Valerie Jones News

Experiencing Creativity

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:27:24 CDT

Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. NIV

Since God created us in his own image, we were made to be creative. Look at nature around us and see God's creative handiwork! Maybe we can't make a tree, but we sure can be inspired by what He created.

We are on a journey through the book, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I agree with Julia 100% when she says, "Creativity is an experience - to my eye, a spiritual experience. It does not matter which way you think of it: creativity leading to spirituality or spirituality leading to creativity."

She has a list of Basic Principles that I'd like to share with you. She recommends reading them once a day and listen for changes in your thought system.

The Artist's Way
Basic Principles

by Julia Cameron

Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.
There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life - including ourselves.
When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives.
We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
Creativity is God's given to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.
The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.
As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward divinity.

Hair

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:21:04 CDT

Step 1

Overview to drawing hair - Draw the outline shape of the hair. Begin by applying the dark areas in the direction the hair grows. After dark areas are placed, blend them out to be a halftone value. Reapply the darks by drawing the darks into the light area. Pull the light area into the dark area with the sharpened point of a kneaded eraser. Never try to create the light areas of the hair by leaving the white of the paper showing and drawing around it. The highlights of the hair are actually the light reflecting off the top, outside layers of the hair. The hair creates shadows on the face.

Step 1 – I put in the dark areas of the hair using a 4B pencil. I applied the pencil strokes in the direction the hair is laying. The hair is darkest right underneath the cap because the cap is casting a shadow onto the hair.

Step 2

Step 2 – Once the darks were in, I blended over the whole area of hair. Is the hair done? Absolutely not! For hair to look full and thick, many layers of pencil strokes and blending must occur.

Step 3

Step 3 – I went back in and re-defined the darks and blended again. Pretty dark, huh? Now it is time for the eraser to pull out some lighter values in the hair.

Oh, but wait! Putting in the dark hair is bringing out the darks in the eyes. They’ll still need adjusted, but maybe not as much as I first thought.

Back to the eraser. You want a chisel point on your eraser. It will aid you greatly when pulling out the lighter values of hair.

I use a utility knife to cut the edges. I keep the remnants because they are just as useful as the eraser.

Step 4

Step 4 – I turned my work on the side so I could see shapes better rather than draw what my mind thought hair should look like. You see how the eraser pulled out the lighter values in the hair? Pretty neat, huh? It’s not looking as dark either.

Step 5

Step 5 – The hair needed more definition, so I went back in the the blending stump.

Ach…I could mess with the hair all day!

Next time on The Drawing Board – the cap.

Creative Thinking

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:19:57 CDT

In Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, , she states -

“The idea that the Creator encourages creativity is a radical thought. We tend to think, or at least fear, that creative dreams are egotistical, something God wouldn’t approve of for us. After all, our creative artist is an inner youngster and prone to childish thinking. If our mom or dad expressed doubt or disapproval for our creative dreams, we may project that same attitude onto a parental god. This thinking must be undone.”

As a woman, I have been taught that being having a career in creativity is not what women should do with their lives. Creating art does not pay the bills. Taking care of a husband and children is what I “should” do with my life. (We’ll discuss the “shoulds” in life at another time). I had to create affirmations to rid myself of this fear of God not approving of my artistic endeavors. I went straight to the Bible for these affirmations.

Proverbs 31:10-31 is a great affirmation from God to women. The verses that speak to me are 24 and 31.

Verse 24 - “She make linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”

Verse 31 - “Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

What are your fears? What affirmations can you try?

Ears

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:28:35 CDT

Ears are different than any other part of the face. They have a unique shape and the skin is shinier. Our ears are oilier which creates the shine. I love drawing ears because of the dark darks and the bright whites. A lot of contrast is in the ear.

Step 1

This little guy’s ears do not show the interesting shapes and huge contrasts. I’m up for the challenge anyway.

Since the ear’s shape is so unique, you want to make sure you have an accurate line drawing before you start with the shading.

Step 1 - I started with a B pencil in the darkest areas.

Step 2

Step 2 - After adding the darks, I took the blending stump and blended from dark to light. I adjusted the lighter areas with the kneaded eraser. I re-defined the darks with HB an B pencils.

See? That wasn’t so difficult!

Next time on The Drawing Board is a tutorial on hair.

The Artist's Way

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:41:37 CDT

Over the last 7 or 8 years, I have been an avid reader to The Artist's Way written by Julia Cameron. Her writing has given me much insight to who I am as an artist and a person.

The Artist’s Way has been an inspiration. Julia Cameron’s books have awakened the creative in me so much that I have given many of these books away to my art students. They report back to me that the book often encourages them when they are in an artistic slump.

I will be highlighting The Artist's Way in a series of posts beginning next week. These posts will be labeled as Thoughtful Thursdays. I hope you will find true inspiration in the weeks to come!