What is Creativity?

In simple terms we can say that it is having ideas or thoughts differently presented. Creativity is gathering or picturing a thought (or an emotion) and allowing it to be expressed in many forms. Creativity is how our inner selves and mind envisions an idea or concept. It is the act of making something either with an existing idea or a completely new idea. Through creativity, an individual can freely interpret and express new things and old differently. It is rearranging things we know and making them look as new. It is also visualizing this idea in certain ways different from the common everyday things. Creativity can be described in many ways but, the final result is very simple—originality!

I believe that through art God has allowed us to see the inner beauty of many things....things that are not visible to the eye but, with the soul and spirit....a gift given to humankind! I believe that through art God reveals His Spirit to us! I love it!

I've been reading The Creative Call and trying to do the exercises that the author suggests daily. I'm only up to exercise 3, but I'm feeling refreshed and renewed through this book's insights. I have also been writing daily on my day book (suggested by the author), writing every single thought and ideas that crosses my mind. I am trying to keep up with every single thing she suggests because I believe that I have talents that have been hidden for so many years and I want to become the artist, the person God wants me to be. I really recommend this book if you are believer in God's purposes for your life. Whatever your call may be, musician, writer, painter, photographer, designer, sculpture, dancer, whatever your talents may be...., this book can help you set a foundation so that you can become the person you were intended to be from the get-go.

Art journal doodles: last night I was trying to organize myself with the challenges I want to be part of.

Another layout that was waiting since last month to be done. Sorry about the images' quality. Shot in low lighting.

And lastly, photos of corners of my home! Thanks for stopping by.

Paper Scrapping Fun

Hello. Well, today I've been scrapping the entire morning. I thought I give the digital world a rest and do some paper scrapping. I'm new at scrapbooking (since December) and I know that in order for me to become better and be able to "master" this scrapping world, I must do it more often. So I've done three layouts today. I'm beginning to get loose and not worry so much about messing up or worrying about weather I'm doing it correct or not, or how balanced the layout is, etc...
I just decided I want to have fun with it, add whatever I can find, and make memories out of my photos!

You could see more detailed photos here.

Okay, so yesterday afternoon, I got this in my mailbox waiting for me:

I had ordered this book at amazon last week and had completely forgotten about it. I think is an awesome book. I believe there's more inside of me that I could give out to the world, creatively speaking. I just don't know how to bring it out sometimes. I read in another blog that this book helped her (sorry I can't remember which blog) become the artists she is and to be happy, accomplished and complete after reading this book. So I knew that I had to get this book because I'm in desperate need of a boost, I want to be complete, to feel good about being a designer, an artist, a photographer, etc.. It was once told to me that I have been given many gifts by God but they were all bundled up in box. I need to let them out of that box! But I need help. We all need help once in a while, right? Specially when we fall into those artistic blocks, we need new ideas, refresh our inner beings and allow our hearts to speak, to create things, to be free, to express ourselves through art, designs, photographs...


I even started highlighting and taking notes! Is never too late, right? Or too old, or too tired, or too busy, right? This is a new day, a beginning for us to create, and become better!

Back on Track!

This week I'm on spring break. It feels good to get this break. I've been trying to catch up on things. I have a few assignments to work on that I haven't gotten to yet and I'm hoping to do them sometime today or tomorrow. I hope to have them done before Sunday. I want Sunday off from any Homework! These past four days I've been taking it easy and trying to do some scrapbooking and I did two art journal pages. 

This first one was a paper scrapbooking page I did of my second child, Ruben. Here he was five years old. The journaling is hard to see here but you can see this layout and my other ones better at flickr, or simply click on the photo for an enlarger view.

 

This one was digital and on the photos is my sister and my nephew.

This is my art journal page 8. I did this one inspired by the happiness I feel being home this week and having a break from school. Lol.

This is page 9. "Blessed Hands".  I pray and wish that whatever my hands touch and create become blessed and holy! Again, you could see the journaling up closer in my flickr account. Thanks for stopping by! 

Art Journal

Lately, I've been thinking about how I see myself and I was thinking about the real definition of the word "beauty". Many things came to mind. Right away, I thought of outer beauty. And wanted to define it but couldn't quite make up my mind. Then I came to the conclusion that real beauty should be like they say,  it's what's inside, not the outside. Some people may not agree with this but for me, according to what God tells me in His Word... beauty is what's inside your heart! Yes, it is. So I wanted to journal this on my art journal. And I did... I want to remind myself that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty. I want to love myself because of what's inside, and for the things I could do and  for the love and compassion I could give to others! This is something I have to remind myself constantly! So this page will remind me that I am full of beauty!

Have a good night everybody! Night, night!

No More Limits

I started school today. I am really excited about my classes this semester. I know I will be enjoying them even if there's assignments, projects or stressful finals! I will be learning and doing what I like! These are my classes for this semester:
Black and White Photography 2, Vector Graphics, PSD Format, HTML, and Interactive Media. Cool huh?

Anyway, I hope that everyone had a nice weekend. I sure did. Specially Sunday. God (once again) spoke into my heart making me reflect on all the wonderful things He has created for me and promised me. Sometimes I must be reminded of all the gifts and potential that I have inside. I sometimes, forget that there's wonderful things for me out there. I have put limitations in my life in which has caused me not to give the best of me and therefore, my abilities to do, or create, are locked inside me. Doubts, rejections, loss of faith and other obstacles take control of what I could offer to others or how I allow my creativity to flow on a daily basis. This weekend I have decided that there are no more limits for me! I will be the best I could be and more....I will succeed in all I do (and create!). I will take chances to be different. I will allow all my ideas to flow and I will put them in practice. If I fail, then at least I could say I tried!

With that said, here's my second week of "The Best Me" challenge layout!

Life's Simple Things

I was thinking how sometimes life's obstacles allow me to forget and appreciate the simple things in life and how many times I get caught up in the bigger things that sorround me and worry me at times, instead of taking in consideration the wonderful "small" things God created for me to rejoyce in them. Life's smaller things are what makes me happy and yet, I tend to forget often about these simple, small things.

For instance, nature, I am so lucky to see the changes each season brings and the feelings that are so familiar with each change. The smell of flowers during spring and the rain that comes with it, the warm hot weather in the summer yet, I complain how hot it is or how cold it is in the winter. The wonderful leaves changing colors and falling during the fall.
My voice, which was given to me to worship and praise in moments when I haven't felt like singing, or laughing, yet, it was that one heart given praise which gave me the strength to take that one more step forward.
My dreams. Eighter physical or spiritual... Given to me so that I may push myself to keep going forward towards those dreams and allowing them to become a reality in my life.
Also, inner beauty is sometimes overlooked because we live in a world so vain and judgemental that we tend to forget the person that's inside the body and under the clothing and attire.Not just others' inner beauty but my own.
Our free-will, given so that I can make right choices and wise decisions.
My honest and loyal friends, my family, and so on....

Simple pleasures are life's greatest treasures! Let's enjoy the simple things in life!