Creative process - think small? - What is yours!

Happy Friday Everyone!

I was asked recently what my creative process is and I drew a big fat blank! I had never thought about it.  - please share your tips/process in the comment section below :-)

In a nutshell I think small - I know right?! We are suppose to think big! - I dream big, but as my Dad so wisely told me when I was WAY ahead of myself over a decade ago, is to take one step at a time. I/you can be so much more effective breaking things down into small manageable steps - Thanks so much Dad. I remind myself of this a lot :-)

I like it best when I wiggle into the creative side of work. (Really, I think it all has creative aspects :-) below are a few of the steps I take each day.

Exercise

I am not sure some of you would consider this part of a creative process, but for me, I need it.
I exercise pretty much every week day. If first thing in the morning, it wakes me up! OR, sometimes I will work out around the lunch hour to get me off the computer and out of my office. For me it clears out the cob webs. I will check emails on my phone while at the gym and trash a bunch that do not need my attention.

To do list

I keep a calendar of meetings, deadlines etc. and have a running to do list. Some think this isn't creative, but it saves me. I like to knock off my top 3 or so 'must do first' items each day (usually for graphic design clients) plus work on the social media for the day. Social media ranges from just an image post to the sites I am on, to writing/setting up blog posts. If time allows, I do pop in and comment/respond to people on social media through out the day.

Plate is clear

For some reason I have to clear off stuff before I can settle in and work on my current art collection. I prefer it to be quite - no people coming in my office. But I do listen to all kinds of talk radio & music. The music choices really vary: Fleetwood Mac 60's - 70's, Adel, and Baroque Classical music to name a few. Typically I am painting, setting up mocks, designing patterns and that kind of stuff in the afternoon, Break for dinner, and then usually back to it until about 10:00 pm. -- do it again tomorrow :-)

A Few Last Thoughts

Not every day is the same - but this is the schedule for most days of the month. I do have a standing date each week to have lunch with favorite son of mine and dinner with favorite daughter :-) We do family dinner night every Friday.

Don't feel you should be this scheduled. I personally like it and don't need to wait until "inspiration" hits me to paint etc. I schedule it and show up to do it. As ideas pop into my head through out the day, I jot them down in a notebook.

My office studio is typically cluttered. I used to fight it and pick up more often until I realized I am very visual. Out of site is literally out of mind! - These photos are from 2013 when I did a blog post on my studio/office - not much has changed other than some equipment updates - and the Christmas tree has been put away. Most of the art on the walls my adult kids did when they were in school.

 

 

Do we have similar approaches? Completely different? Can't wait to hear about you :-D

Artist Spotlight - Laura Levie

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I have been creating art since I was a young child. At eight years old, I began taking art classes from a local artist in Decatur, Alabama who operated a teaching art studio in her back yard. Starting with pencil, she taught me how to use all the major media - watercolor, pen and ink, pastels, acrylic and oil. It was an idyllic setting - arriving once a week after school to freshly popped popcorn, cold cokes out of the bottle and rock music playing from the radio. My friends were there, along with the older, cooler girls as well, and we pulled pranks in addition to creating art. I lost that battle when I discovered 20 slugs in my paint box. 

When I was 12, we moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts, where I took art classes at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and learned the art of printmaking. I remember roaming the hushed galleries to find inspiration from the ancient Egyptian and Greek collections. I continued to create art throughout high school. During my time at Wake Forest I majored in English and Art History and took several studio classes. My English and Art History classes created lasting impressions, inspiring me with their symbolism and lyrical beauty. After graduating, I picked up watercolor again in my spare time, painting Christmas cards and nursery pieces for my friends. Then I began concentrating on forging my career, though not in art. 

Now twenty years later, I live in Birmingham, Alabama and work as Marketing Director for a bank consulting firm. My goal for the past year has been to focus more on my art - beyond the occasional commission - and explore licensing my designs. I work my real job four days a week and spend the other three days on my burgeoning art career. Recently I printed my artwork onto baby items (onesies, bibs, tees) and sell them at a local boutique. 

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
Books, songs, movies, travel, animals, art museums, cool things, everyday life. 

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
Currently I work in watercolor, using a whimsical illustrative style. 

What are you working on now?
After returning from my first time exhibiting at SURTEX in May, I've been rounding out my collections, adding new holidays and contemplating what collection to begin next. I've also been following-up with contacts I met at SURTEX, sending samples and preparing my artwork for artlicensingshow.com. 

Anything else you want to tell everyone?
I love music almost as much as I love art. Whether I'm painting, exercising, working, cooking, driving or just hanging out, I am always listening to music. In my artwork, every brush stroke has been accompanied by a chord of music, usually something from the 60s, 70s or 80s. 

As I'm new to art licensing, I would welcome any feedback on my art or my approach to licensing.  There are so many talented, supportive, gracious artists in this community, and I look forward to meeting more of you. 

You'll soon notice my affinity for incorporating mice in my paintings.  I like to think there are clever, industrious mice behind the scenes of our lives, making everything more joyful, magical and imaginative. 

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I used to be a night owl (didn't we all?), but now I'm an early riser and look forward to drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and easing into the day (when I'm not headed to work, that is). 

What is your favorite food?
Pizza!

You can find Laura 
www.lauralevie.com
laura@lauralevie.com
205.592.6221

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