Generating Ideas For Your Design Or Canvas Art Based Projects

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1. Properly define the brief outcome that you want - Begin by stating, possibly on paper as a written statement, the exact outcome that you want the idea to satisfy. This could be a list of requirements that you want the piece of work to fulfil. Think about the effect on the viewer. How do you want them to feel? What do you want them to think? What exactly do you want to communicate to them? As soon as you have this clear target the way to your concept will become much clearer. That is to say that you enjoy this way of working as opposed to a more intuitive approach, which leads me on to technique number two...

2. Don't define the brief outcome that you want - By having absolutely no limits on the effect you want to achieve with your concept you allow your intuitive and inspired processes to reign free. This technique can allow for extremely random and 'out-of-the-box' solutions to emerge. Experimentation is a sure-fire way to come up with ideas that are particularly inspired and innovative. The drawback is that it is easy to move to far away from the brief and it can take longer as more reiterations are needed until you happen upon an idea which fulfils the brief. Most people will probably prefer some kind of middle ground between the first technique and the second when generating ideas for design work and canvas art.

3. Pick a random subject - This technique involves randomly selecting a subject and then simply creating an idea that involves this randomly chosen topic. Somehow combine the brief you are working on with the arbitrary theme and you will find that your mind has the innate ability to weave connections into the basis for new ideas.

4. Let your mind wander - By actually taking your mind off the brief you can allow the subconscious more freedom to work its magic. If you sketch down completely random images and doodles you will find that your pencil will automatically find new solutions.

5. Try less - Sometimes the more you try the harder you find it to generate ideas for your design work and canvas art. A much better approach to doubling your effort is to fall back on tried and tested ways of producing work. This reinstates the flow needed to produce quality ideas.

6. Work in a way you enjoy - Many good ideas emerge spontaneously from simply doing what you love. Making sure you enjoy the process is important. Choose to work with media that you are comfortable and confident with. Once you have a chosen skill or technique, such as painting with acrylics for example, you can then express your ideas in a more free-flowing manner. Good sketching skills are a perfect way to express your ideas and render them quickly. Find materials you enjoy using and which allow an easy transition from your mind to the paper or computer.

I hope this article helps you. Good luck generating ideas for your design or canvas art based projects.

The Michael Jackson Phenomenon

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The death of Michael Jackson, the king of pop, this last week has shaken us in a way that few things do. Was it because he was so young when he died? At age 50, he certainly wasn't old, but many millions of people the world over don't live half that many years. Very few of us actually knew him, so it wasn't that he was a friend or someone that we were personally acquainted with. Still, he was a presence in most of our lives. Alicia Keyes, a well-known recording artist, may have said it best when she said that Michael Jackson's music was the "music of our memories, the music of our dream". So many of us grew up on that music. We associate it with special times in our own life journeys. It is part of us. For that reason, when we learned of his death this past week, it had an unusually profound affect on us.

Much has been written and viewed this last week on the phenomenon that is Michael Jackson. It is a story of triumph and tragedy. One report called it the ultimate American dream coupled with the quintessential Greek tragedy. And so it was. How could someone so supremely gifted erode into such a caricature of himself. What was it that turned him into such a bizarre entity, one whose behavior not only lifted eyebrows but also involved police investigation. How sad that someone so admired and envied somehow seemed to feel that he needed to constantly be changing his appearance and persona.

Certainly it couldn't have been that he wasn't good enough. He was VERY good. We loved that little boy who charmed us with his brilliance at the age of eleven when he first started nationally appearing. We loved him as a young man when he moved his body with such precision and rhythmic force that we were left completely captivated and mesmerized. We loved in the incredible voice that counseled us through son that it didn't matter if we were black or white. We loved the edgy, dynamic Thriller music so much that we made it the number one selling album of all time.

The events of this past week have caused people to reflect, to remember. Some have said that they'll remember where they were when they learned the news of Michaels's passing in the same way that they remember where they were when they learned of the death of President John F. Kennedy or Elvis Presley.

We may never know all the demons that lived in michael's psyche and the struggles that he dealt with along with his amazing fame and fortune, but he has enriched the lives of countless millions of us through his incomparable music and for that, we thank you, Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson "King of Pop" Moonwalking Above

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Michael Jackson, the king of pop, certainly showed the world in his own style that he was truly the Great king of pop with a heart of gold. He cared for those he came across and provided for their welfare. The charities to which he contributed came as a surprise to many. Being featured in Guinness World Records for his contributions is really a wonderful deed in his support of the needy. He also held various Guinness World Records for his performance as a musical artist and for the most sales of records. Truly, Michael Jackson was an artist who cared about others and shared his wealth for the betterment of human kind.

As a musician on the cutting edge, his music was always in the hearts of people. Additionally, his dancing sets the stage for many to enjoy and practice. His Moonwalk dance captured the hearts of many across the globe. He brought smiles across the faces of many when he broke out into his Moonwalk dance. It was just amazing! This is one dance the world will never forget. As a sign of appreciation, I have written the following poem as a tribute to Michael Jackson with the titles of some of his songs:

Michael's Jackson 'Moonwalk' Poem

He walked across the stage like it was the Moon

So many are sad that he has Gone Too Soon

He does it smiling like a Dancing Machine

Even when singing the wonderful Billie Jean

He touched many with words in Beautiful Girl

He reached out and states We Are the World

Many now look in the sky for a Dancing Machine

To see the Moonwalk that made them screamed.

© Joseph S. Spence, Sr.

© All Rights Reserved.

Michael Jackson has established the standards for singers and dancers. He has helped many and is still loved by many across the world. May he continued to sing and dance in his own world, as the world looks high to see him dancing one day across the Moon.

Submitted by "Epulaeryu Master."

The "Michael Jackson" of Socks

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I was washing my son's clothes the other day when I came across what he had done to his socks. He's in his 20's now but sensory integration - how things feel when they touch his body in any way - has always been a part of his disability. He had neatly cut off all the corners of the toes.

"Honestly!" I sometimes wondered, "Does he not think I would notice this!?"

As I was chiding myself for not consulting him when I bought them, a smile crept onto my face.

An amusing memory, or a Magic Chuckle that showcased this very issue, popped into my head. At the time I did not know this was even called a "sensory integration issue". I was just annoyed at how often I had to redress my child every single day.

Remember how Michael Jackson used to go around just wearing one glove? That is how my son got nominated for "The Michael Jackson of Socks".

Moms of the world can attest to the energy and time that goes into dressing a child. In my case multiply this by five. Sometimes I hated to even bother. In fact if we weren't going anywhere I wouldn't and if we were....well you can bet I did it 15 minutes before we left and I could pin him down in his car seat. This still didn't deter him from removing socks and shoes so sometimes I wouldn't even put those on unless it was cold out.

My routine was solid. I would plan what I was going to do and dress myself first and then buttoned, zipped, pinned, pulled and tied my son into his. My hand was poised with the door half-opened when the phone rang. Before I could grab my son he was off, out the door. As I answered hello he was tottering down the steps. I wasn't too worried. We lived on a farm with miles and miles of flat land. If he took off I would be able to see his head bobbling through a field.

I hung up the phone after five LONG minutes and flung the screen door open as I walked through it. I wouldn't have to look far for my first clue: a pair of tiny Velcro sneakers on the steps. As I bent over to pick them up, for future redressing, I noticed his socks piled up 20 feet away. And so it began. I began to understand how Hansel and Gretel felt following a trail of bread crumbs.

I followed the trail to the corner of the garage and sighed. Yesterday my other two children had loosed several gallons of water from the garden hose into the pile of dirt behind the garage. It had turned the place into a massive area of quicksand. At least that is what they had excitedly called it. After playing in it yesterday they were quite leery of ever going back to it. I had had to drag my sucked down feet through it yesterday to retrieve two sobbing children. They'd gotten mired up to their knees. I could still hear the sucking sounds as I pulled little bare legs and feet from the unrelenting mud.

As I turned the corner I expected more of the same. What I encountered was a cooing young child in his glory. He was stark naked, up to his thighs in mud. He was just starting to wobble as his bottom smacked into the surface of this lovely, warmed by the sun, smooth, slippery mud that would caress his rosy body. It took an hour to clean him off.

I decided that it was time to "cure" him of this. It was too embarrassing having him do this in public. It took a month but my diligence paid off. The only "habit" I couldn't crack was the removal of one sock. Yes he only took off one.

It was at this time Michael Jackson started a mini fad of wearing only one glove. My eldest son insisted his brother was just copying Michael and dubbed him: "The Michael Jackson of Socks".

I personally believe it was his compromise at having to give up the joy of removing all his clothes.