5 Ways to Jump into Spring from Starrybluesky Studio

Have you ever seen the lovely images from Starrybluesky Studio? If not, you are definitely missing out! Rhiannon Connelly, the artist behind Starrybluesky Studio, creates lovely dreamy images - mostly from Polariod SX-70 emulsion manipulations.

Anyway, Rhiannon has a great newsletter and this month she talks about some great ways to jump start your creativity after a long winter's hibernation!


5 Ways to Jump into Spring

After what was the coldest winter for 30 years in the UK most people are ready for spring to come. With every season change there is an almost inbuilt wish to shake things up a bit, clean up our living space and welcome in new ideas. I've come up with 5 ways to give this a helping hand.

1.Make a list of 20 small Creative Actions

Sometimes it can take a little effort to unearth the ways to shake off the lethargy of winter. Making a list of 20 small creative actions is one way to get things moving. The essence is that these things are small enough to be do-able , but relevant enough to get the ball rolling. My list included -

- Go for a walk in the Botanic Gardens

- Make a list of competitions and their deadlines

- Get a Turkish language CD

- Send a little care package with chocolate to friend who

has a lot on her plate.

- Get rid of clutter on my laptop

- Look for a gypsy music festival to go to later in the year.

2.Tidy up your immediate environment.

There is good reason for almost any book or website on creativity placing such emphasis on clearing out clutter and cleaning your living space. If there is a lot of junk around it takes away some of our energy, so the less there is, the more we are able to focus on our creative projects.

Apparently that is one of the reasons that many people sleep better and have more energy after sleeping in a hotel.

Resources for cleaning your home...my favourite is the one I learned ages ago from FlyLady. I can't keep up with all her timetables, but I have adopted her 15 minute timer for getting things done.

(Interestingly, just today I read about the "Pomodoro Technique" (named after a tomato shaped timer I think) which expands on this idea ,also for a business context. In this case using 25 minutes with short breaks and after every 4th session you take a longer break).

3. Plan a day trip

Have you spent too long without a change of scenery ? Maybe a longer trip isn't possible, but perhaps there is a day trip you could make ? I become very aware that my immediate environment seems less inspiring , even though Edinburgh is a beautiful city, it seems as though it becomes too familiar to intrigue me.

What about making it a mystery tour and taking the first bus or train that leaves ? I know some people who even took this one step further and taking the first available plane ,which was heading to Istanbul.

A friend recently declared her life to be in need of some more adventure, so I've been putting together a little DIY adventure kit for her - I won't show it here as she hasn't received it yet.

4. Do a "media fast" for a week.

This is one of the hardest things, but can be one of the most effective boosts you can give yourself. If you've done the "Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, you'll be familiar with the formidable "reading deprivation week" that strikes fear into the heart of any bookworm. You'd be amazed how hard it is to avoid reading - words are everywhere. The more hooked you are, the harder it will be to break the habit.

But by doing this exercise a huge amount of space is created allowing all kinds of other activities room and time to flourish. Take the slightly gentler version and do only the reading deprivation, or go the whole hog and do a complete "media fast" - no tv, no surfing , no other electronic gadgetry. Not easy, but very beneficial.

5. Shake up your appearance.

There is something particularly reviving about having a haircut at the start of spring, to freshen your image as you head back out into the world. Maybe give your wardrobe a bit of a revamp too. This doesn't need to mean spending a fortune - maybe there is something you already have that could be revived with some applique. Or a longer dress chopped into a tunic? Or maybe there is something you've always worn, or a "style uniform" that you no longer feel fits you.

Things I've noticed and wondered about...so many women wear black. All year round. I was one of them, until a few months ago, when I had a really strong urge to stop wearing any black at all. Are you choosing your clothes on autopilot or do you love how you dress ?

I remember reading a wonderful interview with a local woman who dresses in a very distinctive manner. She said something along the lines that she feels it is her duty to dress in an interesting way for the benefit of those around her.

About Rhiannon

Rhiannon is a professional photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alongside her fine art work she also specialises in portraits. She is available for portrait sessions throughout
Scotland and also in Europe depending on her schedule.

She sells her fine art Polaroids at exhibitions and online from her Etsy shop.

Her "12 City Project" , to photograph 12
European cities ,came about when Polaroid was discontinued. Rather than become creatively blocked
it was a way to use up her remaining supplies in a joyful manner.

Her next exhibition will be in Edinburgh at the end of May.

Her Etsy shop is www.starrybluesky.etsy.com
And her blog is www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com