Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem. - Brian Aldiss

Life is a Miracle - Albert Einstein

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Paint Outdoors in Sacramento Area

Now that the weather is getting warm and dry, if you enjoy painting outdoors or would like to try it and you are in the region of Sacramento, California, this group may interest you. They are active and have a core group of artists who are great at choosing beautiful locations.

http://www.meetup.com/art-500/

Creative minds..

Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training- Anna Frued  

Imagination - Einstein

Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein

Risk and Creativity

When seeking to explore a new area, it is important to learn the basics first and to exercise patience. My nephew is a rock climber.  Last year, he climbed the face of Half Dome in Yosemite National park with some friends. Before attempting such a feat, for many months he studied the various techniques and learned the jargon of the trade. He invested in an array of proper safety equipment. He climbed smaller rocks near his home on a regular basis. He listened to more experienced rock climbers. When climbing, he was extremely focused. However, even though he is incredibly strong and very capable, he has the wisdom to clip onto a safety rope when climbing. Yes, rock climbing is risky, but approached with forethought and care, he can enjoy the beauty and thrill of being on the face of a massive granite rock looking down at a beautiful valley – somewhere that very few people have been.

In aspiring to be creative, there are several things we can learn here. First, we need patience. Then, we need to seek out the advice and wisdom of those that have come before us and have more experience. We need to be humble enough to admit we don’t know everything. Then, we need to master the basics and build our skills. We need to equip ourselves with the right tools. Last, we need to surround ourselves with people we can trust to be there to catch us if we fall. But ultimately, if we are to grow, we need to challenge ourselves to go where we are stretched to our limits.

New Years - Recreation Time

For many, the word “recreation” means doing something that is physically challenging. However, recreation encompasses a broad range of activities. The word itself is comprised of “re” and “create” and means to recreate oneself. Some people find physically challenging activities to be re-creating. Others gravitate towards quite, focused activities that manifest something external to oneself that is a reflection of inner vision. News years is often a time for us to reflect on the past and consider what we might do in the coming year to recreate oneself. You are invited to share what activities you find most helpful in recreating yourself or what new things you might tackle in the coming year to recreate yourself.