IGNITING CREATIVITY WITH HEARTFELT DOLLS
THE RAINBOW CONNECTION
WE ARE ALL CREATIVE
Maya Angelou said,
"You can't use up creativity:
the more you use,
the more you have."
We make creative choices every day -
what we eat, what we wear, how we decorate.
The list is endless and filled with infinite variety.
What we need to do to ignite our creativity is to harness these choices-
make them conscious, mindful, deliberate, attentive, meaningful.
We need to make these choices a rich foundation for the creative projects we undertake.
And just as we eat and dress every day,
we need to nourish our creative souls, our creative practices.
"You can't use up creativity:
the more you use,
the more you have."
We make creative choices every day -
what we eat, what we wear, how we decorate.
The list is endless and filled with infinite variety.
What we need to do to ignite our creativity is to harness these choices-
make them conscious, mindful, deliberate, attentive, meaningful.
We need to make these choices a rich foundation for the creative projects we undertake.
And just as we eat and dress every day,
we need to nourish our creative souls, our creative practices.
COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY
The secret to success in any creative field
is a dedicated work ethic.
Commitment to our practice is more important
than any 'natural ability' or 'God-given talent'.
The art and craft of doll making is no different:
it requires the doll-maker's love of the process,
and a willingness to do it every day,
even if it is doodling or designing or day-dreaming.
is a dedicated work ethic.
Commitment to our practice is more important
than any 'natural ability' or 'God-given talent'.
The art and craft of doll making is no different:
it requires the doll-maker's love of the process,
and a willingness to do it every day,
even if it is doodling or designing or day-dreaming.
CHALLENGE YOUR CREATIVITY
The challenge to ignite our creativity comes from within
but there are many books, mentors and projects
which can support and encourage us on the way.
Some that I have used are:
Make Something 365 and Get Unstuck
The Prayer Flag Project
The Artist's Rule
The Artist's Way
The 100 Day Project
Drawing As A Sacred Activity
The Open Studios Project Art Residency
Solo and group exhibitions
but there are many books, mentors and projects
which can support and encourage us on the way.
Some that I have used are:
Make Something 365 and Get Unstuck
The Prayer Flag Project
The Artist's Rule
The Artist's Way
The 100 Day Project
Drawing As A Sacred Activity
The Open Studios Project Art Residency
Solo and group exhibitions
PATTERN INTERPRETATION
Take a commercial pattern.
Interpret it in as many ways as possible.
Set a theme or a number or a time limit.
Doll-maker extraordinaire elinor paece bailey suggests that every time
"...we improvise or interpret the doll form,
it takes on a new life.
As long as the doll-maker is excited,
it is evident in the doll."
Let your excitement show :-)
Interpret it in as many ways as possible.
Set a theme or a number or a time limit.
Doll-maker extraordinaire elinor paece bailey suggests that every time
"...we improvise or interpret the doll form,
it takes on a new life.
As long as the doll-maker is excited,
it is evident in the doll."
Let your excitement show :-)
PATTERN FUN
TO LET CREATIVITY FLOW
Have fun interpreting doll patterns.
Change skin colour, size or hair style.
Mix and match body parts.
Shrink or enlarge the pattern.
Alter the sex, the face, the age, the clothing.
Again from elinor peace bailey,
"...let's make room for those whose muse
leads them to interpret the work of another."
Change skin colour, size or hair style.
Mix and match body parts.
Shrink or enlarge the pattern.
Alter the sex, the face, the age, the clothing.
Again from elinor peace bailey,
"...let's make room for those whose muse
leads them to interpret the work of another."
USE A TIME CONSTRAINT
TO FREE YOUR CREATIVITY
Set yourself a time constraint -
thirty minutes, an hour, a day, you choose.
Set aside perfectionism, preconceived ideas, fear,
self-criticism, excuses.
Simply allow your intuition to come to the fore.
thirty minutes, an hour, a day, you choose.
Set aside perfectionism, preconceived ideas, fear,
self-criticism, excuses.
Simply allow your intuition to come to the fore.
USE A TEMPLATE
TO IGNITE YOUR CREATIVITY
I love to use a template as a parameter.
This is both an asset as it reduces the number of decisions I have to make,
but it is also offers a challenge.
Sometimes I use a pattern or template I have designed myself.
Other times I will use a commercial pattern.
Keep within the boundaries of the template
or push and poke them until something magic appears.
This is both an asset as it reduces the number of decisions I have to make,
but it is also offers a challenge.
Sometimes I use a pattern or template I have designed myself.
Other times I will use a commercial pattern.
Keep within the boundaries of the template
or push and poke them until something magic appears.
CHOOSE A THEME
TO NURTURE YOUR CREATIVITY
I love to create dolls to express my thoughts around a theme.
Sometimes just a word
or a season
or a place
or a feeling.
Sometimes just a word
or a season
or a place
or a feeling.
Sometimes I like to explore issues that are important to me,
such as domestic violence,
or depression,
or fertility,
or conservation.
Find something that impassions you or annoys you or fascinates you
and explore, examine, explain.
such as domestic violence,
or depression,
or fertility,
or conservation.
Find something that impassions you or annoys you or fascinates you
and explore, examine, explain.
USE EVERYDAY LIFE
TO EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY
We don't have to explore obscure or abstract ideas.
Try using the elements of everyday life:
food,
celebrations,
work and play.
Try using the elements of everyday life:
food,
celebrations,
work and play.
CHOOSE A MATERIAL
TO CHALLENGE YOUR CREATIVITY
There is merit in using only 'tried and true' materials -
the product of your creativity will be assured.
But there is so much fun and so many 'Aha!' moments
when you play with non-traditional materials.
I have played with tea-towels and tray cloths;
non-returnable packets of ill-fitting underwear;
woolen nappies and swandris;
polar fleece and torn umbrellas.
Non-traditional materials can produce unexpected and beautiful results.
TRY IT!
the product of your creativity will be assured.
But there is so much fun and so many 'Aha!' moments
when you play with non-traditional materials.
I have played with tea-towels and tray cloths;
non-returnable packets of ill-fitting underwear;
woolen nappies and swandris;
polar fleece and torn umbrellas.
Non-traditional materials can produce unexpected and beautiful results.
TRY IT!
LIMIT YOUR PALETTE
TO EXPAND YOUR CREATIVITY
Try limiting your palette and see what happens.
I found when doing The Rainbow Connection
and making 15 dolls for each of the colours of the rainbow,
that I came to new and wonderful understandings of colour.
I used black polar fleece to explore depression in Somedays.
I used pastels to increase awareness about dementia in Rachel's Gift.
I found when doing The Rainbow Connection
and making 15 dolls for each of the colours of the rainbow,
that I came to new and wonderful understandings of colour.
I used black polar fleece to explore depression in Somedays.
I used pastels to increase awareness about dementia in Rachel's Gift.
Sometimes I randomly choose a colour or two and challenge myself to create a series of dolls.
Ice Palace was the result of one such challenge.
Sometimes I use one colour as a springboard and coordinate the dolls around this colour.
Troupe de Verde grew from a remnant of green fur fabric.
Ice Palace was the result of one such challenge.
Sometimes I use one colour as a springboard and coordinate the dolls around this colour.
Troupe de Verde grew from a remnant of green fur fabric.
LOOK TO THE PAST
TO IGNITE YOUR CREATIVITY
Look to the past to kick start your creativity.
Peruse art books and history books.
Wander through museums and art galleries.
Watch films and documentaries.
And then .... play!
Peruse art books and history books.
Wander through museums and art galleries.
Watch films and documentaries.
And then .... play!
THINK LATERALLY
AND BE CREATIVE
We can't all be good at everything.
My camera skills are very limited but I am intrigued by the latest craze of taking 'Selfies'.
So I challenged myself to make small doll self-portraits,
which I attached to a vest with a brooch pin.
How could you take one medium and adapt it to your passion?
My camera skills are very limited but I am intrigued by the latest craze of taking 'Selfies'.
So I challenged myself to make small doll self-portraits,
which I attached to a vest with a brooch pin.
How could you take one medium and adapt it to your passion?
GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO PLAY
Give yourself permission to play
especially when ideas or materials dry up.
I took postcards from The Open Studios Project
and embellished them with a collage doll.
I used old magazines and calendars
and a limited range of body shapes.
I really enjoyed myself :-)
(and I felt re-energized and ready to create dolls again.)
especially when ideas or materials dry up.
I took postcards from The Open Studios Project
and embellished them with a collage doll.
I used old magazines and calendars
and a limited range of body shapes.
I really enjoyed myself :-)
(and I felt re-energized and ready to create dolls again.)
ALLOW TIME FOR CREATIVE RENEWAL
Don't assume that you will always be at peak creative practice.
We all need time to renew; to refresh; to re-energize.
When creative block hovers like a dark cloud,
or you feel frustrated and dried up,
there are many things to choose.
Take a break.
Read a book.
Visit a gallery or a favourite thrift shop.
Attend a workshop or class.
Try a different art or craft.
Challenge yourself.
Treat yourself.
Give yourself permission to day dream or play.
Give your creative self time to stretch and grow.
We all need time to renew; to refresh; to re-energize.
When creative block hovers like a dark cloud,
or you feel frustrated and dried up,
there are many things to choose.
Take a break.
Read a book.
Visit a gallery or a favourite thrift shop.
Attend a workshop or class.
Try a different art or craft.
Challenge yourself.
Treat yourself.
Give yourself permission to day dream or play.
Give your creative self time to stretch and grow.