Hello fellow artists,

Susan Bernstein's blog, Work From Within, says what I've been saying nearly every day. Her entry for October 6, 2006 is "Do you want to be successful or significant?" Working from within puts you in touch with your significance. Be an artist. Work from within.

Susan is a career management coach.

Technorati Tags: meaningful work, self expression, authenticity

California Coast #3
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album

Hello fellow artists,

The question of how depiction of our lives started in prehistory is interesting, but the answers are inconclusive. Even if we could have a conversation with prehistoric artists, these artists may not have been aware of why they painted the first pictures.

When children begin drawing and painting, they start with symbols, or pictures that look to them like objects in their lives. They choose colors, line and texture that express how they feel, without thinking about their feelings.

Adults have the disadvantage of either over-thinking feelings or disconnecting from feelings so that we have no idea if we feel like drawing with blue or red or drawing a wavy line or a jagged line. What if someone saw us drawing a red jagged line? What would people think of us? Better to draw a blue wavy line. Better to not reveal ourselves too much. This is a trait drilled into us and must be overcome if we want to be artists with something meaningful to say.

For ideas about how to work through a creative block, see my Sept. 20 entry.

Technorati Tags: self-expression, art tutorial, creative block

Gentleman's Goat
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album

Hello fellow artists,

Chances are there were no art schools in prehistoric times, but prehistoric art is on view in many art museums. Or you can go to Easter Island, a remote island in the South Pacific, where sophisticated prehistoric sculptures have been fascinating archaologists for years. Other examples are in the Congo, Baja California, Bolivia, India, and beneath the sea at Cosquer Cave.

How did these people learn to do this work which is fascinating to people thousands of years later? By listening to their own inner artist. We all have an inner artist. Be an artist.

Technorati Tags: prehistoric art, inner artist, art tutorial, self-expression, creativity

Watercolor #8
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album

Hello fellow artists,

If there were no art schools, would there still be art? Well, of course! People have had a need to express themselves artistically for over 30,000 years. How do we know this? Cave paintings found in France are this old and are considered to be among the finest expressions of art ever found. No one really knows, but an hypothesis is that the makers of these drawings were shamans in a trance --the paintings are this good.

I'm wondering what our art work would be like without the distractions of television, electricity, cars, telephones, commuting, bright lights and art critics. I think we would learn for ourselves how to be expressive. Becoming an artist is not a mystery if we listen. The answers are within.

You can see the paintings at Bradshaw Foundation.

Technorati Tags: cave paintings, Chauvet, art tutorial

Watercolor #1
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album

Hello fellow artists,

In the last entry I waxed poetic about the value of mental imagery. Mental imagery tends to come easily to visual artists, but if you have difficulty with mental imagery, it could be you are a different kind of artist.

According to Howard Gardner, who developed the theory of multiple intelligences, there are seven other kinds of smart, each with a specific ability:
-- Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
-- Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
-- Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
-- Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
-- Musical intelligence ("music smart")
-- Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
-- Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")
-- Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")
Do you recognize yourself in any of the above? The Tech SavvyEducator has links to Multiple Intelligence tests online. An artist is someone who develops his/her abilities. Be an artist.

For more, see Multiple Intelligences by Dr. Thomas Armstrong.

Technorati Tags: Multiple Intelligences, creativity

Bluebird and Clematis
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album

Hello fellow artists,

"Social Artistry seeks to build an alternative planetary society based on the principles of democracy, sustainable development, human-based needs and values, universal human rights, environmental protection, social justice, equality and the sovereignty and dignity of all peoples worldwide." -- Jean Houston

Jean Houston has been teaching people how to be more creatively human for over 30 years, has authored 19 books and is the senior consultant to the United Nations on human development. You can hear her on this subject on her website.

When you know how to tap into your creativity, you become capable of changing your world. Take advantage of this marvelously gifted person to learn how to do this. Be an artist.

Technorati Tags: Social Artistry, Jean Houston, creativity, leadership

Sunset in the Clouds
Patricia Roshaven
Photo Album