Bex Hall

Bex Hall > creative life

creative life

Make a mix tape, on paper, for creative fun

A mix tape = the forerunner to a digital playlist

Cassette tape memories

Have you ever made a mix tape?

It’s been thirty years (or more) since I’ve made a real one but the memories surfaced when I found this exercise in the Steal Like an Artist Journal by Austin Kleon.

Steal like an artist journal

It asks to make a mix tape for someone who doesn’t know you.

I took it one step further and drew a stack of old favorite cassettes, some mix tapes among them.

For the handwritten list in the journal I wrote down what randomly came to mind. Looking back at what I chose, I see some themes. If you take the titles as an expression of what’s on my mind and a little bit about who I am, then some positive stuff shows up.

Mix tape songs

What songs would you pick for your mix tape? Write down what comes to mind and send it my way. I’d love to see it!

Day 98/100

Non-linear approach can boost your creative practice

Sometimes you have to mow in circles

Mow in circles

One day I told my artist friend @kaylijohnson_fine_art I sometimes liked to mow the grass in circles.

I don’t recall how we even got on the subject. I remember laughter and discussion about how important it is to shake things up.

A few days later, she surprised me with a piece of art she created. When she pictured me on the mower, she said this is what she saw in her mind’s eye. And I cherish this. Thank you, Kayli!

Shaking things up can boost your creative practice.

Who says things have to be done in a certain order? Twists and turns can take you down paths you didn’t even know existed.

Non-linear thinking fosters creativity. Try drawing something with your opposite hand. Paint with a new-to-you medium. Start in the middle or at the end. Stretch your imagination.

Mow in circles.

Day 97/100

Lunchbox love notes can be art

Blackout poetry on paint chip cards offer twist on traditional form

Lunchbox love note blackout poetry

Know your goal is to waken, soothe, uplift, and add joy and calm down memory lane.

Such is the quirkiness of blackout poetry. Although this morning, it’s Sharpie-dual-tip-purple-out poetry on a paint chip card for another lunchbox love note.

Here’s to using your super powers to do creative things today. And, love you too. 

Day 96/100

Lunchbox love note

Enrich what you hear with infodoodling

Visual language format valuable for understanding and recall

Author James Harris Writing Workshop
BBC Upload Festival 2021 Writing Workshop

At a workshop this morning I used Personal Infodoodling to capture content in a visual structure.

The Upload Festival 2021 has writer’s workshops and this morning featured James Harris, author of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory and winner of the Hachette Children’s Novel Award. He shared tips and advice on how to generate your best creative ideas and bring them to life on the page.

Many more writing workshops are coming up. Visit the BBC Upload Festival 2021 learn more.

And for more about Personal Infodoodling, check out the book The Doodle Revolution by Sunni Brown.

Have a great weekend!

Day 91/100

Good things happen when you show up

Creative life can be your best life

Because of the 100 day project

Today I celebrate 100 days of blogging.

I launched on January 20th, inauguration day, an easy date to remember. In the presidency, the importance of the first 100 days originated with Franklin D. Roosevelt whose swift actions in the first months of his term helped combat the great depression.

I didn’t have a “great depression” to combat when I began this blog. It was more of a not-so-great one.

In my search over the years for the answers to “What am I supposed to be doing here, with my life, for others, just in general—what?” I tried many things with less than stellar results.

What I had not tried was purposefully living a creative life. And why would I when I’ve bought in to the notion creativity is unimportant? Being creative is something reserved for a hobby. It should never be a priority.

How wrong I have been.

I decided on writing a blog. A few days in, I found The 100 Day Project and joined because I knew accountability would help. Through it, I discovered @ElleLuna and signed on for her daily half hour Zoom meetings for the duration of the 100 days. Because I knew doing a project with others would help. Community is important.

I cast a wide net when I set my goals for the project: Show up every day behind the pen, the brush, or the lens and share my work.

And so I did.

Some days were meh, but some were out of this world fantastic. Most were ordinary but extremely satisfying.

I learned when I practice creativity regularly—make it a priority, good things happen. 

Serendipity occurs often. Aha moments become more frequent. Breakthroughs. Flow. Opportunities. Harmony. Peace. Improved health. Increased confidence. More experience. Discovery. A body of work. Community. Connections.

All you have to do is show up.