Liberate Your Creativity, Pt.2

We're on the first activity in the liberating creativity workshop based on Drex's blog on Scrapbook.com. So here's the first lesson...write and draw with your "off" hand (left for me). Now I remember why I've delayed getting started in the workshop. I don't like writing or doing anything with my left hand. It makes me feel incompetent, sloppy, and stupid. Those may sound like strong words, but they really represent how working out of my comfort zone makes me feel. And I have to write in pen? We're hitting all my hot buttons here. I like pencil or computer, leaves room for correcting mistakes. However, I've heard this activity can be helpful, even powerful, so I gave it a whirl.

First Step:

1. Get your pen and journal.
2. Pen in "off" hand and draw a one line drawing without lifting up your pen.
3. Try a few different drawings.

Here are mine. Don't laugh. They''re pretty bad. Never mind...you can laugh if you want.

Second Step:

1. For each of the five words below, write (with your off hand) down the first thing that comes to mind .
2. Night....Day....Family....Dinner....Religion.
3. Now, look at the words you wrote and draw a one line drawing that represents all.

Here are my words and drawing. Ironically, the same image I used as my first line drawing is the same "scene" I thought of when combining my words together. Does that mean something?

Feel liberated? It's okay if you don't. It's a process. Maybe seeing my sloppy writing will give you the push you need to try it yourself. Here's the theory (in short) according to Drex...habits, like using your strong hand, keep you in a groove or rut. Using a new hand forces you to see or feel things differently. And frustration is good. What? Yes, it's good because it actually unlocks the creativity within you.

Artists, scrapbookers, and writers all know that seeing things from a new perspective is vital to keeping our creativity fresh and alive. And liberating creativity that lies dormant is something we all strive for.

So, try this activity, then apply it to another area of your life. If you're a writer, try writing longhand for a day. If you're a scrapbooker, try scraplifting your favorite design. If you're a student, try taking notes with your left hand. The possibilities are limitless. Let yourself go and see what happens.

Remember to tune in next week for another edition of Liberate Your Creativity!

Comments

[JenLo]

Great idea. Found you at Bchicks.

[Malissa]

I saw this the other day--still haven't tried it!

I'm looking forward to hearing other creative excercises you have tried

Visiting from the Blogging Chicks

[Shelley]

This sounds like an interesting exercise - especially if it is used to help the creative juices flow. I know I could use more creativity!

[Camy Tang]

LOL Thanks for posting your pics. And your handwriting.
Camy

[no_average_girl]

hey girl...thanks for stopping by! :-)

The main theme of this post was just to get out and do it! Stop wasting time and energy wanting to do it - dive in head first and go!

I love the lyrics...

I'm diving in
I'm going deep
In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush
Lost in the flow
In over my head I wanna go
The river's deep
The river's wide
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim
I'm diving in
I'm diving in

You've just got to do it! :-)

[drex davis]

hey, that looks great!

thanks for trying out the workshop.

for the next round, i'm going to put this exercise in later on . . . it's actually a pretty tough one and i think we might need to work up to it.