Archive for Creativity & Inspiration
Make 2012 Simply Beautiful!
By | Comments
Daisies by Niamh Savani
Make 2012 a simply beautiful year! Balance your “being” and “doing” and become whole. Do things that bring joy, laughter, love, stillness and peace into your heart and life. Be compassionate towards others. Try to create as much beauty as you can.
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~ Ashley Smith
“Beauty” is my word for the year for 2012! I’ve set goals (not resolutions) for the year, but the foundation around which everything will revolve will be “Does this create beauty in my life or the lives of others?”.
Beauty does not need to be complicated – try to keep it simple! Just look at the photo of the daisies to the left – such an ordinary, simple flower - yet perfectly beautiful. Read More→
Plein Aire Painting
By | Comments
Mogollon Rim, Pinetop, AZ by Niamh Savani
Recently I rediscovered the joy of plein-aire painting while attending the Arizona Art Education Association annual conference in Pinetop, AZ. It was a wonderful chance to renew myself as an artist, reconnect with fellow art educators, and honor my creativity.
I participated in plein-aire workshops and spent many hours outside painting in the beautiful mountains and beside a picturesque lake.
Watercolor is a great medium when painting en plein aire because you can work very fast and Read More→
How to Thrive and Be Happy
By | Comments
"Thrive" by Niamh Savani
We’ve all had houseplants that we’ve forgotten about for weeks or maybe even months at a time. Yet they seem to survive pretty well without water, food, or any special attention. After a certain amount of time and inattention, the leaves start to wilt or die and the poor plant begins to show signs of distress.
This is when we finally notice the poor plant and give it some much needed attention. We water the plant, maybe give it some plant food, prune the dead leaves, open a few windows to let in some fresh air etc. Often within hours of the much needed attention the plant’s leaves spring back to life, and it seems on the road to recovery again. Read More→
Music Education Benefits: Why Students Need Them
By | Comments
Navy Specialist plays tuba, image in public domain
Guest Post by Alexis Bonari
Embrace Completion Consciousness
By | Comments
Botanical Gardens, Co. Dublin, Ireland, photo by Niamh Savani
If you call yourself a seeker or are interested in spirituality even a tiny bit, no doubt you’ve heard or read the advice to live in the present, be aware now or something similar.
“When you don’t complete the past, you can’t be free to fully embrace the present.” ~ Jack Canfield
Many people, me included often find it difficult to be fully present. We are constantly thinking about Read More→
V is for Validation: Artistic Rejection and Recognition
By | Comments
Thumbs up or down by Vlue
The vast majority of people whether they are aware of it or not are constantly seeking approval from others. Our day may be going great, and a slight negative comment or rude remark from someone can set us off balance. Outside validation from others affirms our self worth but any form of criticism or rejection can really hurt and diminish our self esteem.
“People who want the most approval get the least and people who need approval the least get the most.” ~ Wayne Dyer
Artists are even more vulnerable to outside validation because they are putting their work out there in front of others. Your work is an extension of yourself, and therefore criticism or rejection of your artistic work seems like a direct attack on your being. On the flip side, recognition and praise for your work validates your sense of self and may inflate your ego. As an artist you will definitely experience both approval and negative responses to your work. You must learn to accept both and not take either too seriously. Read More→
V is for Vortex: Find Your Special Place
By | Comments
Rock formation, photo by Niamh Savani
Have you ever been somewhere and felt a definite “vibe” or energy in the place? Cultures all over the world have recognized that certain places seem to resonate with a special energy. They are often called sacred sites and are places where the veil between the physical and spiritual world is very thin. Just being in such an energy field can raise your consciousness. Sacred sites can be places of great natural beauty, locations where miracles occurred, important historical or legendary sites, or man-made structures such as the pyramids.
“The silence of landscape conceals vast presence. Place is not simply location. A place is a profound individuality. Its surface texture of grass and stone is blessed by rain, wind and light. With complete attention landscape celebrates the liturgy of the seasons, giving itself unreservedly to the passion of the goddess”. ~ John O’Donohue, Anam Cara
Oneness: Everything is Connected
By | Comments
"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1495-98, Tempera on gesso, pitch, and mastic, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan. Image in the Public Domain.
Happy New Year! The start of a new year is always considered a new beginning and many people make resolutions or resolve to change or transform in some way in the forthcoming year. This new year is especially favorable for your personal transformation because the energies of the universe are supporting you in your endeavors! Read More→
V is for Vanish: Disappear Within and Renew Yourself
By | Comments
Mountains Vanishing into Mist, near Payson, AZ, Photo by Niamh Savani
I feel compelled to write about “Vanishing” because many of you may have noticed that I haven’t been posting anything much to my blog lately (thanks for your patience and understanding during this disappearing act!). I had many good reasons not to write including foot surgery, teaching a community college class, and other things that I described in a previous post. To tell you the truth, even before all these outward events and things collided at once, I had already started going within and felt like “hibernating” for the winter. In a way this need to withdraw and reflect was partly due to the change of seasons, and mostly due to my own need to gain clarity on some aspects of my life. Read More→
The Musical Mindset: Everyday Evocation
By | Comments
Musical Notes - Image in the Public Domain
Just as different colors can inspire certain moods, various types of music evoke feelings, memories, visions, and states of being. As humans, we’re inherently sentient, but music is a way to deepen your connection to yourself and to the world around you. Music has the power to evoke everything that is deeply human.
There are infinite ways to be creative with music, and each one can teach you something new about yourself – how you interact with the world, how sound can express your individuality, or what you can awaken in others with your music. From looking at the black and white notes on a sheet of paper, it’s almost impossible to think that anything creative could come of it. Personally, my musical training was a roadblock to my creative flow until Read More→
