I’m sorry to announce that this will be my last post for a while. I’m off in a new direction to explore my creativity in other ways. However, before leaving you, I wanted to discuss how the terms “creative” and “artistic” are both connected and different.

Being creative is the process in which people figure out new ways to accomplish something and/or develop new ideas/products. Simply thinking could be considered to be creative. However, being artistic is any artistic process where skills are used to form a final product. Painting, ceramics, drawing, singing, and/or acting are just a few of the things that are qualified as being artistic.  Creativity is much broader than just being artistic and is not confined by a person’s artistic ability.

It has been a pleasure sharing creative insight with you. I hope you have enjoyed this blog and continue to be creative everyday. Creativity is everywhere and there are unlimited ways to be creative.

Live and Create!

Emma Creator

Most people don’t realize how easily they are able to do things or even notice when they are being creative. I, on the other hand, realize and notice when and how I am creative. Even with simple tasks, I find myself needing to be creative and I’m appreciative that through creativity, there’s more than one way of doing something.

When I wake up in the morning, I don’t get out into a standing position like most people. I find it easier to get on my knees in bed and back off the bed, getting onto the floor. I could have a walker or a wheelchair near my bed, but I’m more comfortable on the floor and I’m able to do more. Many people don’t understand. However, equipment tends to confine me, if that makes sense.  Then, when getting back into bed, I start off in the kneeling position with both hands on the bed. I get to a standing position by slightly leaning on the bed and then just pick up one leg like a child climbs up onto a couch.

My bedroom is upstairs so in order to get downstairs, while I have a stair glider, I find it easier, safer, and faster to go down on my behind. I am able to walk stairs with assistance, but I like being independent. I do use the stair glider to go up the stairs. However, trying to get onto it from upstairs scares me because I don’t want to fall down the stairs.  When getting on the stair glider to go upstairs, I get into a standing position by leaning on the stairs and then stepping up onto the first step before getting into the stair glider.  If the stair glider is not working (broken, stuck, power outage, etc.) I have other ways of getting up the stairs. As mentioned before, I can walk stairs with assistance. I am also able to crawl up the stairs or I’m able to go up the stairs backwards.

During meals, I’m either in a regular chair or in my wheelchair. Since I basically only use my left hand, I had to learn how to cut, eat, stir, hold, etc. all with one hand. I’ve mastered this and I use a straw to drink because pouring/picking up a cup is a little bit of a challenge still.

With communication, most of my family, close friends, people around me often, and/or people with patience understand my speech. For those that have difficulty, I have a communication device that speaks what I type. I can also write what I want to say on paper or try spelling it out verbally.  Computers and other developments in technology have been wonderful for me. Although I basically only use one hand, I’m able to communicate and perform task on a more equal level.

In regards to travel, I use a walker or a wheelchair in public. We have a van with a ramp that I use when traveling with my electric wheelchair. However, if I’m using a manual wheelchair or my walker, I am able to get into most vehicles in one of two ways. I either climb in similar to how I climb in bed, but staring from a wheelchair instead of starting from a kneeling position or back up my walker to the seat and hop in using my arms to push myself up and pushing on the running board step with one leg.

Yes, I’m also creative with MANY other things including artwork, but for this post I wanted to discuss my most basic daily activities and how creativity even has a role with them. If you get the chance, try to write down your most common daily routine/activities and notice when you are creative with them.  Then, think about how I consider myself to be creative in every day life.  You will hopefully realize how creativity can assist in accomplishing something and/or being successful. As I said before, with creativity, being successful is possible.

For the next blog post, we are going to take a step back once more and discuss how being creative and being artistic are both connected and different. I neglected to discuss the connection and the differences between being creative and being artistic.

Check back soon and until then, Create!

Emma Creator 

Creativity when using commas on a computer is not often thought of because pauses naturally occur in speech so in writing/typing, comma usage is similar to pausing. However, for me and other people that use a computer communication device, it is extremely useful and necessary in creating a sentence that will be properly pronounced.

Like pauses in speech, commas help separate the words in a sentence and prevent words from running together. When using a communication device, the user not only needs to put in the commas they usually would use in writing/typing, but must place additional commas within a sentence, going against the normal rules of English writing, in order to make the device sound alright for listeners/the audience.  Placing one of the commas incorrectly could cause the device to pause inappropriately, as well. The users also need to be creative with the spelling of words sometimes, too, but we’ll discuss that in the next post.

Therefore, the next time you engage in a verbal conversation or are writing/typing, take notice in your pauses and/or comma usage. Think about how the message is impacted by these and then try to imagine needing to have a good ear in order to get a communication device to speak clearly by being creative with the placement of commas. It’s not something many people need to be concerned about, but being creative through the use of comma placement definitely impacts my life and is an interesting concept to think about. Don’t you agree?

For the next blog post, we are going to once again take a step back and discuss how I personally use creativity on a daily basis. I’m going to go through “some” of my usual daily routine/events and share how creativity plays a huge role in my life.

Check back soon and until then, Create!

Emma Creator 

As I previously noted, computers have developed allowing us not only to use type instead of handwriting, but computers also let us choose from different font styles. Font styles range from choice of lettering, the color, bolding, underlining, italicizing, CAPITALIZING or not, and more.

Since computers have advanced to the point where users can use type instead of handwriting, I’ve been able to be successful in completing written work in a timely fashion as well as choose fonts that express what I’m trying write to in a better way. I have difficulty handwriting so by computers giving users the ability to choose from a variety of fonts, I am able to write with ease and with the font choice that I feel best expresses what I’m writing. I can even choose a computer font that looks like handwriting.

With computers, font choice changes can be done with very little effort while with handwriting font choices and font changes require more effort. Today, computers make it simple and fun to experiment with font choices. The next time you are typing, play around with different font choices and notice how those choices influence the writing.

For the next blog post, we are going to once again take a step back and discuss the subject of creativity through the use of commas.

Check back soon and until then, Create!

Emma Creator

Creativity is often expressed through ceramics and found when a piece of clay is molded into a piece of work. The creativity seen with ceramics could range from sculptures, bowls, vases, pitchers, or any form the designer imagines. Creativity especially blooms with ceramics when different shapes and objects are used to enhance its unique beauty. A pitcher or a bowl, for example, could be small and simple or could be large and complex in formation. The piece could be plain or have indented and/or other special features.

A type of sparkle glaze could be used to add additional beauty. Other choices of glaze include crackle glaze and plain glaze. Any of these three types of glaze can be used in generating a unique piece.  The creator of the work is the one that enhances the beauty by molding and designing it with their touch.

I have worked with clay many times and felt its smooth moist texture running through my fingers. I may not be aware of what I am creating, but I have an idea in my mind as I start working with the clay in my hands. I’ve found that having a specific design and look in mind beforehand when it comes to ceramics is not a good idea since you will become focused on designing it just right and likely be disappointed. All creativity needs some freedom and if you open your mind, you will notice that even the simplest things can encourage creativity.

Creativity starts in the mind and comes out through the hands/actions. It is inspired within and by surroundings. Ceramics is just one of the ways creativity is practiced.

For the next blog post, we are going to take a step back and discuss the subject of creativity through font in more detail.

Check back soon and until then, Create!

Emma Creator

An Algorithm / A Set Of How-To Instructions

We will discuss ceramics further, but for this post I thought I’d start by introducing you to how I found ceramics to be a wonderful way to practice creativity. When I took a ceramics class, I enjoyed seeing how pieces would turn out. Here are pieces that I didn’t have intentions of making and creativity was leading the pieces completely. I didn’t have know what I was making and my hands kind of took control of the project instead of my brain. Below is a set of instructions on how you can make a flower for yourself, but you can let your hands work freely to see what YOU create.

Here’s how to make them:

Materials:
1. A bag of a block of white clay
2. A wire
3. A rolling pin
4. 2 liter soda bottle
5. A table or flat surface
6. A kiln
7. A cloth big enough to be used as a mat for the clay
8. Glaze (color/colors of your choice)
9. Paint brushes
10. A sponge
11. A bowl of water
12. A cutting tool for the clay

Instructions:
1. Open the bag of the block of white clay and use the wire to cut through the block, cutting about 2 inches off from the top of the block. Pretend you are pulling your shoe laces and just pull the wire through the clay.

2. Close the bag and place the piece of cut clay on the cloth after spreading the cloth out on the table/flat surface

3. Roll out the clay using the rolling pin so the clay is about 3cm thick. It’s similar to rolling out cookie dough, but eating pieces of clay really is a no no!

4. Place the 2 liter soda bottle upright on top of the rolled out clay and mold the clay up around the bottle.

5. Cut the clay so that it’s only about half way up the bottle and smooth out the cracks in the clay with a moist sponge while the clay is still around the bottle. Don’t over wet the clay or it will become a soggy mess like bread does with water.

6. Make one 2 inch slice in the clay and then carefully remove the soda bottle from the clay

7. Twist one part of the sliced area inward so it looks like a curl and connect the other part of the sliced area to the bottom of the curl. Doesn’t it remind you of a sea shell or a caterpillar.

8. Smooth out the cracks again with a moist sponge before letting the clay dry. You don’t want you skin to have cracks so think of the water as hand cream for the clay.

9. Once the clay dries, fire it in the kiln

10. After firing, glaze the piece with the glaze color or colors of choice using a paintbrush and leaving a non-glazed spot on the bottom for firing purposes (glazing is like painting, but don’t use water on the glaze). Don’t be afraid to experiment with color.

11. After doing three codes of glaze, fire the piece again (Yes, three codes. Think of the codes of glaze as the toppings on your ice-cream.

12. Enjoy your piece/creation

With creativity, anything is possible. There are solutions and discoveries possible through creativity. Computers are just tools to be used to enhance creativity and/or inspire new ideas. Due to my physical disability caused from birth trauma, I have trouble with mobility, speech, and using my right hand. I’ve found that through creativity, possibilities become realities. I’ve experienced first hand how creativity can impact and improve a life. I cannot count all the times I needed to be creative in order to figure out how to succeed in doing something.
Computers are only devices that might assist in turning a creative thought into a reality. However, creativity is not limited by the capabilities of computers. Computers are limited by minimized creativity. As creativity grows, computers are advancing, which furthers our capabilities and leads to further creativity. Computers have developed over the years allowing us not only to use type instead of handwriting, but it lets us choose from different font styles. This has allowed me to be successful in completing written work in a timely fashion. I have difficulty handwriting so the computer also lets me edit work easier. Editing work through handwriting is messy and time consuming. Computers make editing simple and neater. This provides people with the ability to be creative in ways they otherwise might not be able to so for this blog I thought computers should be discussed. Think of all the creative things that computers have impacted (writing, movie-making, photo work, etc.). Computers have made it much easier to perform tasks and allow creativity to shine.
Computers have come much further than just assisting our creativity in writing, too. They are wonderful communication tools. In the past, communication was difficult and as creativity progressed, new systems of communication developed. The creation of the computer has highly improved communication. Today, communication can occur instantaneously with phones, the internet, etc. I have also come to realize how computers can be useful being an assisting voice to someone with speech difficulties. I personally use a communication program to socialize when needed and it’s useful when I want to have a voice that will be understood. My communication program speaks what I type, but I also need to be creative in how I type because if I don’t put in extra commas and spell words according to how they sound, the speaking voice is hard to understand. Therefore, while computers allow creativity to be expressed and are able to show artistic abilities more frequently than in the past, people need to be creative in order to get the most out of computers.

Here is a link to a video that I found intriguing and deals with the connection between being creative, being artistic, and computers.
Link

In my opinion, a computer can be a creativity tool or an artistic tool. It can be both, as well. Computers are everywhere today. They can be in the more recognized form such as desktops, laptops, phones, etc. Then, they can be in less noticeable forms like kitchen appliances and ways of transportation. Transportation is something I view as being computerized because I used a modified van with an automatic ramp because I use a wheelchair. My wheelchair could also be thought of as being a computer since it’s electric and is controlled from a joystick pad. I’ve even seen a vehicle with automatic start. It is amazing how much means of transportation are becoming more and more computerized. Locking systems are now computerized. Communication and navigation computer systems are used in transportation. Recently, there was a news story about a car being designed that hopefully won’t need a driver. Therefore, with creativity, computers might have endless improvement and/or design possibilities. Currently, there are advanced and simple computers. Even a pottery wheel can be considered a computer.

Ceramics will be the next discussion topic. The next couple posts will explore how creativity can be expressed through the artistic practice of ceramics and provide instructions on how to create a flower piece like the ones pictured.

Flowers

For this post, I’m going to start by discussing the poem: Snow Angels.  The poem is about how snow angels are not perfect because there is an impression of the person getting up. Snow angels can be compared to people since every snow angel is unique. They symbolize how everyone is an individual because of the events and the choices they make in life.  The way a snow angel turns out depends on a number of factors (movement, speed rate, size, decision on how the creator gets up, etc.) and everything a person does in life impacts them. Therefore, the decision that the creator of the snow angel makes about getting up is creative in terms of not only the snow angel, but is also creative in terms of themselves since everything the person does impacts them.

The decision to include the poem Snow Angels in my first blog post was in attempt to start a discussion about how creativity can be artistic. Poetry is symbolic of every creation. It can have straight forward meanings or meanings up for interpretation. Poetry is subjective so everyone might have a different view of a poem just like every snow angel is unique. Yes, poetry is a type of creativity and it’s also artistic since it’s a form of writing.

Computers have developed over the years allowing us not only to use type instead of handwriting (like with Snow Angels), but it lets us choose from different font styles. This provides people with the ability to be creative  in ways they otherwise might not be able to so for this blog I thought computers should be discussed.

Computers have come much further than just assisting our creativity in writing. Another way a computer is helpful is with expressing ourselves in general. They allow people to communicate easier. They allow edits to occur easier. They allow creativity to be expressed and are able to show artistic abilities more frequently. I have also come to realize how computers can be useful being an assisting voice to someone with speech difficulties.  Overall, like poetry, a computer can be a creativity tool or an artistic tool. It can be both, as well.

My next post will develop this further.

Check back soon and until then, Create!

Emma Creator

Hello! Thank you for visiting the website EmmaCreator.com. I’m very excited to be able to share creative insight with you. In this world, creation is everywhere and there are unlimited ways to be creative. Below is a poem that hopefully will start you thinking about creation and being creative. It can be found in this book: Poetry As The Year Goes By.

Snow Angels