Think Pink



Image credit: unknown source



I couldn't help myself. I love this image. Not long ago, I would have passed this right up--I mean, pink?! Ugh. Sparkly? Eh. I love hearts, bokeh, flowers, those colors. Coincidentally, so does my 5 year-old son (well he's not hip to bokeh effects, but he did notice those hearts)! Perhaps my draw to this wonderful image is because I knew my little one would love it too. My sources of inspiration and style continue to change and surprise even me. I only hope it shows in my creations as an evolving, growing process.

I initially interpret pink as a soft color, warm and fuzzy, romantic, content, cheerful, youthful. As for deep, dark, rich pinks--those power pinks like fuchsia or hot pink--I find myself with a completely different set of so-so descriptions. The desire to kick it up a notch is what inspired this exercise.

TRY THIS! When you first looked at the pink flower image above, you probably had an initial reaction to it. Did you like it, love it, hate it? Maybe you were unimpressed (I mean my gosh, how many heart-shaped bokeh/hearts in nature things can we see?). Maybe it was magical to you. Or too fairy tale. Perhaps it evoked a memory.

Now, what would be the OPPOSITE of your initial response? Imagine the image, the feeling, the words, the taste, the sound--mentally explore the opposite with each of your senses.

Use the image as a prompt to explore this territory that is opposite to your initial response, and devise a way to get that into a quick creative expression. Either jot it down as an idea to pursue later, or attack it right now. An example would be to create or write something that say, uses "pink" as the unexpected component in your piece. If you see pink as "soft" bring it back in as something edgy and unexpected, contrary.

What happens?

Pinkies

Soft, silky peach fuzz

New life, a tiny pink tail

Hangs by a forked tongue

Dia de los Muertos Inspiration

Lately I've been on a Dia de los Muertos streak creating beads, altars, jewelry, and assemblage pieces. It's one of my favorite ways to express myself creatively while remembering those I've lost too soon.

Pet altar.

Whenever I am creating something in this style, I feel connected to this beautiful and festive celebration, and connected to my loved ones who I miss so very much. As I'm working on a Dia de los Muertos inspired piece, I can almost feel the chuckle or delight a particular family member I've lost might feel about that piece. Perhaps it was their idea I felt in the first place, inspiration whispered in my ear during the night only to wake with me the next morning and make itself known throughout the day :)

Here are a couple of finished projects that have emerged over the past two weeks:



Nature's Palette: Penguin

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm beginning to merge my two creativity blogs into one (this one). You will notice a growing blend of creativity exercises, prompts, and resources--that will (hopefully) inspire you--intermixed with my own creative efforts and pieces.

A favorite feature is isolating the colors found directly in an image from nature for inspiration. Feel free to use these palettes as a jumping off point for your next painting, designing office space, as a meal inspiration, for color descriptions for writing, etc. Would love to hear/see how you used these palettes!

Photo by Laura Huff

These nature palettes are from photographs run through the Big Huge Labs color palette generator, so feel free to create your own for unique inspiration!