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I’ve been getting emails asking where I’ve been. I’ve been here! I took a break from blogging for what I thought would be a couple weeks and that magically turned into a couple months.

In any event, I thought I’d share information on a couple online classes that I took last year through Coursera. If you’re not heard of it, Coursera offers a huge selection of MOCCs — or massive open online courses.  It’s an incredible opportunity to take classes from over 80 top universities and organizations.

The first class I took was through The Pennsylvania State University (what I refer to as Penn State) called Introduction to Art: Concepts & Techniques. Although it was designed for individuals without any artistic background, I found it very interesting and believe anyone with any interest at all in art will enjoy. The seven week class covered art elements and techniques, fantasy, correspondence with memory (yes, mail art), stories through the lens (black and white portraiture), inside the space (installation and 3D art), personal collections, and the artist critique. Anna Divinsky taught the class, and she was excellent.  Each class contained reading material and a series of online videos.  Also, there’s a Coursera app which makes viewing the videos on an iPad great.

The second class which I finished in November was also through Penn State.  The 8 week class, Creativity, Innovation, and Change, was taught by three instructors: Jack V. Matson, Darrell Velegol, and Kathryn W. Jablokow. The class was so very eye-opening. One of the most fun concepts taught was something called “intelligent fast failure” and dealt with embracing failures because they eventually result in success. The success of one exercise was based on the number of failures, which was liberating!  Because the goal was to try over and over to come up with a large number of failures before you decided when to stop, I tried all types of things just to get my number higher.  But then I got into it, with me thinking, “but what if I try this, and that, and this, and so on.”  As a result, I came up with something that was much better than I suspect I would have had I not been required to come up with a number of failures!

Another aha moment for me was understanding the different approaches to creative problem solving and where one falls on the creative diversity scale.  After taking some tests, I learned I’m more methodical than shotgun in my approach.  No one approach or place on the scale is the correct one.  Rather, understanding how you work and recognizing how others work allows one to adjust how tasks are done to bring out the best of each in the creative team.  I’ve already been able to apply this in my professional life.
Topics included idea generation, idea evaluation, creative collaboration, research, metrics, experimentation, and synthesis of creativity, innovation, and change.

Here is one of the two certifications I earned.

I’m one of those people who enjoy getting some kind of proof of completion when I finish a class, and I’m glad that both offered a certification (not all classes do).  Such incentive tends to motivate me and keep me on track, which is especially important considering it’s a free online class. Each class had over 100,000 students — yes, that many — from all over the world.  Grading is done through weekly tests and, depending on whether you’re trying for an “Explorer” or “Adventurer” Certificate, can include participation in peer forums.  It was often enlightening to read the forums, both in how people from different areas of the world approach solving problems and interact.  For example, in one instance, a student created a beautiful final solution to an assignment that required one sheet of paper.  Looking at it, it was clear she used many sheets.  Even so, being it was a creativity class, I (and some others) gave her credit for creating something that was very good.  Others weren’t as kind, some slamming her for using more materials than stated in the instructions and saying things like she “cheated.”  She apologized, stating the country she is from, that English isn’t her first language, and that she interpreted the meaning of the assignment incorrectly.  She was so ashamed and suggested she drop out.  Even more then came to her defense.  It seemed such a slice of life!

As with any class, you only get out what you put in.  I did start a public speaking class that was excellent. However, there was so much work involved, and the videos were very long.  After several weeks, and knowing there was no certificate award upon completion, I goofed off and didn’t yet complete the class. Luckily, once you enroll, you have access to the class and can complete it whenever you’d like (although you don’t earn a certification for it; that is, unless you un-enroll, re-enroll, and start from the beginning).  You also have access to any class you completed so that you can revisit lessons.  It’s a win, win.

If you’re looking to study something new this year, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Coursera and checking out their mind-boggling class offering (iTunes is another excellent resource of MOCCs). I’m scheduled for two more classes this year.  Anyone else?

I love TED talks.  I find them inspiring and excellent food for thought. In this talk, David Kelley talks about creative confidence and how flip comments from others can often plant the seeds to kill creative confidence in adult life. He tells the story of a school friend who was in the middle of making something when another blurted out “that’s terrible.”  His friend was quickly embarrassed and trashed his project.  I’m sure everyone has such a story.  I certainly do, and more than one or two of them.   Mr. Kelley then goes on to talk about “guided mastery” and encourages everyone to “let ideas fly” and to “touch the snake.”  Wondering about the latter?  Watch the video! It’s only 11+ minutes and totally worth it.

And, if you’re looking for another good TED talk, I recommend Elizabeth Gildbert’s talk called Nurturing Creativity. I wrote about it in 2009, I still periodically watch it (as it’s filled with good lessons that I need refreshers on), and you can find the link to it here.

The Little Guide To Beating Procrastination, Perfectionism and Blocks

While I know many people are very successful using a productivity coach, I am not one of them.  Rather, I’m a list maker, journal keeper, and goal setter.  Except sometimes, like lately, I find myself unable to focus on my personal artwork.  I get behind.  I’m in a slump.  I am trying to find the gas pedal yet stuck in neutral.  Generally when this happens, I start trolling the web hoping to stumble on something that might help me to regain my focus and kick myself into gear.

You know how it goes – you get to one site, that site has a link that you go off to, then another and another.  It’s a fine line between me wasting too much time bouncing from one site to another and finding just what I’m looking for. And find it I did.

A few days ago I made my way to a site by Hillary Rettig, a productivity coach.  Normally I’d immediately click right off such a site; however one of her free ebooks caught my eye:  “The Little Guide to Beating Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Blocks.” While I half expected it to be of little use (oh ye of little faith), I downloaded the 87-page ebook anyway.  I started buzzing down the pages, one after the next of examples of various things that knock one of their path. Immediately I thought, boring. Not for me. Then a line caught my attention: “The Opposite of Negativity is NOT Delusional Positiveness.” I slowed down. Maybe there could be something useful.

As I went through the pages, another thing caught my eye.  Something I absolutely believed in ever since I watched my business partner when we first started out business some 9 years ago — that is, showing up and doing the work.  Even though we had only a couple clients, he’d show up early morning to the small office he had and sit there working until the end of the day. He would work on writing a new program or script, read something related to work, or come up with ways to attract business.  He did it every day (still does), and it was what convinced me that our little venture may actually work.

So there it was, that very ethic in the ebook, the habits of productive work …

1. Showing up to work exactly when you are supposed to.
2. Instantly starting the work you are supposed to be doing.
3. Staying focused on the work for twenty minutes or more.

Then I read, “Most people … can train themselves to work in a focused manner for at least twenty minutes before having to get up and take a
break.”  Another reminder.

In 2008 (time flies) I wrote about using an egg timer to start work that I was very reluctant to do.  You can find that post here.  I now use the timer on my iphone rather than the widgets I wrote  about and instead of 45 minutes I often set it to 20.  Twenty allows me to set two small goals in one hour and use the other 20 minutes for making tea, stretching, letting Buddy in and out, and not making myself too crazy. Yet lately I find myself getting away from that habit and making excuses as to why I don’t have much time for my personal artwork (although to anyone saying that to me I’d reply, “That’s crap, make the time.”)

So there it was in black and white, the splash of cold water reminder:  show up, set the timer, focus, work.

While I’m still not into the idea of a productivity coach, I certainly appreciated this one. If you find yourself needing a bit of a kick, give it a read; and if you are a person who is interested in a productivity coach, I suspect she may be a good one.

A few days ago I was visiting with my friend Beryl. She made me this wonderful heart!  Love it.  :)

The plan was making fabric and paper collages for use in other work.  There was no particular goal in mind, just the making and hopefully the springboard to something else.  This was a good thing for me, as I’ve been feeling in a creative slump.  “Just work.  It will come.”  We ended up talking and talking, which is great.  At one point she asked me if I started using my new printer.  My answer: No.

Here it is: The new 7900. Untouched.

That’s right, my brand new Epson Pro Stylus 7900 and the only thing I printed was a poster size print to confirm all works as it should.  Otherwise, it has sat for a month.  I had a 7600 and was lusting after newer models for years.  And now I have it: the latest 7900 with HDR Ultrachrome inks, currently the best pigments Epson offers.

Beryl said “too precious.”  Huh? Shen then told me a story of when she was taking classes.  She had her Sennelier pastels with her. I know those pricey pastels well. I have two boxes of them, and each pastel remains in its foam bed to keep it in excellent condition.  Her teacher asked her why she wasn’t using them.  She explained, and  I understood; I use mine sparingly, too.  The teacher went on. “Are they too precious for you to use?  Give me those precious pastels.”  The teacher took each one and broke it into thirds.  I gasped.  Beryl told me she was horrifed.  The teacher went on about how they are just tools, they are not precious.  What you create with it is precious.  “Now get on with making art.  That’s what is precious.”  And she did.  My eyes were still widened, but with the water-in-your-face knowledge that her teacher was absolutely right.

A few days later an artist wrote me online regarding some printer help and a recommendation.  One issue was her concern that the ink was past the expiration date and she didn’t want to mess anything up by using it.   I replied:  Epson says that you have a year past the expiration date.  However, I’ve used cartridges that were many years past the expiration date without any problem.  Just use the ink.  It’s not going to hurt anything.   If it really comes bad, then replace the ink.  For the printer, I suggested she spend the extra money for the better model.  She’d use it all of the time and will not regret the purchase.  I then said in the letter, “This from the woman who has a new 7900 and isn’t using it because it was expensive, the ink is expensive, and she doesn’t want to break anything.”  Yes, speaking in the third person.  I’m almost longing for my 7600, which I bought used and would shove anything into it to print without any fear of breaking anything.

She replied, “Isn’t it interesting how the cost affects our responses? It still seems too precious to risk and yet you got it to push your art further.”
There was that word again, “precious.”  Yes, it does seem too precious to use.  Then why did I buy it?  It’s a fantastic tool that should make the printing process easier.  Then why aren’t I using it?  Fear.  What am I afraid of?  Breaking it.  What’s the worse that happens if I break it?  I’ll have to get it fixed, and then I won’t be able to use it.  But you’re not using it now.  True.  Not only are you not using it, you’re allowing it to stunt you into creative paralysis.

Beryl and I have been trading stories of what we’re doing with the collages. I told her I was making more.  Her too.  She spilled her various ideas.  All I came up with was maybe using it as foundation for a journal. (Just one look at Beryl’s inspiring journals and I’m eager to make my own.)  But what about something else?  They are interesting looking.  What could I do?  Could they serve as something else?

A full version of one collage

A cropped area

And cropped again.

A crop from another collage.

Later in the evening I started studying the collages. I started discovering areas that were holding my attention. I photographed them.  Studying the photos gave me more ideas.  I painted more.  I photographed more.  I took the photos into Photoshop and worked with them more. Suddenly I have a series of designs going. I don’t have them photographed as I’m still working with them, but they hold promise (and I don’t want to show them for fear of jinxing and never working on them again – yes, I need therapy!).  And, oh my goodness, I am finally feeling some inspiration.  I want to create, and I need that printer to help get these ideas going.  No longer does that printer seem so precious to sit there in fear of breaking something.  It’s as though Beryl’s teacher is shouting at me: Now get on with making art!

Last night I watched this video, Elizabeth Gilbert – author of a favorite book, Eat, Pray, Love, on nurturing creativity.

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

She talked about the success of her book and people now asking her “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll never live up to your prior success … that you’ll be a failure?”

She goes on to discuss how creativity was originally looked upon as an outside entity that visits one and graces it with a bolt of inspiration.  The Romans referred to creativity as genius.  Again, an outside force that would possess one with inspiration.  At one point things changed.  “We went from having a creative genius to being a creative genius.” And with that comes a lot of pressure, suffering, and despair.  She talked about the “painful reconciliation” people go through when success comes along and then wanes.

Immediately I could relate to the despair.  In honesty, I was beyond thrilled to win two major awards this past year – Master of Innovative Artistry in Houston’s IQA ’07 show and Best Wall Hanging in AQS’s ’08 show resulting in a purchase award by the National Quilt Musuem — just in case you’re wondering and because I like repeating it once in the while as I still am stunned they happened.  But with that thrill came the heavy feeling that that is that.  I’ll never hit that high again.  My best is now behind me.

Some years ago at Quilt Market, an amazing quilt artist and I were sharing a table at the C&T booth promoting our books. The following  Quilt Market I had another book to promote.  She was at Market and came up to me saying she felt like last year’s news because her book was relegated to the back shelf.  She no longer felt important, and she even commented that she felt invisible.  I remember telling her she certainly was not  invisible and, besides, my books will be on that shelf soon enough.  Things cycle.   And it didn’t take long.  All 13 books in the Free Stuff on the Internet series are out of print (although I’ve boxes of each in my basement, if anyone is interested).  Does it sadden me?  At times it did.  At times it still does.  But on good days I’m simply proud they happened to begin with.

On good days I truly am happy for others who get the awards, who have the new books out, who create inspiring works of art.  On good days I see everyone’s successes as knitted together, and I feel pride for someone I know doing well (I can feel pride for complete strangers).  On a bad day when I stare at a blank monitor or piece of paper, trying to work out a new design, I find myself wondering if I’ll ever be creative again.  It is painful.  It can feel like torture.  I can beat myself up like no one can.   I can even get to the point where everything I create looks like junk and I throw things away.  As a matter of fact one of those big award winning pieces was in the garbage.  It was my partner who encouraged me to carry on.  For that matter, he’s taken more than creation out of the garbage.

In short, Elizabeth’s talk was a good one.  It came at a good time.  For the downtime, when nothing is coming together, she suggests just showing up and doing the work (is that why they call it “art work”?).  And that’s what I’m off to do – I’m here and I’m ready to work.   And, when I get stuck, as I know I will, I will try (“try” rather than “will” – is lingering doubt nearby?) to stay busy and wait for the design gods to visit.