Picture Framing Blog - A Good Frame of Mind

3 Tips to Turn Black Friday into Creativity Friday

Picture this: It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Throngs of people are waking up before the sun to stand in endless lines for low prices on microwaves and big-screen TVs.

But not you.

No, you’ve decided to sit this Black Friday out. So while everyone is shopping ‘til they drop, you’re in your studio, sipping coffee, playing old records, and letting your creativity run wild.

 

Sounds much better, doesn’t it?

We thought so, too. So this year, we’re encouraging you to turn Black Friday into Creativity Friday. Spend the day with your canvases or camera and indulge yourself with a heaping helping of imagination.

Here are some ideas to make the most of your day.

Take Time for Yourself

The first thing you’ll want to do is kick everyone out of your work space. Being alone increases our creativity. It gives our minds the opportunity to wander, a process neuroscientists call “constructive internal reflection.” So, spending the day with your own thoughts can inspire you to create beautiful art.

Try Something New

Are you normally an oil painter? Give watercolors a try. Do you spend most of your time behind a lens? Pick up a paint brush. Experimenting with new mediums or artistic styles can expand your creativity, because it releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter tied to motivation and learning. According to the book Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind by researchers Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire, openness to exploring new ideas may be the number one factor in predicting creative achievement.

 

Daydream

Before you touch a brush, spend some time lost in thought. Wondering how the Jolly Green Giant finds shoes that fit may not seem productive, but those nonsensical thought bubbles actually have an important purpose. Daydreaming can enhance creative thinking, planning and self-awareness. Plus, you never know when thoughts of enormous green footwear will morph into inspiration for your next painting.

 

Laura Jajko is President of American Frame and a longtime contributor to "A Good Frame of Mind." Here, she delights in bonding with others over her love of art and framing. With more than 40 years of practical experience, she brings a unique perspective in a straightforward style that she hopes will spark lots of interesting and relevant dialogue in our online community. Connect with Laura directly here on the blog or follow her on Twitter @LauraJajko.