Inspiring Photography

Pause for the Greatest Gift of the Season

by Filed Under: Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Photography, Wellness & Mindset 5 Comments

I want to take a moment to recognize the greatest gift of the season, in fact, any Season. Today, as we turn the corner into the darkest time of the year, I would like to celebrate the gifts that you bring and share with the world.

Our self-acceptance is the greatest gift of this and any season!

Wherever we are, whatever we have accomplished, the changes we have made, the relationships we have worked to improve or let go of, the projects we have started, the dreams we have released, the lessons we have learned…THESE are our greatest gifts!

The illusions of what we haven’t yet done or what we have lost are magnified when we give them our attention. So for just the next few minutes, hours, days, or weeks can you give yourself the Greatest Gift of Self-Acceptance? Thank you for being imperfectly, beautifully yourself!

I hope this little reminder will encourage you to take time to pause, reflect, illuminate, and accept yourself and all your wonderful gifts, with Gratitude for all you do and who you are!

Wishing you a peaceful holiday, whether you celebrate the darkness of solstice, the Advent and Christmas season, Hanukkah, or just taking quiet time to reflect. Celebrate your greatest gifts and celebrate the greatest gifts of those you love.

Happy Holidays with deep appreciation to you for who you are! Thank you for sharing a small part of your journey with me!

The Benefits of Personality Testing

by Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Organizing Projects, Photography, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

We are all born unique and with different personalities. Are you curious to know more about your personality and how it can affect your day-to-day life? If so, the benefits of Personality testing include giving insight into how we think, handle stress, how we process information and make decisions.

Personality tests are very popular, with many employers requesting a candidate take a personality assessment during the job application process. If you were to Google ‘Personality Test’ you would be flooded with many claiming to be the best. I will showcase a few here that I believe are the most accurate and helpful when we want to learn more about ourselves. No personality test is the same, just as no person is the same.

Myers Briggs

The most popular and well-known Personality Test is Myers Briggs. It gives you insight into many different personality traits and identifies the 16 most distinctive personality types. It is a 15-20 minute assessment that asks you about the way that you think, how you process information, how you make decisions, how extroverted (or introverted) you are, and how you perceive information.

Once you have taken the assessment and receive your result you will also be given information on your personality type and how understandings your type can benefit you in your daily life. You can further research your personality type to help you connect you with like-minded individuals or understand those with strikingly different personalities.

Predictive Index – PI Learning Indicator

The Predictive Index, better known as the PI Learning Indicator is the go-to personality test for employers. It gives a fairly accurate insight into your personality and working style focusing on four main elements; dominance, extraversion, patience, and formality.

The PI takes anywhere from 5-25 minutes depending on how thorough you are with the test. The results might look a bit confusing at first but there are always professionals for you to speak with and a detailed breakdown on their website.

While the PI is very accurate, it is also important to take it every 6 months to a year, depending on the personal changes you are experiencing in your life. Everyone’s personality changes throughout their lifetime and it is good to recognize these changes and adapt to them.

Kolbe

Kolbe offers a variety of different tests for their users including a youth test, finance test, and a relationship test. Kolbe is also unique as they don’t measure your intelligence or your personality but more how you naturally do things in your life.

Kolbe focuses more on your motive, goals and what drives you to achieve these goals. It is a great test to help you recognize what motivates you, and how to achieve your goals.

This test is also very beneficial for business owner’s outer managers who have lost motivation, direction or are looking for ways to keep their success going. The test dives into your creative instincts and showcases how best to utilize your personality.

These tests take 20 minutes and it gives you an in-depth look at your personality and driving factors to your success. Kolbe offers a lot of information and a clear breakdown of their methods and results on their website.

Different Personalities

There are often misconceptions among people that take personality tests. On the surface, it may seem that if we don’t have the correct personality for a job, relationship or friendship that it will never work. On the contrary, personality tests can be taken to learn more about yourself, your strengths and challenges and how to better relate to others in work and personal life. They should never be considered negative. After all, it’s better to know best to have these helpful insights into future challenges before you begin new relationships or ventures!

There are many criteria that personality tests don’t measure specifically including; work ethic, kindness, interests, and ability to learning style (more on this soon!).

I recommend that everyone take at least one personality test in their lifetime. The Benefits of Personality Testing include not only knowing more about your personality but to learning how you can use it to create success in your life. It takes so little time, less time than a favorite TV show, yet can supply both new and reinforced information about yourself. Please share what personality tests you have tried over in our Facebook group.

Celebrate YOUR Independence

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Photography Leave a Comment

As our nation celebrates independence, take a moment to Celebrate YOUR Independence! It’s a bee-autiful thing! Toast to it, light off rockets and celebrate with gratitude!

Happy 4th of July, happy Independence Day America! Here’s to next year bringing us more celebrations of Freedom and Equality!

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In the Studio with Joanne Davis-Woods-Part I

by Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Photography

Today’s feature interview is the first half of Art Studio Organizing with Joanne Davis-Woods who I met through mutual artist friends in Asheville. I visited her studio (which she recently moved into in the midst of a metal fabrication studio) and interviewed her while in Asheville last month. I’m thrilled to share this sneak peek into Joanne’s studio and her process and creative space in this interview. These photo’s are not styled in any way, in fact she was not totally settled into her new studio so this is typical of what her working studio looks like on an average day.

Art Studio Organizing with Joanne Davis-Woods Part I

HKPS::When did you suspect or know you were an artist?

JWD:: I realized in my early 30’s that I had been one my whole life.

HKPS:: What materials do you work with? Do you find it challenging to locate certain things when you’re ready use them and do you store things frequently used in highly visible locations?

JWD::Mainly I work with silver, copper, in both wire and sheet, and semi-precious stones–since my work space is contained within a larger business space; materials need to be locked up at end of day. For the last several years my challenge was the need to store in 2 different location–I never had all that I needed in one place! Now, in this new spot I have higher hopes for efficiency. While I like the materials I use to be handy, they do not need to be visible. What I do want to see conveniently arrayed are my tools.

HKPS:: Where do you make your art, how big is your studio and how long have you been in this space?

JWD::I have recently moved into a new space within a fabrication business. They have all the permits needed for using fuels. I have about 300 sq ft on a platform above the main floor—rather quirky but it works.

Looking into the foundry from Joanne’s studio platform

Joanne’s Studio ‘platform’

HKPS::How many projects are you usually working on at once? Is this due to space constraints, creative process, organizing systems or other influences?

Projects in process and stones

JWD:: 2-3 at a time…I read more than one book at a time also! If I am worked on a new prototype I find more satisfactory results if I give myself time to ponder between steps. So I like to punctuate with another project. Also there is cooling and other procedures which go on without my active participation.

It can be a dance.

Joanne in her Studio

HKPS::Is making art your primary “job” or source of income? How much time do you spend in your studio weekly/daily?

JWD::I would be in studio most days if I could…since I still have a part time job; I am limited to 2 – 3 days per week. Fortunately my day job lets me work with metal.

HKPS::When you began working in this space did you plan any systems for the overall set up or did you let things evolve organically? How did past studio spaces or systems influence this space?

JWD::I had an opportunity to buy equipment and work benches from the previous communal space where I rented. The choice of those pieces dictate the style of working here. The previous space was set up by others and provided for separate stations for separate processes. While I know that some like everything at arms’ reach-i prefer to move around more. It keeps me more organized also—metal smiths use an awful lot of tools!

Watchmakers Bench

Thank you Joanne for for sharing how you use your studio space and store your materials! In Part II you’ll find more from her about creative process and any tips and advice she has to share. In the meantime if you want to see more of Joanne’s work go see her Facebook Page.

*The idea for the Inside the Artist Studio series began while attending an art retreat where I curiously observed the differences in the creative cycle of order and chaos and what that looks like for different individuals. I’m very interested in sharing how organizing affects the artist’s creative process. Some systems and order are vital to our creative PLAY and learning to find a balance that works to enhance your creativity is what I hope to share with you through these interviews.

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Is there a particular artist whose ‘Tool kit’ you would like to see featured? Leave a comment below and let me know!

In the Studio with Craig Colorusso-Part II

by Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Photography

How did artist Craig Colorusso fit an 80,000 Square Foot Installation into a mini-van? We met while I was a docent during the recent installation in Charleston of Sound + Light and Craig not only agreed to do this interview (see Part I last week with photo’s of his studio in Arkansas) but suggested it might be interesting to watch him dismantle and meticulously deconstruct and pack out the entire massive 4 part installation into his van. This week I’m excited to share his installation pack out and some specific questions related to his process!

Inside the Studio with Craig Colorusso- Sneak Peek Part II

From this…

HKPS:: How much thought do you give to your artistic body of work in terms of historic value and the overall legacy you will leave behind? How do you store/archive your work or records?
CC::I now save everything. When I was younger I had a great memory. I could remember whole tour itineraries not anymore. I save everything I can now mostly so I can show my daughter someday. But I’m also leaving myself a breadcrumb trail. I meet so many amazing people in my travels I hope to document them all.

The next few questions are specific to Craig’s installation, planning and transportation of art.

HKPS::How long have you been creating art for installations and do you always deliver and install your own works?

CC::In 1996 I did a show called Maschine. Joel Westerdale, drummer of China Pig and I worked at a print shop in Danbury CT. Somehow we convinced our boss to let us do a show in the shop. So, we woke up at 4am a few times to practice before anyone arrived at work. It was great to start that early. Looking back I always enjoyed being awake doing things when it seemed like everyone else was asleep. And I like warehouses. Anyway, we composed a piece of music for instruments and two offset presses. 2 AB Dick 360’s. We brought in Guitar, Bass Clarinet, Timpani, Drums and Saxophone to pay with the roar of the presses. The shop was such an integral part of the piece it got me thinking about space. And other elements beside just music. Since we worked there we were able to do a lot with light as well. The wheels are still turning…
Since I’m coming at this from a touring musician’s start I deliver and install everything myself. I have created a life that allows me to pack the van and hit the road. I always so this life as making something and sharing it. Part of the sharing is me. I got the tour bug early on and still like it. When I was 19 my good friend Todd Ransick called me up and told me the guitar player in his band Far Cry didn’t wanna go on tour because he was afraid his girlfriend would cheat on him. So I made way to Bethesda Maryland and practiced for a few weeks and left on my first tour. It was even better than I thought it would be. So here we are all these years later.

HKPS::How did you plan for the packing and transportation of your installation work?

CC::I suppose I always have the van in mind. And sometimes I rely on my packing skills a little too much but it works.

Craig Colorusso-Pack Out

HKPS::Was Sound + Light the first show you have done with all 3 installation components?

CC::This was the first time I was able to present all 4 pieces and the film.

HKPS::Did you plan any of your artwork around the logistics of transportation or keep the transport in mind when designing your works and their modular components?

CC::I have a few platforms that I’ve built for CUBEMUSIC and Sun Boxes to fit nicely in the van. MB 89 has toured by itself so I thought it would all fit. But honestly there were a few moments that I thought I would have to get another vehicle.

HKPS:: Did you have an idea of how to pack your van or did you have to try things out till you were able to make it all fit?

CC::The pack that went to Charleston was revised 3 times before it all worked. I am very proud of the pack. I like the idea of space and how we can manipulate it.

To this…(in approx 4 hrs)

Thank you Craig for sharing how you work, your planning and process! I loved being a part of the Sound+ Light experience and watching the show come down and be packed into that small space, Bravo! You win the “Puzzle” award for fitting 80,000 square feet of art installation into one little van!