Creative Block Busters.

Getting creative is a lot of work, especially if you find yourself in a blocked funk.

Some of the things I do to get the ole juices flowing are crafting.

I like to go right for the challenging stuff, that way if I fail when I fail I can tell myself duhhhh, you don't knit, crochet, paint, bake...you write. So quit screwing around with that stuff and get on with the writing already!

I did some crocheting this past week in hopes of accomplishing this:

 

Cute isn't it, and with Pinterest and Youtube it should be a cinch! After all I did learn how to groom my schnauzer, and do the gangnam style dance!

 

 

As you can see I nailed it again! Oh I love Youtube!

*snort*

 

Well the crochet chain part anyway.

It's all about the small victories.

Moving on to painting.

There are too things in this world I WISH I could do well.

Sing and paint.

Unfortunately God passed me over on these particular talents, which is something I plan on having a lengthy conversation about when I meet Him.

(four words God; Nikki Manaj, Brittany Spears)

Have you heard of Wine & Canvas?

It is a painting event that you can do, where they give you instructions on how to paint a particular painting. Look them up, they could be near you. Also, just to mention, you don't have to drink wine...I stick to water since the reason I am going is for the painting, not the wine. I can only imagine what a stellar painting I would get if I could barely hold my brush and see straight.

I've done it twice. The first time I enjoyed myself and liked my work. The second time however I took myself way too serious and ended up hating my painting, I was ready to scribble all over it!

*deep breath*

I wanted to sign up for a "Monet"...it's a bit pricey and well since I haven't gotten over the anxiety of the last time, I thought I'd try it myself.

To "warm up" I found this on Pinterest.

 

 

Looks easy enough, colored background, a couple wiggly lines and some paint splotch circles.

No problem...

not too shabby.

Looks nice with all the other valentine lovelies...

 

 

So do I attempt to do the impossible? Try an interpretation of a master?

Claude Monet poppy fields (image courtesy of google)

 

Wine & Canvas had this offering on their February calender.

This looks WAY more paint-by-numbers beginner friendly.

I have trouble with the mixing colors...mine always end up poop brown, so I cheated and went and found paint colors the shades I wanted.

Don't judge me.

 

So far so good...just waiting for it to dry.

Annnnnnd...

 

TA DA!

I will say the pressure was less, because I was working on a much smaller scale. I used a left over 8x10 canvas instead of a 16x20.

I don't think The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge will be commissioning me to do the portrait of their royal heir, but I'm happy with it. I am also happy that it didn't cost me $35.

 

What have you done recently that was out of your comfort zone?

Would you do it again?

What is holding you back from taking that step?

 

Now I must do some lengthy "research" on Pinterest to narrow down what I'm going to school all those prissy bakers with attempt to bake; as you can see I am still working through those creative block issues...