G is for Generating Lots of Ideas

Step 3

One of the fundamental aspects of creativity is the ability to generate MANY ideas. This is best accomplished without self judgement, and with a spirit of "whatever happens will be a lesson unto itself."

Because I am focusing on creativity in this AEDM challenge as well as in my classes, I am trying to learn to practice what I preach  - emphasizing the importance of play as part of the creative process. I also have lessons to plan.

I needed a simple project for my seniors today, and I am thinking about symmetry. So, in the spirit of letting the ideas flow, I began by dividing a page, writing my name is lovely script to fill one half of the space and repeating on the other side.

I liked the shapes, so I added lines to fill the space and create inner shapes.  I went over all of this with black sharpie. Then I colored with Caran D'ache crayons in a limited palette - remembering to do on one side what I do on the other. This would work for my seniors.

Step 1

Usually I paint over Caran D'ache with a brush. But I felt lazy and had an idea to try as a short cut. I wet a layer of paper towel and laid it over the drawing to see what would happen - and magic appeared. I created an accidental monotype print on the paper towel. Ideas began popping in all directions.

Step 2

First, I realized that this "printing" method would be a hit with my seniors. Easy to do, and a great way to talk about symmetry (and with great potential for a landscape with reflections for another day.)

Next, I realized that this is a perfect way to create unique fabric design in my fashion art classes. Then I started to play with the printed paper towel - bringing it into Photoshop to mess around. The results at the top are a digital painting created with lots of filters and techniques.

What a great night - I played for hours.

Art Every Day: S is for Stormy Seas

Day 19

Now this was a cool project. Visiting the blog of another artist doing the challenge, I found a link to an amazingly fun digital tool called Fluid Painter. Peter Blaskovic, the developer says that it is an "experimental tool for painting liquid." Works for me!

Once I started playing with it, I couldn't stop. I soon understood how to use the tool, and made several pretty pictures. I could not figure out how to save them until I thought to use the snipping tool in the latest Office program (love that tool by the way). Once I could capture my images, I dropped this one into Photoshop and really started to play.

This is the result, easy, digital and FUN!!!!

Decisions Decisions

Did you know that decision making is a skill, one you can teach and learn?

In its list, Wikipedia states that decision making “might be regarded as a problem solving activity which is terminated when a satisfactory solution is found.” In myexperience - with kids, and with adults, its reaching that satisfactory solution that is the challenge. For many of us, deciding anything... what to eat for lunch, where to go on vacation, what we want to do with our lives, is a problem to solve.

In our increasingly complicated world, all of us need to be able to make good decisions. The good news is that decision-making is a skill; it can be taught. The process can be surprisingly easy, lots of fun, will teach and build on an array of thinking skills, and be integrated into almost any subject or project going on in your classroom, program or family.

Criteria: A standard, rule or test on which a decision can be based

To begin to make good decisions, we must be able to:

• Recognize situations in which we make decisions and choices (ACTIVITY TIP: Have kids brainstorm lists of the kinds of decisions they need to make every day - what to eat, how to spend time, which book or movies to choose, friends, etc.)Identify conditions, constraints and criteria that are important to the decision
• Identify our options
• Evaluate the information we are considering as the basis for the decision
• Predict effects or outcomes of a particular decision or choice
• Evaluate our options as they relate to all criteria
• Generate or revise decisions in response to new information (e.g., compromise)
• State the information and values on which your decision was based

The following three activities teach how to identify and frame criteria... essential skills we all need to make good decisions. These are fun, and can stimulate lively and interesting conversations on a variety of topics. Because it is one of my favorite topics, I decided to start with an art based activity. Then, I've added two more things to do, but you decide where you want to begin :-)

Gallery Stroll - this activity not only builds decision making skills but is an opportunity to develop language for discussion art. Expect to hear words that describe color, shape, motion, emotion, and much more.

• Arrange ten to fifteen pictures (magazines, photos, paintings) around your room to create a gallery
• Have kids walk around the gallery and study the images on the walls
• When they have completed inspecting each picture, have kids rank the pictures numerically, from their favorite to their least favorite. (Note: Suggest that kids write or sketch a brief “memo” of each image in a notebook.)
• After they’ve made their choices, have kids write out their reasons (criteria) for choosing their three favorites and their least favorite. Then, in small groups, or all together ...
• DISCUSS: What attracted you to the pictures you liked best? Why did you choose the one you did as your least favorite.
• Remind kids that the reasons for their choices are their CRITERIA.

2. Where Should We Go?

• Imagine: You are planning a family vacation (or a class trip) for next summer
• Discuss: Where you might go and the things you might do when you get there
• List: the criteria you will need to consider so that you can make the best choice (these include money, time, interests, transportation, family members, physical limitations, interests, etc.)
• Discuss: How did the criteria you determine affect your vacation planning?

3. Pick a Pet

• Imagine: You are about to select a new pet
• List: Potential pet choices. Everyone can choose their particular favorite.
• Brainstorm: Take five minutes to list all the criteria you can think of that will affect your choice of pet. (Pets you already own, allergies, cost, yard, house size, etc.)
• Discuss: Has considering the criteria about pet selection affected your decision about your choice of pet? Based on what you have considered, which pet would work best for your family.

What is Creativity?

Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional rules, patterns, beliefs, relationships, and ways of doing things. Creative thinking can result in meaningful new ideas, a variety of approaches to problems, new ways to get things done, and an open minded approach to life’s challenges and pleasures.

For many of us, creativity is usually associated with the arts and design; it is of course an essential element in scientific thinking, engineering, and cooking, but creativity is also an incredibly useful tool in the mundane areas of our lives – solving practical, everyday problems …

Here’s an example:

On a hot summer afternoon long ago, before cell phones and regular paychecks, a young man was driving along a deserted road when a sudden THUD and loud grating sound made it clear that something, not so good, had happened to his aged car. A quick examination determined that the gas tank has escaped its rusting brackets, and fallen to the ground.

For some people (me) this would be a crisis, cause for panic. For this guy, it was merely a problem to be solved. He found a bag of old ties meant for Goodwill in the trunk of the car, and a stack of wire hangers meant for the dry cleaners. He knew that ties, especially silk, are very strong, and he’d learned to tie knots in a sailing class. He combined the flexible hangers and the ties into a sling, tied the gas tank in place, and drove off to the nearest gas station.

Good thinking! His clever solution demonstrated the characteristics of all creative problem solvers. He :

• Identified and stated the problem – the gas tank fell down.
• Analyzed the different elements of the problem – the gas tank is heavy, tow trucks are expensive, driving like this can create dangerous sparks.
• Developed several alternative solutions – call for help, slide something under the tank, lift it, etc.
• Selected and/or created an appropriate method for solving the problem - knot the ties, shape the hangers.
• Implemented the solution – just do it.
• And, evaluated the outcome of his actions – this time it worked.

So, what can each of us do to help our kids become creative thinkers and problem solvers?

In my opinion, it’s really not that hard. In my years of teaching, research and writing about creativity one idea stands out above all others – the most effective way to encourage creative thinking is to model the characteristics you are hoping to see - openness to lots of ideas, a willingness to listen, observing with all your senses, curiosity, a sense of play, and most important of all – a willingness to fail – to get things wrong and to try a different way. I believe that trash cans are essential tools when teaching creativity.

In other words, when encouraging creative thinking, attitude is everything. But, strategies help too ...

Please keep reading this blog for strategies, activities, resources, ideas all with one thing in mind, inspiring ideas.