Here’s a Tuesday coloring page that was a sketch for the book Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood. Help our creative heroine Mira, color the town. Did you notice in my drawing Mira stretches as she is painting what she sees in her imagination up in the sky? It’s my way of reminding readers to stretch their imagination. In the same way you exercise your body it’s a good idea to get regular exercise when it comes to your creativity.
Remember when you first learned to ride a bike and needed training wheels? After you practiced a lot your family took off those training wheels because you no longer need them…whoosh off you go!
In the same way you need to practice, exercise and get comfortable with using your imagination. Why? Because it’s amazing, it’s fun and it can become a good friend that helps you in all areas of your life. One thing I know for sure is that we are all creative and have a unique way of seeing things. It’s like our own one of kind thumbprint. There is no one else exactly like you so all you have to do is work on finding your voice. Just like Mira in the sketch, imagination is a way to take an image we see in our mind and then put it down on paper. It might be words or pictures as you are telling your story. There are few things as exciting so I hope you will give it a try.
When you stretch your imagination you can come up with ways to communicate how someone feels or show their emotions. In the image above from the book The Day You Begin, a shy boy looks at his reflection in the water and sees his potential to be an amazing storyteller.
So how do you get started?
I like being in a quiet space with a pad of paper and remember it is just for you. You can put down anything you want, a scribble, a few words…anything at all that comes to mind.
Don’t worry that it doesn’t look perfect but just put your ideas down. The important thing is to keep doing this because practice is going to make you feel really comfortable to invite your imagination to come along for the ride.
Most adults think artists or writers just have a light bulb go on and it’s like magic that only professional creatives can create. The truth is magic comes when you exercise your imagination on a regular basis. You keep building up your creative muscles and stick with it. That is how to get good at writing and making art and stretching your imagination.
A good place I like to go to push my imagination is my local library. Just because it is closed you can still check out lots of great things online.
Writing your ideas and drawing them is the key to making them real. You can use your imagination wherever you are-when you make art, write stores, play games and it will help you come up with ideas to solve problems.
Have you ever dreamed about something you were thinking about? Dreams are like open windows that help us go where our imagination wants to travel. Remember when you practice to think of it is as play and have fun while using your imagination. Once you get started you won’t believe where it takes you.