An awesome experience!

Alien Animation

     I have been working really hard trying to keep up with regular work along with learning the software here at Wienot Films. This project has not only been a great learning experience but so exciting to be able to take a simple idea and turn it into this sweet video. I am excited to get working on my next little project!

     Working at Wienot Films has been an amazing journey making some neat explainer videos for all sorts of clients. This video was a chance to learn some new skills and push the software in different ways that aren't always needed on client work. We try to take the needs of each client and combine it with a great story and interesting visuals. This whiteboard projects has not only been informative in learning the software but I always get such a kick out of seeing the final project being played. 

two hand gesture

use both hands to gesture, this will cause the brain to use both sides as there is some science to say that each hand us influenced more by the opposite side of the brain. Get both brain halves working by using both hands to talk... try it.

Write Freely

Take a few minutes to put some ink down on some paper, don't restrict yourself in what you are drawing or writing, just open up your thoughts and let the pen or pencil be the guide. Do not rule out anything until after you are done and then you can sift through what you have and pick the best.

I have seen an artist doing warm-up exercises go through a ream of paper during just the hand, wrist and elbow warm up session before he even thought about really drawing something interesting. Now he always had some interesting things in those exercises but that was not the goal during the stretch.

Get the pencil on the paper and make it move around!

Daydream

Normally we don't hear the suggestion to daydream very often or at all, but another way to take just a few minutes and boost some creativity is to daydream. There are those that tend to have a more creative outlook on the issues and challenges in front of them when their mind is wandering. And the idea of being balled up in front of the computer screen just doesn't sound very creative thought provoking to me. So give it a shot, let the mind wander for a few minutes and see what kind of a journey you can have!

Put yourself else where?

Think about something far away, either time or place, and let your imagination run wild. Think of as many of the things happening around you, use all your senses to imagine what could be going on. Get crazy with all the details and activities and events and your will be surprised at all the fun you can have.

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.

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.

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.

Look at something blue or green

Okay, I will admit this one is a little strange for me, except I have seen those individuals with the dyslexia look through a blue sheet of paper to help focus on the right stuff, so why not try it. I am told the colors tend to enhance performance on cognitive tasks because people associate the colors with other things. Blue goes with water, sky, and openness in general, while green is all about growth. I got it, next time you are having a struggle look at a map of the world with all those blues and greens!

RUN! ZOMBIE!

I titled this blog RUN, cause one wonderful way to boost your creativity is to exercise. According to some studies, which at this time I don't know to document for you but they happened, when we are physically active and moving around and doing the groovy dancing moves, the body loosens up adn our mind is a little more free adn open to those wonderfully creative thoughts that are floating around just waiting for our brains to grab onto and develop.

Meditate

Are you feeling like your having all the same thoughts and can't seem to think of anything new? When in the heat of needing to think, take a few minutes, ten or so, and try meditating. It promotes divergent thinking, and a state of mind in which we can get the new idea generator on its way to fun and exciting thoughts.

Close your eyes and let your mind wander or focus it on the calm and tranquil.

randomnesses

Over the next little while I am going to be sharing some tips I was given to boost creativity. With each post I have included a page from some sketch books that I have made by repurposing other items from cereal boxes and un-used worksheets from elementary schools and else where. I have included pages that are cool and exciting and ones that I am happy to show but I have also included those pages that I am not that excited to show the world but I am doing this to show that there isn't always great days of art. You have to keep movig through the not great art days.