Seeing Through Cardboard

There are many times I have been looking but not seeing. Not seeing the obvious before me; overlooking the details; just not seeing a perspective that allows for a creative journey.

A few years ago I took some art classes at a local junior college. One of the assignments was to cut a piece of cardboard in the size of 8 ½ x 11. Then in the middle of it cut out a piece measuring 4 x 6. The goal was to hold it at arms length and look through it to see how it changed my perspective. This helps to break down the vast world and focus on a more detailed perspective of the world.

It can be a challenge to see the details around us without a conscious effort to break it down. It does not matter if we are painting, sketching or photographing what is before; what does matter is that we learn to breakdown the vast and often vague around us to find a perspective that we can capture to translate into an emotion or a segment in time. A perspective is what can move us to tears and motivate us to greatness.

Those just beginning a creative journey try looking through a piece cardboard for a period of time and see how it changes your perspective.

A Creative Life

Living a creative life is an amazing journey for those who are committed to follow their creative dreams and passions. However it has its challenges for those established creators and most definitely for those who are just beginning the journey.

We started DonZa Photography 2 1/2 years ago. No advertising budget and having a full time job has presented challenges to developing a client base. I have been asked, “How do you keep the motivation going and not give up”. The answer is simple: My best days are those spent with my camera in hand. It is the privilege I feel when someone lets us into their lives to photograph them or video a major life event for them. It is the peace in my heart and soul when I am walking in the desert, mountains or woods. It is the friendships I develop with other photographers and mentors I meet along the way.

I believe every person has a creative tendency. The problem is that we are not given the opportunities or the resources at younger ages to really pursue those tendencies. Art programs are the first cuts that happen in schools. If each of us were taught to develop our creative nature as we did with writing and language I believe we would be a much happier and calmer society.

Our creative souls need to be nurtured as much as our emotional selves. It could be in the form of a hobby, storytelling to kids and seniors, creating food recipes; scrap booking, art classes, violin lessons and the list could go for pages. We all want to create. We all want to be moved. We all would like to be able to move people.

I challenge each of you to find a creative outlet. You don’t have to be a Picasso or Ansel Adams. You only need to creative for yourself and have the courage to share a bit of your end result with those around you.