It's back to school for the kids. While I always mourn a little that summer is over, it's fun to prepare for the year ahead getting new clothes and shoes, and new folders, pencils and other supplies. Last year at this time I challenged you to Clean Your Plate and remarked that even though the year is more than half over we are entering a new season and it is an opportunity to begin again. As the school year begins for students across the country why not take this time to learn something new too?
If you're like me then there isn't enough time in a day to do all the things you want to do. And it seems there certainly isn't enough time to learn something new. However, when you make the time to feed your brain, your whole self gets nourished. Even if what you are learning isn't art related, I bet the shift in perspective gives you new ideas for creativity.
Is there something you've put off learning? Is there something you want to research, something you want to know more about, something you've never tried? Do it! Take this time to learn something, and share it with us. Have you read a an interesting article lately that made you want to know more, taken a workshop, picked up a new technique? Tell us. It may encourage us to try something similar or motivate us to expand our mind in another way.
Here are some of the things I'm doing. It's not all related to art but with each new thing I'm learning I have a heightened awareness and find myself bombarded with all kinds of ideas that I can bring to my studio.
I dug up some old favorite brass stencils and have been using them in an unconventional way. It has been a lesson in patience to make this vision I have become reality (I"ll show you some other time) but meanwhile I have a new perspective on the relationship of positive/negative, and I see the potential of additional images and their capacity everywhere around me. (Remember when we were cutting stencils? Didn't that happen to you too?) Is there a technique that you want to learn, or have recently tried - maybe try making jewelry, or ceramics, or printmaking?
Finnish is a tough language and I am very very slowly training my ear to understand it. Not sure I'll ever get my mouth to speak it but it's been an interesting lesson to observe a foreign language and to appreciate those that have mastered being able to speak and think beyond their native tongue. What language have you wanted to learn...or what country do you want to know more about?
There's still a chance I might be a rock star *grin*. THIS has been really hard, but the most fun! I've always loved a good bass line in a song but now that I have my own bass I am listening to music in an entirely different way. I watch music videos to get a glimpse of the bass player to see how he (or she!) is holding their hand and if they pluck or use a pick. I have numb fingers from practicing. It's way different than the accoustic guitar I played as a teen. I'm starting all over. I knew my husband was a fabulous musician, but watching him play any instrument with finesse and ease....now I think he's a master. What instrument have you wanted to learn? What's stopping you?
This month's challenge is to feed your brain - in or out of the studio. Tell us on your blog what you have learned recently, what you plan to learn, or what you are currently learning. It does not have to relate to art. It can be anything. Tried a new recipe? Learned to knit? Took a yoga class? Refinished a piece of furniture or built a birdhouse? Joined a book club or learned ballroom dancing? Tell us.
The year isn't over - it's a new season, a time to get Back to School, a time to assess what is still on your wish list of things you want to learn. Go for it, and share with us so we can cheer you on and be motivated ourselves! Make a new blog post for Crusade No. 33 and leave a link to it in the comments section and I'll add you to the list. Newest entries will be posted at the top. Visit other crusaders during the month and leave your words of encouragement. Open to anyone, come and play!
EDIT: I almost forgot to mention the last crusade - *High Five* to all participants! It was really fun to see how each of you interpreted the challenge. I hope you found the value in revisiting and reinventing previous work - it's a terrific way to see how much you've evolved or changed in style and method of working. Thanks for coming to play and for adding to the conversation of how interesting it can be to Knock Yourself Off. I just learned about a book titled Exercises in Style where the writer presents one story 99 ways. (You can read a few excerpts on Amazon - clever man!) Imagine finding 99 ways to re-tell a story! Now imagine 99 ways to Knock Yourself Off!
EDIT: Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.
CRUSADE No. 33
- Aimeslee W
- Aimeslee W (more)
- Angelique
- Angelique (more)
- Belinda Schneider
- Carrie Gross
- Cath Sheard
- Cathy Mendola
- Darlene
- Gabrielle Fabien
- Jane Royal
- Julie Prichard
- Kathryn Antyr
- Katrina
- Kelly
- Lay Hoon
- Lee
- Maj Carita Hoenborg
- Marlynn Likens
- Maz
- Megan Warren
- Michelle Ward
- Regina Rooks
- Rosie Rowe
- Rosie Rowe (more)
