How Making Time for My Creative Self Led to Meeting a World-Renowned Artist

photo from TIME Style & Design

 When I read the article “The Noisemaker” by  Richard Lacayo (Spring 2012 Time Style & Design issue) I fell in love with the artist Nick Cave. I was instantly enchanted by his sound suits…the way they look…the way they sound…imagining the way they must feel. I was inspired by the way his world-view informs his art. I was intrigued by the way he incorporates sculpture, sound, and dance into his performances pieces. And I was thrilled to learn that Cave’s latest work, Heard, would be performed both at the University of North Texas (my alma mater) and the Nasher Sculpture Center.

Though I was unable to make it to Denton for the UNT performance during the week, I held out hope that I would still be able to make the Sunday performance at the Nasher. There was a lot going on that weekend…work, my daughter’s dance photos, obligations, and more excuses…excuses…excuses… Yet, something kept pulling me towards this experience. I wrote it on my calendar in red ink. When the day finally came, I felt compelled to make it happen and get myself down to the Nasher.

I felt guilty about not being able to take my daughter or husband. I felt guilty for not scheduling this as a Creative Oasis Day Trippers event. I felt guilty for taking an hour out of our precious weekend time to do something just for me, but I still went. (all these years of coaching and being coached has paid off!)

Portrait of Nick Cave by Xenobia Bailey 

When I first arrived, I noticed the street directly in front of the Nasher had been blocked off. I approached a cameraman to see if he could suggest the best vantage point for watching the action. He told me I was standing in the best spot – so I stayed put.

photo from huffingtonpost.com

As the crowd began to grow, and the employees of the Nasher parted the sea of people to make room for the 60 people dressed in the 30 spectacular sound suits. They looked like magical horses made of shining, shimmering raffia. Then I spotted Nick Cave across the sidewalk. As the drum-line kicked in and the dancers made their way into the street he moved closer and closer until before I knew it, he was standing right next to me! The feeling flowing through the crowds was positively electric! I couldn’t believe I was standing beside the person who had conceptualized and brought this piece to life. (with the help of many talented UNT students, professors and the Nasher Sculpture Center)

Me trying to sneak a shot with Nick

At first I tried to snag a photo of Nick by shooting one of myself with him in the background, but after we actually exchanged a few words about the performance, I just went ahead and blurted out, “It’s incredibly serendipitous that I am standing here next to you. Would you mind if I take our picture together?” To which he immediately and graciously accepted as you can see below.

Ask and you shall receive – Me & Nick Cave! 

I took this as a very handsome, talented sign, that I was absolutely justified in carving out an hour of a very busy weekend (when are our weekends or weekdays not busy I ask you?) to feed my creative spirit with this amazing experience and to be immersed in a sea of people who also believed that making time to experience art so visually stunning and emotionally stirring was important and joyful and certainly a worth every moment.

 How will you feed your creative spirit today? It doesn’t need to take an hour. Maybe it’s just watching a few minutes of the video above and enjoying a bit of the magic I experienced with Nick Cave. (You might even be able to hear me ask him - does this make you happy and his resounding "YES!" If you can't watch the whole thing I suggest fast forwarding to the point where the horses split into two and keep dancing – so cool!) Feed your creative spirit and it will bring you and the people in your life joy a hundredfold!

No time to read this? This Day Trip is for you!

Finally – time management for creative types! 

If you barely have time to read this, you'll definitely want to join me for this exclusive Creative Oasis Day Trippers event! 

What:

Marney K. Makridakis, author of new book 

Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life,

 will present an exclusive Warm-up Workshop only for the Creative Oasis Day Trippers prior to her public book launch in. She'll share a behind-the-scenes look at the her process with writing and publishing Creating Time, and guide us through several fun ARTsignments – self-discovery exercises infused with art and creativity – to help up get even more from her formal presentation. (Click here to contact me to reserve your space today.)

After Marney concludes her Warm-up Workshop, we’ll have time to share and discuss as a group before convening to enjoy her public presentation, to be followed by a reception and book signing. (We Trippers may mosey over to Blue Mesa after that.)

When:

 Sunday, April 15, 2012

Special Day Trippers Warm-up Workshop @ 3pm

Public presentation and signing @ 4pm

Where:

 Barnes & Nobel (Lincoln Park)

7700 West Northwest Hwy. Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75225

Cost:

$15 

Click here to RSVP and I'll save your space and send your registration form right away!

Just can't wait to learn more about Creating Time?

You're in luck! Marney has put together a FREE 3 week Mega Time Extravaganza featuring live webinars, inspiring interviews from beloved leaders in the creative world (such as Jill Badonsky, Jennifer Louden,  SARK, Michael Gelb and more !), and lots of free bonus goodies too. To sign up, simply click here and they'll send you everything you need to participate in this amazing event which begins April 2, 2012. Why not sign up now? There's no time like the present! 

Painting Party - No Experience Required!

"Flutter" 

Love the idea of painting but think you don't have the time or the talent? Well, let's put an end to that nonsense right now! Join me and the Creative Oasis Day Trippers as we head to Pinot's Palette in Lakewood to act "as if" we're artists extraordinaire. No prior artistic experience or talent of any kind required. (other than the ability to have fun!)

Here's how it works:

You provide your favorite libation (be it Pinot or Pomegranite juice.) 

I provide the creative prompts and permission. 

Pinot's Palette provides the canvas, paints, brushes and instruction.

And we're having big-time, low-pressure creative fun before you can say Modigliani. (which I can't)

This past summer I took my mom to a painting party like this in Breckenridge at Ready, Aim, Fire and we had a blast.  While I'll admit to having several creative talents to my credit, being a visual artist is not one of them. Still, I love the thought of painting and I dabble with watercolors from time to time in my Creative Oasis Journal. These painting parties are a fabulous opportunity to just go for it and play with real paints on a real canvas. I was delighted by how easy it was to follow the instructor and amazed at how well my painting turned out. Plus, it was an absolute blast!

Me & Mom painting Columbines

I'd love for you to join me for this night of creative camaraderie and fun. Let me know that you want to join us by sending me a quick e-mail to creativeoasiscoach@me.com. Here are all the details:

What:

Painting Party at Pinot's Palette 

(say that 5 times fast)

6465 East Mockingbird, Suite 420

Dallas, TX 75214

When:

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 from 7 to 9 pm

Cost:

$15 Creative Oasis Day Tripper Fee

$35 Pinot's Palette Fee

RSVP:

Please email me at creativeoasiscoach@me.com as soon as possible to reserve your place with your party. Advanced registration for this event is required with your non-refundable $15 Creative Oasis Day Tripper fee due no later than Saturday, March 17th.

The Great Toilet Paper Roll Creative Challenge

I think we all have one or two of these around the house.

Last week I sent an impromptu email to my “Living the Creative Life” class with the subject line “The Great Toilet Paper Roll Creative Challenge.” What does a creativity coach with no particular agenda on a lazy, rainy Saturday afternoon do for fun? She dreams up a creative prompt using empty toilet paper rolls.

So, I'm a slightly compulsive about recycling, (hmmm…“slightly compulsive” is an oxymoron, isn't it?) and as I tossed another toilet paper roll into the recycling bin that day I thought “What if I used this ubiquitous household item as a creative prompt?” (BTW – asking ourselves "what if" is a fabulous way to mine creative gold!) I'd made some cute little owls for my daughter several months earlier that I’d seen on The Hidden List. She in turn had recently created something on her own she dubbed “The Little Roll of Happiness” and left it on my desk as a surprise. As you turn the roll the messages say: I love you! You are amazing! You are beautiful! Best mom ever! Best wife ever! You are you! (Still get vklempt whenever I read it.)

So, inspired by these fun little projects, here is the optional creative challenge I offered up to my class:

“Sometime before we meet this week, what if you created something with an empty toilet paper roll?  You can use one roll or fifty. (though I doubt you have 50 spare used toilet paper rolls handy) You can create the project all on your own or you can look for something fun on the internet. You might collage it, or paint it, or write a poem to it or about it. There are no rules other than to have fun with it!”

Everyone chose to participate, although some admitted that at first they weren’t going to, either because they didn’t think they had the time or couldn’t imagine what they would do or thought it was a little silly. But, in the end everyone came up with a wonderfully creative idea of their own and completed their creations in a short amount of time.

Funky Necklace

One person shared that though she was excited to create something at first she soon felt stuck. She found herself worrying about whether or not she would make something “good enough” (does this sound familiar to anyone?) and it totally shut her down. Then, as she sat holding her empty toilet paper roll she saw the humor in it. “Why am I freaking out over making something out of a used toilet paper roll?” And she decided to lower her expectations. (The super cool serendipity here is that lowering expectations was a Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coaching tool I'd already planned on sharing that week!)

She gave herself permission to create the ugliest thing ever and that released the pressure she was feeling and helped her begin. She allowed herself to have fun. She combined her love of color and textures with the belief that anything can be turned into a necklace and ouila! Before she knew it she had created something very cool in a very short amount of time and had a lot of fun doing it. (and, as it turns out…she may end up using this as a template for some other real necklaces – yay!)

The Guardian Angel of Toilet Paper

Another wonderful creation was The Guardian Angel of Toilet Paper. She watches over your bathroom to make sure your holder is always ready with a full roll with the paper faced in your preferred direction! The wings were crafted from the used roll, flattened and covered with glitter and Modge Podge. Then the angel herself was made from actual toilet paper. (we all agreed there may be a market for this beauty, so consider her copyrighted!)

Planter and beautiful reminder

This tiny planter holds a bit of soil and some lemon balm seeds. The lovely reminder reads, "When I tend to my garden my creative spirit soars!" This was one of the wonderful creations that nearly didn't get made. (not enough time...don't know what to do....ect....) And then, when the idea came to her, she created the entire project from start to finish in less than ten minutes and admits it made her very happy to do so. When the seeds begin to sprout, she's going to plant them outside as a living reminder for herself. (I told you - these are amazing!)

Toilet Paper Butterfly of Transformation

This sweet butterfly was inspired with a discussion of the butterfly as a symbol of transformation in a previous class. Again...a fun creative project, created in a very short time which gave a large amount of satisfaction to the creator and to the entire group.

In a beautiful bit of serendipity, Jill Badonsky, founder of Kaizen–Muse® Creativity Coaching recently shared this fun list of creative modalities:

Though toilet paper rolls are not on the list, I feel sure she would applaud their addition!
So there you have it. Further proof that it doesn't take huge amounts of time or baskets of expensive materials, or even a particularly serious idea to enjoy some wonderful soul-nurturing creative satisfaction! If you're up for The Great Toilet Paper Challenge I'd love to see your creations. Please send a photo to me at creativeoasiscoach@me.com! 
Until next time, all the best from my creative oasis to yours,
Jill
www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

Creative Comfort in Three Short Lines

Recently the Creative Oasis Day Trippers journeyed to Photographs Do Not Bend in the Dallas Design District to experience "From Uncommon to Blue," an exhibit of photographs by Keith Carter. Inspired by Carter's photos of everyday life taken in dozens of small Texas towns, our pre-trip creative prompt was to capture something from our daily world through a creative lens. Even commonplace objects such as a coffee mug became art when we took the time to view them as such, and we all agreed it was fun to step into the role of photographer in this way. But taking our photos was just the beginning!

Comfort
by
Jill Allison Bryan

Spirit quenching warmth

Serves up earthy blue comfort

Feels good in my hands

After taking in the exhibit, we shared our own images with each other. Then we created word pools (a quick list of words inspired by our photographs) as a jumping off point to write haikus, which  provide the opportunity for creative expression in a low pressure way with a short, gentle, easy-to-use structure. 

Five syllables

Seven syllables

Five syllables

Anticipation
by
Suzy Doss

Hope springs eternal

comfort of nature's promise

peaceful beginnings...

We all agreed that this was a wonderful reminder that it doesn't take a tremendous amount of time to experience a tremendous amount of creative joy and satisfaction. Here's one more example:

Fun
by
Maribeth Flowers

Glowing shapes. Bottles

It's color for the party.

Jump in. Dance tonight.

Looking for some quick, fun, easy-to-do creative fulfillment?

Why not take a few simple shots around your home? Then, simply choose an image you like and take a minute to jot down a dozen or so words that come to mind when you view your photo. Choose words from your word pool to write your haiku. (no need to use them all and feel free to add others once you begin to write)

Want to head straight to the haiku? I'll provide a word pool for you below using some of the interesting names of the small Texas towns photographed by Keith Carter. 

paradise, oatmeal, pep, blossom, bebe, air, earth, birthright, looneyville, noonday, blessing, uncertain, sweet home, lovelady, art, sublime, fate, welcome, splendora

Have fun and please feel free to share you haikus! 

Until next time, all the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

10 Things I Learned Doing the 2012 Whole Living Clean Eating Action Plan

The magazine cover that intrigued me enough to begin.

10 Things I Learned While Doing the 2012 

Whole Living Clean Eating Action Plan 

#1 – Life still has meaning without cheese.

#2 – Healthy food is beautiful food.

#3 – There are lots of yummy breakfast options that don’t include bread, eggs or cheese. (who knew?)

#4 – Sweet potatoes might taste even better with a spritz of fresh orange juice and toasted almonds than butter.

#5 ­– I can eat kale every day, sometimes twice a day, and still love it.

#6 – It’s okay to drink breakfast (as long as it’s a smoothie.)

#7 – Making a delicious pot of soup is a huge time saver for a few days of quick, tasty meals – breakfast, lunch or dinner!

#8 ­– I would just as soon eat a bowl of crispy roasted cauliflower as potato chips or popcorn and I’m not even kidding!!!

#9 – A small handful of raw nuts with dried cranberries satisfies my sweet tooth. (Would it be even better with a square of dark chocolate? Of course!)

#10 ­– I actually really like tofu, at least when it’s scrambled with some garlic, ginger, turmeric and kale. (I wasn’t kidding about loving the kale!)

I love food, so I’m not about to last on any kind of warm lemon water and cayenne pepper for a month detox! This plan found in the January 2012 Whole Living Magazine and website was sensible, satisfying and delicious. It introduced me to some wonderful new recipes that I’ll continue to incorporate into my weekly meals.

I found great creative satisfaction in preparing such beautiful, healthy food, as well as trying out new flavor combinations and now I love having all of these new options for yummy, well-balanced meals! When combined with my 1,200 miles in 2012 challenge (walking, running and biking and average of 24 miles plus a week) I do indeed feel lighter and brighter!

Bonus alert – I also met some super cool people on-line who were following the plan too. If you like, check out their great blogs below.

http://eatplaylove.blogspot.com/

http://theromanticlife.blogspot.com/

http://www.ruth-writes.com/

http://www.wholeliving.com/153124/how-2012-challenge-works/@center/152870/2012-whole-living-action-plan

All in all, a wonderful way to start of the New Year!

If you try it out, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

New Hair Style to Add to the 2012 Changes!

What do Looneyville, Oatmeal & Paradise have in common?

They’re all small Texas towns captured by the photographer, Keith Carter and shared in his book and current exhibit 

“From Uncertain to  Blue.”

     Join me, Jill Allison Bryan, and the Creative Oasis Day Trippers, Wednesday, January 18, 2012, when we'll meet up in the design district to view these black and white photos and enjoy some creativity of our own.

" Keith Carter has the gift of taking things we have seen all our lives - a watermelon stand, a black country church, a graveyard, a clothesline with chickens underneath, a country store - and giving them another dimension, a beauty that you can't easily be rid of." -Horton Foote, 1988

     When Horton Foote wrote these words in 1988, perhaps most of us had seen images like these with our own eyes, but with the advent of urban sprawl and mega highways, I believe that photographs such as these, in addition to their stark beauty and truth, offer a rare testament to a bygone era, making them all the more precious. Though the subjects are simple, the stories they tell invite us to imagine another way of life that is all but disappearing from our country.

When

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 – Noon

Where

Photographs Do Not Bend

1202 Dragon St., Suite 103

Dallas, Texas  75207

214-969-1852

Cost

$15

Once you register, you'll receive a creative prompt a few days before our outing designed to deepen your creative experience and share something special from Creative Oasis Coaching. These trips are also a fabulous way to connect with other creative types! It's always a great group of interesting people. Join us, won't you?

For more information and register email Jill at creativeoasiscoach@me.com