Creating art can be very therapeutic. You can start simply by creating for 10 minutes a day, or once a week whatever works for you. I love that art allows me to express my emotions and no one else really knows what I am feeling. I create because it feels good in the moment. I let go of my fears of what others think and just do it. Below are a few tips to get you started. If you see any of my art online feel free to use it as inspiration to get you started.
Anything goes, so just start today being creative. Have so much fun. You can use any medium acrylic, watercolor, or oil paints whatever works for you is good enough. if that seems too daunting doodle or cut out pics from magazines and create. Be like a child and create. Create, don’t critique yourself. Don’t give up … Don’t be afraid to try new things … play away. Experiment with different papers and mediums. Forget about your worries and create art instead. Get your space ready to play. Have a blast. Imagine all the great things you will create. Just be yourself and create what makes you happy. Kindness matters when you start out. Everyone can do art and we all get better with time. Let go and let it flow. Mistakes make marvelous art pieces. Music brings out the creativity in you . Listen while you create. Practice , Practice, Practice. Quit saying you can’t … you can! Relax and let the paint take you away. Spend time in the moment. Trust the process. Understand it takes time to get to where you’d like to be so enjoy every moment. Visualize what you’d like to create, then do it! Watch lots of artists’ YouTube videos. XO from me to you. You’ve got this! Zazzy that’s you and so will your art be.
Each year for the past forty two years I have returned home to Nova Scotia. I guess you could say it tugs at my heart every year. If you want to find tranquility and have a good time, I’m betting it will yours too . It’s not just the place, it’s the people and the way of life that make it a place I long to return to as the summer draws near.
If you are thinking of going there are a few places I would recommend. Of course number one for me would be Cape Breton often named the #1 island to visit in Canada and North America. It’s a beautiful little Island with so much character and fun things to do.
Here are my TOP 10 places to visit in Cape Breton for a good time:
Louisbourg is a great little town to check out. You can stroll along the fabulous 2km Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail where you will enjoy the sounds and sights of the ocean. It is always one of my favourite things to do. A few places you might like to stay are the Louisbourg Harbour Inn a lovely B and B , where you will be treated to a fabulous place to stay, a welcoming host and great food . For a new adventure you can try the newly renovated North Star owned and operated by down to earth celebrities Justin and Colin who will no doubt make this a memorable experience you won’t soon forget. You can also enjoy a great meal at Highway 22 or the newly opened Spoondrift Cafe where you can expect a tasty meal made from some of the best locals. Of course you won’t want to miss visiting the Fortress of Louisbourg where you will take a step back in time to the 1700’s. For the past few summers I have visited the fortress and each time I enjoy something new.
Processed with MOLDIV Enjoying a brunch with Colin and Justin and the girls 2021.
2. The Miners Museum in Glace Bay is always a favourite of mine on a rainy day. You get to go down in the mines with a retired miner who will sweep you away with real stories of heroic men and women.
3. Cabot Links in Inverness is an amazing place for golfers , it’s also where my favourite beach in Nova Scotia is. You can spend hours walking up and down the beach. There is nothing like the smell of the ocean , the sound of the waves and warm sand beneath your feet while spending time with one of your best friends.
4. The Skyline Trail is worth the stop. The 6.5 km walk is definitely worth the view. It will not disappoint.
5. The beautiful village of Baddeck is a nice place to go sailing or enjoy a lobster dinner.
7. Out on the Mira. Well it’s really my number 1 as we have a bungalow (cottage) there. Nothing better than a good swim in the Mira River or a kayak ride on the 55 km ( 34 mile ) meandering river. It’s my home away from home , it feeds my soul and I love it there. Be sure to stop at Mullins Rite Stop on the Louisbourg Highway and pick up a fresh loaf of bread and some treats on your way to wherever you are staying.
OUT ON THE MIRA …
8. Sydneythe historic capital of Cape Breton. If you did not stop there on the way to Louisbourg then turn around and go back and make sure you have a bite at Flavour on the Water or Governors. A stroll along the harbour is always a good thing.
9. Cheticamp a place rich in Acadian culture. Be sure to stop by the Doryman for some music and memories.
10. The Cabot Trail is a must, but in the fall it is glorious. The 300 km loop of the trail, weaves around the incredible coast of Cape Breton with magnificent views.
I guarantee Cape Breton and all of Nova Scotia with more than 7,400 kilometres of coastline will hold a place in your heart forever and you will want to go back. Yes indeed , you must go back to see all the wonderful things it has to offer music, ceilidhs, the people , the vistas and so much more. Don’t leave home without the Doers and Dreamers guide so you can find out what is happening wherever you may travel. Cape Breton is but a beginning.
There are so many creative people in the world and oh how lucky am I to be connected to such creative and fabulous people on twitter.
“Where The World Finds Gratitude in the Rhythm of Shared Writing” Kevin Hodgson
Thank you for the inspiration #DS106. Creating is so good for our mental health. I am always inspired by @grammasheri . i love that she nudges me to join in on her creative endeavours. I am also grateful to @wendtale who has also given me a nudge or two along the way. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with her on Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning before so connecting again has been great. So today I was inspired to create a remix of 106 lines of thought.
Here is my remix:
Collaborating on the 106 Lines of Thought poem with such fabulous people was so much fun. Here is the original.
A bird, flying though the sky
2 Cuts through dark clouds
3 Circling on wind drifts
4 Your mind shifts to stars
5 Whose silver wings shimmer and shiver. And fade.
6 Cutting into thin air, exhilarating, hard to breath,
7 as you swim through the sun flooded blue
8 ignoring the green duckweed trying to get into your nostrils.
9 focusing on turquoise skies: the other side
10 until, until, there. You break through and for a moment,
11 you forget. (Go to line 106 option)
12 The dark clouds that touched your wings yesterday. Now replaced by light.
13 Invisibly lifted, you soar higher.
14 Higher and higher until you fear Icarus’ fate.
15 Looking down, you notice gratitude growing within you,
16 warming your bones just like the Sun’s rays.
17 wrapping wings of hope around the earth
18 observing the moment pass.
19 You glide, introspective,
20 Into a brighter light,
21 illuminating from deep within,
22 sparking something deep inside of you,
23 that reaches out to others
24 even animal friends, companions
25 share your brilliance
26 alive, living in the moment.
27 noticing the small things
28 celebrating the small things, because these give us all hope.
29 a child’s smile, a cat’s paw, a snowdrop peeking through the snow
30 a carousel of animated memories that light up receptors of gratitude
31 and trigger fond memories
32 captured, like snapshots, to browse through
33 a force keeping the dark clouds at bay
34 and allowing our inner strength to shine through
Here is a link to one of the remixes of the the poem . There are so many ways to remix. You can try some here in the poetry remix matrix.
You may be inspired to remix one day soon and if you do you might connect with some inspiring people and create a state of flow for yourself which is definitely good for your mental health. Have fun!
Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life
Pablo Picasso
I love painting. In the last while I have grown to love working with inks and alcohol. I love the vibrancy of the colours and the way I feel when I splash away and see what happens.
What joy it brings me to be in the state of flow on a regular basis. I wish that for you too. We could all use a little therapeutic bath right now. Try doing a little art and see what happens.
I love finding icebreakers to use with students . This one is a lot of fun and can easily be used virtually. If you want to get to know me better I am adding a little video that I did a couple of years back from our year end production with Second Chants. I put the video in the virtual locker, but if you are like me it is so small (which might not be a bad thing) . I laugh at myself every time I watch it. If it brings a smile to your face that is good too.
This is a great video explaining how to do bitmoji lockers.
Is there anything better than a beautiful summer day on a beach? Well the beach for me is peaceful especially in self isolation when it is 2 minutes away. How grateful am I to pack my beach bag and walk downstairs and enjoy the day. Today was one of those days that I will look back on in the dead of winter and be grateful that it was one of those days that I can visualize and remember that no matter what is happening in the world, at this moment all was and is glorious.
The things you learn on twitter are unending and so helpful if you want to make things a little better for your website ,twitter feed or useful for what you want to create for your use in schools.
— Susan Spellman Cann (@SSpellmanCann) July 20, 2020
Today I learned how to make an animated gif in google slides. I learned how to do this from @nadinegilkison on twitter. She is amazing and oh so helpful in learning to create. If you don’t follow her you should.
Step 1 Make an emoji with the app emoji me. Save to your desktop by emailing to yourself.
Step 2: Make a copy of this banner using google slides
Step 3: Add your emoji in by right clicking and replace pic.
Step 3 Change your background to whatever you like
Step 4: Copy and paste your first slide and add a letter each time typing what you’d like to say
Step 5 : Once completed go to talltweets.com and sign in with google
Step 6: Watch the tutorial and then make an animated gif
Step 7: Post gif to twitter and save to your desktop.
Hope this mini tutorial helps you to create something fun and if you learn something new please share with me.
I love everything about the maritimes , so I am often inspired to design maritime swag. Today I played painted and created new designs. I hope you are inspired to create and play too. It’s ok to play even as an adult. Now that I am retired I get to play in so many ways. It’s the kind of freedom I love having,
I am working on finishing a book called Nova Scotia Hugs in which all paintings /pics will be done by me. I’ve always wanted to do this ,but was never able to do all the painting until now.
So go ahead and play away. I think I’ll have a summer of doing just that.
I am not a very funny person. Occasionally I can say something very funny, but it does not come naturally to me. Maybe that is why I love being around funny people . Our daughter is very funny. She has always made me laugh right from the very early days. I think I laughed every day the first two years she was born . I delighted in all the funny things she did. Today she is a great story teller and often has funny stories about her mother and it makes me laugh so hard that I can barely speak (even though she embellishes them a bit).
“I think one of my favourite feelings is laughing with someone & realizing half way through how much you enjoy them and their existence.” ~Unknown Author
I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many who I could put in this category. Those people that make you laugh, they are the best.
I moved to Alberta 40 years ago in August with 500 dollars and 5 boxes. I knew no one who lived where I was about to go to start my teaching career,
I love this province and have happily chosen to make this my home. For the past while I have been exploring parks and places that I have never been to and today my friend Shivaun and I ventured out to Saskatoon Farm to start our day and what a glorious day it was.
— Susan Spellman Cann (@SSpellmanCann) July 7, 2020
I have had many a picnic here when the kids were small. It will always be a special place that I love to go and sit by the water.
Processed with MOLDIV
Processed with MOLDIV
Processed with MOLDIV
Then it was off to Bragg Creek for a little lunch and shopping. There weren’t many people in any of the shops, so I thoroughly loved browsing and eating outdoors on a patio. Today was amazing. I felt, yes I truly felt “normal” for the first time since Covid19. Being outdoors rejuvenates me and lifts my spirits. There are so many places to explore, but that will have to wait for the fall once I return to Alberta. My next venture Nova Scotia.
After I self isolate for 14 days I plan on exploring the Cape Breton outdoors. I look forward to exploring as many places to walk and stroll along beaches as I can. It’s good for the wellbeing and a lot of fun too.
So get out and explore the outdoors. Thanks to this period in time I am spending so much more time outdoors than in the past and for that I am grateful. Especially when I get to spend quality time with friends. Go ahead and enjoy the outdoors wherever you are.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 