I express creativity in the clothes I wear. I love wearing colors that represent the seven chakras. They energize me.
I also express creativity by visiting museums like the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Last weekend I went to the National Museum of Women in the Arts to see an exhibition featuring feminist artist Judy Chicago. I also saw the quilt exhibition. Both exhibitions got my creative juices bubbling. New art is coming!
As a creativity coach, I am always in search of creativity wisdom to share with my clients. Earlier this week while most of Washington, D.C. was shut down due to the snow, I took a field trip to Lettie Gooch, a fabulous boutique located in my U Street neighborhood (15th and U Streets, NW) and discovered an inspirational card that urged me to be the most brilliant color in the box. That color would be pink since it reminds me to open my heart and share my gifts with others. Click here to listen today’s podcast for more information.
Since you are also the most brilliant color in the box, what color are you?
Opening Your Creative Heart Coaching Special Discount:
From now until March 31, I am offering a special discount package on my creativity coaching services. See details below.
My Creativity Coaching Practice: Click here to read more about my approach and background as a creativity coach.
Discount Period: The creativity coaching packages must be purchased via PayPal by March 31, 2014. They must be used by July 31, 2014.
Contact Information: If you are interested in one or more of the packages, please send me an email at kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call (available via telephone, Skype, and Google Hangout).
Contact Information: If you are interested in one or more of the packages, please send me an email at kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call (available via telephone, Skype, and Google Hangout).
This morning I woke up and decided to honor Creativity Thursday with a Creative Breakfast that included oatmeal with cranberries and agave in a cup decorated with Egyptian women and art (purchased during my 1995 trip to Egypt), a banana, a glass of decaf green tea, the Inspiration issue of Poets & Writers (January/February) magazine, and three quotes about creativity by African American artists, musicians, and poets that were published in my book, That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetical Memoir of Self-Discovery. Click here to listen to my podcast about my Creative Breakfast.
I chose to start my day this way because I needed to open my creative heart with some intentional moments of creativity. Why? I’ve been moving at a pretty fast pace over the past ten days with little time left to nurture my creative heart.
After I finished eating breakfast and reading three articles in the magazine, I took a few more moments to look through some of my fashion magazines for images I need for a collage I am planning to make to celebrate the spring season. When I finished collecting images, I realized my Creative Breakfast turned into a mini artist date at home. How cool is that?
Have you ever had a Creative Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Snack?
What did you eat and do to make it creative?
PS: Check out two of my most recent Vine videos that celebrate creative journey.
Video 1 – My creative word mantras I use to write my books
Video 2 – The book that opened my creative heart — Danielle LaPorte’s The Desire Map
Opening Your Creative Heart Coaching Special Discount:
From February 1 to March 31, I am offering a special discount package on my creativity coaching services. See details below.
My Creativity Coaching Practice: Click here to read more about my approach and background as a creativity coach.
Discount Period: The creativity coaching packages must be purchased via PayPal by March 31, 2014. They must be used by July 31, 2014.
Contact Information: If you are interested in one or more of the packages, please send me an email at kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call (available via telephone, Skype, and Google Hangout).
I started February with an artist date to the National Museum of African Art’s Earth Matters celebration and exhibition. It was just what I needed to open my creative heart: spoken word, live DJs spinning groovy music, body art performers, African dancing and drumming, live bands performing incredible music, and an opportunity to be photographed by Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography.
Photo Credit: Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography
After I had my photograph taken, I spoke briefly with Kofi about his work. As I listened, I was struck by his humility, kindness, and soulful creative energy. The next day, I visited his web site to learn more about him and discovered the beauty of his photography. I also learned he is a fellow Howardite. So I decided to reach out to him for an interview. Read on to learn why I am celebrating him today and be sure to visit Loves Life Photography online, Facebook, and Twitter.
Photo Credit: Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography
Q: Thanks Kofi for agreeing to do an interview with me today. I am a huge fan of your photography. Let’s start with a six-word memoir that describes your passions.
KH: Life. Love. Legacy. Beauty. Art. Everlasting.
Photo Credit: Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography
Q: What is your definition of creativity?
KH: Creativity is allowing yourself to develop or mold your inner artistry naturally.
Photo Credit: Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography
Q: What do you want people to gain from your photography?
KH: I want people to look at my photographs and remember that given the weight of day-to-day struggles, they should seize moments where the load of life is lightened by smiles, laughter, hidden message, and love.
Photo Credit: Kofi Handon, Founder and President of Loves Life Photography
Q: What lessons have you learned from being creative and a photographer?
KH: I have learned five key lessons.
There is beauty in everything.
There is no limit to what you can create and do if your heart is in it.
There is always something new to learn. The craft of photography doesn’t stop. It will continue to evolve.
It’s important to network and partner with others.
Stay true to who youare.
Photo Credit: TRUE:xpressionz
Q: What were your top four creative moments in 2013?
KH: I traveled to France, Spain, and Morocco, and chronicled my journey through photographs featuring the various cultures, food, people, and places I visited in January and February 2013. I also shared the photographs with my Facebook community. Shooting the sunset in Essaouira, Morocco was one of my favorite moments.
Traveling to New York City with the Andinkra Group to shoot political activist and artist, Femi Kuti was a great moment!
Another moment was covering Sweet Honey in the Rock at The Howard Theatre while First Lady Michelle Obama was there. I spoke to Mrs. Obama’s assistant and told her I would put together some framed and signed action shots for her since she follows the group and that was one member’s last show in D.C. before retiring.
In November 2013, I did a photo shoot for Maimouna Youssef, a Grammy-nominated singer, emcee, songwriter and poet. I spent eight hours using and learning all of my equipment.
February is a great time to open your creative heart with artist dates. Artist dates are scheduled play dates that you commit to on a regular basis (weekly or monthly). These special moments can jumpstart your imagination and inspire your creative juices. They can also help you explore your own creativity and witness the creativity of others and Mother Nature. I learned about artist dates while reading Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist Way in the 1990s.
Photo Credit: National Museum of African Art
Each month, I schedule several artist dates. I started this month with an artist date to the National Museum of African Art’s Earth Matters celebration and exhibition on February 1. It was just what I needed: spoken word, live DJs spinning groovy music (yes I love the word groovy!), photographers taking photos (will blog about my own experience next week), body art performers, African dancing and drumming, live bands performing incredible music, and a documentary film about Kenyan feminist and human rights activist, Wangari Maatthai.
What artist dates have you gone on this year?
What type of artist dates are you planning this month?
Opening Your Creative Heart Coaching Special Discount:
From February 1 to March 31, I am offering a special discount package on my creativity coaching services. See details below.
My Creativity Coaching Practice: Click here to read more about my approach and background as a creativity coach.
Discount Period: The creativity coaching packages must be purchased via PayPal by March 31, 2014. They must be used by July 31, 2014.
Contact Information: If you are interested in one or more of the packages, please send me an email at kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call (available via telephone, Skype, and Google Hangout).
The topic of intentionally living a creative life came up during a recent creativity coaching session with a client. I shared how I have developed an intention to have creative moments in my life on a weekly basis and their impact on my artwork, writing, books, creativity coaching services, and work as an artist-in-residence for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. These moments energize me and allow me to explore new ideas. They excite and leave me in a state of awe. They teach me. They often push my edge. Sometimes they console my sadness and help me face fears and doubts. They are medicine for my creative spirit.
Listening to music in the morning is one of my favorite creative moments. It awakens my spirit and opens my heart. This morning, I began my day with London-based Omar’s new CD, “The Man.”
See photo above. To learn more about him, visit http://www.omarmusic.co.uk.
Guess what? Omar’s music is featured in my debut novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. It will also be included in my upcoming novel, Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two.
Today, I had a chance to chat with a good friend about my definition of creativity. For me, creativity is a gift I give to myself and the universe when I surrender and allow the divine flow of energy that dwells in my spirit to express itself. Painting is one medium I use to share my gift of creativity. See my painting entitled “Karma: Aham Prema” above.
Photo Credit: “Kreative Grooviness: That Which Awakens Me ” by Ananda Leeke
Happy Creativity Thursday!
Have you ever dreamed of making something with your hands and then allowed your fears or lack of training to stop you?
It happened to me several years ago when I started dreaming of painting. I was afraid to try it because I had never attended art school. My perspective changed after I started working with a master artist during my tenure as an artist-in-residence for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts at Howard University Hospital. The master artist happened to be a patient I was assigned to work with on creative projects that would help him express his feelings. He transformed our sessions into art workshops where he taught me to trust my intuition and natural creative gifts. He pushed me to paint and gave me numerous painting assignments. This experience helped me create a series of paintings that I used to illustrate two book covers (see paintings above and below). The master artist breathed life into my creative dreams.
Photo Credit: “Be Love. Love Light. Live As the Spirit of Life.” by Ananda Leeke
Has anyone breathed life into your creative dreams?
How did the person breathe life into your creative dreams?
What creative actions were you inspired to take?
Visit Amazon.com to learn more about my creative journey and book, That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetical Memoir of Self-Discovery (2009). My book is available as a Kindle download and a paperback book.
Have you gotten into the holiday spirit yet? What was the driving force? Was it a song, commercial, memory, office party, tree with decorations, or a Starbucks hot beverage?
My holiday spirit arrived while working as an artist-in-residence for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and creating an interactive wall collage for staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon (see photo above). As I cut out images from magazines and asked staff about their holiday season traditions, my heart opened up to the beauty of the season. The beauty for me is captured best in a six-word memoir: joyful gratitude for family and friends.
Ananda Leeke 