the creative minimalist

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Creative Field Notes 18th — 23rd July 2021

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My week has been very creative, although it feels like I haven’t achieved much. I suppose that’s down to not having completed things. These creative field notes are very much concerning works in progress. But that is the idea behind posting this each week.

fig 1

Songs and Music

I’m still working on the tracks that, I hope, will become a new album in the near future. I have a working list of ten tracks in various stages of (de)composition.

There’s also a soundtrack being composed inspired by the word emerge… it’s all butterflies and stuff… what do butterflies sound like, and what is the sound of them emerging from their cocoon? I’m doing a video series about that process, and the first video in the playlist is here.

Art and images

Did an ink splat to tie in with this week’s creative prompt. That’s fig 1 at the top of the page.

Journals and planners

fig 2

Did a little page for my art/thoughts/meme journal, I don’t have a real name for this journal. It is a part image, part word journal, and I am using my Iconic journal.

Words and stories

When it comes to text, blog posts and marketing have been in the work/freelance pile this week. I’d love to spend more time writing fiction… but my desire is obviously not enough at the moment to actually do anything about it.

Inspiration

Currently reading:

The Saints of Salvation by Peter F Hamilton. This is the final book in his recent Salvation Sequence Trilogy. I am thoroughly enjoying these. And my favourite line this week, which also gives a glimpse at what the content is…

We just don’t have the psychology to deal with Armageddon

The Saints of Salvation Peter F Hamilton

Currently listening:

The Moon is blue by Future Islands

From Bills & Aches & Blues (40 years of 4AD). This is a compilation album celebrating 40 years of 4AD. And that makes me feel even older, seeing as I have a few very early 4AD recordings on original vinyl. I love Future Islands and I love Colourbox, who originally recorded The moon is blue. And this is a pretty good cover version.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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Creative accidents Friday Field Notes

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brilliantly big hope art journal page
fig 1 brilliantly big hope – art journal page

Time for a Friday Field Note report from The Creative Minimalist. It seems I have found some creative inspiration. By some, I mean quite a lot. At times, it has felt like one idea has led to another and then another. I am quite certain that creativity breeds creativity. As I began to note what has been happening this past week or so, I realised that my creative cup was very much overflowing.

But there have been consequences. I don’t want you to think that the week’s creative adventure has been painless.

Injuries

blister on my little finger coffee injury
fig 2 coffee injury

Coffee is an essential part of my creative process. However, carrying my French press and cup to the creative studio led to a nasty blister on my little finger. I didn’t realise the cup was so hot until my knuckle began to swell. If you are of a nervous disposition, you might not want to look at the picture on the left… I suppose I should have said this above the picture… sorry.

Songs and music

Seeing my little keyboard in the picture above leads me to report on my music progress. I have four songs that are coming together nicely. The lyrics are almost finished. The latest song is a reworking of a tune from many, many years back (yes, when I had hair). I have been pencilling in and then inking in the lyrics as they begin to work. I will work out how to share some audio snippets for future field note reports, but meanwhile, fig 3 shows you how I work on lyrics in my Music Grimoire journal.

work in progress your touch lyrics in my songwriting journal
fig 3 your touch lyrics from the music grimoire

ATCs and art journal pages

art trading cards
fig 4 ATCs

fig 1 at the top of this field note report shows a journal page that I created. I am not a painter or fine art artist, I do enjoy playing with mixed media and creating abstract shapes. Recently, I have been inspired by Dianne Fago’s ATCs. So, I pulled out the inks and some good watercolour paper and had a play. So far, the results are interesting, but the main reason for doing them is to learn and have fun. It is so easy for me to forget to play. fig 4 shows a selection of the ATCs I have been working on.

But there have been accidents along the way. In addition to my coffee injury, I had an ink spill. It could have been a lot worse. I am so grateful that it didn’t fall onto any of my electrical equipment.

ink spill on my desk
fig 5 the desktop ink spill

Dianne and Darren Discuss

To finish off, here’s a link to our latest discussion video. In it, we talk about creativity and the process, and you’ll see that we’ve both been quite creative in recent weeks.

I’ll be back with another Friday field note report soon, until then, may you find inspiration and may your creations bring you and others joy.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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Pausing at a Pace

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pausing at a pace - journal page

It is always good to stop and pause. It feels to me like this past year, with lockdown and the virus, has all been about ‘pause’. But it hasn’t, not really. Things have been happening. Nothing really stands still. We continue to eat, drink, breathe, move.

The problem is that it feels like we are on a pause. Because of this, we don’t take time to actually stop and take a moment. A moment to give thanks, to be grateful. A time to remember all that we have even in this time of loss and restriction.

We should take time to pause at this moment because soon, things will begin to move at a pace. Then we will have even more need to pause, but at least we will know why.

Take a moment to pause, to really pause and be grateful.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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Seeking myself

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I seem to be struggling with a few things at the moment.

  • So much I want to say, yet can’t.
  • So much I want to do, yet can’t.

And all the reasons I can’t are out of my hands, out of my control. And I am finding it far too easy to focus on those negatives. And when I focus on the negatives I don’t say or do what I can. I wallow. I lose myself. It’s a downward spiral I have to avoid.

Thankfully there is art, there is journaling and there are my soundscapes and lyrics. I just have to find myself amongst the detritus of current circumstances. My future will be different.

The path is ahead of me is all I have ever wanted and desired. As the sun rises and crosses the heavens, so I follow my path.