Creative Spark Challenge 08
Monthly prompts, mood board, and more!
Missed a prompt or freebie? Find them all here.
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or email me at hi.atiliay@gmail.com--I'd love to see what you're creating!
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Welcome to a new month of the Creative Spark Challenge! Below you'll find the prompt card, ideas and inspiration, mood board, this month's workshop, download, and playlist.
If this is your first month joining in on the challenge (welcome & hello!)--here are answers to some FAQs that are helpful!
AUGUST PROMPT CARD
ENVISION & EXPRESS
Here are some ideas and inspiration to help you get started! If you're having some decision fatigue, the number in the spark symbol on the prompt card can help: use the text prompt that coordinates with that number which would be 5. tip.
All of the below is open to your interpretation! Feel free to adapt, change, and adjust as needed based on how you feel and what you feel inspired to do.
Click here or on the image below for this month's mood board:
PUNCH
Try punch needle art. Find a kit on Etsy or a local craft store to get started
Use a hole punch. Use both the pieces that are punched out as well as the paper with the holes. Layer with different colored papers or weave strips or thread through holes created by the punch. Use colored or patterned paper as well as your own scraps and painted pieces of paper.
CONTOUR
Make A Contour Drawing
Continuous: Using one continuous line, draw your subject
Blind: Using one continuous line, draw your subject without looking at your paper until you are done!
String variation: instead of using a writing tool to create the line, use a long piece of string, embroidery thread, or yarn and glue it down
Add color: leave your line drawings as is or use a thick black marker to create the lines then add acrylic paint.
DASH
Use needle and thread to create different dashes with your stitches. Make outlines using longer stitches and fill in areas with shorter ones. See mood board for examples.
Fill your page with a pattern using dashes and other shapes such as dots and curved lines. Experiment with markers or paint and different thicknesses for your markings.
SPIRAL
Find inspiration from the natural world. Spirals can be seen in seashells and snail shells, the curve of an elephant's trunk, flora and fauna, spiderwebs, hurricanes, even in our own thumbprints. See what you feel drawn to then from there, think of ways you can capture and interpret it onto your page.
Experiment with spirographs. I pinned some photos onto the mood board and if you're drawn to these patterns and lines, consider getting a spirograph kit to see what you come up with! You can also try using what you have at home to mimic the designs (using the rulers that you have, round shapes that you can trace around, etc.)
TIP
Experiment with different brush tips
Make your own: add other materials to brushes you currently have such as taping strips of paper or felt, string, twigs, grass, or whatever material you think might be interesting to it.
Try new things like using the tips of plastic utensils.
Learn more about the different brush tips that are available and what type of lines and marks they help to create. Work with the brushes you do have or add one or two new ones that look interesting to your collection. Here's a great guide for acrylic and watercolor brushes.
If you'd like some advice, support, and encouragement, here are 100+ art tips via the Strathmore blog. And if you have a tip you want to share, please do put it out into the world!
HARLEM RENAISSANCE
Learn more about this art movement .
Pick your favorite artist(s) from this movement and create art inspired by their style and method.
COLORS ON THE PROMPT CARD:
Click on each for some visual inspiration
PATTERN ON THE PROMPT CARD:
Use the pattern as a starting point and make it your own by adding more elements, using different colors, adjusting the thickness of the lines and widths of the shapes, etc.
Use the pattern as is. Incorporate this pattern into your piece. Use it to fill in a section or to create some texture.
And don't forget to consider the opposites of all the prompts above as well as synonyms and see where that takes you!
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
This month's virtual workshop will be announced soon and will most likely be taking place towards the end of August. Stay tuned!
THIS MONTH'S EXTRA:
RECTANGLES PDF
Sometimes I find having some constraints actually allows me to be more creative and helps me think outside the box. This month's PDF is inspired by the rectangles in the pattern on the card. Print this out, cut out the rectangles, and arrange and incorporate them in your piece--they can be the focal point or the background
DOWNLOAD THE PDF
CSC PLAYLIST #7
I find music to be so inspiring! Here's a playlist of songs that remind me of this month's words. Enjoy :)
Punch
Punchline - Ed Sheeran
Roll With The Punches - Bryan Adams
Contour
Silhouette - Owl City
Silhouette - Birdy
Outline - Autumn Knight
Dash
Dash - NMIXX
Dotted Line - Labrinth
Spiral
Hurricane - Something Corporate (One of my favorites!)
The Rifle's Spiral - The Shins & James Mercer (Very cool stop motion music video)
Hurriance - Cannons
Tip
Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen - Baz Luhrmann