Innovation Insights: Where Play Powers Breakthroughs

Here’s what I learned (or re-learned) from today’s Creative Sandbox session: I don’t like working this way! Why? It’s too much execution without discovery! I get BORED! I want to be in discovery phase, following curiosity, as much as humanly possible. THAT is why I love improvisation. THAT is why I CHOOSE to improvise in so much of […]

“Do you feel fear when you create?” she asked. Yes. All the time. And right now, my anxiety is mounting as my two speaking gigs approach. So! Much! Fear! I know she was referring to the fear of the blank page, the fear of making an ugly mark that I don’t like, but ultimately it’s all the same […]

All good things must come to an end, even the Friend of Calligraphy Spring Retreat, alas. I’m back home, so no more uninterrupted create time. Back to my 15 or 20 minutes a day in the Creative Sandbox. Do I wish it were more? OF COURSE! But there are so many other things I ALSO want. Like flying […]

Adding color! Altered book page spread — book page poetry: courage, courage, be prepared for opportunity. #bookart #bookarts #bookpagepoetry #alteredbook #blackoutpoetry #whiteoutpoetry #originalart #originalartwork #abstractpainting #abstractart #doodleartist #doodlesofinstagram #retreat #watercolor #watercolorground #zillerink #creativesandbox #creativesandboxway #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Work in progress, 8″x8″, pencil and watercolor (and watercolor ground) on wood panel. Trying to decide whether this is going to be a yellow ochre piece, with hints of blue and green, or a mostly blue/green piece.. But first, lunch! 🙂 #retreat #workinprogress #wip #originalart #originalartwork #painting #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #doodle #doodleart #watercolor #watercolorground #pencil #creativesandbox #creativesandboxway #doodleartist #doodlesofinstagram […]

My last bit of Creative Sandboxing before heading up to bed. Smudged a bit of watercolor… grrr… Well, not to worry, after it’s all painted in, who knows what I’ll do next anyway? I may be gessoing over it, or collaging over, or … Can’t the retreat just last forever, please? #retreat #painting #workinprogress #wip #creativesandbox #creativesandboxway #originalart […]

Details from watercolor doodle, inspired by @cathyjlawson, made at Friends of Calligraphy Spring Retreat while listening to a recording of myself doing my speech. (Things we resort to when a speaking gig is coming up soon!) Now it’s time for a snack! ? Can I just be on retreat all the time, please? #retreat #workinprogress #wip #watercolor #watercolormarkers […]

Playing with Winsor Newton watercolor markers at the Friends of Calligraphy Spring Retreat. Inspired by @cathyjlawson ?#retreat #workinprogress #wip #winsornewton #watercolormarkers #originalart #creativesandbox #creativesandboxway #doodle #doodles #doodlesofinstagram #complements

Altered book page, white-out poetry work in progress: YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES you have the courage to fight insurmountable obstacles. I like this message so much better than the original one on this spread. The book is called Win Him If You Want Him, published in 1938, and yes, it’s just as regressive and sexist as you […]

Got some more Creative Sandbox time in after dinner. That’s the beauty of the retreat: uninterrupted create time. I never get to do this at home! Art time in the morning, art time in the afternoon, art time at night. Bliss! Except that I was actually rehearsing for my upcoming speaking gigs in the afternoon. And napping. But […]

Adding a light layer of watercolor. It looks like an abstract elephant for a baby’s room right now, don’t you think? Not sure where this is going, but that’s par for the course. Time for a break. Maybe I’ll walk around and see what everyone else is up to… That’s always good for some inspiration! #retreat #dailyartist #creativity […]

Four knots from this morning at the Friend’s of Calligraphy retreat: 8″, 6″, 6″, and teeny-tiny. I’m still liking the teeny-tiny knots the best, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise, because they are my *comfort zone*! I’ve been making teeny-tiny knots every day! Of course I like my teeny-tiny knots the best! How will I get better […]

Knot doodles from the opening circle at the Friend’s of Calligraphy Spring Retreat. I didn’t get much art-making don’t this afternoon, because I was napping, and then rehearsing my speech for my upcoming gigs. But I brought my journal with me to the opening circle, along with a Pigma Micron, and the page bloomed with knots by the […]

Feeling knotty. Today I pack up the car with art supplies (which will probably take hours…) and oh, yeah, a few clothes too, to head to the Friends of Calligraphy Spring Retreat! I’m thinking of trying out knots at larger sizes. I have some wooden panels that have been sitting around. Might as well use them! It will […]

Woke with a migraine. I’m sure the late night working did not help… sigh. Apparently I need to learn that lesson again. And again. Time for another dose of my Golden Formula: self-awareness + self-compassion = the key to everything good. We think that the key to a consistent practice (creative or otherwise) is self-discipline. NOT TRUE! In […]