10 ways to be creative- Quakertown Artist

1. Explore in secret with NO restrictions 

Let your mind go and just create without any goal or judgement. I usually grab my sketchbook each night and just doodle whatever comes to mind: I don’t think about it. Many of these sketches look awful: but it helps me unwind and come up with ideas. 

2. Find some inspirations 

Find 1 or 2 people that you admire and study all about them. Find out who inspires them and study them too! Learn and be inspired.

3. Hang out with creative people.

Whoever you associate with, it is what will inspire you. When I get into a creative funk, nothing cures it better than hanging out with my artsy friends and arting. Or going to an art museum with them.

4. Journal or keep a log book

You don’t have to be a writer to journal. You can even draw out what happened to you that day. What inspired you about that day? What frustrated you? Jot down some notes on the key parts of your day.

5. Go somewhere new: Get out! 

Seriously, leave your normal surroundings and go somewhere new! Get out of your rut. Go hiking! Visit a new town. Go to the library. Try a new experience. Changing your surroundings can really help start creativity.

6. Play

Really….just play. Grab some play dough, be a kid again. If you have children, spend time with them and play! Using your imagination in a childlike manner sparks creativity. Nobody is more creative than children. 

7. Restrict yourself

Try to paint a landscape with a limited palate, like 3 colors only. Try writing a poem with only the same 15 words. Challenging yourself forces you to think outside the box.

8. Start a new hobby or another project

Even if you are a great artist, doing the same thing over and over can actually stifle your creativity. Change things up a bit. Start a new hobby. Or have other side projects that you can jump back and forth. 

9. Start a schedule

If you are like me, you need to schedule your creative time. Otherwise, life will take over and you will neglect that things you WANT to do. Make sure you schedule, “you time.” 

10. Don’t be hard on yourself!

We can be our own worse critic. STOP! Be kind to yourself. If you are having fun and being creative, you win! Don’t compare yourself to others.

 

What are some ways that help you be creative? I would love to hear about them!

Keep on creating,

Bobbi 🎨

What is success? Bucks County Artist

Did you know…Vincent Van Gogh possibly only sold 1 painting during his lifetime?!

Legend has it Van Gogh only sold one in his lifetime. In reality, he did sell a handful but it was such a little amount, that the legend stuck. 

However, since he make over 900 paintings in only ten years, a handful of sold paintings isn’t much no matter how you dice it. 

So here is the question….Was Van Gogh a success? 

You, I and the rest of the world may say: “Of course he was! He is one of the most famous artists of all time! “

But, I am not sure Vincent would agree with us.  Maybe he would.

But here is the next question: What is success? What defines success? 

Many people define success different ways: 

• Fame
• Fortune
• Accomplishing a lofty goal
• Building an empire
• Impacting the world

Being successful means:  the achievement of desired visions and planned goals.

So success can mean different things. The real question is:

Are my top success goals worthy to pursue?

Fame, and fortune can be a fine goal, but it is not worthy of a top goal.

Look around at famous people or people that you admire. Many of them have “everything” we believe it takes to be successful.  But if you look closely at their lives, a handful of them are depressed, have drug abuse or are switching around partners constantly. Their “success” isn’t enough for them. It doesn’t satisfy them.

A worthy goal for success is something that will fulfill your life. Notice I didn’t say something that makes you happy, but something that fulfills your life. 

Does your goal…….

• Encourage selflessness and serves others?
• Build meaningful relationships?
• Builds others up? Builds you up? 
• Makes you grow as a person?
• Gives you purpose?
• Gives you peace with yourself?

It doesn’t matter if you sell a ton of paintings, make it as a musician, or be able to climb the corporate ladder. Have your top goals that will fulfill your life. The other stuff will come, and when it does, you will be able to enjoy all of your success with a fulfilled life. ❤

Keep on creating, 🎨

Bobbi Shaw  

Steal Like An Artist / Bucks County Artist

One of my goals this year is to read more and watch/listen to more educated content as well. I picked this book up because honestly the title intrigued me:

I am loving it! It is a very easy read and very inspiring! A must read for artists and creative people alike!

This book goes over 10 key points on how to be creative. The first Chapter: How to Steal Like an Artist was mind blown to me (even though I already knew what Austin said is true): Being “Original” 

“Being Original” 

I think as artists we really get stuck or hung up on this mindset. Sure, we all want to come up with something totally new and inventive. Who doesn’t? But in reality, it is a myth!

Think about it: all of our ideas come from somewhere: other artists, movies, books, experiences…. nothing is ever truly original. I think once we get past this, it is freeing! You are free to explore, experience ideas before you. 

Austin encourages the reader to find 1 person you admire and love! Find out EVERYTHING about them. Then find out 3 people this person admires and research them too. And keep repeating the process!

By “stealing” many ideas and experiences, you start to develop ideas on you own. Your own thing. After all, you can’t create something from nothing (an empty mind). This is the Creative Process. 

I highly encourage you to read this book, because there are 9 other creative points this book goes over:

1. Steal like an artist.✅
2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.
3. Write the book you want to read.
4. Use your hands.
5. Side projects and hobbies are important.
6. The secret: do good work and share it with people.
7. Geography is no longer our master.
8. Be nice. (The world is a small town.)
9. Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)
10. Creativity is subtraction.

 

You can get it here: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

(I am not affiliated with the Author or company)

I hope you enjoy and tell me know what you think!

Keep Being Creative,

Bobbi Shaw

I can make mistakes…/Quakertown Artist

“It is ok to fail…it is ok to make mistakes…..”

This is my new phrase I am telling myself this year. I am VERY hard on myself and I am very “type A”.

I even did a live video for my Facebook group about the creative process and how making mistakes is actually a part of the process.

Many artists (or other professionals), won’t show you their creative process. They don’t show you their mistakes or behind the scenes. They only show you the best! They don’t show you the COUNTLESS hours of frustrations to get to the final result.

 

I know this, but still I fall into the trap of beating myself up and being hard on myself. In fact, this last Sunday, I did an online art class.

IT DID NOT go as I planned! The camera recording wasn’t great (still learning) and the flow of the class didn’t go as a envisioned : paint and ink got everywhere and got mixed. I made mistakes. I started to beat myself up. But what for? I learned some things and that is MORE valuable than being perfect. So I am moving on and trying again. 

So, this year I am telling myself……

“Life isn’t perfect, that is ok”

“I can fail, that is ok”

“I can make mistakes, that is ok”

Are you giving yourself grace? I encourage you to do so! Keep going and learning, you are awesome! ❤

Keep Being Creative,

Bobbi

 

Free Online Art Class: Chinese Painting/Quakertown Artist

I am so excited to announce that I will be hosting my first online LIVE art class next month and it is free! I decided to pick Chinese Painting for a couple of reasons:

• It is something I have done in the past and want to get into again
• the supplies are inexpensive
• it is very relaxing
• it also like watercolor, so you are kind of learning 2 techniques at once
• is a great beginner class

There is something relaxing and spiritual about Chinese painting and I thought this will be the perfect class to kick off in my Facebook group!

There are only a few supplies needed (and they are fairly cheap!)

1. bamboo brushes (set of 3)
2. black Chinese ink
3. watercolor paper
4. Chinese watercolors

That is it! I hope you will join me on Sunday nights at 8pm starting in January! Come and relax and connect with a community of creative people! Here is the tentative schedule:

For more information and to order supplies: click here.

To join our free Facebook Group (where the class will be held) go to: Art Fun at Home #AFHome

Can’t wait to see you there!

Keep on being creative!

-Bobbi

The Pilgrimage Series/ Quakertown Artist

Hi! I hope everyone is geared up for the holidays! I have been VERY busy but not with Christmas related stuff, but with art.

Here is what I have been working on:

The Pilgrimage Series

 

I started my Pilgrimage series (this painting is a work in progress). It will come with a poetic story that will continue as I create more works. It is an allegory of a spiritual journey.

Follow Jodie and Taz on a spiritual adventure of a lifetime. Stay tuned!

My Facebook group Art Fun at Home is up and running!  😊

This group has FREE online art classes, FREE art challenges and FREE art videos for kids! There is a LIVE video every Sunday Night, 8pm, EST.

Go the the Online art classes tab for more information or go the the facebook group link at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/artfunathome/

Here is an example of a kids video that I just uploaded today: https://youtu.be/TOY9dAQ5P-g

 

Stay tuned and thanks for your support!!!

-Bobbi 🎨

Behind the scenes projects/Bucks County Artist

Hey, everyone!! I pray everyone is doing well. In the mist of this busy season (and it is only going to get busier), I have been working on some major projects, and will launch one at the end of this month.

Of course, I pick the craziest time of the year to create some projects, but that is how I roll!

The first project that I am setting up, (and I am very excited about it), involves YOU. Or you can get involved. Please? This project got inspired by the last few months from my art challenge videos. I am launching A Facebook group at the end of the month, called Art Fun at Home. This will be a place where I will have my art classes, art challenges, and video tips. The classes and challenges will be free and it will be a lot of fun. I already have an art class series picked out and as well as a challenge picked out to start in January! If interested, go to the “online classes” on this site. At the end of the month, the link to the group will be posted or you can fill out the form, and I can email you the link when it launches.

The second project is a series of works that is going to be a part of a story. The story is going to be an allegory of a spiritual journey and the walk of life. Each painting that comes out will have a poetry description that tells more of an ongoing story. I am really excited about this one too!

The third project   (yes, another one) will be paintings based on places in the area. Right now, I am working on my first one which is Hopewell Furnace.

Whew…it is it? Wait, there is another project that I kind of started, but will be building up. Another Facebook Group: Art Events in Bucks County. This is more for the local fans. I plan to list all the cool art events taking place in Bucks County. I also hope to generate events in where we can go together as a community and have fun!

So, there you have it! I hope to see you guys in the near future with the events, or groups, etc.

Stay creative!

-Bobbi

 

 

Make time to slow down/Quakertown Artist

I had a very busy day planned. I like busy. I like to do many things; it is hard for me to slow down. During my prayer time this morning I heard God tell me one simple thing: “Rest today”.

Rest? Are you kidding me? Today??? Before I knew it, one of my bigger plans got cancelled. Apparently, God had other plans. As I started the school day (I home school ), it was evident that I was completely exhausted. It came so sudden. Maybe it was because I finished a migraine. Maybe I was coming down with something. 💁

At any rate, I cancelled the rest of my out of the home plans. It felt weird that God wanted me to rest….I mean, wouldn’t he tell me to do something? I work at home so I was tempted just to work at home today…I always have a big list of things to do.

However, I did take a few hours to just rest today. I guess I really needed it. Sometimes we have to just slow down and in the end we actually become more productive. Are you taking time to rest? Do you make it a priority?

Apparently my plans need to be cancelled for me to take a hint. 😏

 

In other news here, I am starting a Facebook group for those that live near Bucks County, Pa. It is a group that lists art events that are happening in the area. I want to get motivated to start attending some to get inspired and hang out with like minded people.

You can ask to join the group here: Art Guide For Bucks County

 

I also did a “behind the scene” video about when I get stuck on a painting and tips on how to deal: Art Tutorial: how to troubleshoot a painting 

 

I hope you enjoy!!

-Bobbi 🎨

 

Patience /Quakertown Artist

Artist’s Thoughts: Patience.

I have been thinking about patience lately. Or really, the effects of impatience.

I am a “go-getter’, type A personality. Although I have a lot of patience as far as persistence. I am a preserver. However, that is generally how far my patience goes, I can be a very impatient person!!

When something needs to be done, it needs to be done NOW, there is “no time to waste”. I can’t let things go until they are done and I have been this way since I was a kid.

God keeps reminding me of patience lately. Many times when I want to yell at the kids for not doing what they were asked right away, the verse keeps popping in my head: “a gentle and quiet spirit.”

When things do not go as planned,  I get so uptight. One thing currently is my car. Something is wrong with it, but no mechanic can figure it out. Even though it drives fine, it is driving me crazy.  I want everything on my car perfect NOW. But it has been months with no solution. It has gotten me thinking a lot about impatience vs patience.

I have been thinking about the consequences of impatience. Think about it: most car accidents are due to impatience: can’t wait to respond to that text, can’t wait patiently so you cut someone off, can’t wait to drive home even though you are drunk…

And then you have other consequences: compulsive spending leading to debt,  anger outbursts leading to broken relationships, cheating then getting caught…

I think the most impact of impatience is the lack of peace. I can’t say that I was a peaceful person.  I was always uptight and high strung. Now when I start to feel that way, I take a deep breathe and ask: “Is is necessary for this to happen now? Is it the end of the world? Is it worth my peace?”

Even when I feel impatient with my kids, just answering them in a calm voice calms me down and also them. When things don’t get done on my list, it is not the end of the world. Where I am not where I think I should be in my life, I realize just “to be” is enough. Even when I get frustrated with my art, I know it is ok.

Impatience has stolen my peace for years. And even though I have to wait for the things I want, peace is worth it.

-Bobbi

Easter Seals donation/Bucks County Artist

For those who don’t know me, I have a special needs brother who I adore dearly 

.
He is a very happy fellow that will brighten up your day 
This pic was taken when we attended Night to Shine. My brother, Jon had a great time (and so did I). If if you know someone in your life with special needs, you know what I mean when they hold a special place in your heart.

That is why I picked Easter Seals as the donation for the month (Sept 16-Oct 15)

Easter Seals has been a rock for my brother when he was very young. Without them, I don’t know where my brother would be, they helped us so much!

All my art profits, 15% will be donated on Oct 16th to Easter Seals.

Also, I will be at an art show on Saturday, Sept 28th, 1pm-4pm At Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church located at:
733 Ridge rd, Sellersville, Pa
This is a fund raiser for a dance for special needs adults that the church is organizing.

Come and see me, enjoy some art  and music 

For those interested purchasing my art online:

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BobbiShawArts
Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/bobbishawarts
Website: http://www.BobbiShawArts

For more info about Easter Seals: https://www.easterseals.com/sepa/

Thanks for your support!!!!!
-Bobbi