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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!

SEPTEMBER 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 3. intuition. 

All of the below is open to your interpretation! Feel free to adapt, change, combine a few, 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:

WRITTEN WORD

• • Find inspiration in a book. Tear out a book page to use as your background / base layer, feature a passage from your favorite story, or bring you favorite part to life using images whether it's a sketch, collage, or painting.
  • Try black out poetry using a newspaper or magazine.
  • Illustrate your favorite quote. Illustrate the quote itself or create an image depicting it. Consider what colors, style, technique, font, etc. will help to express the meaning behind the quote. Think about whether you want the words to blend with the visuals or if you want one or the other to stand out. 
  • Write your own poem or short story. Fill your pages with words instead of images, express yourself in a new or different way. 
  • Look for words throughout your day. In an ad or flyer, on packaging, sticker, or mail. Take these different items and use them in your piece. Look at what you have in your supplies as well such as stamps and stickers.

BOTANICAL

• • Visit a botanical garden for inspiration. Take photos for reference or bring a sketchbook/journal with you.
  • Make pressed flower stickers. Here's how I created mine using pressed flowers I purchased: TikTok / IG
  • Try a floral inspired painting tutorial using...
    • Watercolor
    • Gouache
    • Acrylic

INTUITION

• • Create spontaneously. Begin with no finished product in mind. Rely on your feelings and self expression and react to each mark and color as you create them. Lean into being in the process and going with the flow. If you find it difficult to begin, close your eyes and make a mark or splatter on your page and go from there.
  • Try some intuitive art exercises: 
    • Create with your less dominant hand
    • Draw over an existing image (one of your old pieces, a magazine page, an image you print out)
    • Make random watercolor shapes and splotches and let them draw. Using a pen draw over it taking inspiration from the watercolor markings.
  • 9 ways to deepen your trust in your intuition.

PRESS

• • Use a kneaded eraser to stamp. I recently learned about this idea, tried it, and loved it! Press it onto something to create an imprint or press things into it like I did: TikTok / IG
  • Experiment with stamping. Take out all your rubber stamps and ink pads and play around with it! Try using unconventional items you find lying around to stamp with such as bubble wrap, cardboard, old pens and art supplies. If you don't have stamps but are interested in this idea--get an ink pad then use what you find as the stamp or make your own by carving into an eraser or potato or adding string / rope to cardboard. There are lots of possibilities!
  • Join me for a stamp making workshop! Details below.
  • Play with pressure: how hard you press down on paintbrushes and brush pens and what kind of shapes, colors, and strokes are created. 

SPARKLE

• • Make glitter tape. I love this idea so that glitter doesn't get all over the place--just be careful when making it :) You can use double sided tape like in this example or the same method I used to create the pressed flower stickers (linked above under "Botanical") You can also try capturing some glitter in a packing tape postcard.
  • Make with metallic papers and paints. Use what you have or even things around the house like aluminum foil for some shine! If you normally stay away from the sparkly/shiny, I challenge you to go ALL OUT with it! If you normally use a lot of it, your challenge will be to use it in a softer or more discreet way.

SURREALISM

• Learn more about this art movement.
• Create a collage. This is a fun way to experiment with surrealism! Here's some visual inspiration. 

COLORS ON THE PROMPT CARD:

Click on each for some visual inspiration 

• • Lemon Lime
  • Plum Purple

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.
  • This pattern reminded me of a maze--use it as inspo to create a maze of your own.

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

The theme for September's Zoom workshop is stamps! Inspired by the prompt "press" I thought we could create stamps 3 ways: using a glue gun, string, and cardboard/recycled materials. By the end of the workshop you will have some new tools to use when creating! This is a 1 hour long free virtual workshop happening on Sunday, September 28th from 11AM-Noon PST. If you'd like to join, please RSVP at the link below. I will be sending the supply list later this month.

RSVP FOR THE WORKSHOP!

THIS MONTH'S EXTRA:
Floral Images PDF

Here is a collection of some of my favorite floral photos that I have taken at botanical gardens! Print and cut them out to use in a collage, in a mixed media piece, to create on top of. I hope you enjoy these flowers as much as I have! For personal use only.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

CSC PLAYLIST #9

Happy creating all month long!