10 New year resolutions for creative folks.

I love the idea that in the new year you can start a fresh, do all the things you wanted to do the year before but life got in the way. Well I'm going to try to make time for new things next year, things that can inspire my creativity! I've tried to keep the list to simple things that we can all do that will help our creativity flow...

• Keep a journal or sketchbook. I know alot of people will find it difficult to know what to put in them but there's plenty of inspiration on Pinterest, (you can check out my inspiration board here) or you can buy journal prompt books like 'wreck this journal' by Keri Smith.  

  

  
  

• Read more creative blogs. My current favourite creative blogs are A beautiful Mess, Lets do something crafty and Make it your own. In 2016 I'd like to find more inspiring blogs! 
• Go see more art. If you take the time to do a little research you can probably find loads of art in your local area. Last year I didn't take enough advantage of the Artist Open Houses, but next year I plan to see more, its free and you probably get to meet and chat to the artist. 
• Try more crafts. This is were following the creative blogs comes in handy. This year the new crafts I tried were, making tree decorations, making christmas crackers and biscuit decorating. There's so many things to try, and even if it doesn't work how you planned, at least you tired and you can always improve!
  
• Network with other artists/ creative folk. 
• Go explore! Take a long walk somewhere new, let yourself get lost, who knows what you may find. 

  

  This is the downs where me and my dog, alfie, like to explore!

• Make a collage for new projects. Find images, quotes, adverts, anything that inspires your new project and make a collage! 
• Take more photos. (and no I don't mean just selfies) 
• Write a letter. Don't use facebook chat, or text, pick up and pen and paper and write a letter. There are charities that encourage you to write to people, for example, www.postpals.co.uk where you can write a letter to a sick child. 
• Try out creativity booster games. These games are designed to get your brain thinking in ways, to come up with ideas you may have never thought of. Here is a website to trycreativitygames.net

So there we have it, 10 new years resolutions for creative folks!

Hope you all have a wonderful new year and don't forget to check this blog for new posts every week!

Becky x

Pop up shop - 'WE ARE' 9th-15th Nov

I've always loved the idea of a pop up shop! Its such a great way to sell handmade goods, without the commitment of a long term lease. I ran one just over a year ago.  I'd asked a few friends if they wanted to exhibit some work as it was a large space and I didn't think I could fill it on my own.

I wouldn't say that it was a total success, but I know where I went wrong and what changes I'll make for next time.

So recently I heard about a community project called 'Somewhere to _' which helps 16-25 years olds get a creative space for whatever their medium is (I've put the contact info below). I contacted them about a pop up shop they were offering people, and a few weeks later I had to pitch my idea to them and the shop owners. Needless to say I was bricking it! But fortunately I was offered to share a pop up shop with Monster Pie Inclusive Arts, a scope associated art group.

 We have the shop called 'It is what it is' for a week starting the 9th Nov. Each day we're planning a free workshop as well as being open to customers.

Here are some things I've made to sell...

Handmade necklace using one of my photographs

As well as my photography I'll be selling my jewellery too.

All the items sold in the shop will be handmade and include works from the below artists

- Lisa Buttery - Illustration
- Anna Dunne  - Handmade bags and purses
-Artists from Monster Pie Inclusive Arts

On friday the 13th of Nov I'll be running a photo up photobooth with polaroid pics! Here I am testing out the props I made!

So if you're around Brighton between the 9th -15th of Nov pop by @
'It is what it is' 102 Gloucester Rd, brighton lanes.
we'll be open 10am-6pm Tuesday-saturday
and 11am-5pm Sunday

For more information please see our facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/460609517456693/

Somewhere to_ info:
https://somewhereto.com

Dealing with criticism.

As a lot of people do, I struggle with dealing taking criticism, even if it's trying to be constructive. Even when I know people are trying to be helpful, it still stings to hear the things that could or in their opinion need to changed. The reasons I think criticism is difficult for most of us to swallow is because 

1. It makes us doubt ourselves and our skills
2. It can make us feel belittled 
3. It can make us angry if the personal has no knowledge of the subject they are criticizing 

The difficulties of being creative. 

The reason I never went to university was that I didn't want tutors telling me that I shouldn't do a certain project or that my idea wasn't want they wanted to hear. I didn't want their criticism! To me that kind of criticism can be damaging to your creativity, it can crush any ideas you have. It actually wasn't until I left education that I was naturally able to develop my own style. 

When someone criticises your artform you can choose whether or not to take their ideas on board. If they are an expert in the field and you value their opinion then its probably useful to you to listen. But on the other hand if they have no knowledge of your skills and you don't agree with what they are saying then you have every right to dismiss their ideas. 

I personally feel that there are few right or wrongs within artforms, and most criticism is just people's personal opinions, which can still be painful to hear.  

Heres some ideas to help you deal with criticism:

• Figure out whether it was destructive or constructive criticism. If it was constructive try to keep in mind that they are only trying to be helpful. 
• Keep yourself empowered.  You have every right to say 'no I don't agree with this and I wont take it on board', it is your life afterall!
• Bite your tongue and let them explain. If it's a friend or family member giving you feedback, its easy to become defensive and snap back but take a second to listen to their reasoning, is there anything useful in what they are saying. Remember that they are only trying to help you.
• Accept that you're not perfect - But no one is!
• Keep a compliments journal. If criticism has caused you to doubt yourself, keep a journal of all the compliments you have received. I bet they outweigh the negative opinions! 
• Check out some advice from experts (see the video below for some great advice)

5 reasons why we need art.

Art is a HUGE part of our lives, whether we like it or not. Art has always been within history, starting from the earliest cave and rock paintings to today's sometimes weird and wonderful modern art. But why have humans always felt a connection to getting creative in this way? Here are some theories:

1. It makes us feel good. The famous philosopher, Plato, believes that we like beautiful things, because it shows us the things that we subsciously need in our lives. Take a beautiful landscape painting for example, some may like it because it shows a peaceful place, the thing that the viewer may be lacking, peace. Plato also believed that art was hugely therapeutic that the artists of our time were doing a duty to society. 

   

   Artist: Kim Casebeer. 

2.  Its therapeutic. Many artists themselves say that the process of creating art is therapeutic and helps them deal with emotions that are too difficult to put into words. Painful thoughts can come to us visually and getting them down on paper can help us deal with them. Some of the most famous artists have turned their pain into beautiful pieces of art. 
3. It helps us appreciate things. Artists can make even the simplest of things look beautiful, from sweet wrappers to a bit of grass, art helps us to see the beauty in the everyday things. Van gogh reminds us that oranges are also beautiful, John Constable makes us look closer at the wonder of the sky, and Tracey Emin makes us marvel at the a unmade bed. 

   

   Tracey Emin - My bed.

   
   

   

   John Constable. 
   
   
   

   4. It makes us feel less alone in our emotions. Some art really connect with our emotions, we look at it and we just KNOW how that feeling the artist was going through. Art helps us to communicate difficult emotions as well as understand others emotions. We feel less alone when we see art that resembles something we've felt. It validates that what we were feeling is a normal human emotion and we're not allow in them! 

   

   Moussin Irjan 

   
   

   5. Its a form of escapism that we need from our everyday lives. Just like reading, watching TV and playing video games, art is a form of escapism. We can create just about anything our imagination comes up with, giving us that much needed freedom from the troubles of day-to-day lives. Within art you can be whoever and wherever you want. There are simply no limits within art. 

   

   Ani Roschier 

   
   

   Check out the awesome video below for more information and theories on why we need art: 

   
   

Artists that turned pain into art.

Art, for many people is a form of therapy, an outlet of emotions to difficult to form into words. If you've seen any of my personal work, I'm sure your aware that I use my own difficult emotions, and struggles with my mental illness in my work. I've recently become fascinated with other artists work that they may have created in difficult stages of their lives. Its crazy how much you can relate to a piece of work, without any words, you just get how the artist was feeling! 

3 Famous artists who suffered mental illness:

1. Pablo Picasso. 

Picasso's 'blue' period was between 1901-1904 where it is thought that he suffered great depression. He reflected this in his paintings through the blue period in which is used a lack of colour, sticking to blues, greys and monochrome. 

2. Vincent Van gogh 

Van Gogh reportedly suffered from bipolar disorder and was in and out of psychiatric hospitals frequently. This is personally one of my favorite pieces of his work, reflecting himself being 'imprisoned' by his thoughts.   

3. Bobby Baker. 

Bobby Baker's visual diary through her struggles with her borderline personality disorder are honest, imaginative and very surreal. I was lucky enough to attend a workshop based on her style as part of her exhibition 'Diary drawings: mental illness and me:1997-2008'. 

Below are my personal favorite pieces of art work that (to me) depict emotional pain that I can relate to:

Anxiety by BeethyPhotography

Unknown artist. 

Artist: Shin Kwang Ho.

Ceramic sculptures by Nakita Naik.

Hope you guys find these inspiring and decide to do something creative whenever your down, believe me, it really can help! 

Next weeks blog post: 'Philosophical theories on art' 

Becky x  

My top ten favourite photographers.

Here is a list of the photographers that have inspired and shaped the way I work. Lets get started!


10. Annie Leibovitz.

Annie Leibovitz, known mostly for her work in the Rolling stone and vanity fair magazines has photographed too many famous faces for me name! My particular favourite series of hers was her disney inspired shoots, which features famous faces as the classic characters in fairy tales such as Cinderella and sleeping beauty.  

9. Horst. P. Horst. 

This photo by Horst. P Horst, entitled 'corset', has always been one of my all time favourite images. The elegance and beauty of it made me want to create similar things when started shooting in film. Horst has shot over 90 covers for vogue in his fashion photography career!

8. Helmut Newton. 

During my foundation diploma I did a series based on Greek mythology. Whitest researching photographers for inspiration I came across this one by Helmut Newton which is based on Greek goddesses.  Looking into more his work, you'll see that he likes to push the boundaries of sexuality within his images, reflecting provocative and erotic scenes.

7. Kirsty Michelle. 

Kirsty Michelle studied 'costume for performance' at the London college of Fashion where she learnt how to create and design these wonderful costumes. She depicts her favourite fairytales in her photos by hand-making or designing everything in them! 

6.  Joel Robison. 

Joel Robison's work is whimsical and plays with reality. I fell in love with his style straight away and he quickly became one of my favourite photographers.  

5. Alex Stoddard 

Just like a few others on here, Alex Stoddard made his name through the photo sharing site, Flickr. I'm extremely envious of his talent and style, its so well edited that you could actually start believing in magic!

4. Nicholas Scarinto 

Fine art photographer, Nicolas Scarinto creates these beautiful surreal images that often have a vintage feel to them.


3. Tim Walker

My number 3 is a super famous fashion photographer who does alot of work for Vogue. It was a difficult decision choosing which photo of his to use as I love all his work! He used alot of influences from fairytales, and plays with perspective and size of props. 

2. Brooke Shaden. 

Brooke Shaden just had to be near the top of this list! Brooke creates these fantasy worlds within her work, creating beautiful scenes that look like they've just come out of a hollywood movie! Each of her pieces are conceptually stunning and shes been a HUGE inspiration in how I work. 

1. Rosie Hardy

And finally my number one is Rosie Hardy! Rosie was the first photographer I came across that did something different. I was at college at the time and was used to looking at classic portrait photographers, until someone told me about Rosie's work on Flickr. I instantly fell in love with the creativity and honesty within her work. She quickly became popular within the Flickr community, so much so that Maroon 5 found her work and hired her to do take their album cover photo for 'Hands all over'. Check out all her work here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/

So there we have it! Thank you for reading and be sure to keep up-to-date with my blog for more inspiration, advice and photography tips! 

Becky. x 

Here is one of my photos inspired my Rosie Hardy :)