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TAE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1

I’m reminded here of a quote that I once heard. It read, “A ship in its harbor is safe, but that’s not what a ship was built to do.” Traveling to new places embeds images in your mind that only you can conjure because they were witnessed through your eyes and no one else’s. As a caveat however, I would like to suggest that if you’re going to travel to new places as an artist, try to avoid visiting the places that have been over done in the world of art, i.e., Rome, New York City, Paris. Remember, the idea is to stay ahead of the cliché and attempt to discover new things. Whereas those places are great vacation spots in terms of culture and tourism, and not to mention they offer some of the best museums and galleries in the world, they are overly documented in art books and photo reels, and they no longer present a hearty challenge. Want a challenge? Visit Lawton, Oklahoma and try adding that to your sketchpad. You see, getting involved in new activities will produce fresh ideas that can be integrated into your creativity. A poet will have new experiences to write about, a jazz singer's mind will be tuned to a new beat, and that person who is notorious for normally painting the pictures of the brightly colored fruit bowls will now be able to illustrate the majestic under body of a Mustang convertible. Get my drift? Whatever it is that you tend to shy away from the most, try running towards it and watch how it will untimely enhance your artistic dexterity. For some reason I’m reminded of the old adage, “two heads are better than one.” Well if that’s true, think about what could happen if forty or fifty heads worked together to create one painting, mosaic, or mold. Don’t just let your imagination run wild, instead tap into the thoughts of others as well. Well, who has more imagination than a kid? Children are just artistic volcanoes waiting to erupt. Just think, they practically smell like a box of fresh Crayola’s. Children create the most elaborate stories based on fictitious and supernatural ideas. Their imaginations run rampant at 200 miles per hour, and they NEVER run out of ideas. Use them! Probe their little minds by asking them hundreds of questions. Get them to tell you a story, and then find your own way of incorporating it into your artwork. Use them to alleviate your writers block and liberate your stifled creativity. Use children to your artistic advantage, but don’t forget to buy them a toy. Remember, that suspense novel you started six years ago isn’t going to write itself. If you’re serious about your art form and you truly want to stay ahead of the curve, remember you can only perfect it by doing and not by wanting to do. Procrastination is a trap, and it should be evaded at all cost. Find your artistic passion and finish what you set out to accomplish. 2 4 5 Findanewhobby Askachild AvoidProcrastination That’s right, I said it. Step away from the ceramic pots, fold up the easel, and turn of the kiln. Not forever of course, but just long enough to get involved in something that takes you totally outside of your comfort zone. Why? Elementary my dear artist! 3 FormAlliances Stop trying to hog all of the credit for yourself. Instead of working alone endlessly in your basement or day room, relentlessly trying to create the perfect masterpiece, try linking up with other artist to create a joint magnum opus. Part of being a great artist is having a vivid and colorful imagination. Great artist are able to create based on abstract thoughts. One common mistake that inspired people make is that they fail to finish what they started. Don’t be the person that writes the first three chapters of an award winning book or screen play, and then leaves it unfinished on a flash drive. TAE MAGAZINE 29

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