Creative Challenge

This basically sums up my week... I had an entire Creativity Challenge for photography outlined in this blog so that I could save it for reflection in making my artwork for my October show. Low and behold I didn't realize that the parts I copied from the special challenge outline by photographer Brook Shaden were not copied over properly and I lost an entire week's worth of preparation, lessons, and diary notes. Normally I write important things like this in my journal but I thought that perhaps this blog would be a great way to save paper and keep track of my progress. WRONG

 CRAP !!!!!!!

 Tried to recover it the best I could

Impact in Focus: Creativity Challenge 

Guided by Brooke Shaden

• In an unprecedented year where our creativity, motivation, and productivity was tested to the core, how do we reclaim our most impactful expression?
• This week's challenge is simple: reconnect to the reason why you are an artist, and make something that ignites your soul.

Day 1

What are 3 visuals that currently define your style? 

Dark, symbolic, painterly

What are 3 visuals that you want to define your style? 

Feminism, pictorialism, technical ability, moody, abject 

What are 3 words that define your writing style? Sharp, political and defiant to tradition

What are 3 words that you want to define your writing style?

What are 3 words that define your communication style?

Minimal, creative and with purpose

What are 3 words that you want to define your communication style?

What is the story, message, idea, or emotion that your art currently has? I think perhaps each viewer sees the images differently, often I’m told they seem dark when it’s quite the opposite. It’s really about the peacefulness that has in solitude and contains certain symbolism that is a nod to early renaissance imagery. The darker values are used because there is a more serious undertone to my work when it’s dramaticly lit and it’s more of a reflection of the first works of the photography prior to the I teoducion of color. The color at first was not held in the same professional regulars as traditional black and white photography, the lack of color stimulus nostalgia and a certain agelessness that I prefer.

Is there a story, message, idea, or emotion you want your art to have but doesn't yet?

I would like to discuss more pressing social issues in my work, I am just trying to find ways to connect the two that fit for me, and maybe it means two separate types of photography

What stylistic and technical choices will you decide on to communicate your story?

Write a list of every element related to your craft that might help you tell the story of your chosen theme. For example, you may consider location, props, wardrobe, colors, composition, lighting, angle, sound, and more. Sketch or describe the idea of your new art piece.

Day 2

Day 3 

Strengthen Our Individuality and get to creating.

What experiences lead you to this moment where you are so bold as to make something from nothing?

Describe the piece of art you are going to create today and/or tomorrow.

Make a list of all the things you need to do to get it finished. 

(ex: gather props, drive to location, write lyrics, etc.)

Is there a way I can challenge myself technically?

Is there a way to go deeper with the concept?

Does this piece of art reflect who I am in some way?

Day 4

Were you able to create yesterday?

If so, does that creation feel like it is moving you in a positive forward direction?

What might a companion piece to the one you made yesterday look like? If you were to expand the concept into a diptych (two images together) or a triptych (three images together), what would that look like?

Can you make something new today?

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Noteworthy notes 

Photographers to remember

•  Karl Blossfeldt
•  Bernd & Hilla Becher
• August Sander
• Aleksander Rodchenko
• Eugene Atget,(discovered by Man Ray)
• Berenice Abbott
• Walker Evans