Keri Smith The Illustrator and author of How To be An Explorer of The World

Illustration by Keri Smith

Keri Smith is an illustrator and graphic designer with an impressive and long list of clients that include: Forbes, Chronicle Books, Random House, Bank of Montreal, Toronto Stock Exchange, Ladies Home Journal, Men's Journal, New York Times, The Body Shop, Washington Post, People and others.

However she is most well know for her phenomenal work on creativity through the authorship of books that help the everyday day person tap into what I like to refer to the 'prana' (life force) of things, places, people and experience.

So here is a book, How To Be An Explorer of the World; Portable Art Life Museum, that I bought quite a while ago, as I maintain this creativity blog and am a HUGE fan of Keri Smith and her work.

the next book you should buy

This is Keri’s fourth book after so many other inspiring creativity-inducing books such as Living Out Loud, and my all time fave - The Guerilla Art Kit, and a book entitled Wreck This Journal. For creatives these kinds of books offer a treasure trove of prompts and inspiration, in order to help you see everyday things with new fresh eyes. I think they also offer some wonderful blogging prompts.

An Excerpt from How To Be An Explorer of the World by Keri Smith

Here is a prompt I think we should all try our hand at: a magical invented story inspired by an everyday simple object. For example,

I came across a light turquoise strand of thread that magically smelled of succulent cherries, airy cream, gold-dusted oranges and chocolate mousse. As I inspected it more carefully I knew it looked antiquated, weathered, and very fragile. So I placed it within an envelope and sent it to an expert. I eagerly awaited a response. After weeks of despondent mail-box-checking it finally came! It seems the thread belonged to a dress belonging to Marie Antoinette! It seems the thread was pulled from the actual dress that she disrobed of the day she had to change into simple white frock for her up and coming beheading. How the thread came to arrive on my house carpet is a whole other story...Now I keep this thread in a very special place, I've stitched into the lining of my coat so that I remember to 'Let them Eat Cake!'

If you still can't tell just how amazing this book is just read the back cover!

The back cover of Keri's Smith's book How to be An Explorer of teh world

Ms. Smith also maintains a blog entitled, Wish Jar Explorations of the Familiar that is laden with excerpts from her book, outstanding and well researched quotes by fascinating artists.

Earth Day Creativity Shot!************ Inspiring Artist Vik Muniz on TED Talks

Have 15 minutes??

Indulge in a creativity shot! Watch this TED talk video by Artist Vik Muniz who makes art from pretty much anything! Be it shredded paper, wire, thread, clouds, sugar or (my fave) chocolate!!

I think this is a great artist and visionary to look at on Earth day as his work inspires me to see in new ways and to look at things that I would normally disregard, and notice that these things have majestic potential.

My earth day wish and oath is that we would approach our communities and future with open eyes, a conscious heart, an active hand and a willingness to try. - Amarettogirl

Here in this video he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images. If you stick it out past the cotton, fluff shapes you'll me mesmerized!!

I was fortunate enough to see this Vik Muniz piece in 'real life' when it was at the MOMA:

So what do you say? After reading such negativity, deceit and hardships in the news why don't we shake our heads and open our eyes to seeing life a new. Lets try to see the beauty and potential in everything. Lets be more creative as we strive to create environmental balance and daily peace.

Lastly, let me share this phenomenal ten second exercise emailed to me today by a brilliant student W. Greenbaum,

Here is a 10 second exercise: Read then try...

Close your eyes. Inhale softly, then exhale slowly. Then open your eyes.

That moment was brought to you by the planet earth. The relative stillness provided by her gravity. The air from her atmosphere. Love and Respect her. That's all you have to do.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

3ww prompt:Deceit, Indulge, Oath

Drawing With Light

So I was going through some pics from this past summer and I found these silly abstracted photos from when I was playing with drawing with night light:

path by marisol diaz hearts by marisol diaz circles by marisol diaz

In the popular world of drawing with light my pics are definitely little itty bitty babies!!!! To see some AWESOME, sophisticated, funny and flat-out spectacular drawings with light images (and EVEN get in on the action with awesome INSTRUCTIONS check out this site- BOOM!) Boom is a site made by genius designer Jeff Hamada in hopes to foster a community of creators. He asked for submissions of light drawings and boy did he get them!

Light Drawing submitted to Boom by Brett Peacock & friends | http://www.soap.com.au/

On Resurrecting a 24yr. old Animation Project

Unearthed envelope of drawings by Gregg Emerydetail of stack of illos by GE

So while my hub (fellow artist and teacher Gregg Emery) and I have been on Spring Break he unearthed a couple of things from the deepest bowels of the garage (imagine a garage that two artist employ). He had been stretching some new canvases when he stumbled across a large brown envelope that housed a project he did back when he was in the 9th grade.

Mind you we currently teach high-school and we have just assigned a sixty-second digi artistic-animation project to our advanced portfolio development class made up of 10, 11 and 12th graders.

details of 24 yr. old Animation by Gregg Emery

In the past I have made some short test runs of my own animations inspired by artist William Kentridge, who primarily illustrates a single drawing that he animates by erasing and redrawing on the same page. You can see samples of his work on Youtube because much of how Kentridge's work is displayed, is in moving projection form. However, even with our love of Kentridge and my work on animation I had never known that in my husband's past lurked this behemoth of an animation memory.

Today, using programs like IMovie on the Mac or MovieMaker on a PC (and countless other free movie programs) it has become very simple to drop hundreds of photos into a track and speed them up. Now, things like transitions and animated titles often come in prepackaged cookie-cutter forms.

Yet back in the North Country 24 yrs. ago there were no digital cameras, no accessible movie making programs and definitely no prepackaged ways of making animated titles.

hand drawn animated title by Gregg Emery

So here lies my husbands ninth grade self-assigned animation project in which he hand illustrated every single sec of movement and photographed each new page. His art teacher at the time assisted with driving the roll of painstakingly shot 8mm film to get developed. Needless to say the film never returned developed.

There had been something mysteriously wrong with either the development or the film itself.

Can you imagine the heartbreak that caused a young man who had put in that many hours of self-assigned work?? In the end this entire project never saw the light of day. It was designated into an envelope that was to be moved around and spontaneously unearthed 24 yrs. later. opening scenes by Gregg Emery

So for my last days of Spring Break, my project is to do some artistic CPR and resurrect this amazing piece of art work from the land of the forgotten.

my sequencing notes

We have already reordered all the sequencing. Since it is so old, it was often difficult for my husband to remember what many of his intentions in specific areas were.

I have also written out his overall story arc vision and we discussed where I might breathe some 'Marisol' life into aspects of the story to boost his overall narrative.

Thankfully, my husband loved all my proposed additions (not changes) and I'm starting today!

Everyday Typography..

sample of a Primitive Country Folk art sign

I went up to the North Country this past weekend to visit my in-laws. We even crossed over the border to Cornwall, Canada for an afternoon of consignment/thrift/antique/ (really window) shopping. One thing that shows up in all the country decor and antique shops on the way up North are those "Primitive" (I just learned that is indeed what they're called) country folk art wall quote signs saying things like "I don't repeat gossip, so I'm only going to say this once" or "don't look down on someone unless you're helping them up" or "family is..." you can fill in the blank with any sugary heart-warming thing you like (cuz it all looks good on an antique-treated, wood stained, framed sign).

An embroidered primitive sign from Susie's Bittersweet Treasures

However, I'm partial to the hand-lettered signs as opposed to the computer generated ones that are meant to imitate the hand-lettered look with a cleaner polish. I am also partial to the beautiful hand -embroidered quotes that are sewn on to tea- or coffee stained fabric. As they are meant to be, all of them are very inspirational.

So for today I thought all of us 'creatives' in cyberspace could all use some inspiration and motivation to put our hand and art back into writing. I discovered this 'envelope' (scroll down) in my writing desk (its origins unbeknownst to me) and I thought I would share the images of the writing tools and eloquent instructions that came within the envelope with you.

Instruction #1

A well positioned desk is an invitation to write.

detail of pen nibs

Instruction #2

Dip the nib in the ink-pot and try first on scrap paper: otherwise the first line might be a spot or ink blot. Use a protective sheet to cover the blank part or your sheet as you write. Always write with the full width of the nib.

front of envelope envelope insert

Instruction #3

Do not use pads: use single sheets. To begin the quiet art of beautiful writing, inner calm and concentration are required.

back of envelope

Instruction #4

It might be that at first your hand will not accomplish what you expect. Try again. Eventually you will reach your goal, and, in the process, gain a true feeling of peace.

When finished with your writing thoroughly clean the nib. You are now experiencing the pleasure of writing.

For really wonderful examples of lettering one of my favorite art magazines Somerset Studio has a wonderful section entitled Lively Art of Lettering that you should be sure to check out!

Youniverse- A Visual-based Personality quiz

As a creativity blogger meandering in cyberspace I usually find lots of silly little cupcake and spice quizzes, but this time I found Youniverse. Lets just say I have been on it for almost an hour now, assessing my strengths and weaknesses in a series of different quizzes about career, traveling, new years resolutions, love, friendship, tastes, art, etc.,

The good part - lots of fun and often accurate results (but so is a visit to the local palm reader since generalizations can be about anyone). The bad part (which might be good for others) is that Youniverse is also a social networking site and by joining you'll see they can hook-you-up with meeting and chatting with people. They even have a relationship with travel sites and hotels to help you pick the right hotel through a visual quiz. Within my first hour I recv'd two emails from men wanting to chat (one in India) and for the record I checked the 'married' looking for girls with which to be friends box! So if you're single and like to virtually meet people this could be really good or at least an interesting way to meet people...

So... ready to discover more about yourself? Well, you're in the right place! Find out more about how your mind works, your personality, what kind of traveller you are and what's going on in your heart right here- take our quizzes to discover your unique VisualDNA...

According to Youniverse, it turns out I am the following -
my NEW YEARS resolution: SPIRITUALITY
CAREERS: CREATIVE
ART: EYES WIDE OPEN
MOVIES: SENSITIVE SOUL
PARTY: PARTY POOPER
MIND: THE CREATOR
LIGHT MY FIRE: PLAYER
DATING: BASHFUL BLUSHER
PERSONALITY: EASY RIDER
LOVE: LOVE MAGNET
TRAVEL: WANDERING SOUL
WELL BEING: COUCH POTATO (ouch!)

So if you try it, let me know what you think!

An Alternative Way to Think About the Creative Process

Seeing as I've been feeling a little under the gorgeous Northern Eastcoast weather this weekend, I spent a good portion of time laying back perusing through some of the amazing talks on TED. Something I highly recommend to any creative whenever they have 18 minutes to spare.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Currently Ted features an amazing online community and offers what I consider to be a phenomenal set of free, brilliant, educational video-talks on what they appropriately have tagged 'Ideas Worth Spreading'. Their mission is to make the world a better place by the spreading of ideas.

So here is just one of many TED ideas that I want to help share, especially with my readers since this blog is on living an art-full life. This idea comes from Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of best selling book, Eat, Pray, Love. Her idea is that instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. She's an excellent, inspiring speaker and this talk was just what every creative needs to hear every time they ask themselves, 'What's next?'

I hope you received a spark or an 'a ha' moment from this video. Let me know, as I will most likely be featuring Ted talks again!

Artist Workspace - Vignettes of my space

After seeing the publication Where Women Create, I started to look at my own space differently. First of all, growing up I never had a room (nor did anyone I know) that served solely as a space to create/work/build-in. In the US I grew up in apartments and there was never even a nook for tools or workspaces of any kind. In Puerto Rico my family had homes, but most of the tools were for construction and often out about the grounds, scattered wherever they were needed. It was my artist cousin (Adalberto) in Puerto Rico that loved to paint like me, but also work with wood and he started to develop a large passageway in his parent's home dedicated to where he placed a band-saw, table-saw and other tools. Of course by then I had seen basement and garage workshops a plenty in friends homes - still I never conceived of my own studio. I simply worked in my room, in a kitchen, on the floor or wherever I found some 'spreadability' space.

supply shelves in my studio

It was in college, my junior year that all Visual Art department students received their own studios, with movable walls and no door. Of course some complained about who did or did not have the most space, but I couldn't have been more thrilled. Just to have a space in which I could hang research, inspiration, and leave projects in half completion was a delight.

The corkboard that hangs over my drawing table

In grad school, at the beginning of the Master's program studio's were given on a first come first serve basis (I had arrived early enough) and yes we had doors! Now as a read and look at so many inspiring artist rooms, I realize looking at others studio's is just as inspiring as having a room of your own. I wish I would have taken more pictures of those early studios. I will try to scan the images I do have and post them for you to see...they were so much more serious spaces than the light-heartedness you see in these current ones.

A little country pig that hangs from my drawing table lamp

Before I was married I lived in a one room studio apartment in Manhattan and even there I was sure to have a 'studio corner'. Thankfully I married a fellow artist and in all of our living spaces (two) we have been sure to get one room (above the number of bedrooms that we actually need for a studio space. So today I thought I would share glimpses/vignettes/niches of my little studio 0(since my husbands studio tends to be the outdoors). Though its not anywhere as awe-inspiring or 'high' end as the remarkable spaces featured in Where Women Create, I still hope my colorful tidbits give you a little inspiration.

A corner of my drawing table with 'house' rings waiting to be completedTwo rabbits and a little wooden pig hand-carved by grandpa George

I find it interesting as I look at these how mentally I am always attracted to clean minimal, organized spaces but for the life of me I CAN'T seem to create that in my own space- instead my studio is cluttered with visual noise - all be it 'pleasing' and 'purposeful' visual noise but 'clutter' all the same. It may be a result of never having had the ability to saturate a space so much in the past or it may simply be a reflection of me?

My 'Innocence Lost' drawing on the wall above my printerEvery artist studio needs a rainbow.My Pullips and Blythes...I'm into the Sixties and their Twiggy big-eyed girlsMy very special friend, my embroidery machine.My 'for everything-else' sewing machine - My old Sue singer died.

I hope you enjoyed these little snippets I'll be sure to do more as I get more courageous!

Letters from Father Christmas

A Christmas Gift for the Young Souls in Our Lives

One of my Favorite Things- notice that my heading states 'young souls' not necessarily young people. My husband and I were in our early thirties when we discovered (or rediscovered) this incredible lesser known work by J.R.R. Tolkein (Yes, The Lord of the Rings author) entitled Letters From Father Christmas. In fact, it was December 23rd, 2003 at approx. 2:50pm when we came across a copy of the book in Borders (I found the receipt nestled in between the pages).

Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkein So for today's post (three days away from Christmas) I thought it would be great to share this extraordinary work with you. Tolkein wrote a letter under the guise of Father Christmas every year for his children. It would arrive in the mail with postage implying it had traveled from the North Pole. And if you're thinking well isn't that quaint, think again - these letters were incredible, masterfully created, down to the handwriting and fantastical events/ illustrations and the not-so mundane details of a daily life in the North Pole. If the Polar bear had to write in lieu of Father Christmas the handwriting was practically illegible and he spoke of how difficult it was to hold a writing instrument in a paw, and if it was shaky well you know how cold it is in the North Pole. However, the North Pole was no romanticized heaven here on earth for Tolkein, there were goblins and wars there too and daily trials and tribulations to speak of, from roofs caving in and the adventures of Ilbereth the elf (secretary to Father Christmas).A publication with pull-out letters Griffin & Sabine StyleVarious Postage Art from the Letters

My husband and I have no children and we fell in love with this publication and the magic of it. What an amazing world we live in that we could share in such a brilliant stroke of genius as these letters.

It all happened like this: one very windy day least November my hood blew off and went and stuck on the top of the North Pole. I told him not to, but the North Polar bear climbed up to the thin top to get it down- and he did. The pole broke in the middle and fell on the roof of my house, and the North Polar Bear fell through the hole and made it into the dining room with my hood over his nose, and all the snow fell off the roof into the house and melted and put out all the fires and ran down into the cellars, where I was collecting this year's presents, and the North Polar Bear's leg got broken.

-excerpt from Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkein

Art Give Away - Thankful Photography

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! pickin' red rasberries by marisol diaz

So lets try a Thanksgiving Art giveaway! Leave a comment with what you're thankful for and be in the running to win an 8X10 photographic print of this Pickin Red Rasberries image! Remember be creative - we may find that we're all thankful for family - so what will set your winning comment apart? I'm thankful for vibrant LIFE in all of its forms...my truly extraordinary relationship with my husband, my three four-legged children and their bright eyes, my parents, my hands, my art, my bed, my house, my niece and nephew and every thriving member of my family...especially those that have mastered the art of laughter and joy - life is too short for sour grapes! What Are You Thankful for?

Update on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 11:34AM by Amarettogirl

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

I received such thoughtful, introspections for the Art Giveaway - I was truly moved. It was so hard to choose that I chose a winner AND a runner up! So I will be sending two copies of this signed photographic print out to the winners (one 8x10 and the other 5x7). In first place is Ogun with his thankful comment about waking up to life. I have read Eckhart Tolle as well, and recognize the power of this kind of spiritual journey and the difficulty of dissecting the ego. The runner up is Sharon whose thankful comment recognized the generations that paved the way for our paths and gifts heralded to us in our very biological make-up that too often go unappreciated. Stainboy was in close running all along with his thankful comment, but seeing as he won the last art giveaway I chose to spread the wealth! Winners- please send me an email message (not a comment) with your mailing address in order to mail the digital prints to you and Congrats!