This week’s creativity trigger is an artist date…
#11 Visit a library and choose 3 magazines
Hello – this week for my artist date I visited my local library to peruse the magazine racks. I used to be a magazine addict!! In my 20s and 30s I must have had a dozen subscriptions at any given time, and still I would buy a new one when I looked in stores. I could not get enough.
Over time I got my obsession under control and I eventually canceled all my subscriptions and only bought a copy or two when I was traveling, or sometimes commuting. Maybe I am the reason the magazine industry took such a hit!!
But, magazines can be a great jolt of inspiration, and if you tap into the library’s stock you can easily sample a large variety. I decided to visit our library and choose 3 different magazines to flip through… home décor, fitness and fashion. I actually ended up with 2 home magazines. Like a kid in a candy store! Hard to know when to stop.
I chose non-current issue so I could check them out and bring them home. So my visit to the library was a grab and go and took very little time. Thought it might be nice to sit in the yard in the sun with our pup to flip through them.
The first one I went through was Vogue, May 2023 and the tribute to Karl Lagerfeld… the magazine is sprinkled throughout with illustrations by various artists and designers – jackpot!! This one is tremendously inspiring and I will go back through later at my leisure.
The 2nd is Country Living, April-May 2023 and the first thing I spotted was an article on curb appeal, inviting paths, fun and playful front door colors (I love a pop of color on the front door!). Then hydrangea hedges… this magazine is chock full of inspiring images and articles.
The 3rd, Women’s Health, January 2023, and the 20 minute workouts to do with dumbbells. Exactly what I needed to add some variety to my daily exercise.
So, this Artist Date was a real winner for me! And, gave me some fun sketching and illustration ideas… which is exactly the goal.
You can do this in about 30 minutes, or if you have less time grab 3 and check them out of the library so you can browse them at home. Will you give it a try?
If so, please let me know if it helps you or what you experience, would love to hear about it.
See you next week.
Stay creative my friends.
Erin
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This blog series is an exploration into staying creatively connected. How to find it, nurture it, and keep it flowing. And, possibly to find it again if it’s been disconnected for years, or decades. Cultivating creativity is an ongoing process.
