. Does that make sense? My childhood was less than ideal. I know I'm not alone, but why make you live my crappy past?

I mulled all morning. Ran some errands, picked up Cole from his science exam, read some blogs, caught up (ha!) on laundry and I realized there had to be some bright spots. I went over to the Billboard site to see what music was popular in the early '80s. (There, I've dated myself. I graduated high school in 1982.)

Looking through those lists, it came flooding back: the diversity of music we listened to while at boarding school was far less edgy than what I was listening to prior to attending (Pink Floyd, U2, Genesis, Neil Young) which may have contributed to my being in boarding school in the first place! (Note: rest assured, dear readers, some of us thrive in a safe and structured environment - it was a far better choice than to stay home.) The music at school was constant. It was positive, upbeat and happy. No real edge. It was accompanied by lots of headbands, neon colours and ripped t-shirts.

• Cat Stevens, Carly Simon and James Taylor songs sung in the "butt room". Didn't everyone smoke in 1981? It was a lot of fun trying to fit everyone in that 8'x8' room singing our hearts out.
  
• Kenny Rogers "The Gambler" played ad nauseum by my Mexican roommate, Pilar. My how she loved that tape ... to death!
  
• Air Supply through the halls played by the Trinidadian girls. If not Air Supply there was REO Speedwagon, Bob Marley and Calypso music. And, do you remember Stars on 45?
  
• The Asian girls played very high pitched zither type music with breathy pitchy vocals. Completely unfamiliar and a brutal attack on my ears.
• There was also plenty of Pat Benatar, Blondie, Olivia Newton John, Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, Laura Brannigan being listened to and plenty of off-key singing along with the women power balladeers.
  

The hallways were always a cacophony of sound. And estrogen.

As for hopes and dreams? Beyond survival, the only thing I wanted to do was focus and get good marks and move on. I didn't have to think long and hard about the next step as I was told what University I was going to attend and I was told what courses I was going to take. I just wanted to get through it all. Thank goodness I could get lost in the music.

The only thing I could control was whether or not I sang on key!

CREATIVITY PROMPT

The prompt today was "grow" which immediately brought to mind absolutely nothing! I was so wrapped up in my fear and want to avoid the journaling prompt that I was stumped. Then I remembered that my sweet boy, Caden, gave me "roses" for Mother's Day. They are actually beautiful pink impatiens and they sit on my windowsill at the kitchen sink. I see it every time I wash dishes, so that's a lot. They make me smile:

The fact that they have survived a month - and thrived - is in itself a miracle! Once I took that photo and headed outside to realize that the shrubs I had cut back - way back last fall had miraculously come back and are growing just fine. If you had asked me a month ago I'd have guessed we would have to replace them.

MESSAGE BOARD CONVERSATIONS

A bit slow today. One of the ladies asked for our Twitter accounts to put a list together. I added mine: @leecurrie

Have you joined the Creativity Boot Camp? What do you think? Did you find the assignment today opened a can of worms or were you able to jump right in?

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 4

I was a little less than enthused when I woke to the assignment for today: go out into nature and seek inspiration. Ugh. It's windy and rainy. Maybe great for photos but not great for me or my equipment! I do know the best photos are those with depth - rain adds depth, wind adds depth, fog adds depth, monochromatic colours (to me) adds depth. So, with a swift mental kick in the pants, I put on my gardening boots and went outside:

I love the grays and greens, all of the muted wet tones that holler "spring". Many of the perennials around our home have already spent their flowers, but I was happy to capture some of the late-spring blooms.

JOURNAL PROMPT

Now I’d like you to look at your photos. There’s no need to print them…looking at them on the computer will work fine. Think about what specifically motivated you to take certain pictures. Was it something small and unique about your subject? Was it the color? Was it how certain elements came together and played off of one another?  Get detailed. Think about it a lot…as if you were trying to tell a child what made that beautiful. If you were to go back and attempt to re-take the pictures, capturing only the elements that you were drawn to, how would you frame the shot?

From Upper Left to Lower Right, by row, L-R:

1. I love rainy days, I really do. When I'm inside. This is the look at the drips on the window before I got on my boots and headed outside. If I were to re-take I'd focus less on the drops so you could see more of the tree and kayaks.

2. My pots have been doing pretty well with their white and purple petunias. One pot is doing better than the other so that's a project for better weather, must figure out why. Love the colors: purple, white, green. If I were to re-take I'd bend my knees and be more at the same level as the lip of the pot.

3. Grr. Bike left out in the rain, which means it was left outside all night! If I were to re-take I'd focus more on the chain and gears.

4. A potential "heavy metal" shot. The big truck, the only way I can get my whole crew, and their stuff, to where we're going. If I were to retake I don't think I'd change this shot - well, maybe I'd move the hockey sticks leaning against the house.

5. Wet leaves covering the chain link fence between us and one of our neighbours. If I were to re-take I'd probably get closer to the wet, more detail of the leaves. Or find and show some of the hidden (read: hideous) chain link.

6. I love how the edges of the dogwood blooms are starting to take on their pink colour. I won't have to re-take since I managed about 40 photos of various flowers with dripping water at every angle! I got distracted and forgot about the assignment :)

7. It looks like we won't be eating our barbeque at the outdoor table tonight! If I were to re-take I'd probably adjust the depth of field, it's a bit wonky.

8. Wet rhododendron leaves - I believe this plant will never bloom! It mocks me with it's beautiful big leaves and no blooms. If I were to re-take I'd wait for the big lavender coloured blossoms I've been waiting for, it's only been two years!

9. The kayaks were flipped over to not catch the rain. We just got them for the kids and they are so thrilled with the idea of going on the lake and exploring. If I were to re-take I'd turn over the kayaks to reveal their bright red colour.

10. Along the other side of the house there is a great green canopy of leaves and branches over a stone walkway. If I were to re-take I'd take a vertical shot of the actual walkway. Plus, the rain was starting again and pointing the lens upward was awkward.

11. I'm a sucker for white flowers. This bush is almost done for the season and I wanted to get a photo or ten of it's delicate flowers before they hit the ground with the force of the rain. The flowers are so delicate they couldn't even handle the weight of the droplets. No reason to re-take.

12. The holly berries which are so bright and red in the winter start as a multitude of small green balls. It was so windy it was hard to get a decent shot. If I were to re-take I'd probably shoot looking straight down at the berries.

13. The water droplet on the blue spruce needles just happened to be there, until a huge gust of wind knocked it away. If I were to re-take, I'd not have to!

14. The smoke tree is blooming with it's pretty pink pom-pom flowers. I think they're lovely. A really happy plant, totally unwieldy where it is located, but lovely just the same. If I were to re-take I'd focus on a cluster of pom-poms, not just the one.

15. I love the periwinkle that grows as ground cover in the front garden. It blooms in the shade from early spring through late summer with it's delicate purple petals. If I were to re-take I'd get down on the ground, when it is dry, and take a photo parallel to the rock wall. 

16. The cold metal of our ancient, but wonderful BBQ, belies how hot this sucker gets when it's on a roll! If I were to re-take I'd flip to horizontal and take it ... for my heavy metal shot below :)

CREATIVITY PROMPT

The prompt today was "heavy metal" which immediately means, to me, the weights over at BTNL. As it turns out, though Cole did go, I did not accompany him and was unable to capture the shot. An idea for another day. I considered the truck. I considered the cast iron skillet. I settled on the wet BBQ:

Alas, I had to stray from the vertical.

MESSAGE BOARD CONVERSATIONS

Day 4 is all about inspiration. The question today was: What inspires you?  My response on the message board:

I am inspired by the talent of others. Whether I'm in a rut or not, I enjoy going through my google reader and flickr photo streams in the mornings. It fills me up with all kinds of delicious visual goodness. Especially on dreary and wet days like today! There are so many gorgeous sites and blogs online you don't have to click long before running into something brilliant.

I also love watching my kids, listening to them talk and watch them play. It becomes even more fun the older they get. Taking a photo walk with them is really interesting now. I love how they see the world.

The responses are all so though provoking. I think I might consider a few of the ideas presented. Who knows what goodness can come from: walking through my local greenhouse was my favourite idea! What do you think? What inspires you?

I can't wait to wake up to the next assignments.

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 3

I really don't know what my expectation was when I joined the Creativity Boot Camp, but I really don't think I planned to enjoy it as much as I do. The first three days have been about the philosophy we have with regards to our art. It has been a great exercise to put my thoughts into words and really look at my attitude toward what I do ... and don't do ... and need to do!

JOURNAL PROMPT

Now it’s your turn. Name some of your biggest creative buzz kills, including a person or two, and disarm them! 

Years ago I had a woman, at a family function, comment that scrapbooking was a hobby of the poor, her words: "a pedestrian cottage craft" not worthy of her time or energy. Not in the least bit interested in keeping information for her own kids and disdainful of those who did. I was and am, one of those who do. I took her disdain personally, as it was intended. Her venom and cruel words and moreso her angry attitude have stuck with me. She accused me of having low ambition and I should use my time in pursuit of other, more lofty, more worthy, goals. None of which she could name. That episode is always at the back of my mind when I scrapbook, when I share my work in person and online, when I discuss my hobby with friends and strangers. I'm fearful of another negative episode: that angry dump of virtual cold water.

As for photography, I am a pretty good amateur. I have a good eye and create solid, balanced, well composed photos. I am fascinated with light and how to manipulate it and enjoy using my 50mm lens to experiment. And I experiment a lot. I am undaunted in my pursuit of the perfect hockey photo using the equipment I have: my cheap Sigma 70-300mm lens is wonderful. I've taken OODLES of photos of the spring team and I've uploaded about 250-300 photos per tournament and we've been in four. Those represent about 1/3 of the number of photos actually taken so there is plenty of choice - and a good chance there is at least one good photo of each player, which for this purpose, is the whole idea. Last week we had a meeting with our hockey team. While being teased (in what I hope was a good-natured manner) about the quantity of photos, I waved it off and said "it's all in an effort to get a few good shots". Which is true. Driving home after the meeting my husband was furious with me. His words "I don't know why you undervalue your talent as a photographer. You take great photos. Don't you know that?" Huh? What? I don't know what was more surprising: the truth in his words or that he's actually taken notice that I take pictures. In 15 years of marriage he hasn't ever said much about it and always seems tolerant and a bit bemused. 

I continue to create scrapbook pages and albums and find that I am finally on a route, creating a process, a workflow, that works best for my A-type personality. For the longest time I was busy creating in the most inefficient way possible. After more than a few years of this, I can no longer deal with the physical and mental chaos and am getting my act together!

In a nutshell, my creative buzzkills are: people who don't "get" it; the temptation of self-sabotage and chaos. There is nothing I can do about the first, either you get it or you don't and I'm no longer in the business of trying to convince you why your own personal history is important; I am in full control of my self-sabotage and chaos. Slowly but surely both are being addressed and I am becoming far more confident and now with a process in place I should be less chaotic in my approach. In Martha's words: this is a good thing!

CREATIVITY PROMPT

The prompt today was "multi-layered" which immediately brought to mind my growing pile of scrapbook layouts. These pieces of cardstock + photos + stories represent everything in my multi-layered life. I scrapbook about my kids, my life, my ideas, my values, my home, everyday events, celebrations, vacations, everything about my imperfect life. These pages hold all in my life that is important to me:

I'm sticking with the vertical :)

MESSAGE BOARD CONVERSATIONS

On Day 3 there were two provocative questions. The first: Are you your own worst enemy? The second: Can ART be taught?  These are two concepts I have mulled on occasion. I've never really put voice to them until now. My responses on the message board:

Are you your own worst enemy?

I used to be. Self-sabotage was my specialty. FEAR of learning new things and failing: digital photography ... what? give up film *gasp* - but I've managed, and thrive now that I've learned what I'm doing and what I like; PSE is still something that stumps me and I think it's because it was "sold" to me as 1. quick and 2. easy. and it is neither. Now that I know that, I'm moving forward with far less fear and intimidation.

I used to wait until everything was tickety-boo. Perfect supplies, table, temperature, lighting, chair, workspace. Now I realize my time is limited and I just do. I went a bit overboard lately with the lack of structure, but better than waiting for the stars to align!

I also grew up. Now I am confident enough to hold my "work" up for criticism and receive mostly constructive comments and the rest just has to roll off, though sometimes it sticks. I've learned to be my biggest fan. It took a long time, but it's a great place to be!

Can ART be taught?

Untapped ability with a nudge and a bit of confidence, like anything, can be brought to full bloom. Mastering technique can really take what was already there in it's raw form and transform it into something spectacular. I believe an artist must have the initial vision, and with the right training and plenty of practice it can be nurtured to it's fullest potential. That doesn't mean there isn't a place for raw, or untrained talent just that training contributes to sustainability. Something to fall back on when you hit a wall, a dry spell.

 

What do you think?

Now I'm off to mull and then do the Day 4 assignments.

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 2

Creativity Boot Camp continues to be wonderful. I like the community, the prompts and the whole atmosphere. There is daily pressure to meet a deadline, but it doesn't feel like pressure. Know what I mean? This is purely for me, the only person I can disappoint by not participating is me. Isn't that what creativity is all about?

JOURNAL PROMPT

Do you shy away from calling yourself an artist? If so, what do you think makes someone else an artist and not you? What are some ways that you can start today to outwardly reflect your inner artist? Name three people who you would be comfortable sharing your creative work and projects with.

I might not call myself an artist only because my art training through high school, university and a few courses after school, I always considered an artist a "fine" artist. One trained in painting and sculpting and other fine technique driven pursuits. Though never my perception, sometimes being an artist was defined by "pushing the envelope" or "edgy" or "uncomfortable". There is a time and place for that, but edgy does not in itself define one as an artist. Nor does the idea that you have to be poor, unreliable, airy-fairy, starving, flowy-blowy scarf wearing, bangled or off your nut make you qualified to be an artist, though sometimes it gives a pretty good show. 

Amazing how I have a pretty defined view of what an artist is not, eh?

As for my art? It is is more along the lines of practical-crafty or interior-comfort focus. I will call myself a photographer as I am confident in my eye; I will call myself a writer as I am confident in my ability to express myself - though my long-dormant daydreamer is seriously starting to annoy me; I will call myself a scrapbooker because I can take good photos and tell good stories; I will call myself an interior decorator as I have a good sense of colour, proportion and style; I don't know that any of that can be considered artistic. But I do know that I am well within my comfort zone with all of those things and confident that I know exactly what I'm doing. I am always taking courses and taking on projects to push that comfort and confidence and push to learn new things. Or remind myself of some old things!

Maybe I am an artist.

Three people with whom I'm comfortable sharing projects? Well, that dam burst last year when I started posting my work on the blog. I'm no longer uncomfortable sharing my creativity with any one - here, on Flickr, pretty much anywhere.

CREATIVITY PROMPT

The prompt today was "picnic" which immediately brought to mind red gingham tablecloths and watermelon. Well, I have no red gingham except as the liner of my picnic basket, but I do have the watermelon - and it was a great excuse to make a new batch of cucumber water! It was well and truly a day worthy of a picnic with big fluffy clouds, a light breeze and brief bits of glorious sunshine.

Again, I took a couple of dozen photos and many of them were when the sun was hidden behind those big fluffy clouds. This was captured when the sun came out for a brief 4-frames! I'm sticking with the vertical :)

MESSAGE BOARD CONVERSATIONS

Through Day 2 there was a conversation based on the journal prompt inspired question: What is your definition of artist? My response on the message board was:

Like @Angela, I used to think you had to make a living if you to be labelled an "artist", or at the very least you had to be formally trained. I've now come to believe that if you authentically represent some part of yourself, open your interpretation to share with others, in whatever medium you choose, then you are an artist.

(This realization became more clear when my daughter and I had a conversation which resulted in a "tour" of the graffiti at our local skateboard park. Very eye opening. Lots of self expression going on there!)

My spirit is that of an artist. My brain just needs to catch up.

What about you? How do you define artist? Are you an artist or are you still hesitant to give yourself that label? I think I need to let go in order to be open enough to become the artist I am. I have to be accepting of criticism, accepting of opinions, accepting of complements (the hardest of all!). I have to live my idea of "embrace imperfection" and have fun.

Have you joined the Creativity Boot Camp? What do you think? Are you enjoying it so far?

Now I'm off to mull and then do the Day 3 assignments. This is fun!

Creativity Boot Camp: Day 1

Well, I have to say, Creativity Boot Camp is wonderful. I don't know what I expected, but as I promised myself, I have participated in every aspect of it: journal prompt, creativity prompt and message board conversations, and will do so every day for the next two weeks.

JOURNAL PROMPT

We were asked to write a letter to our end-of-boot-camp-self and not read it for the duration of the 2-weeks of assignments. I did and it is in an envelope waiting to be opened later. It was an interesting exercise. A lot of assumptions and hopes to be addressed. 

CREATIVITY PROMPT

We will be receiving one-word random prompts to kick-start creativity each day. Our first prompt was "ivory" which stumped me for a bit. I suppose that's the point! I immediately thought of elephant tusks but had to get to a football game, so no chance to get to African Lion Safari; then piano keys, but there is no piano old enough to which I have access; and, ivory soap; but by the time we got home from football the store was closed. So, I took a walk around and happened upon this:

These are the dogwood flowers as they bloom - in ivory, before they turn pink. I was so happy to discover these just outside my back door. A lesson in "Lee, open your eyes" which resulted in what I think is a pretty good capture. Actually many. This was my favourite of the 40 or so photos I took! Even better, it's vertical. A double creative stretch for me!

MESSAGE BOARD CONVERSATIONS

There are a few topics up for conversation. What an incredible group!

Through Day 1, there was quite a bit of talk about "dreams" with regards to creativity. I struggle with the concept. My response on the message board was:

I don't know that I could call them "dreams" or even "wishes". Plans, maybe. I was always accused of daydreaming and having my head in the clouds when I was growing up. I can't even remember those days but I do remember the constant ridicule - it will shut you down. Then university, and career (70+ hours a week) and 4 kids in 5 years with husband on the road, makes for ZERO time. Spirit crushing: you end up running on adrenaline in survival mode. Right now I'm making plans while trying to remember how to wish, then I'll move onto dreams. Hard to start from scratch!

I know that sounds harsh, but it is what it is. I'm facing my fears head on with 100% honesty and hoping to get some good feedback in order to get back to my authentic artistic and creative self. The best part is that my kids benefit from my childhood humiliation and are able to have a mum who encourages their free spirit. I have a lot to learn ... from them! I get so angry with myself that something that used to come so naturally might be gone forever. How could I have let it happen?

At least I've recognized and identified the loss and I am making steps to change and improve things. Fingers crossed my confidence and imagination return!

Have you joined the Creativity Boot Camp? What do you think? Are you enjoying it so far?

Now I'm off to mull and then do the Day 2 assignments.