These are difficult times for dreamers, as Amélie Poulain said. The world is in crisis. We are in crisis. We are being bombarded by too much news, too much propaganda, and too much information. This is the 21st century, where anxiety reigns, and we live in a world of uncertainty. But what if I told you it doesn't have to be this way?
The world has always been in flux, and everything has always been uncertain. So take a deep breath, it's okay. The sooner we accept that we're not in control of everything, the better! But some things we can control, like how much time we spend on our phones, what content we consume, what we do in our free time, and how we take care of ourselves. This is where creativity comes in.
Don't be afraid to pursue what makes you happy and create your own life. So why not take a moment to breathe and do something that makes you feel good? Whether it's writing, drawing, painting, or making collages... A moment of creation draws us into the present and brings us that wonderful feeling of losing ourselves in time and relaxing.
(By Fernanda Longoni)
Creativity in times of change
You've probably heard that planning is crucial to achieving your dreams. But the truth is, things don't always go as planned, and everything we're experiencing is proof that we need to be open to change.
This often involves letting go of the original idea and being creative to find new ways to achieve our goals. We can adapt, transform, and simplify until we find new ways to bring our ideas to life. Our idea may end up transforming into something completely different, but that's the magic of creativity!
Through it, we can also reinvent our view of the world outside. Creativity helps us deal with all this chaos, and through imagination, we can find a new way to be happy. Reinvent yourself as many times as necessary and remember that we can't control everything that happens, but we can choose how we react. It won't be easy, but it is possible.
Let's make chaos our inspiration and change a work of art.
(By Gabriela Coutinho)
Why art?
Why art? Art is a human endeavor, present in the daily lives of human beings since the beginning of time. Therefore, living and human actions are arts, even if not always valued as such. Creating, then, can appear as a space to encounter oneself, revealing one's inner self. And for this encounter to occur, one must allow oneself to feel and be transformed. Art and chaos are interdependent. Without chaos, art would not exist, and without art, living in chaos would be unbearable. Art is a tool of resistance, of self-reconstruction, and of expression of the inner self. Art "is such a doing that, while doing, it invents what is to be done and how to do it" (Pareyson).
(By Nathalia Belluzzi)How do you use creativity in your everyday life?
Fernanda Longoni, 23 years old
"Because of my work, I need to be constantly creative. I can't run out of ideas for videos, texts, photos, and future products. And the only way to be creative is to CREATE. So, in my free time, when I'm not resting (which is very important), I do activities that help clear my mind. I write in my journal, draw an idea that's been floating around in my head, or make a collage. The great thing about collage is that I don't have to think much; I just cut it out and paste it in. I mix all the materials I see (pencils, paints, tape, stamps), and voila! My goal right now isn't to create a masterpiece, but to have fun, relax, and take care of myself."
Amanda Longoni, 27 years old
"In times when it seems like my thoughts are going in a thousand different directions, writing helps me organize all that mess. I usually write whatever comes to mind without thinking much, in a disorganized way. When I put my thoughts on paper, they start to make more sense and organize themselves. So the process of writing itself brings me peace. I really enjoy reading what I've written after a while; it's like seeing my feelings through new eyes, and it helps me know myself better. I also love writing to express myself in moments when I'm inspired. I can take a situation I've experienced and transform it into a story, a tale, or a poem. In those moments, I take the opportunity to simply let my creativity flow!"
Jo, 54 years old
"When I'm creating, I disconnect from everything. My thoughts revolve around how to coordinate the colors, how I'll combine the elements, how harmonious the project is... It's like a creative meditation, clearing my mind for other thoughts. Cutting, pasting, and using different objects in a project is very relaxing and pleasurable for me. Since I was little, I've always loved creating; when I saw something that interested me, I wanted to see how it was done so I could try it later. I believe that art and creativity are an encounter with oneself, a lifestyle, a creative way of living."
Gabriela Coutinho, 30 years old
"The best part of creating is thinking that there's no way it can go wrong. Because every time we create something new, if there was nothing like it before, what would be right? Even if it's not something created from scratch... it's your version. Your perception. And who else could judge it, other than yourself?
This is how I feel when I write, and every time I can exercise my creativity: FREE. And if there's a better feeling than the freedom to think and feel, I don't know it. Of course, I want people to like what I write (I hope they do), and we want recognition for any art we create. But when we're satisfied with our results, or even when we're not, but that's only our own business... doesn't that sound liberating?
It is in this sense that being creative makes me feel like a bird out of the cage, and follows the direction that the motivation box pointed me to.
- I'm going. I'm just going. And I'm flying."
The home office trap
Working from home may seem like a dream at first. Flexible hours, comfortable clothes, the kitchen right next door, and so is the bed. But over time, you realize you can no longer hide from work. The demands stretch throughout the day, and you no longer remember what the weekend is. Going out at the end of the day to meet friends at the movies or a bar is no longer an option, so you end up sprawled on the couch watching Netflix. Again. So much exhaustion accumulates that you lack the energy to do anything unusual or creative.
What we don't always remember is that fatigue comes not only from doing too much, but also from doing too little. Leisure is important. We are in life to live, and when we don't heed this calling, we start to become depressed and exhausted. So it's time to break this cycle!
- Everything has a time and place. Organize your workspace and especially your schedule. The productivity monster needs limits.
- Be creative in your free time. If you always do the same activity (watching a series), you'll never experience anything new.
Create personal projects, things you want to do for yourself. What personal project do you want to start?
Ritual for inspiration
In difficult times, it's normal to feel the infamous creative block and have difficulty finding inspiration to create. But often, it's just a matter of resting first, taking a deep breath, and then getting back to creating.
The motivation box for artists in crisis was made for this moment. Sit comfortably in an environment where you feel safe. Take a deep breath and focus for a moment. No cell phone, no distractions, just you. Then take a phrase from the box and see what the universe is trying to tell you.
Collage in 30 min
Only have 30 minutes a day to create something? No problem.
- Choose Scrapbook volume 1 or 2 ;
- Highlight some pages;
- Cut out your favorite elements.;
- And then paste it into the Femingos Collage Notebook .
It's that simple. Scrapbooks are themed and have their own color palettes, meaning you can play around with any combination and the composition always turns out well. Volume 1 's theme is magic, featuring darker, more dramatic tones, while Volume 2's is about art, featuring more colorful, pastel tones. You can mix and match the two too—it's time to get creative!
A relaxing afternoon
There's nothing better than sitting by the window on a sunny Saturday afternoon, opening your Watercolor Notebook , grabbing some paints, and painting without worrying about the outcome. Let's take this moment to relinquish control and simply experiment. Play with colors, textures, and water. The more we let go and detach ourselves from the outcome, the more enjoyable the process becomes. The fun always shines through in the result; it adds that special touch that's so hard to explain. So, what will you create today?
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