Creativity and How to Keep it Alive

I have always been an artist, ever  since I was a little girl I knew it.  Art is all I think about so being creative is just kind of a a force that I can't help.  I am not saying that I don't sometimes go short though.  I do, but I can usually pull myself out of it by doing simple things.

Watching a DVD  on art or artists like Camile Claudel or Basquait... those movies  make me feel passionate again.  

Books!  I have an art library that I constantly add to.. all those art books on sale at Borders and stuff ya know?  Who can resist?

I write a lot.  I write poetry or stories or articles and post them on ezines. I also post articles 'about art' ... getting out there, how to deal with not being accepted in juried show and things like that.  I feed the process.

I keep things around me that make me happy.  Sometimes those things are kind of dumb.. I like dolls and tea sets and things that make no sense but who cares I like them.  

I  join artists groups and enter shows.  I volunteered for 'everything'!  I was shy at first but I knew that if I volunteered in art clubs, to do anything at all, I would get busy and come out of it.  I have.  

I go online a lot and look at what other people are creating.  I have a MySpace and that is the place that continually surprises and makes me happy because of all the amazing work people do.  

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!  Keep doing what you love.!  You can only get better.. I do.. I get better every time I go to my canvas or put my hands in clay.

DON'T  decide you stink based on one thing or one effort.  I do that sometimes.  If I am shut down somewhere I decide I stink about everything.  Stupid but you know how your mind can get going right?  

DO ART.. I saw a blog today where an artist posts one new work a day.  What a great thing to do!  I am thinking about it too.

Lastly, if you are an artist in your heart.. be sure an say so.  If people ask you what you do... tell them, "I AM AN ARTIST" ... because you are!

Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
free art gifts
http://www.kathysart.com

IMG_1891 a

To purchase  my Hawaiian Art and Mermaid Baby, check out the url above.  I have posters, note cards and giclees.. yay!

Aloha, Kathy

~~*~~