Mirecle33 Creativity Patch

Where Did I Learn My Joke-Making Skills?
Posted May-30-2006
Practical Prankstering
Someone recently inquired where I learned how to create printable jokes and gags that look so realistic (see: CreativiTea, Creativity Patch, Money Plant Seed Packets, World's Hardest Puzzles). My answer...

The Pleasure of Poppies Posted May-27-2006
More Flowering Consciousness
A week ago all but one of the poppies in this garden were closed. Today most of them were in full poppy bloom. I took this picture in a backyard garden of one of my flowery friends who has been teaching me all kinds of wonderful things about plants and flowers this spring.

I wonder if I'm not the only one who thinks of the Wizard of Oz when it comes to (sleep-inducing) poppies:

WITCH : "And now, my beauties! Something with poison in it, I think. With poison in it, but attractive to the eye — and soothing to the smell! (laughs) Poppies! Poppies! Poppies!" •

Bleeding Hearts Posted May-25-2006
A flower reflecting the pleasure and pain of the soul.
I am in constant awe of the wondrous works of art nature surrounds us with. My latest infatuation is the perennial known as the Japanese Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). Above is a photo I took of nature's visual gift, below is a graphic interpretation of what I see, filtered through the artistry of my soul. This heart-shaped flower (with the drop of symbolic blood dripping from the bottom) can invoke beautiful poetic thoughts of both of love and of loss. Now there's a flowering thought full of creative possibilities. •

How NOT to Be Creative (Humor) Posted May-23-2006
Tips to Being Absolutely Un-Creative
It's been awhile since I've read a "How to Be Creative" article that takes an unexpected, humorous twist to getting the point across. This tongue-in-cheek article by Angie Dixon (owner of www.leonardotrait.com) hits the target right on by admonishing readers with five ways to absolutely avoid creative behavior. Here's part of tip #2:

"If you want to be as uncreative as possible, make sure you don’t go to new places. ... The best new places not to go are art museums, galleries, and any place selling art supplies or books. If you go to any of these places, it’s a pretty foregone conclusion that Something Will Happen. That Something will probably be creative, and No Good Can Come of That."

I smiled all the way through this article. The creative, humor approach to this piece reminded me of my January article Five Ways to Stay Creatively Blocked. •

Writing Down the Bones

Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones"
Posted May-21-2006
Freeing the Writer and Artist Within
I am on page 124 of this classic work by Natalie Goldberg titled Writing Down the Bones. This book, published in 1986, has been lauded in a number of creativity, spirituality, and writing books that I've read. Now I understand why. ...

I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We live happily forever, so the story goes
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
But we’ll try best that we can to carry on
— Styx, Come Sail Away

Living Forever Posted May-20-2006
For Tom
I grew up believing that it was possible to live forever. I remember vividly when I woke up from that dream and came to terms with the reality of our defined physical nature. Perfection and immortality has been sought after by humans for ages. It's weaved through ancient mythology and continues today through modern myths. We don't want to die when we're in good physical and mental health.

Something within us wants to keep on living. The essence of who we are seems to transcend the physical. We're gifted with the privilege of living on through the memories of other people and by what we leave behind after we're gone. This is why so many of us are intent on making our lives meaningful, not only for ourselves, but for others.

Cherish your life, and in the split second between inhaling and exhaling, know that forever exists in the moment, the now that is yours. •

Zorks! I've Been Found Out by Artella! Posted May-19-2006
<Waves to Artella Readers>
Nineteen is my favorite number and whaaaaaaat?! I just found out that my Creative Slush Web site was featured in today's Artella LinkLatte, a daily e-mail sent to Artella members. It's a true honor to be recognized by Artella, a very cool 'zine and creativity-inspiring place on the Web that I discovered several years ago. Go take a peek at Artella... the waltz of words and art, a great place to start your creative day — "part of a balanced diet with juice, toast, and milk." This definitely counts as one of those surprises around every corner (see post below). •

TypeARTgraphy

Coaching Visual Artists... Check! Posted May-17-2006
Completing Dr. Maisel's Coaching Visual Artists Training
"Granted April 8, 2006." You didn't think all of these artistic wonderings just materialized out of thin air, did you? Twelve weeks of peeling back layers of my artistic life in Eric Maisel's coaching visual artists course has been a true growth-inducing process. I will share more of my writings on that later.

This is the second coaching course I have completed, the first being the Creativity Coaching Training in February 2006. I'm currently finishing up the Coaching Writers training course, which also explains my recent writing-related essays (1, 2, 3). The productive life of a creativity enthusiast is an ongoing journey that is ever manifesting with surprises around every corner. •

The Essence of Lilacs Posted May-11-2006
I am infatuated with lilacs right now. The scent of this wonderful flowery shrub is filling the air all over the place. Where I live the scent of lilacs in the air is a sure sign of being in the thick of spring.

A few days ago a friend sent me home with a couple of branches from a lilac shrub growing prolifically in her front yard. Yesterday I decided to capture their essence in color pencil to record an aromatic flowery moment in time before they wilt away. Yes indeed, you can actually smell the lilacs when you put your nose next to my picture (above). Go on, try it. •

Paint Like Jackson Pollock Posted May-4-2006
Orange Ya Glad I Didn't Say Banana?
A quick click on the above link will take you to a blank canvas home page at jacksonpollock.org. Painting Pollock-style will begin as soon as you move your mouse (Flash required). This creatively clever program was created by Miltos Manetas who favors one Pollock pigment: orange. (Hint, to start with a new blank canvas, just hit your browsers' Reload button.)

Depending on your mood and amusement level, you might doodle-paint away for 10 seconds or 10 minutes. I wonder if this Web site will soon unveil more about the artist Jackson Pollock, who was famous for splashing paint onto canvas and calling it art. Splash away! •

Making Your Own Mandalas Posted May-3-2006
Design Your Own Sacred Geometries
The first conversation I've ever had with someone who is keyed into the mandala symbolism was at a creativity workshop I attended last year. I was sitting next to a fine artist, a painter, who has used the mandala extensively in her work. The artist made several remarks about the mandala throughout the evening and so my interest was piqued. ...

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