essential themes

When an artist is studied in the classroom very often the focus of that discussion is about the larger themes of the work. Images that repeat, characters that resemble one another, topics that seemed to be of particular concern to that artist, arguments that are rehashed, ideas that get recycled, presented one more time, a perspective that shifts - a single diamond held to the light in order to see its many interior colors.

What are the themes that have become essential to your work? Try to look at the body of your work in its entirety - to which drumbeat are you marching? Look over your work as if a professor prepping a lecture about you - what would be said?

CREATIVE CHALLENGE:

Make a list of five Essential Themes you tend to explore through your creativity. Here's a possible list to get you started:

Abundance
Courage
Love
Forgiveness
Integrity
Death
Optimism
Beauty
Freedom
Healing
Hope
Synchronicity
Truth
Grace
Jealousy

Feel free to come up with your own list.

For each Essential Theme, create a small piece that demonstrates that theme clearly. If you chose "Jealousy" - write a one-minute monologue for a jealous lover, compose a quick song that sounds jealous, paint or sketch a fast study of jealousy, pull images and turn them into a collage - don't spend hours and hours on this - we're just looking for inspiration, kernels, seeds, starters.

Don't overthink it. Follow your gut.