Class takeaway 2/23/15

I missed class due to my work obligations. So I've been contemplating on how my day "working" lends to my creativity. After thinking long and hard, I feel as if it actually takes away from my creativity. Yesterday I focused long and hard on spreadsheets and numbers. It is a very monotonous job with a lot of pressure and strict deadlines. I have to do logical thinking for hours on end instead of opening up my mind and allowing myself to become "aware" of the  things around me that evoke creativity. I have to have tunnel vision on my work projects and cannot stray beyond the rules - I essentially have to color within the lines at all times in my position. I wish my position had more freedom of interpretation of thoughts and opportunities to include my own feelings / emotions. 

So when I do get the opportunity to create- I now allow myself to become aware of the sounds and smells of things around me - like we discussed in a previous class. I open myself up to think beyond the borders of ideas. 

"Bible" dipping - (re-used)

So the word to focus on is "re-used"... I looked up the word in the dictionary to see how it was defined and compare that to my own personal definition. The Free Dictionary stated:
tr.v. re·used, re·us·ing, re·us·es To use again, especially after salvaging or special treatment or processing.
My definition was to use over again...so I was pretty much aligned with the formal definition. So my experiment consisted of something very simple  - a straw.

I made my kids take their straws from their McDonald's cups and "REUSE" them. I pulled mine out as well. Immediately my son started tapping the straw on the side of the cup - making a beat....and my daughter used her straw as a microphone and started singing, I blew into my straw making a sound - instantly we were a musical band made of straws. They were really enjoying themselves so I told them to hold on to their straws because we would do something more with them.

That evening, I told them to grab their straws so we could "reuse" them again. After they grabbed their straws, I instructed them to hold onto their straws and run in place. After a good 10 minutes of them jogging (and complaining), I told them to stop and hold the straw in their mouth. Once they did that, I told them to pinch their noses closed and only breathe through the straws simulating how people with asthma feel when they are having asthma attacks. They could barely take a breath at all. The straws' holes weren't big enough to allow them to take in as much oxygen as they needed. They immediately let go of their noses and pulled the straws out of their mouths in order to catch their breath.

That was my experiment for "reused".

Class Takeaway 2/16/15

Well I realized in class yesterday that I have a bunch of roadblocks when it comes to creativity and expressing myself. I also thought long and hard about this blogging stuff and I also realize I'm just not that comfortable putting my thoughts on the internet. I find it to be very uncomfortable. I listen to the various classmates when they share their thoughts, and deep inner feelings - and I'm in awe that they do it so comfortably. While I have many thoughts about many things, I often keep them to myself. I think that was something instilled in me as a child - much like many of the creative limitations I have - e.g. coloring inside the lines, being neat and organized with my displays, keeping control over the layout, etc. I am not without deep thoughts and profound expressions, I just keep them inside - more to myself. I'm not sure why - and I don't know if that will ever change. But this class remains an eye opener for me - personally.

Break the rules...

I decided to use the coloring book as my experiment to break the rules. I colored the inverse of the page instead of all the elements of the picture. I showed my four year old nephew and asked him what he thought about it. He immediately noticed that I had colored "outside" the lines and told me I did it wrong! So I asked him to show me how I was supposed to color and he did. Although he is only 4, he colored ever so carefully inside the lines of each element in the page. 

This made me realize that from early childhood we are taught certain standard "limitations" on creativity. He was so careful to not cross the line boundaries of the elements on the page. And once he was done, he told me that was how I was supposed to do it! I never thought about how often society imposes limitations on our creativity and imagination. This class is definitely an eye opener on shattering the glass ceiling of creativity.

Class Takeaway 2/9/15

I really enjoyed hearing the different ideas that people had for their transformation of the books. It seems that many people are really finding some deep personal meaning through this project. Originally, I didn't think this project would be something that anyone could relate to personally. I honestly thought people would just do "something" to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. But I am thoroughly impressed with the amount of thought that the majority of the class is putting into this assignment. Something that seemed so simple, is turning out to be something very complex on many levels. I am excited about this project and the other upcoming projects. This class is turning out to be way more than I expected.

What if...???

1. What if I mark out all the slow chapters in the book?

2. What if I removed the cut up the pages into different patterns?

3. What if I added pages that changed the flow of the story?

4. What if I colored every other page with my favorite color?

5. What if I cut a heart shape into the chapter I hate most?

6. What if I glued several pages together?

7. What if I was able to fit a rubiks cube in it?

8. What if I drew graffiti letters on the inside cover?

9. What if I labeled each page as only an even number?

10. What if I bedazzled the back of the book?

11. What if I cut shapes into each page?

12. What if I removed all the pages?

13. What if I filled the book with pictures of my kids?

14. What if I cut the book in half?

15. What if I used masking tape and taped the chapters together that I didn't like?

16. What if I burned some of the pages?

17. What if the pages were ran under water then allowed to air dry?

18. What if I kept the entire book intact and simply wrote "BAD!" on the cover?

19. What if I used red ink to mark out the characters' dialogue that I didn't like?

20. What if I twisted pink yarn and poked holes in the pages and threaded the yarn throughout the holes?

21. What if I took colored sharpies and drew doodles on the pages?

22. What if I cut the page numbers off?

23. What if I cut out the story from each page and left only the outer margins?

24. What if I shredded all the dialogue and put all the shreddings back in the book?

25. What if I burned the book and put the ashes inside an hour glass?

26. What if I tore half of each page, alternating top and bottom?

27. What if I threw the book into mud and let it dry?

28. What if I added pages into the book with my own dialogue?

29. What if I drew cartoons on the edge of each page and turned it into a flip book?

30. What if I turned it into a Pop-up book?

31. What if I pasted construction paper onto the pages covering up much of the main characters dialogue?

32. What if I let my 4 yr old nephew draw in it?

33. What if I cut out all of the pages and created a papier-mâché with it?

34. What if I poured boiling water on it?

35. What if I cut up all the pages and turned it into paper jewelry?

36. What if I cut out all the pages and made it into gift wrapping paper?

37. What if I simply remove the cover of the book?

38. What if I ran over the book in my car?

39. What if I took the cover off and placed it on a different book?

40. What if I wrote my own story on the pages?

41. What if I Photoshopped some pictures and added them into the book?

42. What if I reversed the order of the pages in the book?

43. What if I sprayed the pages of the book with perfume?

44. What if I added flowers inside the book?

45. What if I cut the entire book in half and only kept one half of it?

46. What if I digitized the book then created a cartoon blowing it up?

47. What if I turn the book into a comic book?

48. What if I change the title of the book?

49. What if I blend this book with another book?

50. What if I covered the book and each page in Legos?

Takeaway - 2/2/15

Well today I was on my way to class and I received a call from my son. He tells me he forgot his key and he's locked out of the house. So of course I have to immediately turn around and head home so that my kid does not wait long to get in the house and freeze in this weather. As I'm driving I'm becoming furious. He's fifteen... At this point in his life I expect him to be responsible enough to keep up with - at a bare minimum - his house key. Nonetheless I have to travel all the way back home, to simply let him in the house. Because of his "mistake" I know I'm going to miss class. But he is my responsibility - so home I go.

24 hours later - I've had time to "cool off" now. As I reflect on how I felt yesterday I realize that my frustration was because things like this always seem to happen to me when I'm getting close to completion of something major in my life. Unnecessary distractions due to others around me - mainly my kids. It has taken me years to get this far in my degree because I've had to stop and start so many times because I'm a "mom". While I was married I received no help or support from my husband at the time- which resulted in me taking a few years off in order to care for my kids and still maintain my career. Years later, my kids are older, I'm divorced, and I'm so close to finishing my degree. The thought of having to stop again is frightening. I just want to get done and I need my kids to be mature enough to handle their few responsibilities. But through all of this, I realize no matter what - I'm a mom first, student second. While I hope to get done this year, I am now and forever more willing to sacrifice for my kids.

Polly Wolly Doodle all the day

Doodling has always been a natural thing for me to do whenever I'm in meetings or lectures. I always thought it was me really losing focus but the video mentioned it actually helps to be more focused. I don't know if I really agree with that. I tend to doodle in meetings/lectures when the content becomes long and boring. I feel like doodling is my escape from such boredom. 

And in considering the 4 "s" concepts, I can see how they actually interplay with the creative process. The creative process is completely comprised of the concepts. Synchronicity - whatever is created will have some form of elements that work together in some aspect. Serendipity - when creating something - it's nice to find unexpected pleasure in what has been created. Spontaneity - I've found that some of the best works come from unplanned ideas. And lastly Surrender - truly opening the mind and allowing the vastness of your life and experiences to influence your creations can have amazing results.