Studio 747 - Travel, Art, Design, Business, Fashion, Purpose and Passion

Creativity is Not Just For Artists - Be Creative to Think and Live Better

2009-07-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Alessandra Viero...

When we say creativity, what comes up to our mind is almost always art... or fantasy authors... or professional areas such as music, fashion, marketing, graphic design... and we tend to think that only people who deal with such activities have a real need to be creative.

Sure, we have probably heard that creativity is good per se, and maybe we would like to have some special talent in this sense, but most of us simply think "OK very nice, but I'm not an artistic guy/gal. It's a pity, but I've been living well so far, and in my job and life after all I can perfectly do without it".

However, that's just a limited interpretation of what being creative actually means.

I may perfectly agree that creativity shows more pleasantly in a beautiful painting or sculpture, in signature jewels or clothes, in a delicious original dish by a famous chef, in a fascinating novel, in a music masterpiece, in a brilliant advertising campaign...

Furthermore, as I said in previous articles, "artistic" activities such as drawing bring important benefits to all of us, regardless of how "gifted" we feel. And practicing this kind of activities is an excellent means if we want to stimulate our imaginative side.

Though, creativity is much more than this. It involves and improves ALL aspects of our life.
Creativity is first of all an attitude of mind while facing any situation and issue you may encounter.

It means trying to think "out of the box", using the famous "lateral thinking", wondering if what appears in a certain way can actually be seen in a different perspective. It means being flexible-minded, young-minded, capable of abandoning all preconstituted mental schemes and bias if necessary.

When you "unchain" your mind and shake off useless stiffness you think more efficiently, you find more brilliant solutions. Better yet, you may identify opportunities where others only see problems, consider as a stimulating challenge what someone else calls failure. In a broader sense, sometimes being creative means leaving the fear of being yourself.

Adopting this mindset may be not that easy at first, but little by little you will feel more comfortable and eventually you will not even be able to get back to your previous way of thinking.

Alessandra invites you to see how a creative positive approach can improve your life at http://stores.lulu.com/pimmy

Photo of the Week: "Blue Truck" By A.J.

2009-07-03T06:10:00.000-07:00

During a photowalk through the neighborhood, I handed the camera to A.J., my four-year-old God-daughter.

"Oh, look! A blue truck!" she says.

I never would have thought to take a picture of this blue truck. A great reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Here are some creative tips and ideas for your next photowalk!

#Artwalk: A New Way To Promote Your Art

2009-07-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

It used to be that whenever artists wanted to participate in an art fair, they had to research and find out where art fairs were happening, plan and prepare how they were going to display their art, and pay an entrance fee to participate.

However, nowadays there are such things as online virtual artwalks where you can share your art with people all over the world from the comfort of your own home!

Kim Sherrell (follow her on Twitter: @KimSherrell) is the founder of #artwalk, the first virtual art fair via Twitter. If you're an artist, you can join the #Artwalk group and share your links, photos, or videos featuring your work.

To find out more how #artwalk works, visit Kim Sherrell's website...

By the way, if you're on Twitter, you can follow us @studio747!

David Cook Concert Review and Tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-06-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is my review of the David Cook experience at the Del Mar Fair. Read "The Declaration Tour: David Cook Rocks Out San Diego at the Del Mar Fairgrounds" posted over at the Eventchaser blog.

To honor the spirit of Michael Jackson, I also want to share this video clip of David Cook performing "Billie Jean" from the 2008 American Idols Live tour in San Diego...

Creative Genius: Kseniya Simonova

2009-06-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

We're all creative geniuses, but every once in awhile you come across an artist who crosses the boundaries and elevates to another level of creativity.

One such artist that has transcended the levels of creativity is Kseniya Simonova, an artist from the Ukraine who has been featured in Ukraine's Got Talent.

Here is a video clip of Kseniya performing her magical sand animation...

Thanks to Larisa Belliveau for sharing this!

San Diego: A Top Art and Design Vacation City on a Budget

2009-06-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

ArtBistro recently published an article: Top 20 Art and Design Vacation Cities on a Budget, and my home city, San Diego, ranked #11 on the list!

I used to believe that San Diego wasn't much of an artsy city, but the more I explored, the more I realized how much of an art culture it has. If you're a photographer, there are so many places where you can take beautiful photos. From the sandy beach of Coronado to breath-taking colorful views at Sunset Cliffs, any artist can find a ton of inspiration in San Diego.

My favorite place to hang out is Balboa Park. As many times as I've visited the park, I never get tired of visiting all the different museums or just sitting under a tree and watching the people walk by. I love taking photos of the architecture...

Free Art Venues in San Diego

Ray at Night - The second Saturday of every month art aficionados gather in North Park for the longest running art walk in San Diego.

Kettner Nights - On certain Fridays, the design district in Little Italy (downtown San Diego) hosts an artwalk. For dates, visit the Little Italy website.

Museum of Contemporary Art - The two locations in downtown and La Jolla offer free admission to individuals 25 years and younger. There is also free admission the third Thursday of every month from 5 -7 pm.

The New Children's Museum - Take your kids or become a kid again! Free admission on the second Sunday of every month.

Getting Around San Diego

San Diego has a metro-train system (aka "trolley) that runs North and South from the border to Old Town (another great place to take photographs). There are also two other routes: One that runs East and West from downtown to East County (for those who would like to venture out to see the suburbs or check out the casinos), and another route that takes you from Old Town to Fashion Valley Mall and San Diego State.

My favorite thing to do is to ride the Coaster or Amtrak from downtown up Solana Beach, which is another artsy little beach town. It's a beautiful ride up the coast!

For more information about public transportation in San Diego, visit: www.sdcommute.com

If you'd prefer renting a car, I recommend Fox Rentacar because of their good deals on weekly car rentals.

The San Diego Experience: Priceless

I could go on and on about all the great things about San Diego, but you just have to experience it for yourself. You can't really put a price on the great adventure that is awaiting you in "America's Finest City"!

If you're ever in San Diego, I'd love to meet you!

Tips and Ideas To Grow Your Art Business During a Recession

2009-06-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

In the current economic climate, it's easy to just make an excuse for not doing well in your art business.

"I'm not doing well because of the economy" is something I hear all the time. If you ask me, I think it's a bunch of baloney because there are many people out there who are doing well despite the poor economy.

I want to share this article by Darla Dixon titled "Grow Your Art Business During a Recession". Darla offers a list of excellent tips and ideas that not only artists can use, but any entrepreneur could utilize.

One thing I would add to the list is to learn search engine optimization so that you can get your website ranking high in the search engines. Here are SEO tips and strategies that I share over at Online Business Resources.

By the way, Darla Dixon offers cool pencil portraits drawn from photos.

Follow Darla on Twitter.

David Cook Is Coming to San Diego

2009-05-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

I received word the other day that I am now an official EventChaser and will be sharing my experiences from a variety of events including concerts and sports events!

As I mentioned a couple posts back, I was offered an opportunity to write reviews for Razorgator - and since I'm a huge proponent of living an adventurous life and to pursue your passions, I thought it would be fitting to share my adventures here.

It looks my first assignment will be to attend the David Cook concert which takes place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Thursday, June 18. It's also the time for the annual Del Mar Fair, so I'll have double the fun!

Get your David Cook tickets!

David Cook has seen much success since winning American Idol last year. He just kicked off a nationwide tour and San Diego will be the third stop.

I'll be sharing my experience of the concert not just at EventChaser, but I'll be posting videos and other commentary over at No Song Unsung, the music blog that is part of the Studio 747 network of blogs.

Get Your Art or Photography Business Up and Running

2009-05-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

You've been thinking that maybe you should turn your art or photography into a business...

So, what's stopping you?

Now is the time to pursue your passion! It's time to take action! Take one step today towards your dream of making money with your photography or art.

Make Money By Selling Photography or Art Prints

One of the most commons ways artists make money is by selling poster size prints of their art or photography. You can sell prints of your work at art fairs, trade shows, or via your own online shop. One resource to check out for prints is PosterPrintShop.com. This company offers a variety of sizes of prints including canvas prints. Large format prints are very inexpensive. You can have an 18" x 24" print produced at PosterPrintShop.com for only $15!

What may seem like an ordinary picture can actually turn into a museum-quality piece of work when you put it on canvas. You can have it done for $24, then turn around and sell the piece for $75 or more.

Marketing and Branding Your Business

If you're showcasing your work at an art gallery or art fair, keep in mind that aesthetics play a big role in attracting customers. When people are walking by your booth or enter a gallery, you want to capture their attention. Enlarged posters and signs or enlarged banners that are professionally done should feature the name of your business and/or logo.

Keep in mind, however, that marketing and branding your art business isn't just about fancy logos or banners, it's also about being professional, making connections with your customers, and producing quality products on a consistent basis.

Start telling everyone on your Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace page about your business. Marketing your art business doesn't have to be hard. Just have fun with it and you'll start to attract customers who love and value your work.

While everyone is moaning about how the economy is bad, this is a great time for you as an artist to start making money. Remember that there is no such thing as a starving artist!

Photo of the Week: Pacific Beach Sunset

2009-05-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Nathan Rupert aka "San Diego Shooter"

Pacific Beach is a popular destination for visitors to San Diego, California. Whether you're a surfer, roller blader, or you simply just want to bask in the sun, Pacific Beach offers a little bit of everything for everyone.

Planning a trip to visit San Diego? Check out PacificBeach.org to learn more about the community and find out about events. Just south of Pacific Beach is Mission Beach where there are even more things to do.

If you're flying to San Diego, check out Flight deals for under $200 round-trip on CheapTickets!

The Good Life Is Traveling and Attending Fun Events

2009-05-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Over at The Good Life, a blog that is part of the Studio 747 network of blogs, we talk about how important it is to do what you're passionate about.

When you do what you love, the money and abundance will follow...We know, it's an old cliche, but it's a mantra that we think everyone should live by!

Doing what I love has put me in touch with so many people who are just as passionate as I am about writing, blogging, and creating art. I've also come across many opportunities that are in line with my passions.

One such opportunity that I’ve come upon is serving as a correspondent for EventChaser, a site where people can read reviews of various events such as concerts, sporting events, and more. I’m a big sports fan, so I’m hoping to finally attend a Lakers game like I’ve always wanted to do. Or perhaps I could start traveling around the country and attend all kinds of concerts!

Stay tuned for my reviews as I will be linking to them from this blog!

Inspiring Creativity Quotes

2009-05-08T15:54:00.001-07:00

If you need a little inspiration, here are a few quotes to jump-start the creative juices...

“Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” --Tina Turner

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” --Scott Adams

“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.” --Rita Mae Brown

Photo Credit: Amanda Hirsch

Beauty Does Come From Within

2009-04-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of Susan Boyle by now. If not, you have to watch this video of her audition for Britain's Got Talent...

If there's anything we can learn from Susan, it's not to judge a book by its cover. You don't have to be young and beautiful to have talent or make it in the music business...and you're never too old to follow your dreams! Yes, beauty does come from within ;)

The way Simon Cowell looked as he watched Susan Boyle sing is classic...

For more music inspiration, visit No Song Unsung...

Purpose: The Path Less Traveled

2009-04-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself...

"What's my purpose?"

Here at Studio 747 we're here to help you discover your purpose in life. Many people go through life just going through the motions and never stop to ask themselves this very important question.

The author over at WarriorOfSuccess.com shares these thoughts about purpose:

The majority of people never live a life of purpose because it takes hard work and discipline. Most people just settle for what comes along. They live the life of quiet desperation. They talk about what they should do and dream big dreams, but never go forward. A life without action is a life without purpose.

Your purpose is tied to everything that you do in life. Whether it's personal or business endeavors, your purpose drives your actions and thoughts.

When it comes to purpose within your business, Dan Wilson of MarketDifference Communications Groups says this about defining your brand purpose:

Who your company is and what it does must come from the inside. This is expressed in your core purpose.

How Do You Discover Your Purpose?

Some people know early on in life what their purpose is. For others, it takes a bit of soul searching to discover what they were meant to do.

You can start off by asking yourself: What do I love to do? What gets me excited? What do I daydream about?

Most of the time we're thinking about jobs or positions that "pay the most". However, more often than not, these positions aren't even close to what we're interested in.

Recently over at the Online Business Resources Blog, I wrote, "Doing What You Love + Intentions = Abundance"

If you look at the lives of all the successful people in the world, you'll find one common thread...They're doing what they love. They have found a way to serve the needs of others and are being compensated handsomely for it.

If you feel that you're not fulfilling your purpose in life, take some time out today to contemplate what your vision is. What does your gut say that you should be doing?

How do you want people to remember you when you leave this Earth?

Photo Credit: Chie

Paris, France: The City of Creative Energy

2009-04-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Paris. Oh, Paris. The City of Love. It's a place that many people dream of visiting. The city evokes feelings of love and romance. It has been the setting for countless books and movies. Artists have offered every possible perspective of the Eiffel tower. Every fashionista would jump at the chance to visit Paris, France known as one of the fashion capitals of the world. We can't deny the fact that this city is indeed a culture deeply rooted in creative energy. Yes, Paris, France could be considered the mecca of creativity.

A favorite French artist is Claude Monet, who was the original founder and practitioner of the French Impressionist movement in painting. One of Monet's most popular subjects was water lilies...

The famous fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, makes his base in Paris, France as the chief designer of the fashion brand, Chanel...

If you're thinking about visiting Paris or even want to move to Paris, you may want to check out this book that is available to view online, "Going To Live in Paris" by Alan Hart. Consider it a complete guide that will help you with buying or renting property, finding employment, health and welfare, transportation...and there's even a chapter on partying in this active city!

You can find out more about traveling to Paris by reading these Paris travel blogs...

Check out travel deals and the price of flights at Hotwire.com...

Studio 747 Blog Round-Up

2009-03-27T22:54:00.000-07:00

So, what's been going on around the Studio 747 blog network?

Over at The Good Life we learn how to be a more positive person and see miracles in everything
When it comes to having your own online business, I believe that doing what you love = abundance.
Nowadays I know that many women are on a budget, so I share some fashion and accessories under $50.
If you're a musician, you should read Using Twitter to Market Your Music.
Right about now it's time to invest in yourself and get debt advice.

Would you like to contribute an article to any of the blogs in the network? Click here for more information!

Online Shopping Made Easy

2009-03-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Times have been tough for many people and businesses. Workers are being laid off and many brick-and-mortar shops have been closing shop. People are becoming more price conscious and many people are now going online to look for the best deals. Here at Studio 747 we are all about helping you save time and money so that you can do the things that matter to you most - like being creative and working on increasing your own business.

There used to be a time when the internet was just a place to look for information, but now you can find and purchase just about anything online these days. Artists can buy art supplies online, photographers can buy cameras online, and fashionistas, well, can buy any kind clothing item from the thousands of retailers and boutiques who have set up shop on the internet.

Technology sure has come a long way, hasn't it?

Recently I came across Moneysupermarket.com, a resource for online shopping. You can shop and compare prices on everything from books and music to travel and fashion. You'll get a list of online retailers that carry a particular item along with a list price. You can also read expert reviews and user reviews on items that you're interested in. You can even submit your own review to be posted on the site.

One thing I've been in the market for is a new, high quality digital camera. The Canon Powershot SX1 IS looks like a contender...and it's within my price range.

Bottom line: Now more than ever it is so easy to shop online and compare prices of things you'd like to buy. This is something that you should be doing anyways - whether or not the economy is down!

Do you use online shopping comparison websites? Why or why not?

Photo of the Week: "A Rose" by Rosa Say

2009-03-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and that means the flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping louder than ever (at least where I live!)

To get the spring season started, I thought I'd share a photo of a rose taken by Rosa Say. Rosa came across this gorgeous flower while visiting the Foster Botanical Garden on O‘ahu, .

You have to visit Rosa's Flickr photostream as she has taken so many photos from her home state of Hawaii. Vibrant!

Creativity Quote

2009-03-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." -- Alan Alda

Good Life Theme: Abundance

2009-02-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

The good life theme that has been on my radar lately is "Abundance".

If you stop and think about it for a moment, you'll notice that abundance is all around is. There is an abundance of nature...flowers, trees, rocks, animals... Many artists are fully aware of this abundance as you will see it in many works of art.

I just started a gratitude journal where I write down ten things I am grateful for. This practice has made me become more aware of all this abundance in my life. I also post things I'm grateful for on my Twitter profile using the "#gratitude" tag.

A friend and I were having a conversation the other day about the little things we take for granted. She lives in Chicago where it is very cold and she was telling me that the electricity in her building had been out for a few hours. That was her little wake-up call. At that moment I said a mental, "Thank you" for the beautiful weather I have here in San Diego!

Have you noticed the abundance in your life? What can you be grateful for right now?

And speaking of abundance, I'd like to thank Suzie Cheel of Abundance Highway for honoring me with a "Super Abundance Bloggers" award. Awhile back I interviewed Suzie for the Studio 747 Blogtalk Radio show. If you missed it, click here to listen.

Start Living an Abundant Life: Find Your Passion - Live Your Dreams!

The Key to Unlimited Wealth

2009-02-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

In this time in which many people are wondering about their financial future (or present, for that matter), I'm even more inspired to encourage people to start their own business. This is one of the main reasons why I started the Studio 747 Blogtalk Radio Show.

I truly believe that starting your own business is the key to unlimited wealth. With your own business, you're relying on yourself for a paycheck. The income opportunities are endless!

Well, this past Tuesday I had the pleasure of interviewing Phil Weslow of FeedbackSecrets.com, a website that is dedicated to helping people start an internet business with minimal costs.

There are so many people being laid off and don't have the money to start a regular brick-and-mortar business. What many people don't know is that it doesn't cost very much to launch an internet business.

I wanted to write up a recap of the main points from the show, but I think it's so important to listen to the whole thing because Phil offers a great deal of tips and advice.

Click here to listen to the show...

Also, another source of information you may want to check is this article over at PCWorld, How to Start an Online Business for $100.

Want to learn more about starting an internet business? Visit: Online Business Resources.

Learn how to create an abundance mindset over at The Good Life.

Marc Jacobs: Pushing the Boundaries

2009-02-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

In every industry there is at least one or two people whose creativity seems to stand out from the rest.

In the art world there was Michaelangelo...

Then we had Ansel Adams in the photography world...

And in the fashion world nowadays we have Marc Jacobs.

There are many designers who are very creative, but for some reason Marc Jacobs seems to get a great deal of attention. Of course, he's rightly earned it with some of the off-the-wall designs that he comes up with. He's one of those creative souls that make you stop for a moment and ask yourself:

"What can I do to be more creative?"

"What is stopping me from reaching my highest potential as an artist?"

I'm not saying that you should try to "outdo" other people, but I think it's good to challenge yourself to push the boundaries once in awhile.

For Fall/Winter 2009, Marc Jacobs came with a very visually stimulating collection. Watch a video of the runway show below...

For more fashion commentary, visit one of the blogs in our network, Beauty Is Within...

Less IS More

2009-02-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Less is More"...

How many of us really live by that motto?

And how many of us still think that more is indeed...more? More money. More awards. More of this...More of that.

There was a time when I thought that "More is More". If I blogged more or I made more jewelry, I would make more money. I would have more subscribers or more customers.

However, I've come to realize that in trying to do more, I was sacrificing the life that I had worked so hard to get. I had already achieved the goal of being able to work from home and to come and go as I please. And even though I preached about living the good life, in retrospect I realize that I was sometimes going against my own advice.

The "Less Is More" Challenge

For the next couple weeks I challenge you to live by the "Less is More" philosophy when it comes to work. I've written about my own personal journey in Productive At Being Unproductive at my personal blog.

If you're a self-employed artist, maybe it's cutting down on studio time and making time for yourself - like going to the beach and lounging with a book...

If you work in an office all day, maybe it's not bringing work home and spending time with the kids...playing a board game or having a family outing...

For the past couple weeks I've been challenging myself to slow things down a bit. Instead of putting 10 things on the "To Do" list, I've listed only 3 or 4 things to do. When I went to visit my parents this past weekend, I actually spent time with them versus sitting in front of the computer like I usually do.

Being At Peace

What I have found in living by this "Less is More" philosophy is that I'm more at peace. The pace of my life has slowed down and I no longer feel that I have to rush to achieve my goals. I've always loved creating and writing, but now...I'm truly in the moment and simply enjoying my work instead of associating $ with it.

I'm sure many artists can relate when I say that I started to lose a little bit of that joy of creating when my art and writing became a source of income.

However, now I'm learning to just be at peace with what is - to just be at peace in the moment and with what I've accomplished so far. That's not to say that I've become complacent because I certainly have so much more that I'd like to do.

How about you? Are you aware of the gifts you have? More importantly, are you grateful for what you have right now?

Can you be at peace with who you are if you don't sell another painting, CD, or work of art?

Would you like to live a more fulfilling life? Check out The Good Life blog which is part of the Studio 747 blog network.

Photo Credit: Al Muya

A Top Photography Tip

2009-01-29T16:44:00.000-08:00

Marc Silber shares his "biggest secret" when it comes to photography over at the Digital Photography School blog:

"Take your dang camera with you everywhere!"

I couldn't agree more! You just never know when a photo opp will show up. As an artist I see beauty in everything. If I could, I'd take pictures of anything and everything! A friend of mine pokes fun at me because as we were walking down the street one day, I stopped to take at least 10 pictures of random things...

"The Asian side of you is coming out!"

"You look like a tourist!"

Even if you don't consider yourself to be a "photographer", I still recommend carrying a camera with you at all times. Any pictures you take can always be edited in Photoshop or Picasa. Even if you don't know how to edit or fix photos, I'm sure you can find an artist friend to help you out! Or better yet, why not buy a book and teach yourself?

As a result of carrying my camera around everywhere I go, I was able to capture these phenomenal shots...

This photo was taken as my friend and I were driving over the Coronado Bridge...

I was in Borders bookstore doing work one day and liked how the light was coming in and creating these diagonal lines...

Last Halloween my boyfriend and I went to watch a local band play in a bar. This sign caught my eye...

I was walking around the neighborhood one day and came across these signs...