Yellow, orange, rusty color and red: leaves say good-bye to their shelter tree and throw themselves into the swirling wind. It is the ancient show of the fall: the last waltz of leaves with the wind as they fall down, down, down …
While the fall is writing a summary about everything that was done during this year, the nature decorates outdoors with all its treasures: colorful leaves, acorns, rowan berries, chestnuts, wild mushrooms, rose hips, late fall blooms, vegetables in the garden and fruits on trees. This is the season of abundance, and this is the most genuine pleasure for our eyes and soul.
Soothing, relaxing and pleasurable
Well, the wind could slow down a bit, and showers could be not that freezing. However, they’re just doing their job whether we like it or not. What can be more soothing and relaxing than creating some paintings in the warm and welcoming fall colors? A cup of herbal tea perhaps, or flavor of chicken soup on the stove? These are useful things for nasty and chilly fall days, too, but they don’t replace the simple pleasure of creation.
Rewarding brushes
If there weren’t these fantastic colors out there, the pain of the summer disappearing behind a dark cloud would be unbearable! I hope everybody can enjoy some hot chicken broth or a cup of tea with homemade pastries at this chilly night in countries where it is getting cold. Other than that: we always have our brushes, pencils and paints. Let us keep painting and drawing, and creating as the fall makes us seek for a shelter indoors! Let us lighten up our inspiration so that we don’t have to blame the darkness and bad weather for our upset moods!
I have attached for illustration some of the autumn nature series paintings.
Idleness makes hours pass slowly and years swiftly. Activity makes the hours short and the years long.
/Cesare Pavese “This business Of Living”, 1938/
Accomplishments as measuring unit
Time flies: are we going to stand by and watch it disappear? I’m using accomplishment to mark the days, months, years. Most of us have some daily duties, jobs, schedules, routine, obligations and problems. Fewer of us have big achievements, satisfaction, passion, happiness and things that make this life a pleasurable experience.
One of my youngest art students with her creation
Be passionate
I have noticed people who are passionate about something are simply better off. They are better off in many ways, not only because they don’t know what boredom or wasted time is, but they have something more than just routine, duties and obligations. Time really flies, and there are so many reasons to interact with life. My accomplishments don’t have to be always important things, but “accomplished” things. Watching TV, for instance is wasted time. Watering plants is an “accomplished” thing. Calling mom is an “accomplished” thing. Painting or sketching is an “accomplished” thing for sure.
Giving art class as accomplishment
I am happy that my art classes allow other people achieving something good, as well. That can be even to make a dream come true. I am obviously happy that spots for the fall art classes are already taken in spring. I hope we will be able to arrange an exhibition of my students and my demo artworks either in October or December.
Everybody loved following steps on spring orchard painting.
Rich in inspiration
Not all art which I am putting on this blog is finished works, but it is easy to understand: we all are unique and our creative ways are distinctive. The passion for art and creation is a common feature of all my students. The inspiration is so vibrant in this studio that it is simply impossible not to paint, draw, sketch or create.
The blossoming road, acrylic painting done during art classes as a demo.
We all know mothers who have brushes, paints and canvas; however, canvas is not on their easel or painting desk. Art supplies are pushed deep in drawers or hidden in storage boxes for the day “when I have more time”. We know life is hectic; there are so many duties, obligations and tasks to deal with!
There’s more to life
Many years ago when I was in my thirties, an older lady was my friend. I was wondering often how she got everything done and still had time for concerts, trips and visits to friends’ places. She told me this. “You know, dishes, laundry, cleaning: that is something endless, there’s always more of it and there’s never time enough to do it perfectly. I chose to simply take some time off when I need to and nothing too crucial has happened so far neither with our dishes, house, nor clothes.”
All the beautiful flowers blossom at once
Good advice
“I realize, my house is not perfectly polished at some moments, but do I want to say at the end of the day all I did was cleaning, washing dishes and doing work around the house? There’s more to life, so I just had to disregard not that urgent stuff and make nice things happen for me.” I followed this advice and ever since I had weekends for doing something more than just routine duties.
Learn how to say “No”
One more thing is that we have to learn saying “No”. I have no time for this, and, no, I am not going to this event, and, no, I’m not watching this. No, my dear family, I will not be cooking tonight since I have my art class. That’s exactly how it works. Once in the studio, you are out of reach of all troubles and nuisances and annoying daily obligations, even phone conversations, bills and other provocative and stressful stuff.
Painted flowers last longer
Some mothers already have it all, and it is not that easy to find a perfect gift for them. The best gift nowadays is time for oneself or time for doing something peaceful, relaxing and enjoyable. Gift of experience works very well. You can give your busy mom a gift certificate for art classes, and this gift will last for quite a while.
Orchards in bloom, acrylic painting, it is on my mom’s wall and she looks at it frequently
Gift certificate for art classes is also a perfect solution for children who cannot spend a fortune for Mother’s Day, but would love to still give a meaningful, valuable gift which does not get eaten up right away and does not wither within two next days.
We are recently hearing about the creativity crisis. How come? Why do we even need to be creative? Everybody who cares about personal development would most likely agree that it is very important to develop our creative side and work on it. Creative activities help easing different mental conditions. Being creative makes life happier by raising serotonin levels and significantly improves our internal balance. Balance is the key to everything: good health, well-being, success and prosperity.
Creative children are more successful
Long-term and wide research shows that creative children are more likely to succeed in any subject and cope with any situation easier. They will feel more confident and less lost if something unexpected happens than kids, who are lacking creativity. Creative activities can make one’s life more interesting, fuller, more exiting and less stressful.
Letting creativity in
I was reading recently how becoming creative was described as getting into some state of mind and intentionally trying to make that happen. I am very sure it won’t happen that way. Becoming smart, interesting, enthusiastic and creative is not following five easy steps. Becoming creative takes work, efforts, numerous experiments and perseverance.
You have to simply try
Creativity is not that somebody will pour over you, and nobody can actually teach you how exactly to be creative. There are so many definitions, approaches, tests and scores to detect whether you are or are not a creative person. Creativity has to originate from the inside of an individual. It is possible to get advice, technical and practical guidance, but the process is up to you.
Attractive trait of character
Creativity is a very attractive feature, similar to being interesting, imaginative and innovative. Such talent empowers any person. We all desire to be noticed, to be loved and appreciated. By doing something creative, we are opening the doors for love, appreciation, new friendships.
Most people want to be creative
Whenever the talk touches creativity, nobody has told so far they did not want to be creative. I am most often receiving completely contrary messages. People complain their life is boring, dull, it is lacking any interesting or magic aspect. They would love to become somehow involved with creative things. So what’s stopping them?
What is stopping you?
Many people give up quickly anything which does not happen right away. Some give up activity they just started because the results did not show after the first attempt. Some are feeling sorry to spend any money on what they think is simply a pastime. Creativity crisis is associated with other issues, unfortunately.
Spending on creativity
Spending some money on creative activities is inevitable. The least costly thing is probably writing poetry or stories. So, yes, you will have to spend some money on your fabrics or papers, for sewing machine or brushes, for gardening or crafting tools. That is definitely less than one spends on fast foods, useless drinks or antidepressant pills.
Benefits of being creative
Depending on your creative activity, there are also real benefits. We spend much less money for things we have created than bought. The creative mind works like this: I have something, perhaps I’d need a few other materials and I probably could make something great out of it, or I could recycle or upcycle something. The consumerist’s mind works this way: where do I get it and how much it costs?
Inspiration
Where to get inspiration or idea what is the creative area you would like? There are hundreds of options: all craft and art shows, local meetings of writers and photographers, amateur song and dance festivals, amateur theater performances, garden shows, musical gatherings like open mikes, galleries, art and craft stores and departments, fabric stores and more. Besides, there are always people at these events and places who will give good advice on where to start.
Is creativity forgotten?
Surveys and research tell us that creativity is dramatically decreasing, and something needs to be done to reintroduce more creative activities in our families, schools and society. We might have too many opportunities to get everything served on a tray. However, things you create reflect you and suit you the best. Become artistic and creative crisis won’t be an issue.
Never too late
It is never too late to engage in creative things. Local people who are interested in art could join also my art classes and attend the creative workshops. I am not surprised that some of my students love these art classes so much that they return year after year. They would miss anything else, but not the weekly art class. It is obviously doing something good for them!
My experience
My experience after teaching at high schools, colleges, individually, and in groups allows concluding the following. The idea of becoming creative most often is present in the family and it is passed over from generation to generation. Kids, who pick up arts, crafts, sewing, writing, dancing, playing an instrument in early childhood, will most likely continue with creative activities. Teens, who love creative lifestyle and who paint, write, dance, sing, play, have less depression, anxiety and upset moods. They don’t engage in drugs, alcohol and troubles.
Adults need creativity, too
The same goes for adults. People, who are involved in creative activities, are much less complaining about loneliness, depression, feeling lost, seeing no meaning or purpose in life than those, who at the best go to the bar or sit in front of TV. People, who make creativity their best companion, are healthier and more satisfied with their life.
Art can be a miracle that turns your life into positive, rewarding direction. Keep this source of positive energy always close to you, always in your personal space. The birth of a miracle may be not always easy, but there is undeniably some magic in it. How can doing art and painting make one’s life better, more balanced, more enhanced and richer?
The hidden benefits
Along with time-well spent and new skills at every step along the way, there is one more advantage: any artwork can become a beautiful decorative element. It could be just the missing final touch for the room, it could be the accent piece; or it could be the part tying the entire space together and making it complete. This artwork radiates clean, uplifting and positive energy in our personal space or workplace.
Positive energy
The story is actually about the energy: energetic interaction, consumption and release of energy, good, bad and neutral energy. Since energy is present anywhere and in anything, and not even the simplest thought could be made without consuming some of it; the question is as follows. Do we pay enough attention to our nearest surroundings, our closest environment and the dominant energetic features within that space? We really don’t, and we are most often between two ditches: following punctually every newest design trend, or completely disregarding any design and common sense.
Good color
There are lots of reviews about impact of color, lots of advice how to create a cozy, welcoming space, but what matters most is energy in that space. I do believe we’ve seen this all: museum-like houses or sterile living rooms, living rooms which are collections of one’s past, and top-modern minimalistic spaces.
Update your personal space with art
In my opinion, the best and the fastest way to update and adjust a space to our needs is using color, art, textiles and plants. Furniture becomes secondary, and all these previously mentioned things also take care about a great energetic flow and preserve the positive energy. Provided, they have such. It matters what hangs on your walls. I’m not talking about the purely esthetic aspects. Walmart print will have at the best some neutral energy of printer, cheap canvas and paint.
Careful with inherited and old items
Inherited art or an antique item may have both: very positive and extremely negative energy. So can an original painting. Painting during its creation process absorbs our thoughts, emotional vibrations, delight and excitement, or hate, misery and anger; anything. That way, the energy of a painting is equal to the energy artists put in their creation. Most people naturally give their art the best part of themselves by visualizing all these places they are re-creating on canvas: light, wind, flowers and leaves, waves, streams and the atmospheric vibrations in the air.
One thing I can say for sure: the atmosphere during our painting sessions is extremely positive. It’s such a pleasure to grab the shiny paint and just put it on canvas. The classroom itself contains plenty of art in all completion stages: just started, half-done and finished. This contributes to the relaxing state we most often find ourselves in. I mean, it’s very unlikely, these beautiful works could have some bad energy. We challenge ourselves, and the results are more than satisfying.
Monetary value does not affect energy
One more amazing thing is that the monetary value actually does not affect the true energy which some item possesses. That means we should stick with things which make us feel good, not only to the ones which cost a lot and are supposed to be “value”. The monetary value only shows one’s financial power while the energetic value has something much more important and substantial: it possesses the ability to ensure the well-being of our soul.
