From 1979 to 1984 I discovered some things about creative people by interviewing and studying several designers in Florida and Georgia: architectural, interior, graphic, signage, exhibit and industrial designers.

One of the questions I continued to ask them was, "What are one or two of your deliberate approaches to being creative when you work on a design?" There were 12+ responses I generally received. Here are 6 of them to challenge you in another art form or way of communicating this week.

1. BROADEN my interests or explore many areas seeking information or to understand something new.
2. REVERSE viewpoints or perspectives to see things in new or different ways.
3. OPEN myself up to an indefinite number of possible ideas.
4. KICKBACK and let my imagination float or run around.
5. ELIMINATE steps to discover new ways to accomplish the same task.
6. NEVER SAY NEVER...keep myself open to the positives in all things and situations.

Materials needed this week....

• felt tip pen (fine to medium tip), ink pen, soft graphic pencil, black
• colored pencil (one or more of these)
• copy paper or inexpensive white paper
• some tracing paper
• access to a copy machine that can enlarge

First
Take the comic section from your Sunday paper (or purchase a collection book of your favorite cartoonist's cartoon panels or cartoon strips).

Second
Find 5 panels or strips that you especially like the drawing work in.

Third
Enlarge your 5 choices to 3 times original size.

Fourth
Sort out the copied drawings. Choose one specific one for each day.

Fifth
On Monday trace one to three of the characters from your chosen panel or one of the panels of the chosen cartoon strip three to six times. Strive to match the original as closely as you can.

Then copy the same original drawings (enlargements) three to six times, using them like artists do still life set ups.

Do these tracings and copies as fast as you can.

REPEAT this effort each day for five days in a row. Allow yourself up to 30 minutes or up to 60 minutes if you can.

TIP about tracing. If you tape your enlarged copied cartoons to a window (during the daylight) you should be able to trace them even with white paper if tracing paper is not easily found or you don't want to spend the extra money at this time.

Think as little as possible during your drawing time. Just trace, trace, trace. Then just copy, copy, copy. If you can not keep your mind off of the task then use a mantra, perhaps this one....

...........I am drawing the best cartoon I can draw.........

Say this over and over to yourself to push other thoughts out of your mind.

Have fun!

Please share your reactions and observations after completing the exercise on Friday.

Alan