Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Getting out of the corner

Pink light
Acrylic on canvas
Acrylic on canvas 
36 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2015

I teach on Wednesday afternoons and my
students today wrote about getting out of a
creative corner -- viewing the end of the
school term as a creative problem.  Their
ideas were great. I'm going to share some
of them with you because they might help
if you ever get stuck. 

1. Go for a walk.
2. Dance to your favorite music.
3. Have a shower -- feeling clean
makes you feel new.
4. Look at yourself in the mirror
and say, "Hi you're great, you can
do it!"
5.  Leave the project alone
and have a nap.
6. Better yet turn off the light and
go to sleep for the night.
7. Call a supportive friend.
8.  Get over yourself.
9. Make a list of all of your
accomplishments.
10. Eat your favorite food.
11.  Make a mind map planning
out what to do.
12.  Write a series of questions
and then wait and write down the
answers as they come to you.
13. Take a ten minute break and
then get back at it.
14. Do something nice for someone
else, to get out of your own
problems.
15. Sing.

I'm sure there were more ideas -- and they
were all good.  Wishing you a day
filled with creativity.

This painting was stuck in reality until
Verna Vogel said she liked the pink on
the clouds.  "Hmmm! More pink," I thought.
Thanks Verna.

Have-a-walking-out-of-the-corner day.

8 comments:

Cathy said...

Lovely thoughts ... thanks for sharing!

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks Cathy,

I admit I was impressed with their positive motivation.

Take care,

Barbara

Verna said...

Hi Barbara,

What a great list, and a gorgeous painting too! Yes, I very much like the pink in the clouds, it is so fresh and fleeting.

Pink light in clouds is worth pausing whatever I'm doing and taking a moment to breathe and be grateful in this beautiful, ephemeral world.

Thanks to your students for their ideas, and to you for posting this list - I have copied and pinned it up in my studio as a reminder.

Have a super day!

:)
V

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Verna,

Thank you so much for helping me make a creative leap. Best help of all for getting out of a corner, a respected artist liking what you do.

I love your work.

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Nicki said...

It's beautiful Barbara- the pink is wonderful. I love how the sky is basically the whole painting- at first I thought it was a cropped detail.

Flora Doehler said...

I can tell that your students have an inspiring teacher, judging by that list!
xo

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

Yes it is about 98% sky with a hint of tree.

Thank you so much. Clouds have been a big passion for me since last summer. A high compliment coming from you -- the master of clouds! And landscape!

XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Flora,

They blew me out of the water -- and I know there was more! I think it would be safe to say that this group has a bunch of inspiring teachers, and they've lead inspiring lives. I so enjoy them. Thanks for this.

I love your work.

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!