Friday, July 31, 2015

Day 31 Highlights- Reflection

I loved seeing the different ways everyone chose to reflect on the creative challenges this month.  It was really great getting to work with all of you and be creative everyday this month.  I'll be on hiatus for a few days as I travel and continue working on the podcast but I'll be updating you soon with information on the ATC swap and podcast information!  Here are a few of today's great reflections, thanks so much for participating everyone!

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Day 31: Theme- Reflection


Our final creative challenge theme is: Reflection.  Ironically I chose this theme a while back before I knew that the creative challenge for August would be Reflect 31 but now it's even more fitting.  I must say it has been a terrific experience working with you all creatively each day this month and I hope you have enjoyed it as well!  I really feel like I have come to know all of you and this experience has both sharpened our creative skills and brought us all closer together.

Today your mission is to reflect on the last 30 days- what you learned, what you created, how you changed and how you are different now.  You are welcome to create a new piece today based on the theme of reflection but lets also go out with some reflections on our work.  Share some of your favorite work over the last month of this creative challenge.

The Everyday Renaissance will be launching a podcast in September that includes many of you so I included a sneak peak below as a preview- the first episode is focused on the creative process.  The podcast and larger project will offer a creative challenge at the end of each episode so I encourage you all to join in.

The Everyday Renaissance Podcast preview

Take a listen to the link above to hear the clip of the first episode of the podcast- it features: Nic, Kate, Cris, Lindsay, Arlene, Jennifer, Tricia, Michelle, Melissa, and myself.  Thanks to all of you for participating, I'll update you when the full episode will post and you're all invited to the launch party- even if you can only attend online!

And finally as always tag your work #TERPart and our partner #k12artchallenge who will be continuing with a daily creative challenge in August which should be fun as well!

Love you guys, thanks & stay creative!
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Day 30 Highlights- The End

Today's theme was the End. We are almost there my friends! Congratulations on sharing a creative experience each day, here's a few different creative perspectives on the end:


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Day 30: Theme- The End


Today's creative challenge theme is- The End.  The TERPart creative challenge is almost over but before it ends let us take a moment to consider what the end means, creatively.  Steve Jobs once said “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose” a statement that uses the end to motivate the present. I know that every end is a beginning of something else but the end is also an opportunity to have closure.

I have really enjoyed working with everyone and as I edit the upcoming podcast and hear all of your voices it just makes the experience even stronger. If you haven't noticed these last challenges are a bit more challenging because they require a bit more consideration but it's worth it.

Your mission today is to create an interesting piece about the end.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Day 29 Highlights- Fear

Today was a tough creative challenge theme because it required you to not only look at what you feared but to also share it all over the internet but both the work and the courage are really impressive! There are so many interesting and creative pieces, here are a few great ones:
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Day 29: Theme- Fear



Today's creative challenge theme is: Fear.  As we near the end of our month of daily creative challenges I think it's a good opportunity to look at what holds us back.  In addition to art and teaching I'm also an occasional journalist and above is a segment from an interview I did with actor and creative James Franco (of Freaks and Geeks and Spider-Man) in which I talk to him about his relationship with fear, the artist Marina AbramoviΔ‡, and his work as a director and star of the film The Broken Tower.  As artists we all have fears and we are generally a bit more aware of them, the key is to look at them and not let them hold us back.  There are so many artists that use there own fears as subject matter for their work such as  Louise Bourgeois and Francis Bacon and it's very personal.

Today's mission is to explore one of your own fears through art.  Look at what you are afraid of and own it by accepting that it's there and sharing your work.  As always use the hashtag #TERPart and our partner tag #K12artchallenge on social media.

There are just 2 days left of TERPart this month, I look forward with sharing a preview of the podcast with all of you on Friday!
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Day 28 Highlights- Artist Trading Cards

The varied and eclectic Artist Trading Cards I've seen have been terrific and it looks like there are a number of us that would like to swap so it is on!  As of right now there are about 12 of us who would like to trade so you can send in 1-12 cards to me along with a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) and I will swap card and send them back.  I will IM everyone who said they were interested with my address, looking forward to sharing some art!  Here are a few of the great entries from today:


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Monday, July 27, 2015

Day 28: Theme- ATC


Today's creative challenge theme is: Artist Trading Cards.  It's inspired by our own MiniMatisse aka Nic Hahn.  I love Artist Trading Cards- basically they are just small works of art on a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of paper or board that are made to trade (although that's certainly not mandatory).  I've created a few ATC's in the past and I think it would be great to actually share so physical work as well as work on social media as TERPart comes to a close this week.  The examples above are from a some terrific artists such as: Luke Chueh, KaNO, and Brian Flynn who created them for the art hustle, a professional series of artist trading cards.

Today's mission is to create a small work aka artist trading card  The subject is entirely up to you.  If you'd like to actually swap cards let me know when you share your work on social media and I'll help arrange it when I know how many people are interested.  As always use the hashtag #TERPart and our partner tag #k12artchallenge.

MiniMatisse is planing an Artist Trading Card swap for school classes in November and its a perfect opportunity to share ATC's via classroom- here's the link: MiniMatisse ATC Swap.  She'll also be hosting the #K12artchat this Thursday dedicated to the topic so make sure to stop by!
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Day 27: Theme- Sleep


Today's creative challenge theme is: Sleep.  As an adult I feel this is something I just don't get enough of and I may be presumtious here but I feel like most of you might relate!  When we sleep we enter another world and as Jeff Iliff explains in his amazing TED talk below it's something that takes up almost a third of our lives.  Sleep has so many benefits for us as humans- refreshing our bodies and through dreaming working out our issues and choices in life.

Your mission today is to examine sleep creatively and spend some time looking at what most people take for granted- also if you could catch up on some sleep that would be terrific too!  The great image above is a silkscreened poster by another caffeine dependent artist Angryblue aka Justin Kamerer- check out his work it's great!  As always share your work via social media with the hashtag #TERPart and our partner tag #k12artchallenge.  Good night, sleep tight!

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Day 26: Theme- People



Today's creative challenge theme is: People. The video above is from a great show I attended recently at BAM in Brooklyn created by David Byrne that paired musicians with color guard teams entitled Contemporary Color- creative group of people! Part of what we do as artist is explore ourselves but it is equally important to look at the people around us. There are so many different ways of exploring a theme like people and making it into interesting art from looking at people in groups to looking at the impact people have on the environment around them in with a positive or negative way. This theme is vast so choose an angle and make some great art! As always share your work via social media using the hashtag #TERPart and out partner tag #K12artchallenge. Let's go people!
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Saturday, July 25, 2015

Day 25: Theme- Earth


Today's creative challenge theme is: Earth and it's dedicated to environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy who's birthday is today. I love Goldsworthy's art and his method of not using tools but creating art with nature itself is truly inspiring. He is an artist I regularly use as a reference in my art classes as a teacher- if you haven't seen Rivers and Tides the documentary on his work be sure to check it out! 

 Today's mission is to use nature to create art. Feel free to document it using whatever media you want but do your best to create the work out of the earth itself, it's a challenge but a worthwhile one!  As always share your work on social media using hashtag #TERPart and our partner tag #k12artchallenge.  


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Friday, July 24, 2015

Day 24: Theme- Folk


Today's creative challenge theme is: Folk and this one is going out to the Newport Folk Festival which begins today and where I'll be spending the weekend.  The festival is one of the oldest running music festivals in the country with it's start in 1959 and it's where Bob Dylan famously went electric back in 1965- 50 years ago tomorrow! I've been attending the festival for years and it's always a favorite highlight of my summer thanks to the music, art, and general positive atmosphere.

 Today's mission is to let your inner folk out. Folk isn't just a genre of music, it's a genre of art and a general idea that stems from down to earth, grassroots thinking.  Allow yourself to embrace simplicity and low-tech to create artworks or get together with friends and family and use that as a motivation. Remember have fun, be in the moment, and share your work via social media with our hashtag #TERPart and our partner tag #K12artchallenge.

There are some really terrific musicians playing today including: Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Iron & Wine, Ben Birdwell of Band of Horses, Bahamas, Watkins Family Hour, Calexico, and others so I will likely not be checking in online as often as normal but I will check out the work on the crawl home- Folk on!
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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day 23: Theme- Wander


Today's creative challenge theme is: Wander.  We are nearing the end of our month long creative challenge and it seems fitting that as we started off looking at where we are we now explore where we aren't.  I'm a big proponent of wandering both physically and mentally.  I love getting lost without a plan because it allows things into you life and mind that might not otherwise arrive.  So today give yourself permission to take time out and wander either physically or mentally and create some art as a reflection.

This is also the theme for one of the upcoming episodes of the podcast so if you'd like to reflect on the experience, document it while it happening, or if you just have a good story about wandering or getting lost please record it on your smart phone and send it in to needlesart@gmail.com.

Tonight I'm also hosting the #k12artchat with Arlene and we are talking #TERPart so join us at 7:30 Central!
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Day 22 Highlights- Doodle

Today's creative challenge theme was Doodle and it was a fun one!  I love the spirit and energy of the work, here are a few favorites:








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Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Day 22: Theme- Doodle


Today's creative challenge theme is- Doodle and it's dedicated to artist Jon Burgerman. I love Jon's art because it has a beautifully improvised and fun feel at the same time as it's complex and colorful. Burgerman is also a wizard of doodling both traditionally on the page and out in the streets.  I love the painting above, it's hanging in my kitchen- I picked it up from Cotton Candy Machine's annual Tiny Trifecta Show.  Check out some of Jon's work on the link above, it's terrific!

Your mission today is to make doodles art. The best doodles are loose, carefree and fun so make sure you enjoy the process. As always share your work on social media using the hashtag #TERPart and our partner's tag #k12artchallege. Have fun! 

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Day 21 Highlights- Jazz

Today's creative challenge theme is Jazz. I love the responses today, so many great art works! Here are a few favorites:
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Day 21: Theme- Jazz


Today's creative challenge theme is: Jazz. Jazz music is an American staple but over the years it has become more than that inspiring art and improvisation. Today's mission is to explore the concept of jazz and use it as an inspiration for your creative work. You might be a fan of Gershwin, Miles, or Duke, the roaring twenties, jazz dance like Fosse, or the art that inspired by jazz like Jackson Pollock and Stuart Davis- find a point of interest and use it as inspiration. As always, share your work via social media and include the hashtags #TERPart and our partner tag #k12artchallenge.
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Monday, July 20, 2015

Day 20 Highlights- On Location

Today's theme was On Location in honor of 99% Invisible, here are some of the highlights:
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Sunday, July 19, 2015

Day 20: Theme- On Location


Today's creative challenge theme is: On Location. It's inspired by one of my favorite podcasts 99% Invisible hosted by Roman Mars.  They did a great episode this week on location scouting in Los Angeles and the Bradbury Building which has been used in a number of films such as Blade Runner which is shown above (click on the link above to listen- it's worth it). I also really suggest checking out Roman's recent TED talk on flag design below which I'm sure all of us can appreciate as artists!

For today's challenge your mission is to go out into the world and get inspired by a location.  It can be quaint or futuristic or the back corner of your closet- whatever moves you- just be creative and share what inspires you about the place with us. As always use the hashtag #TERPart and our partners tag #k12artchallenge to share your work via social media.

Also thanks so much to all of you who shared audio with me for the upcoming podcast, I'm really looking forward to launching it later this summer and it's really great to have so many creative social media friends part of it!  If you have sent in audio yet but you want to be part of the first episode you still have time, I'll be accepting audio until July 29 and I'd love to hear what you have to say!

1. What role does art play in your life?  (How does being creative make you feel or effect you)

2. What is your creative process like? (When you set out to make art, where do you begin and how does the work develop)

3. How does being creative everyday make you feel?

4. How has your relationship with art and creativity changed and developed?

5. Do you believe in an artist's or creative block- have you dealt with it?

6. What's your best advice for people who want to be creative everyday and make art a part of their life?

If you want to be part of the podcast answer these questions via your voice recorder on your smartphone and email them to me at needlesart@gmail.com with Podcast in the title.  Make sure to find a relatively quiet place to record and begin by sharing your name and location.

 
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Day 19 Highlights- Animals


Today's theme is animals and there were some really eclectic works.  Here are the highlights:


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Saturday, July 18, 2015

Day 19: Theme- Animals



Today's creative challenge theme is animals and it's in honor of one of my favorite contemporary cartoonists Matthew Diffee.  Matt's a terrific artist with a great sense of humor so today create some incredible, fun art works based on animals!

I also really recommend checking out Matt's work and joining his mailing list because if you do he'll send you out a free doodle like the one above.  I have two in my home because I forced family members to join, I'm that dedicated.  Matt also has a great new book out titled Hand Drawn Jokes for Smart Attractive People which features the drawing above along with many of his classics from the New Yorker magazine.  There's also a terrific Moth story that Matt shared which was recently aired on the Moth podcast (by the way also check out the Moth- they are terrific, I recently attended and told a story myself in New York City) check it out below!


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Day 18 Highlights- Triptych Part 3

Wow, the triptychs really look great.  I'm thrilled to see some of the creative pieces that came out of this three part theme and I'm really impressed with everyone's work!  I really wish I could post all of them but here's a few terrific examples:





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Day 18: Theme- Triptych Part 3



Today's creative challenge theme is- Triptych Part 3. It's been great seeing everyone work during this 3-part theme because it gives a better sense of everyone's individual creative style and the work is looking great. Today I'm looking forward to seeing the third piece of the triptych and if possible try to show the three works together for context!

 The image today is from one of the most well known paintings in art history, The Garden of Earthly Delights, a triptych by Hieronymus Bosch that I had a chance to see at the Museo del Prado on my recent trip to Madrid, Spain. It's a tremendous work both figuratively and literally and one that really comes alive in person! As always share your work via social media using the hashtags #TERPart and #K12artchallenge!
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Friday, July 17, 2015

Day 17: Highlights- Triptych Part 2

Today was the second day of our triptych theme and it's great to see the work develop, really looking forward to tomorrow and seeing the three works completed! Here are a few highlights from today:



A photo posted by Mary Pennington (@art_map) on
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Day 17: Theme- Triptych Part 2



Today's creative challenge theme is- Triptych Part 2 (part 2 of 3). I hope everyone is finding the extended theme inspiring. It's always a challenge to create multiple artworks that relate to each other but it is in the challenge where creativity blossoms. Hopefully the process is developing and I'm looking forward to seeing today's work.

Thanks to Michelle who posted a great blog yesterday about finding flow that highlights one of the most rewarding aspects of being creative- that moment you lose yourself! Here's a link if you want to if you didn't get a chance to read it: Finding Flow.

Also if anyone is local to NY, I have a gallery opening today in Brooklyn as part of the Sketchbook Project's Just A Second exhibit at the Ground Floor Gallery in Park Slope.  If you haven't heard of the Sketchbook Project check it out, a great art resource and some really amazing projects.  If you are lacking inspiration at all just listen to the young artist in the video above, he has it covered!
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Thursday, July 16, 2015

Day 16: Highlights- Triptych Part 1

To begin the second half of the month we are attempting a longer, more intricate 3 day theme so today is: Triptych Part 1.  Here's some of the highlights so far:

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Day 16: Theme- Triptych Part 1



Today's creative challenge theme is a bit different, it's a three part theme over the next three days. Today is- Triptych Part 1 and there's many great examples in art history but I chose one above by one of my favorites, the photographer JR. Remember there's no size, shape, or media requirements and now no theme either just a format. You pick the theme, or as it often happens- let the theme pick you and spend the next three days creating a work each day that all relate. Part of what I work towards in the summer is not just being creative everyday but creating a body of work which means multiple pieces that thematically relate.

Each day post your process images or a different part of of the triptych and on Saturday post the 3 together if possible, This is an experiment so have fun and remember to enjoy the creativity even if you get a bit lost along the way.

 It's also the official halfway point of our project so I want to thank and congratulate you all for coming this far and sticking to it. I mentioned yesterday that I created a twitter list here TERPart List. You can actually save the list to your twitter account, see all the 52 members, and just follow the feed easily using the list. If anyone missed out please let me know!

 I'm also in the middle of editing the podcast so I have one more set of questions for people to answer if the want to participate. I loved hearing the answers to the last round of questions! the questions are:

1. How has your relationship with art and creativity changed and developed?

 2. Do you believe in an artist's or creative block- have you dealt with it?

 3. What's your best advice for people who want to be creative everyday and make art a part of their life?

Just record you answers along with your name and location to me at needlesart@gmail.com
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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Day 15 Highlights- Tweet

Today we celebrated social media day with a creative twist and there were some terrific responses, here's a few favorites:

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Day 15: Theme- Tweet


Today is the birthday of Twitter and we are celebrating! The tweets above by founders Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone were the first tweets on what was then called twttr. The social media service was launched on this day back in 2006 and it went on to make a huge global impact.  Twitter is part of what makes this creative challenge project possible so today we will examine that impact on a personal level with some creativity.

 Choose any twitter account that you follow that inspires you wether it's a pop musician, a great museum, a fellow educator, or a media giant and create a work of art for them. It's something like a very artistic version of a follow friday and in addition to their twitter address make sure you include the hashtags #TERPart and #k12artchallenge.

Also now that we are almost at the half-way point I created a TERPart Twitter list so it will be easier to connect with other people participating in the project.  Click the link to see the feeds and accounts of the 52 people that have participated so far!

 Looking forward to seeing some inspiration about what inspires today!
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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Day 14 Highlights- Water

Water, or in French La Mer (Happy Bastille Day!), was our theme today and there were some great, creative responses!. It was an appropriate theme for today in New York as it began raining around noon and never stopped! Here's a few favorites for our water theme:
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Day 14: Theme- Water

Today's creative challenge is: Water. It's one of our basic elements and part of us literally so water is everywhere which is why finding a creative take on the theme should be fun and interesting! As always share your work on social media using the hashtag #TERPart and #k12artchallenge. Have fun and stay hydrated!
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Monday, July 13, 2015

Day 13 Highlights- Words

Some great words from our growing group today, here are a few favorites:
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