Stretching Out of Technological Complacency

I'm a paper lover, but this journal/notes app for the iPad may have won me over

A LOVE FOR PAPER AND COLOUR

I love paper. I have five different notebooks on my desk as I type plus a stack of old school index cards I use for everyday planning.

I love coloured pens and have an elaborate system of changing up the colour I use to write my to-do's for the day, cross them off and jot down any other to-do's for the following day. I usually rotate three or four colours through the system, following a specific order that's not to be broken.

I seem to process information better when I write it down by hand vs. capturing it through a keyboard. I haven't been in any rush to adopt any new fandangled technology, smartphones or tablets to help me improve productivity, I haven't seen the need to.

ENTER THE iPAD

Enter the iPad. Hubby surprised me with one for my birthday and thanks to an insightful conversation with a kindred scribbler who's already made the switch, I'm ready to give it a try.

I just need to set myself up for success by:

1. choosing only a few aspects of my current system to experiment with (brainstorming and note-taking, though I may dabble in daily planning) vs. trying to overhaul everything at once,
2. getting the right tools (a fancy schmancy stylus pen and a flexible writing recognition app*), and
3. committing to using them for a given period of time so I can say I've given it an honest try (the next four weeks).

I tried out the tools yesterday for the first time and it was love at first write. I think I actually squealed with delight at the first scribble.

I usually abide by "if it ain't broke then don't fix it", but sometimes experimenting with different ways of doing things can be fun. Sometimes lightly stretching for stretching's sake can be just what we need to shake us out of complacency.

In my case, technological complacency.

* I'm not getting any money by linking to this specific app or stylus pen. They just happened to be the first tools I experimented with and I like them!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Are there any new tools you'd like to try in your work, but hesitate because it's a stretch out of your normal working habits? What if you experimented with it for a week, two weeks or a month just to see if it fits? Are there any complementary tools or resources that would help make it easier?

Introducing: Productivity Prompts

A self-confessed productivity geek I read a lot of books and blogs on productivity; there is a LOT of information out there.

a sample of productivity-related books from my reading pile/bookshelf

Always curious about streamlining things and gaining focus where I have little, I play around with systems or processes to see what works well for me and what doesn't. Some are keepers, others fall quickly out of play.

Sometimes though, I hit a tip or practice that sticks and it ends up on my cubicle wall as a gentle reminder. Usually it's simple, easy to execute, and adds value to how I manage my time and work or my ability to move things forward.

Starting tomorrow and for the month of August I will experiment by posting weekly Productivity Prompts to share some of those sticky tips here with you, and the resource(s) in which I found them.

(Note: No doubt many of these prompts or concepts are found in resources I've yet to discover. If you have a prompt-related resource to share that's not listed, please leave it in the comments so I can check it out!)

As with everything I offer, I encourage you to take what you like and leave the rest.

Stay tuned for week 1 starting tomorrow!

Dreampulse: A Work Completed

A few weeks ago I wrote about a potential commission piece I was working on - a chance to experiment with a specific canvas size and colour palette.

Here's the finished product:

I am happy.

Growing in My Creative Practice

detail from 20"x40" work in progress

I've been experimenting with a potential commission piece in my painting. I usually paint intuitively; to work with a specific size of canvas and colour palette is new to me.

But I'm enjoying the challenge.

detail from 20"x40" work in progress

A relatively risk-free experiment, whether the potential buyers end up buying the piece or not the experience is pushing me out of my comfort zone.

It's a great way to grow.

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." ~ Brian Tracy

 ~~~

How could you stretch out of your comfort zone today? Are there opportunities that - although a little intimidating - could offer you a relatively safe place to experience growth in your creative practice?

Matisse Month Wrap-Up

{This is the last in a series of posts dedicated to Henri Matisse, part of a self-learning experiment dedicating the month of April to his study. As always, I invite you to take what you like and leave the rest. For the rest of the posts click here.}

Can someone please tell me where April went?

Though I'm still enjoying flipping through one of my big Matisse books from the library, it's already time for this self-learning experiment to come to an end.

I tremendously enjoyed the experiment AND learning about Matisse. I thought a wrap-up post would be a great way to document the results of my learning journey for safe keeping.

Voici...

5 new-to-me concepts, terms, or artists:

1. odalisque (in art)
2. plumb line (in the context of drawing figures)
3. Pierre Bonnard
4. André Derain
5. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

5 takeaways I would like to experiment with in my own art-making process:

1. Embrace re-work and practice patience
2. Sketch more
3. Experiment with bold colour juxtapositions and patterned backgrounds
4. Emulate masters and add my own twist
5. Try to paint more figures and faces, but without having to get them "perfect"

Femme au chapeau (Madame Matisse), Matisse, 1905

5 people, places, things or concepts encountered during my study that I'd like to further explore:

1. Fauvisme (style of painting in the early 1900s)
2. Sculpture (medium)
3. Wassily Kandinsky (artist)
4. Cone Collection in Baltimore and the Barnes Foundation, just outside of Philly (collections)
5. plumb line (for drawing figures)

5 fascinating or surprising tidbits:

1. A large collection of Matisse's work resides in the US
2. Matisse used his studio walls to sketch BIG
3. Matisse's Nus Bleus series and Icare were created using pieces of paper ("papiers collés") and not painted directly onto the canvas
4. Matisse photographed La Blouse Roumaine in 14 different states over 9 months, illustrating how he painted over backgrounds, re-jigged composition, eliminated detail and simplified, simplified...
   
5. Matisse wrote and illustrated (prints of his work) a book called Jazz

Finally, four books I consulted for my learning*:

1. Matisse, Tableaux Choisis, by Annette Robinson - A great little French book, it was the first one I read and offered an easy introduction to my chosen subject. Simply written and a lot of pictures.
2. The Essential Henri Matisse, by Ingrid Schaffner - I LOVED this one! A small, non-intimidating book that's written in a fun, casual tone and choc full of information. Bulleted lists, sidebars, sound bytes and "Financial and Domestic Notes" updates at various points in his life. Loved. IT.
3. Matisse, by Gilles Néret - Also in French, this is the biggest and most in-depth book of the four. It has more pictures, sketches and drawings than any of the others which makes for a lot of eye candy; it also takes longer to read. I'm about half-way through.
4. Jazz, by Henri Matisse and Riva Castleman (Introduction) - As soon as I found out that Matisse wrote a book called Jazz I hunted it down at the library. Tempted to copy down quotes at every page, I enjoyed his text more than his prints in this one. It made me want to explore his other writings.

* Most of my learning was done through library books with the occasional online reference or fact verification.

Et voilà! My wrap-up and the end of Matisse Month. It was a fun, rewarding experiment and I'd definitely do it again.

And if you were able to glean a little something from it too? Well that would just be the cherry on top of the sundae!

"Happy are those who sing with all their heart, from the bottoms of their hearts. To find joy in the sky, the trees, the flowers. There are always flowers for those who want to see them." ~ Henri Matisse, Jazz