But What Would You DO?

People are so cool.

The other day, Suzi Blu asked the most interesting series of questions about creativity.

The focus of the conversation was what exactly you would do if all of the burdens that get in the way of your art were lifted. So we decided to indulge ourselves in a little exercise about what our perfect creative day would be. Move past all the things we think keep us from creating at our maximum potential now - so assume you have unlimited resources, the perfect space, and no encroaching deadlines - and imagine what that would be like.

What would you DO with a day like this stretched before you?

It's a harder question than I thought it would be to answer, so I took a few days. I tried to figure out what does go into my creative process when I do have time. What I found is that I have a process that I follow every time that I create something, but it is fractured. It's broken up by obligations, space issues, distractions, money. If I remove all of them, I've decided my day looks like this...

I have to absorb to create. I love to take in a lot of creative content to get inspired. I use Google Reader, Pinterest, Splitcoast and the natural world. The first part of my day would be to go to these creative wells. Spend two hours on intake.

I don't feel comfortable going right from intake to creating. I need a break of either sleep or walking to turn it into inspiration. So on my perfect day, I choose a 3 hour walk. I like to take pictures of random things on my walk, and I think it's a critical part of the process, even though most of them just stay on my phone. They help me frame the world.

Post walk, I would do a little organizing. There's some weird mania that goes with crafting that compels me to take a mental inventory of what I have, which is best done by putting things away.

Then, I would create. Ideally on a sunny day, with news on TV in the background, and a creature sleeping on my desk. The news gives me a distraction when I need it, and I do actually need it. I am not a marathon crafter. I need to craft in little bursts and be able to look away during a project, wander around, listen to and look at things. I call this artist ADD.

After I create, then on to photography and writing. I consider writing an essential part of it, because I rarely make things without a story. When I do make things that aren't part of a story, I don't enjoy them as much.

At the end of this perfect day, I'd do two more hours of intake. There is nothing more inspiring than the art other people create.

Time is wealth, truly. Think what all of us could do if we just had the time.

Stamps: Anytime Greetings (Retired), Sense of Time (Retired) Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede Paper: Newsprint DSP, Crumb Cake Accessories: Smooch Azure, Gold Lame and Moonlight, Ribbon, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Distressing Kit

Since I didn't have a lot of time today, I created a quick and simple card. I stamped the little angel and then painted it with Smooch. Love that sparkly paint.

I wonder what I could do with it on my perfect day...?

What is your perfect day?

If you blog it and link me, or tell me in a comment, I will enter you in a drawing to win this stamp set.

You have to comment by July 4th at 11:59 PM to be eligible!

Loveyameanitbye.