How to Find Your Inner Artist as an Adult

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This is the story of what happened to me. I found a job as a buyer in electronics, then was promoted to electronics sales. I got married, had two children, and was in the middle of an average life as a working mom when I realized that I was not happy. I was doing what most people do, taking care of my family, working, and volunteering from time to time. And I was not happy. It was a revelation to me to discover that even though I had what I thought I always wanted, I was not happy doing all of those things.

It wasn't that I was unhappy. I loved my family. My job was okay. But, with all of that in place, something was still missing. I decided to give up the volunteering to really think about what it was that was missing from my life.

Over the next few months, I thought back to what I had given up over the years that I loved to do. What was it that I was really passionate about?

How ironic is it that in the business world today, so many of us are asked to think "outside the box". We are often required to "be creative" or think creatively. We are asked to flex the "right brain" creative muscles.

Yet the academic training for this, those art classes we give up in elementary or secondary school, are just the training we need to learn to think outside the box.

Taking Flight:
Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings

In Taking Flight, you'll find overflowing inspiration--complete with a kindred spirit in author and mixed-media artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Join her on a fearless journey into the heart of creativity as you test your wings and learn to find the sacred in the ordinary, honor your memories, speak your truth and wrap yourself in the arms of community.

Along the way you'll be inspired by:

* Step-by-step techniques--learn the most-loved mixed-media methods of the author and seven talented contributing artists, and combine them in fresh and unexpected ways.
* Thought-provoking prompts and quotes--along with encouraging stories, insights and gentle guidance for finding your bliss, whatever your art or craft.
* Plenty of eye candy--pages and pages of the author's endearing artwork, along with the varied works of the contributors.

Of course, learning to fly isn't entirely a step-by-step process--sooner or later, you just need to take a deep breath and spread your wings. With Taking Flight as your guide, there's no doubt that when you do, your creativity will soar.

Review:
Kelly Rae Roberts' book arrived in my mailbox today, and I haven't put it down. Like many books of this genre, it's inspirational, but then there's more: there are exercises which help you tap into your own creativity. There are interviews with other artists which describe how they tapped into their own creative spirits. But the best part? Beautiful, fully-illustrated how-tos, to help you take and learn the techniques of all of the artists featured, so that you can incorporate them into your own art.

How do you discover your inner artist as an adult? As a child, it is so easy to create. As children, we are not afraid to try something new, to use colors in unusual ways. We learn to conform.

Conformity is necessary for many parts of our lives. But a true artist learns to look at things in different ways. It is my belief that the leaders in all fields succeed because they have the confidence that only a true artist has. They retain or relearn the ability to look at the world in unusual ways, and then produce from that point of view.

Our inner artist is the force behind our creativity whether that is creativity of thought or creativity of production. We need those skills that we learn in art class to be the best in any field of endeavour.

What I was missing in my life was art. I had forgotten how much I loved to take art classes, to create. In my own case, I needed to actually make things with my own hands to feel happy. Since that time, I have rediscovered my artistic abilities and make a living as an artist. But all people have that artist inside them. It is not necessary that a person actually be a talented visual artist. What is critical is that all of us learn to express ourselves creatively in some fashion.

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An Illustrated Life:
Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers

An Illustrated Life offers a sneak peak into the wildly creative imaginations of top illustrators, designers and artists from around the world through the pages of their personal visual journals. Popular visual journalist and author Danny Gregory reveals how and why keeping a consistent, visual journal leads to a more fulfilling creative life. Designers and artists working in all mediums will find creative inspiration from these insightful interviews and stunning examples.

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, December 2008: Danny Gregory's An Illustrated Life is a visual delight of color and texture--a funky and frenetic "book about books people have made," perfect for chronic doodlers, journalers, and art lovers. Sharing vibrant excerpts from the notebooks of 50 illustrators, artists, and designers, each accompanied by an introduction by the artist, it's a gorgeous, intimate exploration of the creative process. Gregory's passion for the "illustrated journal" is infectious--for him, artist's sketchbooks represent a nonthreatening place to record "risks, mistakes, regrets, thoughts, lessons, and dreams." Whether you are charmed by the illustrations of Amanda Kavanagh, or intimidated by the musings of Stefan Sagmeister, poring over this eclectic group of fledgling and famous "artists" will inspire you to tackle an illustrated journal of your own.

Juicy Living Cards

It starts with thinking. For some of us, that is something that we can do on our own. Others need some coaching. I recommend taking some time each day away from your normal activities when you will not be interrupted to think about what makes you happy. What is it that you are passionate about? Is there something that you have given up over the years?

Are you just following a daily routine because it is your routine?

There are lots of ways to experiment with creativity. You can take workshops or classes to find something that you love. In the process, you will meet people and try things that you most likely would not have done before.

You can read books that will coach you in finding your inner artist. A classic one is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

You can start a journal and write down your thoughts and experiences.

The key is to find what makes YOU happy. Not your husband, or your parents, or your children, but YOU. It is often difficult to separate ourselves from all of the roles we play in our lives. But discovering the artist within yourself is all about you. Artists in some ways are purely selfish. They create from the ways they process the world themselves, and have to rely on their own impressions. To find your inner artist, you need to relinquish your outside roles for a time, and just be yourself.

With the basic principle that creative expression is the natural direction of life, Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan lead you through a comprehensive twelve-week program to recover your creativity from a variety of blocks, including limiting beliefs, fear, self-sabotage, jealousy, guilt, addictions, and other inhibiting forces, replacing them with artistic confidence and productivity.

This book links creativity to spirituality by showing how to connect with the creative energies of the universe, and has, in the four years since its publication, spawned a remarkable number of support groups for artists dedicated to practicing the exercises it contains.

The Artist's Way

Review:
I heard about this book a few months ago and was very sceptical at first. As more and more people around me started with it, I became curious and bought myself a copy. It was the best decision I have ever made! I am in week eleven and I can safely say that this book has changed my life, completely. It has taken the South African performing arts scene by storm and everyone I know who has read or is busy reading The Artist's Way feels the same way I do! Apart from the fact the the book contains so many truths, what makes this book such a pleasure to read is that it is so well written. If you are in doubt and you need just that little bit of encouragement, if you know deep down inside that there is an artist in you, that feels neglected or that you haven't yet discovered, take the plunge and start a wonderful journey! If you are a lawyer, accountant or a mother taking care of your family at home, don't be discouraged or misled by the book's title, it is for you too!

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It can be hard to find yourself after all the years of trying to fit in, but if you keep practicing you will succeed. Looking at the world in an artistic fashion is a skill that can be learned. And just like any other skill, it becomes easier with practice.

Finding your inner artist is definitely worth the time that you invest. You will learn a lot about yourself, and may even change your life.

The Ancient Art Of Origami Kit
If you've always wanted to learn this fascinating Japanese art form, here's a kit that will provide you with the materials and instructions you need. Origami is fun for children and adults. It helps children learn fine motorskills and develop eye-hand coordination. The kit includes 68 sheets of paper - a selection of origami favorites that includes colors, oriental patterns, double sided papers, and foils - in three different sizes. In addition, there's a booklet that leads you step-by-step through the construction of 23 remarkable paper toys and animals. It makes a great gift.

Old World Art Leafing Kits
These kits will introduce you to the art of leafing, using gold, silver, or copper. A separate kit (#841) is provided for gold leaf antiquing. Kits are furnished with the same materials used by professionals around the world. Instructions are easy to follow. All kits are furnished with the following basic set of materials: A 2 oz (59 ml) bottle each of Adhesive Size and Satin Sealer, two brushes, a burnishing cloth, and a book of leafing material. Gold Leaf Antiquing Kit #841 - Contains the basic set, plus one book of Composition Gold Leaf, a 2 oz bottle each of Venetian Red Basecoat and Antiquing Glaze. Composition Silver Leafing Kit #832 - Contains the basic set, plus one book of Composition Silver Leaf. Copper Leaf Kit #833 - Contains the basic set, plus one book of Copper Leaf. Gold Leafing Kit #831 - Contains the Basic Set, plus one book of Composition Gold Leaf. Contains the basic set, plus one book of Composition Gold Leaf, a 2 oz bottle each of Venetian Red Basecoat and Antiquing Glaze.

Scratch-Art 3-Vu Kit
Using the simple components supplied, you can create three separate images that can be viewed at three different angles in a picture box - left, right, and front! The finished size is 7" × 11" (178 mm × 279 mm). The individual kit includes: three outline pictures display frame and insert eight crayons a Cray-Scraper® smoothing tool display easel complete instructions The classpack contains 12 blank cards of each of the three views.

Pop Art Digital Album Kit
This kit includes everything you need to create memorable portfolios, scrapbooks, and wedding albums. Digitally print images of vacation, holiday, or fine art photos directly on the acid-free, archival paper on your inkjet printer and then post the pages in the black leather album. You can also embellish the pages with your favorite scrapbooking materials. Pages lay flat within the album for hassle-free viewing. Albums are handcrafted using acid-free boards and adhesives and hold 40-50 pages. When it's not in use, tuck it away in the included archival storage box. The Pop-Art Kit includes the following materials: Post-bound matte black leather album 20 acid and lignin-free white album pages 20 interleaving tissue pages Durable, archival storage box.

Sketch and Drawing Art Kit
Here's lots of sketching and drawing materials for not a lot of money! This great kit includes: Sketch pad, 70 lb, 9" × 12", 25 sheets Travel sketch pad, 70 lb, 9" × 12", 30 sheets Drawing pad, 90 lb, 9" × 12", 25 sheets Hardbound sketchbook, 70 lb, 8½" × 11", 110 sheets 8 graphite pencils: 2H, H, F, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, and 8B 3 charcoal pencils: 2B, 4B, 6B 2 charcoal sticks: soft, medium Sketch stick (woodless pencil): 6B Pencil sharpener Charcoal sharpener Kneaded eraser Plastic eraser Carry it all in the durable 11" × 14" art bag with removable shoulder strap, which features a variety of zippered pockets for storing supplies. The bag expands from 2¾" to 4" deep.

Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor Sets
Hydrus is lightfast, transparent, fine art quality watercolor in a glass bottle. This liquid product delivers the same brilliance and permanency as traditional tube watercolors. Made from the finest artist pigments, Hydrus watercolors can be blended and intermixed while still maintaining the transparency and luminosity of the colors. Both 12-color sets come in trays that double as mixing palettes and bottle holders, with space for a water cup and 12 individual mixing wells. Hydrus watercolors may be used in technical, calligraphy, and fountain pens, and also in airbrushes.

Journal Revolution

When you think of journaling, do you think only of the written word? This book challenges that thinking, just as a real revolution challenges convention. As a follow-up to their best-selling debut, Visual Chronicles, authors Linda Woods and Karen Dinino liberate the artist within by inspiring you to rant, whisper, beg, stomp, or sing your truths. 300 color illustrations show how common household items can be employed to reflect the full range of emotions to create your own brand of edgy, urban journaled art. Primers on paints, inks, pens, pencils, stamps, brushes, and papers help you simply and inexpensively explore your untapped creative possibilities with a vengeance. Easy projects include Fauxlaroids, a fresh, yet retro way to use photos in your journaling. For example, sand a photo with a nail file until its weathered image perfectly matches your hazy memory. Another project is Me: Undecorated. Artists are encouraged to revel in their uncensored feelings. Then there's the project, The Best Goes On, which is your life soundtrack, your personal CD covers. If your journal pages don't seem to reflect "the real you" because they're too "pretty," this book gives you the freedom to use crooked lines, dripping paint, and torn images to depict the ever-spinning world that represents reality for most human beings. With honesty, humor, enthusiasm, and encouragement, Woods and Dinino help you capture your truth and beauty, as well as the frenzy that's singing (or screaming) inside! Author - Linda Woods, Karen Dinino. Paperback. 128 pages. 9" × 9".

Collage Journeys:
A Practical Guide to Creating Personal Artwork

Collage can be more, much more, than just cutting and pasting. It can be a wonderful art form and a means of self-expression. Collage Journeys presents a series of innovative workshop assignments, each designed to relate the technique and format of a collage to its subject. Gathering materials, generating ideas, painting with paper, working in layers, using text, keeping a visual journal-project by project, new collage skills are explored. Stunning finished pieces offer additional ideas and inspiration. For anyone who has ever wanted to take collage to the next level-adding meaning, subtext, and style-Collage Journeys offers the journey of a lifetime.

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