Day 5

30 Days of Creativity 

With Brooke Shaden

Day 5

Today's challenge photo was a bit of a cheat, I jokingly said to Hubby last night 'I hope the challenge is movement or action anything to use one of the photos from my photo shoot Friday night a Karate Club' So when the create from your most vivid memory was the prompt, I immediately thought about the fights in my life. I would say this was probably the most vivid, I moved just before starting high school so none of my friends were attending the same school most of my class mates had been friends for years. I upset the class bully one day and she demanded that I "meet her in the locker rooms after school" I had two options, go home or meet with her. I picked option number 2 and was prepared for a beating. The fight didn't get past the pushing and shoving stage before the teachers broke it up, we both got a slap on the wrist, Because I turned up and did not place the blame on the other girl I was praised by my class and not bullied again. I spent some time after learning self defense.

I brought my children up to face up to any bullies at school and gave them my full permission to punch back if ever in a fight. I would back them all the way if they got detention (unless they were the bully) I have 3 of the most amazing young ladies who not only stood up for themselves they also stood up for others.

Questions

1. Think back to a memory that is vivid in you mind. Why does it stand out against other memories? What can you draw from it that makes the situation unique, and why are you holding on to that?

Family gatherings at my Grandmother's house, my father was one of 9 children so I had a lot of cousins, at least once a year we would all get together at Grandma's, one of my most vivid memories was the first time I climbed the wall - being an old Queenslander, there were a lot if little rooms of one long hallway, this hallway was not very wide and when you were big enough you could reach out with you hands and feet to climb to the top. The first time I managed to go up I was not sure how I could get back down without hurting myself. so I was stuck - I could not call out for help because the Aunts and Uncles might go mad at me, (I had heard some of the cousins get in trouble for doing the same thing) one of my oldest cousins came in and say my problem, reached up and set me on my feet. He gave me a wink and walked out without saying a word. He was my favorite cousin for a long time. Why is this a unique memory for me, my dad used to hate these days, but I would always secretly look forward to them. Family helps family no matter how small

2. Think of a dream that is either recurring or very memorable to you and just like about, ask yourself why that dream stands out, or why your subconscious mind is going back to it.

I have 2 recurring dreams, 1 is being crushed by a giant ball/balloon that keeps pressing me into the bed, I have to keep 'fluffing' the sheets to stop it. (Hubby loves this dream - not) 2. Driving up a very very steep hill and having my car flip backwards. The first dream usually happens when I am sick, if I have the dream and remember it or wake up because of it I am either sick or going to be. I have no understanding of the second one, although I think it is the fear of falling presenting as a car accident (for the record the car never lands, I wake up just as it tips back) 

3. Create a dream (or daydream!) journal. Begin to write down, in the greatest detail possible, your dreams. This helps in understanding and recognizing themes that continuously pop up, and it is often indicative of ways you might want to create in your are as well

My most recurring dream themes: death and dying, letting people down, being chased (super uplifting, right)

I wont be creating this journal on line, I often remember my dreams, even just fleeting parts of them. Often my dreams are based on a book I am reading, a movie I have seen and people I miss

4.    What is your most common anecdote for creating? Do you have a certain location you like to go to, or colour palette? What do those things mean to you? Do you have a reason for using them often, and if so what significance does it hold.

I often will use the pine forests for a location for creating, they are local to me, there is different light and atmosphere every time I go back. No colour palette, I like the dark or the very light, two totally different styles. Often the image and the idea dictates the colour. 

5. Choose a medium you have never worked in, and either think about how you could create in that medium or actually try it. What elements of your current art work would cross over?

Those are usually the elements you feel most strongly about and that come to define who you are as an artist.

The obvious is painting, I can paint a house but that is it... and by house I mean building not a nice little house on a canvas. Using textures and filters I could create what Brooke calls a painterly effect on my images, Do I feel strongly about it no. 

Special Challenge: Create from your most vivid memory