Tag: beauty

Categories
Blog

The Creative Connection with Nature

Creative connection with nature 
Note: the following post summarizes some ideas from the book, Deep Creativity by Deborah Anne Quibell, Jennifer Leigh Selig, Dennis Patrick Slattery.

In the realm of artistic endeavors, nature serves as a wellspring of inspiration, stimulating the creative faculties within us all. For example, many creative writers, find solace and renewed imagination in the natural world, a domain that beckons them beyond the written word to embrace photography.

Equipped with her camera, a photographer discovers that her perception of the world undergoes a transformation. Colors become more vibrant, shapes more captivating, and light more enchanting. Nature’s wonders unfold before her lens, unfurling a tapestry of awe-inspiring phenomena.

Yet, her engagement with nature transcends the role of a mere observer. It prompts her to recognize her own intrinsic connection to the surrounding world. By channeling her creativity through nature, she fortifies her bond with the Earth and all its manifestations.

The underlying message resonates clearly: Nature possesses an extraordinary power to incite and nurture creativity.

A writer, too, can encounter similar revelations amidst nature’s embrace. Seated upon a log within a forest, he becomes entranced by a spider’s web adorning a nearby bush. As he fixated on its delicate intricacies, he momentarily shifts his perspective, causing the web to vanish abruptly.

Though the web’s disappearance was but a mirage, it struck the writer with a profound realization. Just as poetry uncovers hidden truths in plain sight, so too does the web’s transient presence expose the existence of unnoticed wonders. Occasionally, it requires a creative lens to render the invisible visible.

Nature’s marvels often prove elusive, surpassing even the ephemeral nature of a spider’s web. Another writer embarked on an underwater adventure in the Virgin Islands, yearning for a fleeting encounter with sea turtles. Throughout her expedition, her heart yearned for an intimate moment with these majestic creatures. As hope waned, serendipity smiled upon her, presenting her with the coveted encounter.

Swimming alongside the sea turtle, she perceived a profound wisdom in its measured and deliberate movements. The privilege of observing its tranquil journey left her awestruck, inspiring her to adopt a similar composure when navigating life’s turbulent currents.

She recognized a mutual reciprocity in her bond with the sea turtle. She felt compelled to harness her creative gift to honor the natural world’s resplendence, acting as its advocate and protector.

Reflecting upon these encounters, one might ponder their own connection to the natural realm and how it intertwines with personal creativity. Do we acknowledge our animalistic nature, acknowledging our place within the intricate web of existence? And how do we express our reverence for nature’s grandeur through creative pursuits?

To find solace in nature is to experience a profound kinship with the Earth. It is to gaze upon a starlit sky and feel a sense of wonder coursing through our veins. To listen to the rustle of leaves and harmonize with the melodies of the forest. It is to witness the cycles of life, both gentle and fierce, and find inspiration in their eternal dance.

When we immerse ourselves in nature’s embrace, our senses awaken, and our imagination flourishes. A simple walk in the woods can unravel a narrative waiting to be written, a melody longing to be composed, or a painting yearning to be rendered. Nature’s bounty becomes a boundless palette, awaiting the touch of our creative hands.

In these moments, as we draw from the wellspring of inspiration bestowed upon us by nature, let us also recognize the reciprocal relationship we share. Just as we derive creativity from nature, it falls upon us to utilize our creative prowess to protect and celebrate its unrivaled beauty.

For it is through our creative expressions that we pay homage to nature’s magnificence, crafting tributes that transcend words and actions. We become ambassadors of the Earth, wielding our artistic abilities to raise awareness, kindle reverence, and inspire stewardship among our fellow human beings.

So, let us forge an unbreakable bond with nature, allowing it to permeate our souls and invigorate our creative endeavors. Through the lens of a camera, the stroke of a brush, or the whisper of a pen, let us celebrate the majesty of the natural world and embrace our role as its creative custodians.

In this union of artistry and nature, we shall find ourselves not only creators but also beneficiaries. For it is in the arms of nature that our spirits flourish, and our creative souls find everlasting nourishment.

Want More? Read Deep Creativity today!
Categories
Blog

Why We Should Embrace Art

Stormy Skies over the city

Art in all of its forms is a worthy pursuit, and something we should strive to embrace. Art allows us to express ourselves and share our ideas, thoughts and emotions with others. Art also gives us the opportunity to express ourselves and share our ideas, thoughts and emotions with others. And through it, we are given a glimpse at how they are feeling. But when art becomes an industry that exploits children’s innocence, and turns them into an army of mindless followers, I think we have all lost something very valuable.

When I was younger, I loved the animated movies my parents would watch with me. They were fun movies about heroic characters, living out their fantasies and adventures, while having adventures and fulfilling their fantasies. The art of these movies was fantastic, but they had a message about heroism and friendship, and an ending that was happy. I never wanted to grow up and be a hero like the heroes in my favorite animated movies. I wanted to grow up and be a hero like the heroes in my favorite books and stories.

But as I grew up, the world changed. Now, most of the cartoons I watch as a grown-up are not about the adventures of heroes. They are about heroes fighting villains. And the endings are often not happy, but depressing. I don’t understand why the world has changed so much. It’s not as though there is less heroic work being made than there was before. If anything, it is more plentiful, but it seems to me that the world has become less friendly, and that the artists making the cartoons are making them to make money and sell toys rather than make the cartoons to help children grow into better adults. I’ve stopped watching cartoons, but I still read books, and I’m happy to say that many of my favorite authors write about heroes who do good because it is the right thing to do and not because they want to sell toys and books and become rich.

As we get older, we begin to realize that some people are good and kind and caring and generous, and other people are mean and selfish and greedy and cruel. And when we are young, we tend to look up to these heroes, admire them and hope to become like them.

Anyway, back to art…

Art is wonderful to behold. When I was younger, I would go to art museums and admire the masterpieces. I would stand in front of paintings and sculptures and listen to what the curators would say about them. But then I’d start thinking about my own work, which was to come. How would I ever achieve the skill to paint or sculpt like those masters? I could never be as good as they were, so why bother?

Then one day, I realized something. These masterpieces were created by humans, just like me, so what made them so much better than me? After all, they too had started out just like me, with no skill or ability at all. They too had learned through practice.

The real difference between the masters and myself was that the masters didn’t give up, and they kept working at it until they were good enough. They didn’t think “Oh I can’t paint” and quit. They thought “I can’t paint right now, but I will learn to paint” and continued to work at it until they were good enough.

This is how you get better. It isn’t by quitting because you aren’t good enough, it is by continuing to try until you are. The way you improve is to keep trying until you are good enough.

random portrait of a guy
Just a random portrait of a random guy.
Categories
Blog games

The Beauty of Nature

Flowers on the Hillside

Here are a few thoughts and essays, celebrating the beauty of nature and expressed through paintings inspired by Minecraft.

Poetry and Nature

Poetry about nature is inspiring, beautiful and serene. A poet can find inspiration in almost anything from nature: a clear blue sky, a babbling brook, or a rugged mountain landscape. With nature as the subject, the words can flow onto the page.

Nature poetry may be used in poetry contests or published in magazines or books. A nature poem may be written in prose or verse form. Poems that are written in a poetic style tend to be more dramatic in their tone and subject. Poetry about nature is an excellent way to convey the beauty of the Earth and to express your feelings. When writing about nature, keep these tips in mind:

  • Use descriptive language.
  • Write in a lively, conversational tone.
  • Avoid using too many technical terms and scientific words.

A Story of Gwendolyn the Fair

Here is a short story of Gwendolyn the Fair, inspired by my travels through the natural beauty of Minecraft.

Gwendolyn on the hillside with flowers.
Gwendolyn the Fair on a hillside of flowers

Gwendolyn the Fair was a beautiful maiden who lived alone in nature. She loved all living things, and liked to spend time outdoors observing plants and animals in their natural habitat.

She would spend countless hours in the hills, by the river, or walking through lush meadows. She would always take the time to appreciate a bee in flight, or the subtle colors of flowers and plants. And more than anything, she loved the majesty of the trees.

She would sit on a tree stump for hours, just watching them grow and grow. She never needed to be told what to do, or how to do it. She just knew. She had an innate sense of the natural world, and a deep connection with it. One day, as Gwendolyn was sitting under a tree, a huge, black bird flew down and landed on her shoulder. “Hello,” he said. Gwendolyn smiled. “Hello,” she replied. “I have been looking for you for some time now,” said the bird. “I am the King of the Birds, and I want you to be my Queen.” Gwendolyn nodded. “If that is what you want, then of course I will be your queen,” she replied. The King of the Birds smiled, and then spread his wings and took flight. “I am so proud of you,” he called back.

Gwendolyn smiled to herself. She had no intention of becoming a queen of the birds, but she liked to humor the animals.

Gwendolyn enjoying sunset by her village hut.
Gwendolyn the Fair enjoying the sunset by her home in the village

Later, Gwendolyn made her way back to her small, humble village. She tended to the flowers outside of her quaint little hut and enjoyed speaking with her fellow villagers.

Then, one day, a stranger approached her, saying that he was a traveler. “I have been wandering through these parts for many years,” he told her. “And I am always looking for a new adventure. Could I join you in your hut? I would love to hear about your adventures.” Gwendolyn looked at him. “I don’t think I’d like that very much,” she replied. “But it is nice of you to ask.” “Thank you,” said the stranger. “So what kind of adventures do you have?” asked Gwendolyn. “Well, I’ve been up and down the river,” he said. “I’ve traveled all around the kingdom. I’ve gone to the east and the west, and seen the lands beyond the mountains. But my favorite places are here, by the sea. And I have heard stories about your kingdom.” Gwendolyn smiled. “I am so glad you like my kingdom,” she said. “What kind of stories?” asked Gwendolyn. “Well, I’ve heard stories of a strange creature who lives in the deep sea. They say that when he rises to the surface, he can change into a beautiful young woman.” “That sounds like a very nice story,” said Gwendolyn. “Tell me more.” “I’ve also heard stories of a giant bird that comes out of the trees at night,” he continued. “And it always lands on someone’s shoulder and says, ‘Hello.’ “Gwendolyn laughed. “That sounds like a funny story. But if you really want to hear a story, I have one for you.” Gwendolyn took a deep breath. Then she told the stranger about the King of the Birds. “Wow,” said the stranger. “That sounds like a wonderful story.” “But what do you think about my kingdom?” asked Gwendolyn.

“It is very beautiful,” said the stranger. “I think it is very nice here. And I would love to stay for a while.” Gwendolyn smiled. “Then it is settled,” she said. “You can stay in my hut for as long as you like.” Gwendolyn was a happy young woman who lived in a beautiful kingdom. She loved her village and enjoyed spending time with her fellow villagers. She had been traveling around the kingdom for many years, and was always looking for new adventures. One day, she came upon a strange creature. “Hello,” said the stranger. “What are you doing here?” asked Gwendolyn. “I am a traveler,” he replied. “I am always on the lookout for new adventures. I heard about your kingdom and I want to visit it someday.” “Oh, that sounds fun,” said Gwendolyn. “I love meeting people and talking about adventures.”

Cavorting with Chickens
Cavorting with chickens