Servathon 2012

Source: GreaterDCCares

Servathon is the largest day of service in the DC area. Their website states that "nearly 10,000 corporate and community volunteers" come together to better their community during this event. There are many exciting projects to choose from like painting murals of college logos in public schools, sprucing up public parks and landmarks, painting blacktop games on the playgrounds at schools and then some! I have volunteered with Servathon for the past three years and I have a lot of fun each and every time. This is a great thing to do with a group of your family members and/or friends. You’ll feel good about yourself for helping others and have a great time doing it!! 

The day of service for Servathon 2012 is Saturday, April 21. Get a group of your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, whoever together, decide on a snazzy group name lol, and go register!! And you get a t-shirt! Registration closes April 16^th. For more info, visit Servathon2012.

Creativity365 Day 16

Today's Instructions: 52 pickup. Use a deck of cards to make something today, or make a unique playing card, or really challenge yourself and make an entirely original deck of cards.

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.”

-George Washington Carver

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

-James Baldwin

“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.”

-Maya Angelou

The Little Things

This morning, I'm just grateful for little things in life that put a smile on my face. First, it was this random sign someone put up that I spotted while at a red light on my way to work....

"Smile, you're lookin' GOOD! HAGD!"

   My guess is that HAGD means have a great day lol. Learned a new acronym.

 

Then, it was a text from a friend saying they were thinking about me and hope I have a great day :). Gotta love a morning that starts this way. I'm inspired and now I want to do something kind and unexpected for someone else...I don't know what yet or for whom but, it's gonna happen lol. Anywho, I hope YOU have the best day ever!!!!God is good! And I'm out :)

Creativity365 Day 15

Today's Instructions: Make something new out of an old T-shirt. It doesn't have to be wearable when it's done, but if it is, document it while someone has it on!

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

-Maya Angelou

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. “

-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Art Contest for Kids!!

So I was reading the Washington Post...well actually I was ripping pieces out for some artwork lol...and I came across the Help the Homeless Art Contest for kids. The contest is sponsored by the Help the Homeless Program which works to increase awareness of homelessness. Here are the deets:

Who can enter: Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade

What to do: Create a piece of artwork on 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper showing a positive message about the importance of a home.

Prize: $500 savings bond and the winning artwork will be featured on T-shirts, the Help the Homeless website, as well as other promotions.

How to enter: Send artwork with full name, age, grade, email, and phone number to:
Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program
Attn: Art Contest
P.O. Box 5930
Washington, D.C. 20016

Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by March 2nd at 5 p.m.

For more info, visit www.helpthehomelessdc.org

Paint A New Picture

The theme for my life this year is moving forward. No more dwelling on past mistakes, could've-beens, should've beens, and the why-didn't-I's. I've set goals for myself and I'm dead set on accomplishing them. I want to encourage you to keep it moving too. Maybe things didn't go exactly how you planned last year but you have been blessed to see this year and you should make the most of it! Take those trips you've been planning for years, write that book, start that business, go back to school, spend more time with your loved ones, be spontaneous...dust that list of things to do off and make plans to DO THEM!!

Just because something may not have worked out the first time around, doesn't mean it won't work. You only fail when you stop trying. I want to encourage you (and myself) to do things differently this year...to aim higher and go further than you did before. Live a life that you'd be proud of. Make this year a masterpiece!!

Creativity365 Day 14

Today’s Instructions: Write a limerick about yourself or your hometown (“There was a young fellow from Richmond...”)

Creativity365 Day 13

Today's Instructions: Turn today's junk mail into something much more appealing.


I'm always writing my thoughts and ideas down, so I took some pieces of mail and made a small notebook. I cut rectangle pieces from the mail and then stapled them together...which you can kind of see. Then, I cut a rectangle strip of lime green paper and glued it where the staples are to add more color and bind it all together. The notebook has 12 pages and it's a very petite 2" x 3".

Creativity365 Day 12

Today's Instructions: Make a rainbow from everyday objects. They can all be the same item (like book spines) or a collection of random things.

A little boring today if I don't say so myself lol...I didn't think that long or hard on this one. Just reorganized some clothes in my closet into rainbow order and there you have it...

Creativity365 Day 11

Today's Instructions: Write a ten-word love story. Bonus: Illustrate it!

Today is short and sweet. Don't judge me, I could only do this in 10 words lol.

ARTOMATIC 2012

You just don’t even understand how super excited I am that Artomatic is BACK! My first time experiencing this gargantuan amalgamation of the arts was back in 2009. It was floor, upon floor, upon floor of wall to wall art. There were live performances, workshops, short films, poetry, photography, fashion and then some!! 

Creativity365 Day 10

Today's Instructions: What can you do with just a dollar bill? Use a dollar bill as your medium or inspiration today.

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.”

-James Baldwin

“Sometimes you've got to let everything go—purge yourself . . . If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.”

-Tina Turner

"I used to want the words "She tried" on my tombstone. Now I want "She did it."

-Katherine Dunham

Creativity365 Day 9

Today's Instructions: Make an invitation to an everyday event you wouldn't normally invite people to. Bonus: Actually send them out.

Books I Love

Just wanted to share some of the books that keep me inspired. It's a good idea to keep inspirational material around for when your creativity hits a roadblock...even if it doesn't. Since I paint, most of my books revolve around that subject but I also have many books on arts & crafts and creativity in general. Excuse the français in some of these titles lol...

The Art of Drawing People by Walter Foster- I want to get better at drawing people. This book is full of techniques for drawing the human form.

How to Draw Comics by Stan Lee- I like to experiment with different styles of drawing. I also appreciate the artwork in comics so I had to get this book.

Rethinking Acrylic: Radical Solutions for Exploiting the World's Most Versatile Medium by Patti Brady- One of my more heavily used books. It is full of different ways you can use acrylic paint. I learned many new techniques from it.

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to find out what people are going to think about it, you're going to limit yourself. That's a very strange way to live.”

-Jessye Norman

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

-Maya Angelou

Changemakers | DC Central Kitchen

This organization HAD to be my first Changemakers post!!! Out of all my volunteer experiences, I think I enjoy this one the most...and I know I’m not alone because opportunities to volunteer here go FAST. My time there was spent mostly slicin’ and dicin’ vegetables, making some sort of stew, and/or organizing and labeling the food in their fridge to prepare it for delivery. Aside from helping others, what makes it so enjoyable are the employees. They’re friendly and helpful...and they play great music :).

DC Central Kitchen states their mission is to “use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities.” They recycle 3,000 pounds of food EVERYDAY and convert it into 4,500 meals...EVERYDAY. They recycle by taking surplus food from food service businesses (restaurants, local farmers, etc.), making use of what would’ve went to waste. Each year, they provide well over a million meals to at-risk individuals. Counseling and outreach are also provided.

They also provide culinary job training to people overcoming homelessness, addictions, and incarceration. This 16-week program covers all areas of working in a professional kitchen. In 2010, 90% of participants were placed in a job. This is a major reason why I have so much respect for DCCK. They help get individuals back on their feet and give them the means to be self-sufficient. They don’t just provide food, they provide a new lease on life. Homelessness and hunger are two issues that I’m drawn to and this program is doing outstanding things to address them both.

This is just the beginning of what they do. For more info, visit their website >> http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/mission/ and if you’re in the DC area, check out their volunteering opportunities.

Creativity365 Day 8

Today's Instructions: Write a haiku about something that happens to you today or is in the news today. Bonus: Illusrtate it! 
Haiku: A short, nonrhyming, three-line, traditional Japanese poem. In English, they usually have seventeen syllables: five syllables on the first and third lines, and seven syllables on the second line.

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

-Harriet Tubman

“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”

- George Washington Carver

Creativity365 Day 7

Today's Instructions: What's your favorite animal? Use it as your inspiration today.


You know, in looking through this book and coming across questions like this, I've realized I don't play favorites much. I don't have a lot of "favorite" things. I definitely don't have a favorite animal, but I do love my dog, so I went with that. I just did a little doodle that is, unfortunately, often true to love and life lol.

This makes me laugh lol.

Creativity365 Day 6

Todays Instruction's: Make something out of paper, but don't use scissors or glue or draw on it. What now? (And no, you don't have to know origami to do this.)

I didn't take my time with this or try to be too neat. To be honest, I didn't really feel like doing it, but being more persistent is one of my goals sooooo... for this project, I used some thin gauged wire, which I made into a circle and wrapped with strips of paper from a magazine. These rings are supposed to represent marriage. Don't worry, all the projects won't be lovey dovey.  

This reminded of when I used to make rings from colorful pieces of wire as a kid...and sell them. I was a hustler lol.

Creativity365 Day 5

Today's Instructions: Make something ephemeral. Can you create something using a material that will dissipate quickly, like soap bubbles, smoke, butter on a griddle, or cream in coffee?


I chose to use butter in a frying pan...gotta work with what I have. I just cut some thin slices off a stick of butter and then sliced those into pieces to create the letters and heart shape. I recorded a short video as well to show the "dissipation"...ooooooooh.

So for whatever reason, my video isn't uploading so I'm just going to give you the link. It's just melting butter lol >>You Melt My Heart 

My Artwork

It would probably be a good idea to share some of my artwork since I told you I paint right? Well, here it is. The pictures go from my most current works to the oldest. I love to create bright, energetic paintings and I'm often inspired by music, nature, or anything I find beautiful or inspiring at the time really. All of my artwork is done with acrylic paint... Oh, and I don't have my website up yet, but for inquiries about my artwork, you can email me here >> unparalleledart@gmail.     

"Untitled"...I love big hair :)

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

-Booker T. Washington

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

-Barack Obama

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

-Muhammad Ali

Creativity365 Day 4

Today's Instructions: Make something with your breakfast before you eat it.

This makes me happy. How can you have a bad morning with a bowl of cereal looking at you like that? I think everyone should make a smiley face with their breakfast before they eat it tomorrow morning. That's your assignment lol. On to the project...This is just a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch and a strawberry that I cut in half and then cut into heart shapes. Guess I could've thrown my banana in the mix too...oh well, maybe next time. 

Blu | The Artist

Blu is a street artist from Bologna (yes, that's the real name), Italy. The first time I saw his art was a couple of years ago on YouTube. It was so simple but...it moved!!! He creates cool art that can appear to walk around a room, bounce down the sidewalk, crawl through a construction site and then some. Some of his artwork covers the entire side of a building. What really amazes me is that he manages to keep his identity concealed while doing these huge projects and he is a well-known artist. Blu is his pseudonym. The video below is one of his animated wall-paintings called "BIG BANG BIG BOOM". I don't believe in the Big Bang theory or that man came from apes but I do love the animation and creativity. I must learn how to do stuff like this! I think I may incorporate it in one of my Creativity365 projects...maybe, depending on how hard it is lol. 

Creativity365 Day 3

Today's Instructions: What do you collect? Work with a collection of objects you have in your home (or borrow a friend's if you like)

I don't collect anything really nor did I want to borrow a collection from a friend lol...BUT I do have an abundance of scarves and sweaters so that was the medium for the day. Continuing on with the love theme, I arranged my scarves and sweaters into a big heart (after sweeping up all the dog hair). It doesn't look as big in the picture as it did in real life.

Love...the fabric of our lives.

 

Inspirational Bits | Black History Month

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

-Maya Angelou

“You're either part of the solution or part of the problem.”

-(Leroy) Eldridge Cleaver

“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”

-Michael Jordan