What have I been up to creatively this week?

This week I decided to try doing portraits every day or at least draw something every day and I managed to do it.
I have noticed that in the short time I have been drawing,  I  have been improving.
I draw the portraits from next magazine upside down, I have been recommending to all my srtudents that they do this.
It's fun because you don't see the picture until you turn it  the right way up.

Betty Edwards  in her famous book Drawing on the Right hand side of the Brain advocates this technique.
Try it...you will be amazed at what you can achieve painlessly.
I figure if I keep it up at the end of the year I will have 365 portraits.

                                                        Day 2 Portrait

                                                                    Day 2 Portrait

Day 3 Portrait

Day 4 Portrait

                                                                     Day 5 Portrait

I am dividing my week up into tasks and making a visual diary about my ability to stay on task.
This will reinforce my intentions and hopefully I will achieve my goals of world art domination and fame more quickly.

 Monday and Tuesday is devoted to art and mosaic  teaching,
Wednesday is Art marketing.
Thursday is Artist Date Day where I  do anything I want artwise for enjoyment.
This can include movie viewing, gallery viewing, poetry reading and writing, walking,  photography, smelling flowers, short story writing, gardening, in short what ever I  feel like.
Friday is tax and paperwork day
Saturday and Sunday are adventuring, photographing( including photoshop manipulation) and exercising days.

Of course other tasks like housework,gardening, tidying, blogging, planning, resting, dreaming, scheming, daily walks/swimming and visualising have to be fitted in.

Who has time to be bored when you are living a creative life?

Creativity Quote of the day

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.”

William Arthur Ward

Public Speaking about mosaics and creativity. .

Last week I was invited by the Ngongotaha Garden Circle to present a demonstration about mosaics.
They were a lovely group of women who have been meeting regularly, once a month for gardening related presentations  and outings.
They enjoyed my talk so much they are going to come for a tour of my mosaic garden next year.
They asked lots of questions.which is always a good sign.

Public speaking about your work is a great way to be seen and to get known.
 It is one way of spreading the message that creativity is important for all ages and backgrounds.
I was a member of Toastmasters for thirteen years so I am not at all nervous when public speaking, in fact I look forward to opportunities.

I have spoken to many groups including Rotary Clubs, Zonta, School Groups, Garden Clubs and on the radio.  
One day I would like to do some presenting on television, the Good Morning Show would be my dream.

Groups frequently visit my open mosaic garden and studio from where I  also give demonstrations.

Tips for  Creative Public Speaking
 Keep it relatively brief, twenty minutes to half an hour is ideal.
Taylor make the speech to your audience
Have lots of visual examples ,
Don't  confuse or bore people with too much technical information.
Remember to smile and have lots of eye contact,
Be enthusiastic and passionate about your subject.
 Use pauses and slow down.
Try not to um.
Breathe deeply before you start to calm down.
 Visualise yourself relaxing  and enjoying  yourself before you start.
If you are really nervous about public speaking, join a Toastmasters club; within a year you will be flying.


Creativity Quotes of the Day

"There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience."
Alexander Gregg




"Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening."

-- Dorothy Sarnoff

Art Journal Pages

I have been steadily plugging away at the art journal pages prompted by Milliande which is an online art community for women. Day 24 is the last one in this series and I am glad that I have stuck with it. I will be posting them in the next week so you can have a look and hopefully comment.

I am wanting to keep on  art journaling because I really love it so I am going to try some art journaling prompts from Willowing.

Watching art videos by Willowing is great. She is pretty positive and quirky.
It will be fun to see how I go.

I am wanting to make my own art making video to post on my blog and U-Tube.
This will be one of my creativity goals for 2011

 Do you have creativity goals? 

Here are some of mine.
 ( Hint, if you want to achieve something you have a greater chance of achieving it if you write it down and also an even greater chance of doing it if you put it somewhere you can view every day.

 I have some of my creativity goals posted on the wall in the loo.

                                                                       The Zebra's Journey
                                                                                 In 2011
                                                       An illustrated Children's Book
                                                                          By Janet Keen

Let's Shine

Let's Grow

Let's Explore

 

Let's Build Bridges

Let's Exercise

Let's open Windows

Let's sing

Let's make new friends

Let's Fly

Let's Imagine

Let's Smell the Roses

 

Let's like what we see in the mirror

Let's Face our Fears

Let's travel overseas

Let's co-operate

Let's decorate our homes

Let's eat fruit

 

Let's protect the fish

Let's be at peace

Let's be grateful

Let's smell fresh country air

                                                                    Let's make art and poetry

                                                And when we manage to do all this in 2011
                                                                      Let's celebrate

                                                              (Image coming soon)

Mosaic classes for beginners Monday mornings. Sign up now for March. Limited to 10 people.

Mosaic Classes For Beginners

Dates: Monday or Tuesday Mornings: March /April

4 sessions.

Time: 9am to 11.30 am

Class size: Up to 10 adults

Where: Janet Keen Mosaic and painting studio

374 Clayton Road

Cost: $200.00 including materials which I will supply.



You will make a beginners Fish or bird, mirror and a pot using three different types of tiles.



This is a small class for people to come and learn the basics and take away three attractive mosaic items that you can keep, give away or sell.

Mosaic making is relaxing and therapeutic,

You will be working in a peaceful and creative environment that is positive and uplifting.



Call me today to book your place and arrange for a deposit.

Phone Janet 346 3435

Blog http://janetkeen.blogsot.com

www.jkeen.net



What people have said about the course:

“Janet is an amazing tutor, I thought I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body but with her help and patience I am on my way.” Julie.

“I liked the attractive studio and examples that Janet provided, she made it so easy for me.” Susan

I love Janet’s work, I have recommend her to lots of people. ” Jenny