Creativity During Chaos
During a strained time that revolves around Covid-19, much of the population is now circulating in their homes, wondering when the world will open up for exploring, wandering, and straightforward ole 9 to 5 work.
With the virus affecting everyone, everywhere, I have not been left out of the equation. I lost my part-time job and only real income due to the circumstances melting the landscape of typical work.
Keeping my brain and senses occupied, I am deeply involved in helping the Nevins tribe in any way I can, during a deeply difficult time. I am carving out time for the creative side to emerge during this extremely challenging era in history. I feel there is a need to tap into that tiny niche in my brain that wants to escape the norm and to craft out works of art. Ok, works of pencil scratches, pen hacks, brush dabs, etc. I am not ‘there’, yet, as an accomplished artist, but am creeping my head above my comfort zone as I venture into new territory and take extra awkward steps in posting these works on social media.
With a lack of dinero, zero work, and no current need for shoveling my funds to Adobe, I pushed aside my Adobe Creative Cloud account and launched into research mode and found new replacement tools to cover Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and the mentioned InDesign. My recent work/creative play box now contains Affinity Designer, Photo, Publisher, ON1, and DaVinci Resolve. No expensive subscriptions where I am ‘renting’ the software. With prices ranging from free to $64, I now am the proud owner of the software programs and am not tied to a lifetime of monthly robbery from my bank account. My challenge laying before me is to learn all of these new programs.
I have begun the process. Somewhat overwhelmed, rather freaked out, but moving ever so slowly toward a destination unknown, but with an extra spark of innovativeness.
Some of the creativity does not involve software tools or a magical device that captures photos or videos of the world around me. Simple tools for simple minds opens the uncharted territory of pencils, pens, charcoal. How on earth can I use a Gelly Roll 08 pen?
This is a strange time in history that we are navigating, or at least plodding through. It is opening a new approach to work, social interaction, and many cases, time available on your calendar. Find time to think out the box and to explore areas of life that may have been ‘hidden’ by the busyness of normal scurried life.
Welcome to the new ‘normal’.
Adobe Fusion creation of a mini me
Taking new strides in ‘creativity’ as I attempt to not burn the house down and to grow as a guy trying to master kitchen skills. Yes, I have, somewhat, conquered a limited nook in the arena of baking, but cooking is staring at me with wide eyes, lots of room to roam, and more growing as I improve my health, eating habits, and an occasional masterpiece scooped onto a plate.
On to the next ‘project’ and an opportunity to explore, learn, grow, and to find myself. Yes, creativity during the chaos.
No need to color code a Gila Monster scene, but why not? I wanted to see how Coolors App worked. It did miss the interesting salmon color patterns on the Monster.
My Blue Yeti Microphone drawn on a Gaomon 620 Graphics Tablet.
Some of the resources I have taken advantage of to locate free apps and tools that can be used to create, improve productivity, and make my content shine just a little brighter. The four ebooks above were either free or .99/1.99 each.
