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Create a template

2012-02-17T13:57:35Z

One of the best ways to complete a repetitive creative task is to create a template for your work. Recently I was asked to arrange some songs for a concert I’m playing in at the Salem Community Theater. There are 14 original songs by singer/songwriter Natalie Sprouse. Before I began the task of writing out chord charts, I took the time to develop a template in Photoshop that had the structure and layout I needed for each chord chart:

While this took some time up front, it became incredibly freeing because I now had a framework and could re-use all the elements on the page for each song. So if you have a repetitive task that relies on a similar layout or framework, take time to build a template. It takes discipline to do it, but can save time when you get to the end of the project.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

OK, I added the moon - got it off a Google image search. It just seemed like it should be there...

More on purpose

2012-02-10T13:34:58Z

One of the best selling books ever, Purpose Driven Life, reminds us that there is a higher purpose than can drive our lives if we allow it. All of our many smaller creative pursuits can fit into an overarching Purpose that ultimately makes perfect sense. Consider these quotes on purpose:

When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind. - Seneca

If you don't decide what your life is about, it defaults to what you spend your days doing. - Robert Brault

If you're alive, there's a purpose for your life. - Rick Warren

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't. - Richard Bach

The purpose of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. - The Bible (Proverbs 20:5)

Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life ... Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it. - Viktor Frankl

One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests. - John Stuart Mill

More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent. - Billy Sunday

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

In honor of Valentine's Day...

Passion = gas, Purpose = the track

2012-02-03T19:29:36Z

In my mind, passion is the gas and purpose is the track for meaningful creative pursuits. I also believe that God has a specific purpose for each of us that includes some form of creativity. If we are in His image, and He is a creator, we are creators in one form or another.

Consider these quotes on passion:

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. Nelson Mandela

It is a fact often observed, that men have written good verses under the inspiration of passion, who cannot write well under other circumstances. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Passion is the genesis of genius. Tony Robbins

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. Oprah Winfrey

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet Tubman

Passion is in all great searches and is necessary to all creative endeavors. W. Eugene Smith

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

On the way home from a meeting this week I stopped by McConnels Mill's State Park in Butler, PA for about 10 minutes and found this peaceful place. (backstory: I slipped on a rock, through my camera in the air, it hit the rock, and I landed on my rear. Camera is OK, rear is sore.)

Capture your heart

2012-01-27T13:50:57Z

Much of what we do comes from our interests and passions. Hopefully you’re fortunate to work in a field that is an area of passion, or at least do something at work that interests you. But if not, at least your creative pursuits outside of work can be driven from your inner core – the thing(s) that make you cry or pound your fist on the table.

I don’t do a lot of portrait or people photography. But when I do, I like to capture a story or an emotion. The photo below presented itself to me as I was walking in a park in Florida. The park is in the middle of a retirement area and I knew this couple embodied a story. Even though they both need a walker to get around, they were committed to getting out and enjoying the sunshine together. Somehow I also felt they were committed to each other and will continue to walk together as long as they are able.

Think about what moves you. Create from your heart.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

Every day is a gift.

Personal project

2012-01-20T16:19:10Z

One of the best ways to stay creative is to do a personal project. A couple years ago I decided to create a calendar using photos that I had taken during weekend bike rides. I ended up calling it “Within Biking Distance” and gave them out to my family for Christmas. My sister-in-law recognized a farm photo and knew that a friend of hers grew up there. So she told her friend about it and she subsequently bought 14 calendars from me.

But the purpose of this story isn’t necessarily the end result even though it was nice to sell some calendars. The important principle is that once I decided to do the “Within Biking Distance” series, I had a goal – something that focused my creative efforts. I had fun taking the photos and was able to plan when each phase of the project needed to be done so I could “ship”.

Check out this incredible personal project: 10,000 lakes. What’s your next personal project?

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

I was glad to be in a plane and not having to find my way around that road spaghetti.

Go small

2012-01-12T18:47:37Z

What if you had to limit your creative project to a fraction of the normal size? I found this to be very interesting when I decided to do some “macro” photography over the holidays. Macro photography requires you to get very up close and personal with your subject because you take a shot of a tiny fraction of what you might normally take. I have an example of this in my PIC-OF-THE-WEEK below.

But does this transfer to other forms of art? If you compose songs try writing a jingle. If you paint still life maybe you could paint a small section of the subject. If you write short stories try writing copy for an ad or a 140 character tweet. If you sew clothes try sewing a blouse for a doll.

The point is to give yourself artificial constraints that force you to look at things differently than you would have otherwise. New perspective: new creativity.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

I always look forward to this guy’s appearance at our house. He always shows up at Christmas time.

A milestone

2012-01-06T20:34:11Z

52 entries! (well, 51 – I took a week off over vacation) Last year at this time I started this blog to explore creativity with you and offer some of my thoughts and projects. I’ve stuck with it for a year and I hope it’s been helpful to you – it has for me!

Now I’d like to change things up a bit and incorporate some practical information on photography, music composition, working with Photoshop, etc. I’ll still weave thoughts and ideas about creativity into the mix but I want to share more of the actual process I go through as I create. I hope that you are even more inspired and motivated to develop your unique creative gifts.

Here is a Photoshop tutorial that I hope will make sense as you look at it. Each layer and its corresponding settings are listed. If you have any thoughts or questions, please post and I’ll respond to you.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

Here's a better resolution of the tutorial photo. We spent a night in Sugarcreek, Ohio and I found this bus out in the middle of a field. Seems to go with the old windmill, doesn't it?

God creates... you create

2011-12-30T13:50:27Z

A miniscule sampling of God's unbelievable creativity...

Now go create...

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

A still shot of our dining room table at Christmas time.

Discover

2011-12-24T14:38:39Z

What was the most significant visual moment in your life?
One that I wasn't even aware of. I photographed an apple in a bowl of fruit. I proofed it. The darker proof caused the surface of the apple to become like a night sky. That gave me impetus to realize there were things in the process of photography that I could learn from by not staying bound to the rules and to play and discover.

The quote above came from a Q&A interview with Paul Caponigro, a photographer who is the recipient of two Guggenheim fellowships and three National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants. I like the way he described the unexpected-ness of photography. I get the feeling he discovered a whole new world just by looking at the photograph with a darker exposure.

Could the things you create be enhanced by looking at them with a different perspective? What if you composed in a new key signature? Or restricted your painting to shades of red? Or wrote a novel with a 300 word limit? Or choreographed a dance in 5/4 time?

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

Another covert photo as I was sitting in an airport.

Cover bands don’t change the world

2011-12-16T12:31:25Z

I’ve played with different bands throughout my life and that statement is a very challenging truth when you see it play out in reality. The last band I played with – soundoctrine - did mostly original music which was dubbed: “alternativejazzfunkfusion”. However, we would always sprinkle cover tunes throughout the show because it would engage the audience with something familiar. I see the same thing in theater as well. I love to produce original shows, but people always pack out a show like “A Christmas Carol” even though they know exactly who the characters are and how it’s going to play out.

So there’s a paradox with art. Familiarity is safe, originality is risky. But, remember the Beetles didn’t start off covering themselves. Their music was totally unfamiliar and obscure, but they played it again and again and again and again and at some point it became familiar.

So if you’re called to imitate, then do it well – there’s nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, if you have unique ideas for your art, go for it. Who knows – maybe someday people will “cover” you…

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

"Remmington" looking through the front window anxiously waiting for his family to return.