It is our decision

You must choose creativity if you wish to gain or expand creative ability. The choice will help you accept that you are, or become more of, a creative person.

If you write, I suggest lots of reading. Be selective though; books and magazines about the writer’s craft, creativity, inspirational books, devotionals, and pictorial books. Magazines, newspapers, candy reading (whatever you most enjoy), biographies (these give you insight into real people whose characteristics you can weave into realistic characters). Psychology, design, histories, poetry, and I am sure you are getting some ideas of your own.

For photographers, there is no substitute for getting out and shooting, even pictures from home can hone skills. National Geographic, Wired, Vogue, Architectural Digest, and other photo-laden magazines can have you imagining things to try. Photography magazines can instruct and inform. A photography club can provide critique and instruction.

Classes may be beneficial if you find an excellent instructor and can afford to invest those funds. Writers and photographers are well-advised to combine the talents. Should your skills be weaker in one, endeavor to improve. Text and pictures together draw more sustained attention than the presentation of either alone. Practice will enhance the work quickly if you focus on creative intensity, but be willing to invest years in becoming a master.

Art! Art is where my focus has broken down, but instruction books, classes, visiting places that contain art (even just the local craft store where there are prints), practice and more practice will help you grow your innate creative talent. Be courageous, you do not have to be Frida, Pablo, Leonardo, or Georgia, at this time, be yourself. Experiment, use color, use media, be bold, develop your eyes, and your hands. Find your element.

You are you, and your creative genius is exactly what your audience is searching for, your reach will increase in proportion to the effort you dedicate. If you misplace a line assume it should be there and build it into your creation. The chances are no one will ever discover what you consider imperfection. The audience forgives what to it is unknown. Would that I heeded my advice, but some are more beholden to perfectionism than are others.

Music, I seldom articulate my background, but I was in chorus and choir from an early age. I lettered in chorus the three full years I attended high school. I also studied guitar a few years and spent many hours happily playing electric organ. The choral lessons taught diction and enunciation. I left music when I lost my Kimball organ, I had it from the seventies until 2000. The wound is deep.

I will tell you if you have the gift of voice, or if you do not, it is a choice. The vocal instrument can be improved with time. You must want the facility, or it will elude you. Should you perform, do not stumble over a mistake, sing out, smile and keep going. The audience will not realize you fumbled unless your stress draws attention to it.

I have gone long. Sometimes, I find a groove.

I realized I have 1,330 followers on the blog, Chronicles. I thought those would follow me to the new venue, but it seems not. So, I am debating what I should do. There should be a way via WordPress to incorporate the two. Combining things and setting new priorities is sometimes a weakness of mine. Creative solutions are my mark so I will come up with something. I am working more on Haphazard Creative

I am grateful:

1.   I have a best friend.
2.   I can play my stereo loud.
3.   I have food to eat.
4.   There is hot water.
5.   I am comfortable writing.
6.   I have books to read.
7.   Pen and ink.

You have by now seen enough of my Gratitude Lists that you should be practicing them yourself. If not, ask yourself why you refuse. It is a beneficial habit.

Creativity
The match lighting the fire of
Our talent’s intent.

 

Fill your mind with all
The inspiration it will
Hold, then make it new.

 

Travel the spaces
Between the living moments
Cradle your ideas.

 

As a prompt, consider your creative talents and make a plan to foster your skills and increase them. You may need to dedicate more time or clear space. Prepare yourself for success, and you will indubitably find it.

Thank you for visiting Chronicles. I hope you found something instructional, inspiring, or encouraging. If you like, please click the follow button, or come back when you are able. God Bless and Keep You, Everyday, Everyway, Always and Forever.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

365 Creativity Project-Day 141

I did not want to expound on my day, so I instead played with words:

The prompt for today’s poem came from Carry On Tuesday. You might like to visit the site and try your hand at creating a poem of your own.

The Long and Winding Road…

Life is a journey
That runs from birth to the grave,
Along the way we learn
Many lessons that carry
Us toward our completion.

At times our road leads
Us in winding directions,
Back and forth along
The path we choose to follow
With companions on our way.

We long to finish
All the tasks we are given
With our best effort,
Using capabilities
That we have developed strong.

Disappointments may
Come into our lives, but we
Keep our spirits high
By continuing forward
And accomplishing our goals.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Photographs:

Wisteria reaching out to pine tree…

Wisteria climbing pine tree…

The damage wind did…

I am…

The novel I am currently reading, along with others…

I am grateful:

1.   I can have Oreo cookies for breakfast.
2.   Penny’s prescription was written and ready.
3.   Even though the doctor was not in and the office had our phone number wrong, our trip was not wasted because the nurse drew Mom’s blood.
4.   I mailed a small package to one of my friends.
5.   We had Subway sandwiches for supper.

I hope your Tuesday has been pleasant. Try your hand at something creative before the day is over.

Leave me a comment if you have the time.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 129

Haiku:

Cherry Cheesecake

Life is overflowing
With tasty samples that we
May choose to partake.
Things that bring satisfaction
Above the regular round.

Love ambushes us
Taking us as its captive
For a little while
Or perhaps even longer
If we are so fortunate.

We consume the best
That life offers us smiling
In sublime delight.
We live our finest choice and
Accept gratification.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, May 17, 2012

Photographs:

I am grateful:

1.   I finished reading the Bible study for today although the names were very hard to pronounce.
2.   I took an invigorating shower.
3.   I talked to Carrie Leigh this evening.
4.   My printer came back on line when I unplugged and plugged it back in.
5.   My puppy dog Hope is a sweetheart.

I hope you had a wonderful Thursday. Get busy and do something creative before your day is over.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 122

Haiku:

The Hollow Woman

As days pass quickly
She is forever behind
Living in the dark
Of her lack of magical
Charismatic character.

She has very few
Friends on whom she can depend
And fails to believe
In her intrinsic beauty,
She covers up her glory.

She feels incomplete
Without any control of
Her own destiny
She struggles daily against
Unruly identity.

Emotions leave her
A hollow woman bereft
Of ability
To comprehend the real needs
Of her personality.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, May 10, 2012

Photographs:

I am grateful:

1.   Haiku are fun to write.
2.   Counting syllables is not difficult.
3.   The shrimp I cooked for supper were delicious.
4.   God provides the rain to nourish the crops that feed us.
5.   The sun brings light revealing the beauty around us.

This has been a good day for me, as I hope it was for you. Creativity is within you, use it to make something that adds value to the world. I know you can do it, because you are at least as gifted as I am.

Don’t forget to leave me a comment to share your thoughts.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 89

A few haiku:

April Poem A Day Challenge, poem seven:

Encounter at Wal-Mart

The aisles were crowded
With frantic shoppers
Going in every direction.

I pushed my cart with
Leisurely ease picking
Out things at need.

Suddenly I was caught
Face to face across carts
With an unsmiling man.

I upturned my lips,
Nodded my head,
And he frowned at me.

I dropped my eyes
And pushed my cart aside,
Still holding to my smile.

I thought how sad
The man must be even
Though it was Good Friday.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, April 7, 2012

Photographs:

Blooms…

Azaleas…

Azaleas…

Azaleas…

Lilly…

Lizard (Anole)…

I am grateful:

1.   Jesus died for me, and any other who calls upon Him.
2.   I am reading Illusion by Frank Peretti, which I am enjoying very much.
3.   We have had a quiet day at home.
4.   God is faithful to His children.
5.   We enjoyed the supper I cooked.

I hope your Saturday has been very enjoyable. Take a few moments to do something creative and share it with someone you care about.

If you have taken the time to read this blog and enjoyed it, please leave me a comment. If you have suggestions for improvement please leave those too.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

 

365 Creativity Project-Day 76

Haiku:

Photographs:

The book I am reading now…

Easter Bunny…

Another bunny…

Stuffed dog in rabbit ears…

I am grateful:

1.   I feel better.
2.   I took out the scraps.
3.   There is a group on Facebook for those of us who used to blog on MSN Spaces.
4.   We finished reading Joshua and began Judges.
5.   I am still reading my six devotionals daily.

I hope your Sunday went well and that you did something creative with your time.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 63

Haiku:

Photographs:

Angel that my Mom painted for me a few years ago.

The Wolf Gift which I am reading now.

Hope…

Ko-Ko being lazy…

I am grateful:

1.   I have plenty of wonderful books to read.
2.   I decided to stop checking out books from the library and read my own for a while.
3.   My camera takes some beautiful pictures.
4.   Mom cooked cabbage and I cooked macaroni & cheese and chicken for supper.
5.   We have shelter from the rain.

I hope your Monday went well. Take a few moments to write down your creative thoughts from the day.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 57

Haiku:

Photographs:

Flowering weed…

Flowering weeds…

Purple weed and gravel…

Cactus in beam of light…

Weeds…

Another weed…

I am grateful:

1.   God makes beauty of even things we discount as useless.
2.   Each one of us is a unique treasure.
3.   Heaven is not far away, it exists inside of us.
4.   My daughter-in-law, Laura, called this evening.
5.   Alex has decided to go to OCS.

I hope your Tuesday was full of smiles, and you did something to enliven your creativity.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 54

Journal entry and some haiku:

Some photographs:

Crow on branch…

Squirrel looking my way…

Crow…

Pine that fell…

Camellias…

Squirrel eating…

Camellia…

I am grateful:

1.   The pine did not fall on my trampoline or the swing.
2.   Although we had torrential rain and thunderstorms there was no damage to our home.
3.   Not every opinion has to be given credit in the mind.
4.   We have plenty of food.
5.   Our supper of hot dogs and French fries was very good.

I hope all of you have enjoyed your Saturday and that you found something inspiring during your day.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 51

Some haiku and a six word memoir that sums up my day:

Some photographs:

Daffodils…

Daffodils…

Holly and Yellow Bell…

Camellias…

Fig Tree with Pampas Grass in background…

Driveway fading into distance…

I am grateful:

1.   I am much more comfortable than a week ago.
2.   Two of my packages came today.
3.   We ate lunch at Subway and it was delicious.
4.   I managed not to curse out the people at AT&T, though they made me extremely angry by hanging up on me twice.
5.   Leigh called and talking to her helped me decompress.

I hope your day was rewarding and that you created something beautiful.

Always,
Jo Ann