FINDING YOUR CREATIVE CONNECTION
Weekly Inspiration to help you find and stay connected to your creativity.
#2 Paint a Color Palette
This blog series is an exploration into staying creatively connected. How to find it, nurture it, and keep it flowing. And, possibly to find it again if it’s been disconnected for years, or decades.
In each weekly post I will share one idea/artist date/activity that I have tried and invite you to give it a try for your own creativity connection. If it’s flowing, there is so much more peace and enjoyment in life.
This week’s creativity trigger is probably more suited for visual artists – but can be fun for anyone to try. I promise.
#2 Paint a Color Palette
I am very driven and inspired by color, always have been. And I learned during the intense stress of the Covid shutdown, that mixing paint is very soothing to my soul and gets my imagination going. The challenge of what colors to choose, how much to combine, and which are the dominant, calms me down within minutes.
This is a fun, low stress activity because no one is judging, and you are not trying to create a likeness or a piece of art. You don’t have to be ‘artistic’ to have fun with this.
So, here we go… I use watercolor paint but see below for other options.
First, find or take a photo with colors that appeal to you. Can be anything and you probably have a photo on your phone that will work. Just don’t go down the rabbit hole of looking at All your photos! It is just too easy to get distracted.
I took this photo of peonies at the Grounds for Sculpture on Sunday.
Take some time with your reference photo and decide which are the 5 – 6 main colors that capture the feeling of the image. Which colors jump out at you, what are you noticing first? Is there a dark color that is contrasting with the brights or lights? You can go to 7 but less is probably more and is certainly easier.
My painted palette based on the vase of peonies. I love to add some color blocks of the darks for contrast and drama.
Now mix your paints to create those 5/6 dominant colors, and paint one square of each color. Or a rectangle, a circle, an oval, a freeform shape… whatever feels right to you. see my images here as examples. You can have a scrap paper on hand to test your colors before creating your palette.
Different shapes, in case you are not feeling the squares.
If you don’t have watercolor paints you can try acrylics, pastels, crayons, colored pencils, markers (though markers will be tough to mix but if you have a big set you might have the 5 or 6 colors you need).
Some colors will be more challenging than others to match but the mixing and matching can bring you into the zone. I find this exercise tremendously useful when I am stuck or stressed. I also use it as a warm up before working on an illustration or painting as it puts me in right brain mode.
I have spoken to so many friends who want more or regular connection to their creativity. Whether is drawing, painting, songwriting, baking, needlework – whatever lights you up. We can all use a little guidance, and reminders! It’s so easy to go a week or two, or a decade or two (right?!) letting all that fun creativity slip away. Remember, nurturing and tapping into your own creativity is excellent self-care.
I encourage you to Paint a Color Palette and see what surfaces – and please let me know if it helps you! See you next Tuesday.
Stay creative my friends.
Erin
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