Little Slices of Creative Every Day Opportunities from Every Day Life

This week I worked on a lot of individual pieces and this COMING week, I may actually bring some to completion to show you here. I did manage to make some art quickly – but as is my style, I am sitting with them for a bit before I declare them “complete”.

I also got a new phone this week and have really been having fun with slice-of-life phonetography. I am not sure how to spell that, but with instagramming and all, photo sharing has become such a pleasure. I have always loved to snap the everyday. Just like the history I love most is social history, women doing everyday things, for example, in the 19^th Century delights me to no end.

I thought today I would show you three photos from my phone that fit this “slice of life” unpolished, not at all poised or posed shots. The first one, I admit, is absolutely gorgeous. It was born from just being awake, alert and aware.

The camellia bush outside the Art and Spirituality Center at Mercy Hospital in downtown Bakersfield has some of the most gorgeous flowers I have seen yet this Spring. The symmetry and geometry in this flower are astounding. I simply had to respond to it by taking its photo and sharing it with others. I also plan to use it in other ways in my photo-editing creativity.

Here is Samuel doing a forever fun activity, running in the sprinkler. I know, I know, he is fully clothed in long sleeves yet I allow him to do this crazy stunt? The simple answer is “YES”. There are two strong beliefs I hold close. One is to allow my children the space to experiment playfully in ways which will not cause damage. The other is all things are good in moderation, even those that seem out and out nutty are even allowed in my world.

I also believe helicopter parenting is one of the reason our children are less able to think critically or observe the world around them. Their brains are so full of their parent’s constant chatter while hovering they don’t have the time to notice how that leaf is half underground and becoming soil again or see the snail slowly crossing the sidewalk.

Please meet my desk how it appeared yesterday morning. It is a humble desk and yes, my monitor stand is dusty and I didn’t wipe it clean for the photo. Slice of life is all of life, not just the Stepford life. My glasses are off because as I get better – read older – my eyes are not the same as they were. I actually see the computer monitor better without my glasses now, so I take them off and then put them on for important places, like when I am behind the wheel of a car or need to see in the distance.

Do you ever create in a “slice of life” style?

I would love to see your stuff and hear what inspires you to simply show the moment as it is.

This post was inspired by the community at Creative Every Day - please visit there and see what people are building, making, baking, painting, stitching, sketching each and every day of 2013.