So I taught my first class today. Meh…wasn’t too bad. I had a few rough spots here and there getting the momentum going. I saw more then a few I-dont-know-WTF-you’re-talking-about stares where I had to back up and retread. But overall I think I got through unscathed.
We assigned homework today. I know….what an ass giving homework on the first day huh? Nah, comeon, what I gave them was so easy a kid in elementary school could do it. I wouldn’t even call it homework so much as just helping them get into the creative mode for the class.
A couple of students were struggling trying to come up with concepts and asked me how I came up with ideas for my own projects. I though, “hey good question” I told them I sketch, I go look at websites, I go out to the bookstore to peer through magazines, heck, sometimes I even just sit out at the beach for 30 minutes and just chill. The mind is a strange tool…you just have to find some way to jog it into motion.
Funny that I was just browsing just now and stumbled across this blog post about “How to be more creative”. Just simple tips but I agree completely. That little diagram even includes a technique that an art instructor once taught me where you just jog down words and symbol relationships. It seemed really retarded to me then doing the exercise but later in my career I actually understood what it’s for.
I gotta keep this in mind. My students might think I’m retarded now. But one day…ONE DAY….they’ll think I’m half capable of teaching. Mwahahahah.
LoweStudio Inc was founded by me, Raphael Lowe, a Honolulu based illustrator and web designer. I presently design and manage a few dozen commercial websites, but my main focus these days is acting as the head developer for Kapiolani Community College and teaching
I’m so pleased you found my blog post informative. I find it really helps to take a step back and go back to the basics when you find yourself having a bit of a mental block.
The idea of the ‘ideasbook’ is great too. It allows me to note down thoughts and ideas when they come to me – at the time they may not make much sense or even lead to anything, but they are great to go back to at a later date. The book has helped me out countless times. I would urge anyone ‘trying to be more creative’ to start one 🙂
Great blog by the way!
Thanks Rebecca. I keep a sketch book myself! Sometimes it’s even good for a laugh to see how ridiculous my old ideas were.