11 ideas to supercharge your creativity

We all get days when we lack ideas and inspiration and creativity seems like a distant memory. Well never fear, here are some ways to supercharge your creativity and get productive! 

                                                                         Pinterest

This is one of my favorite sites for inspiration. The site lets you save ideas onto different boards (like mood boards) which is handy if you have a number of projects. You can search ideas, follow other pinners boards, and even have secret boards for things you don't want other to know about! 

Its also a great way to network, as it allows you to upload your own work, either from your computer, or your website.

If you have pinterest already, check my boards out here

Experiment. 

Try out new techniques, materials or styles. Explore different ways to get creative! Join a new group, research artists and their techniques, give it a go yourself. Even if you don't think you'll be any good, we all have to start from somewhere.

Keri Smith Books

These books are great fun, whether you're artistic or not. Last year I started 'Wreck my journal' and had such fun that when I finished it, I made my own journal, following the lines of Keri Smiths idea. Each page gives instruction on what to do to that page, for example, 'fill this page with circles'. The books urge you to get creative and use your imagination.

Example page from 'Wreck this journal' 

My decorated cover.

Allow randomness. 

Ever had a crazy random dream? Bet it was probably the most creative one you've ever had! Keep note of any random ideas or thoughts. Doesn't make it if doesn't make much sense, it could lead to some amazing work in the future. I carry a little note book with me whenever I travel just incase a great idea forms!

Give yourself a starting point or a set of guidelines. 

If someone said 'just draw anything', that could be a little overwhelming! So getting a starting point narrows your ideas down so that you can really focus on what to do. Starting points can include simple words, colours, sayings, objects or a theme. Another way of narrowing down your ideas is to give yourself some guidelines, for example not being able to use a paintbrush, or must use another body part other than hands.

Try not to think to much about a concept. 

Concepts are great but this is about getting those creative juices flowing! Sometimes we can just create something and then realise that it reflects how we're feeling, and we notice the concept after. But don't stress if you cant figure one out, art doesn't always need it, if you enjoy making it, then thats the main thing!

Go to an exhibition

As simple as it sounds, its not something we often remember to do. Even going to sit in a cafe and check out the art on their walls can bring inspiration. Don't forget the Brighton Fringe Festival this year for some great exhibitions, many of which are free!

Other ideas include:

• Watching a film that inspires you. (One of mine is 'the nightmare before christmas') 
• Going for a walk 
• Starting a blog! Start writing about something that you really enjoy or find interesting. My blog has really helped me research things that I wanted to share with my readers. 
• Do something you enjoyed as a kid. Eg Finger Painting, paper mache, Fimo!

PS I've hit 1000 views on my blog! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this, I hope you get something good out of it.

Becky x

Projects!

Thought I'd give you guys a little update on the projects that I'm currently working on. At the moment there are a few things I have going on and also planning some exciting projects for the near future. 

Photo shoots with musician Zara Kershaw

A few weeks ago I had a lovely day out shooting with the very talented Zara Kershaw. (Check out her facebookpage here :Zaras facebook) Her music is definitely something I would listen to and I really liked her ideas for the shoot, so we walked around the lanes doing a shoot. 

As well as some simple portrait shots, we wanted to experiment with some digital collage, layering different textures/patterns. Something like this:

Photos by Matt Wisniewski

I'm really excited about getting started with these. I haven't done that much digital collage in this style so I feel a little out of my comfort zone but its good to push yourself! 

Candyland

I've probably gone on a little too much about candyland for the last month but heres a quick update on the progress.

 Last week I thought I had finished it, and was so excited to start properly shooting it. The weather was nice, and not raining for once so I took candyland outside (with extra caution) but I didnt realise that it was pretty windy. The background was blown over, onto candyland, which resulted in a few broken things. (Nothing that cant be fixed though!). I pushed on, took a few photos to see how it looked, and I really wasn't happy with the outcome, so here is a few bits I need to fix. 

Really looking forward to getting dressed up and doing a self portrait to photoshop into candyland though, and hopefully it won't be too long now!

Exhibition at the Brighton Museum with Art in Mind

Every monday I go to my volunteer art group at Mind. We run art workshops with people who are recovering from mental illnesses, as well as exhibiting our own work. On Saturday 7th of March we will be showing our work down at the Brighton Museum, near the pavilion. 

The work for the exhibition was based around one object that has helped us recover. As photography has been really therapeutic in my recovery, I decided to make some cameras, out of clay (obviously not functioning...). 

I made a 35mm film camera, a twin lens camera (although unfortunately I don't own one) and my instax mini camera. Hopefully some of my photography will be exhibited alongside these! 

Come down to the Brighton Museum on Saturday 7th of March to see them, I should be there as well!

Photography workshops with art group. (Spring/summer)

I've always wanted to run a photography workshop and now I have a chance to! The adult art group I also help out with have shown some interest in learning about photography and doing a workshop. I think it'll be in the spring/summer time, when we can go outside and explore without the worry of wet cameras! 

I'm going to write a list of things that the group can go take photos of, but it wont be obvious, like a tree or something, it'll be more like 'Take a photo of something that reminds you of a memory'

If anyone is interested in maybe taking part in a workshop, please do let me know! 

If your still with me, thanks so much for reading this! 

Becky x