Stephanie's Studio

H is for Help When mired in a creative block, it's hard to see your way clear. You can easily get enveloped in all sorts of negative thoughts: F ear I solation H opelessness D efeat I’d suggest writing your negative, but very real thoughts on a blackboard, if you have one handy, and then erasing them, mindfully, with an eraser. Otherwise, write them out on paper, with a regular pencil, erase them, and toss the entire sheet in the recycling bin, or trash, if you don’t have one. Either symbolic act is not an immediate fix, but doing these sorts of physical activities puts you on a road, cleared of blockages. Reaching out for help is not something we all enjoy. First there is the idea of admitting that we need help. Then there is the daunting task of finding just the right type of help. Our dear friend, the Internet, makes this seem easy and hard, all at the same time. Entanglement by Stephanie Rose Bird Here are some ideas for help with maneuveri...

G is for Giant Self A while back, I had a very unusual job for me, Manager of Art Security Guards. I only held the position briefly, but man, did I learn a lot in that short period of time. Where I learned the most was in its excellent training program, with a gifted teacher, I must say. This teacher swiftly transformed my work personality from quiet and laid back, by inviting me to step into my Giant Self. What if you’re handed a back pack and then there is a phone call that the bag is actually holding explosives? What would you do immediately, he’d pry. What would you do? What if someone is yielding a knife and threatening the crowd of people that have gathered? Time is of the essence. What would you do, he asked again? Tell us right now! …the questions and scenarios went on and on, all day. "Giant Self" by Stephanie Bird, 2016 What is your Giant Self? It’s that person larger than your usual self that lives inside of you. In the cloak of your Gi...

F is for Feather One of the qualities of feathers that’s pretty much universally identifiable is that they are light. It is beautiful and a lovely meditative practice to simply slow down and watch a feather slowly descend, fluttering in the air, reaching the ground in its own time and own, often circuitous way. From the lightness of feathers, often I think of the unforgettable book, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera. This book was required reading during the early years of college, with many an animated discussion surrounding its reading. What stands out to me and why I want to include it in this discussion about Creative Blocks is that if we can borrow one of its thematic sentiments, that life is indeed to be lived surrounded by lightness, we can break through the block of our creativity. Blocks are heavy. They are self-important and all-absorbing. What if we were to take a new tact? What if being the very opposite of what the blocks want, could help us? ...

E is for enchanté Pronunciation:   [a(n) sha(n) tay] Enchanted Delighted Pleased Happy I am very interested in fairy-tales and within them there are many an enchanted forest. In my spiritual practice enchantments are also an important part of making things happen and it is a way of seeing the world—magically. Okay, so, I also just like French as a language and using it whenever I can.  Enchanté is a beautiful greeting, in my book. It’s not just “nice to meet you” or happy to meet you” but “enchanted/delighted to meet you.” This is a very elevated way of receiving new people, and it suggests an openness to new encounters. Being enchanted is a magical way of looking at the world, with delight, and wonder, and it indicates you are open to finding pleasure in the smallest of things. Now, about my A to Z Challenge topic. Are you wondering why would enchantments and being enchanted break creative blocks and usher creativity into your life? Th...

B is for Blogging When I get stuck as a writer, one of the most helpful things for me to do is blog. Blogging is writing but a post is shorter, obviously than writing a novel. Some of my fellow bloggers write poetry, short stories, recipes, rituals, book reviews, and post photography or art projects. When I began blogging, years ago, I did quite long posts and admittedly, at times, I rambled, going all over the place. These days, I enjoy downloading my thoughts usually in a notebook or work page first, pairing the words with interesting imagery, in small parcels, and then editing it all on Blogger. Blogging reaches people, almost immediately, whereas it can take years to write a novel, often working in isolation. It is the isolation that I find to be a very difficult aspect of being an author; as a blogger though, we are a part of a community. Almost as quickly as thoughts form and congeal, they can be posted and a conversation begins. When we encounter road blocks, an ...

2016 A through Z Blogger’s Challenge Daily Creativity Hacks "Orchid 6B" sumi-ink on printmaking paper. c. Stephanie Rose Bird, 2015 One of the toughest issues facing creative people of all strips, is creative blocks. The theme of my 2016 A through Z Blogger’s Challenge is Daily Creativity Hacks, inspirational ideas to play with, to get you through those dull spots that stand in the way between you and creative flow. These days the words hack and hacks are used in many different ways. I'm using hacks to mean a clever solution to a tricky problem. Think of hacks as quick fixes, remedies, rituals or exercises.  Are you struggling with creative blocks? During April you’ll find an A to Z blog post offering mind-expanding ideas and new ways of thinking of old ones, all designed to enhance your creative outlook.  Tune in, all during April. I will be blogging 6 days a week, taking Sunday’s off as a breather. I’ll be visiting as many blogs, by fellow bl...