greedo?

Another creativity tip for getting a little boost: Ask someone else what they think! You are already on the path and are moving in a direction or you might have a few you are working on, take the next opportunity to ask a friend or just that random person you see next what they think of it all.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. That next person might mention something that sparks a new stream of thought or just moves you in the right direction for what is going to make sense. The more ideas and perspectives you can get the better!

Listening to Music

I don't think this tip will be very new to you for boosting your creativity. I think you have to think of if differently or just simply listen to different music. Don't listen to the same music you normally do. Make sure your choice of music matches the theme of the subject you are trying to find inspiration for, or listen to music that will challenge you to be in a state of mind that is different than you normally find yourself in to be creative.

Jamming out can stimulate the brain in the places where the motor actions, emotions, and creativity can be engaged.

and don't forget the classics. Do your due diligence and find the stuff that increases creativity, concentration, and other cognitive functions, find those z pattern wave length music types as your are pondering the answers to the mysteries of the universe as we can't prove the effect so much as a little classical music can't hurt, or is it the superstitions catch phrase of it's only silly if it don't work.

Zombie penguin

This was suppose to be a design for a pinewood derby car. Not that the design has any advantage for speed down the track or a quick jump out of the chutes but just a drawing, cool as a cucumber or a penguin.

The last car the boys and I built didn't have the required time needed for the more important finishing touches like this. We ended up with a great racer but nothing I would want to put on display for the whole world, even if the old boy gets second place overall.

Coffee shop anyone?

This tip for creativity comes from the thought that you may want to try to go out of your usual place where you think and add a little white noise into the back ground. If you normally control your situation, you can go to a book store and sit and think, or a cafe that has some noise going on and order a hot cocoa and force your brain to have to work a little harder to think of those thoughts that normally come when you are in the quiet of your studio. Or if your studio always has music going in the background, take a walk to a park in the quiet of the morning and see what the calm and quiet can do to stir the brain waves and see what difference the change brings.

Weird cat update

Not sure if I have shared the cat but I just wanted to add that my wife really loves walking down the hallway and this s,all painting will catch her attention and give her a little startle.

Also I would like to take this opportunity to share a challenge to be more creative: don't turn the tv off, contrary to most popular advice on the subject. Simply watch it differently - mindfully, openly, actively. Question plot choices and acting styles. Pause and challenge yourself to come up with a better plot twist or to appreciate a particularly lovely musical composition.

I guess you don't have to change what you are doing and not to say that a change of attitude will be the answer to all the creativity problems we encounter but just thinking a little different or thinking a little more can make a difference. Take the experiences you are having in your own life and give them a twist.

Just for the record I borrowed some reference on this one from Don Seegmiller . He is a great digital and traditional painter. I think the cat he painted was digital. I used traditional acrylic on a piece of laminate flooring! 

Write by hand!

Here is a tip for some added creativity that may appear to be for the writers in the crowd but I do a little writing, not a story per say but just thoughts and notes, and you should put away the Word doc or the Open office and pick up a pen instead. It is a whole experience of using your hands, the feel of the pen, the ink on your fingers, teh smell of a fresh notebook. Take it all in as you get your creative juices flowing with the change of pace. Find ways that will challenge you to get out of your comfort zone to push the brain to think differently.