Happy, peaceful, healthy and creative New Year to one and all.
The ‘Apple Exercise’ is a positive way to begin the new year for anyone wishing to express themselves and explore their creativity.
Throughout my many years of painting and teaching, I have heard over and over the frustration of those who would like to explore their creativity, but always seem to find that life gets in the way……..
The new year is a good time to re-think and re-look at the way we live our lives. A good time to make new and positive habits.
In principle this exercise is very simple and effective. If followed three positive changes will occur:-
A new positive habit will be formed which will benefit all areas of our lives.
Fifteen minutes of PLAY every day for one month will hone observational and technical skills.
Participants will begin to ‘see differently’
There are three simple rules:-
Pick the same 15 minutes every day – a time that works for you.
Set up a small table, such as a card table, which doesn’t have to be moved or shared.
Turn off mobiles and any other potential distractions……
Here are just a few of the things you can use to explore and PLAY with. If you don’t have artists paint, use house paint or anything else you can get your hands on.
If you are scared to mark a new piece of paper, then use newspaper, old magazines, wrapping paper or inexpensive wall-paper lining.
Playing – using magazine paper, felt tip pen and some paint……
Allow yourself to doodle until you begin to relax. Artists, writers, dancers, musicians all need to stretch and warm up. PLAYING is the best way to do this.
Remember that the apple is simply a ‘jumping off point’ – it doesn’t have to be copied perfectly.
This image helps us to remember the importance of Negative Space....the space that surrounds the subject we are painting. By putting colour around the apple shape…the apple is revealed.
Given the fast pace of our lives today, and the fact that so many of us are plugged into technology of one kind or another, our collective senses are being deadened.
Along with this comes a feeling of loss. A loss that in many ways we are unable to identify.
As we constantly try to fill the ever widening holes within us, with more and more frenetic activity and stuff, our frustration levels grow.
Feeding our senses through the creative process in all its many forms can produce almost miraculous changes, which can lead to a sense of well-being and fulfilment.
Warning – Beware of the Chattering Monkeys….
Chattering Monkeys are the little demons that fill our minds with reasons why we should not, and cannot do something!
I am sure as you begin this exercise, they will be shouting out…‘you don’t have time to do this’, and you can’t draw or paint anyway…..
IGNORE THEM
As you move forward with the apple exercise and establish a routine, you will find that the Chattering Monkeys will go away…….
Note these apples cast their natural colour into their shadows. Each apple reflects upon the other. All of life is interconnected….
When we first enter this world, we are naturally full of curiosity and wonder.
By the time we come to the end of our formative years, at around seven, the narrow definition that our culture has imposed upon us has taken hold.
By the time we reach adulthood most of us have lost touch with and confidence in our inner creative energy.
Colour effects our every mood and emotion. Allow yourself to PLAY with colour….Apples can be any colour you wish them to be…..Be bold – make marks and surprise yourself with the satisfaction and joy this brings. 
When we think of an apple we might visualise the iconic Apple Max symbol, or the shiny red apple that children take for their favourite teacher.
What the Apple Exercise will demonstrate is that the apple, along with everything else in life, can be seen in a myriad of ways.
Seeing the apple differently…….
If we could time travel back to our earliest formative years, when the world was a kaleidoscope of colour and shapes and our young minds were full of wonder, we could regain our natural curiosity and love for colour and form.
Instead of just looking straight ahead, look in every direction, including up and down.
Instead of always sitting in the same chair view your favourite room from many different points of view
.Look at the whole – not just the shiny red outer image….remember there are fascinating pips inside the apple.
The creative process is all about experimenting. Letting go of the logical information that our brains have processed during out lifetimes and embracing the concept of seeing our world in a much broader sense.
It is about awakening the senses.
Stride out in confidence into this new year and enjoy the transformation that creativity and colour can bring. watercolour/collage from one of my children’s book illustrations.
My book ‘The Apple Exercise’ can be found on the products page of my website at http://www.janetweightreed.co.uk
My next painting course will be in Portugal beginning April 18th at http://www.artinthealgarve.com
a bientot
Throughout my years of painting and teaching, I have heard so often the frustration of those who would like to explore their creativity, but who always seem to find that life gets in the way!
We had lovely sunshine and warm temps for most of the week, plus one night of storms which made for interesting and very paintable skies, and one day of rain…..but did we let it deter us???….not at all! I love this photograph of us on our way to the Saturday market:) 
We spent a perfect day on Armona Island and as always was treated to a delicious lunch of fresh grilled fish and vegetables at Armona 4 restaurant. sketchbooks were in full use.
After a delicious breakfast, thanks to Joanna, each day begins with demonstrations. The group can then choose to paint in the School or around the town. Some prefer to paint alone and others in a group. Lunch is served at 1 p.m. and then we have a two hour free period. We meet again at 4 p.m. when I give more demonstrations and the group continues to work until approx. 6.30.
I find the School to be one of the best places to explore the creative process. Set on many levels with all sorts of areas for private or group work – it is perfect. Added to that is the wonderful family atmosphere provided by the team…….I love seeing Joanna and Margarida’s children growing year by year…..
Watercolour, painted by Jayanthi showing a lovely sunny day in the park. 
We had some lovely and unexpected surprises. Dora Keogh, another of the School’s tutors had an exhibition in the town. 
All Dora’s paintings were based on Olhao. 
We were also introduced to the Republic Community Centre – A beautiful old building with superb gallery space plus a bar and terrace and a really lovely large courtyard. The paintings on display were of a high calibre….and it was much fun to meet more local artists who like many who attend the School come from around the world.
Minutes from the school is 4Elementos Ceramics & Azulejo – a shop and studio owned by artists Celia and Oswald. They very kindly allow members of the group to paint in the charming patio behind the studio and over the years have become friends.
The patio behind the studio at 4Elementos Ceramics and Azulejo
Given the techno charged fast pace of our lives today, it often seems that our collective senses are being deadened.
watercolour by Olga
Our final day coincided with the Carnation Revolution celebrations….Here are some of the group celebrating the occasion. 
I can’t write a blog without mentioning the Magical Hummingbirds. They were clearly with us all the way on this trip. I enjoyed a really meaningful conversation on my way to the airport with, Peter, one of the visiting Australians and (this is a bit of an inside joke for those attending this week) I had a beautiful little eleven month old girl sitting next to me on the plane.:)
I like to begin my day with a warming up exercise. This awakens my senses and connects me to my materials and environment. With regard to subject matter – it can be anything. It is helpful to have a ‘jumping off point’. In this instance, I used a picture of an Iris. In itself very attractive as a photograph but lacking in vibrancy and energy.
Our minds tend to be conditioned by what we have been taught, rather than what we actually see or feel. When I look at this photograph, in my mind’s eye I immediately see a field of Iris infused with energy, light and shade.
It is important to note that even if your end goal is to paint a detailed, realistic image, warming up and exploring a subject in this manner will help enormously. 
If we were able to time travel back to our earliest formative years, (1 to 3) when the world appeared as a kaleidoscope of colour and shapes. When our young minds were full of wonder, we could regain our natural curiosity and love for colour and form. 
As pointed out in previous blogs…any fear of messing up a good piece of paper, can be removed by using newspaper or brown wrapping paper to start with. Simply allow yourself to put strong marks onto the paper. See all the wonderful things that your paintbrush can do….and have fun. 
A bientot 
My Life as an Artist (2) 