We all know that
spending time outdoors and embracing nature is good for both our physical and
mental health, but what impact can it have on our creativity?
Throughout
history, nature has been a source of inspiration for many creatives. From
retreats in remote locations, to artist-in-residence programmes held in
stunning landscapes. But okay, we know what you’re thinking: that’s all well
and good for landscape artists, but how can nature help to inspire me?
In
recent years, studies have found that spending time outdoors is one of the best
ways to get your creative juices flowing.
Getting
outdoors doesn’t just help us escape the stresses of daily life – but it’s also
a wonderful way to relax. Reconnecting with our environment can have a profound
impact on our mood and behaviour – helping
to reduce anxiety and stress, as well as increasing our attention span.
Wandering
outdoors can also boost our positive emotions – such as feelings of awe, wonder
and contentment. All of which have cognitive benefits, which are directly
associated with creativity.
And so, the evidence
keeps piling up: nature is good for you.
So,
here’s a thought: the next time you’re feeling unmotivated or lacking
imagination, why not pop outdoors? You might just find your creativity will
soar with every step you take. But don’t worry – unlike Sting, we won’t be
watching you.
We sat down with world-renowned fantasy painter (and now Moment creator) Josephine Wall to discuss her inspirations and how she felt seeing her artwork in app for the first time…
What’s your background and how did you become an artist?
Ever since I can remember I have been obsessed with colour, form, and any kind of creativity. So, it was little wonder that I became an artist. In fact, in my infants school we were each given little boxes of wax crayons for ‘drawing time’, and even now the smell of wax crayons will bring back the memory of the intense happiness I felt. It has been a dream come true to do what I love every day, and it gives me so much joy that others gain pleasure from my paintings also.
How would you describe your own work?
My work has evolved over the years from seascapes, landscapes and portraits to what some people have described as “art of imagination”, in which I use my work to portray a message or a story. I like to make my paintings interesting and fun. I love colour and fantasy, and really enjoy every hour at my easel.
Who are your biggest influences?
I am influenced by many late ‘masters’ including, the surrealism of Salvador Dali, the romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelites, and the illustrative skill of Arthur Rackham. I love art nouveau especially the work of Alphonse Mucha. I have always been fascinated with the ‘weird and wonderful’ and love putting strange unrelated images together (like the surrealists).
Where do you seek inspiration?
I am often asked this questions and the answer is “everywhere”. We live in an extraordinary and beautiful world where the constantly variable weather and seasons are themselves inspiring. As well as the natural world there are fantasy and historical books, films and beautiful music to allow one to dream.
What keeps you creative?
I was born creative and it has become an all-consuming obsession.
What do you do if you ever find yourself stuck in a creative rut?
I have never been stuck in a creative rut. I am fortunate to be able to say I never have any kind of block. I always have more ideas than time to paint them.
Talk us through your creative process
I like to use acrylics, which allow me to paint quickly, creating many textured and colourful effects. I paint under a pyramid shaped wooden ceiling which some say channels creativity. Time is one of my greatest enemies – there are never enough hours in the day to paint all the images in my head. My notebook is always at hand to jot down ideas and draw little sketches as reminders. As well as painting I also like sculpture, pottery, murals and painting furniture. I even find myself painting my own clothes and boots.
What memorable responses have you had about your work?
Sometimes people have been moved to tears which I find amazing.
What’s the one piece of equipment in your kit your couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t do without my easel which my dad bought for me at an auction sale many years ago.
How did you feel when you first saw your work published in the Momentful app?
Being not at all a technical person myself (I have an old mobile but it’s only for emergencies) I was mostly amazed at what skills it must take to work with images like mine and translate them into this type of form, with motion and text and such…it’s completely foreign to me!
Which is your favourite Moment of yours that’s available in app?
I thought it was very clever how the designers took “Dewdrop Dawn” and made it into a multi-part, engaging meditation exercise.
Explore Moments from Josephine Wall by downloading the Momentful app today on iOS and Android. Josephine is represented by Creative Rights Group.
Whether you’re in a
creative rut, or simply want to add a boost of positive energy to your week,
there’s no doubting the power that inspirational quotes can have. These kernels
of wisdom from global creatives will have you feeling fresh and inspired in no
time!
“There should be something revelatory about art. It should be totally creative and open doors for new thoughts and experiences.”– Tracey Emin, artist
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have” –Maya Angelou, poet
“I think that little by little, I’ll be able to solve my problems and survive.” – Frida Kahlo, painter
“Prosperity is not without many fears and disasters; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.”– Francis Bacon, painter
“There’s no diploma in the world that declares you as an artist – it’s not like becoming a doctor. You can declare yourself an artist and then figure out how to be an artist.” – Kara Walker, painter
“I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.” – Francis Ford Coppola, filmmaker
“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – Oscar Wilde, poet
“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt” – Sylvia Plath, writer
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh, painter
“Above all, art should be fun.”– Alexander Calder, sculptor
James Booker’s Moments are the best kind of bright, bold, colourful fun. Here James gives us the lowdown on where his ideas come from, his creative inspiration and how he felt seeing his artwork in app for the first time…
What’s your background and how did you become at artist?
It was early on in school when kids were encouraged to draw a lot more than they are now. I remember focussing on all the extra details I would add to my drawings. For instance, when I was about 10 years old, I would draw H. R. Giger’s Xenomorph, memorising all the details on the creature’s exoskeleton.
Over time my art style changed. I experimented with acrylic paints and marbling, before going on to study multimedia and animation at collage, which is where I picked up Photoshop. At the time, I remember seeing a growing trend in photo manipulations, so naturally being a fan of Terry Gilliam and stop motion monster movies, I decided to try creating my own using the Photoshop skills I’d learnt. And that’s where my current style of art came from.
How would you describe your own work?
When starting a new piece, I have a general idea in mind of what I’d like to make, but once I start, I find myself improvising and using whatever I can to arrive at a point where the pieces click.
Who are your biggest influences?
The majority of my ideas come from watching comedy, fantasy and sci-fi movies from the past few decades. Early on, when I was creating more absurd art, I remember being inspired by a show on Adult Swim called Tim & Eric.
Where do you seek inspiration?
I’m inspired by epic fantasy and sci-fi paintings from the 70s and 80s. I also look at current artists who are producing animal and fantasy art, looking for trends or bits that stand out to me.
What keeps you creative?
Just a love for creating. I constantly need to be working on something. If I’m not, then I’m building other things. I don’t really drink and live pretty healthy, so I can’t sit still and do nothing for too long or I get into a bad mood and start to feel awful.
What do you do if you ever find yourself stuck in a creative rut?
If I find some directions just aren’t working for me, I re-evaluate what I’ve made. I take a look at what strategies have previously worked best and try to focus on those. It’s a constant learning process though.
Talk us through your creative process
I haven’t used traditional mediums in a long time. For me it’s more about whatever you can use to get the final piece achieved and out there. A few years ago, I would think about colour choices, using basic art principles learned from high school. More recently, that’s gone out the door and I tend to work with the colours that are offered in the photographs I’m working with, basing the lighting and shadows off of those.
What memorable responses have you had about your work?
The most memorable ones are “WTF?!”, and “I can’t believe people actually buy your ****!”, etc.
What’s the one piece of equipment in your kit your couldn’t live without?
Has to be Photoshop.
If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
I wish I could go back a few years and tell myself which designs were worth making. I made thousands of designs which never really took off, which seemed to be a huge waste of time. But I’m fortunate enough now to have built something which can sustain me thankfully.
How did you feel when you first saw your work published in the Momentful app?
I laughed as I thought the animations were amazing! It made my day.
Which is your favourite Moment of yours that’s available in app?
So far, the one with singing llamas, “Fleece Navidad”.
Explore Moments from James Booker by downloading the Momentful app today on iOS and Android. James is represented by Tate Licensing.
Creativity does wonders for your mental health. So, it’s
no wonder that when you wake up in the morning and sit down to work and the
creativity isn’t there, the spiral of self-doubt begins. Perhaps the words just
aren’t coming… visually something is missing… or maybe you can’t put your
finger on exactly what’s wrong.
But don’t worry, it’s normal – it happens to us all. If
you’re looking for ways to get out of your creative rut, why not try out some
of our different ways to find inspiration and see what works for you?
Change Your Environment
One of the easiest
changes to make when you’re feeling uninspired is to change your physical
environment. For many of us, lockdown might restrict our options. However,
changing your environment can be as easy as moving into a different room,
setting up your desk in front of a window – or even putting on some music and
lighting a candle. Just don’t leave it unattended 😉
Try Something New
If you find that you’re
hitting a creative roadblock, now might be the time to pursue a new hobby. From
experimenting with different recipes in the kitchen to writing a short story –
or trying out watercolours instead of acrylics. Have a go at something you
wouldn’t consider yourself to be a ‘pro’ at. By putting yourself out there
you’ll not only give yourself a break from your usual practice, but you’ll probably
find that you unleash more creativity in another area.
Listen to a Podcast
Podcasts became an ally for many last year, which saw 2020 crowned as the ‘golden age of podcasts’. You can find one for almost anything these days so it can be hard to know where to start – but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! A few of our favourite creative and art-based podcasts: include Artcurious, 99% Invisible, Raw Material, and Talk Art.
Collaborate
How many times has a
problem been solved simply by talking it through? The same goes for creative
blocks. Sometimes the energy that other people bring to a conversation can have
a really positive impact. Asking your social media followers for thoughts,
feedback or even suggestions is a great way to kick start a conversation!
Start a Moodboard
Start collecting as many ideas as you possibly can! Perhaps it’ll take shape in a Pinterest board, or magazine cut outs – but before you know it, you’ll be flooded with inspiration and ideas again.
Pen and Paper at the
Ready
Keeping an notebook close to jot down ideas is a great way to be creative throughout your daily life. You can fill it with quotes, doodles, or even a paragraph about what you did that day. The important thing to remember is to not overthink it. Let your mind wander… and play.
Don’t Force It
Whilst there are lots of things you can try, forcing yourself to be creative shouldn’t be one of them. The last thing you want is to try harder and for the ideas to become flatter and flatter. Sometimes, the best thing to do is step away for a bit. Everyone needs a break now and again. So, take the time to relax, enjoy yourself and come back later. Time away might be exactly what you need in order to be restored and inspired.
Colours are powerful. They’re not just pretty or expressive – they make us feel, think, and react.
Did you think CEOs just shut their eyes and throw a dart at a rainbow to pick their brand colours? Maybe just went for their favourite one?
When it comes to organisations, artwork, horticulture… almost anything… colours aren’t random. There’s a science. Here’s a little insight into colour – and how they can influence us:
Red
This is a passionate, strong, and emotive colour. It can signify all sorts of strong and exciting sensations, including danger, love and fire.
Blue
A calming colour that suggests peace, loyalty and tranquility – although it’s also often associated with sadness and melancholy. Blue is a collected colour, and a great choice for businesses as it can increase productivity and organisation.
Yellow
Sunny and friendly, yellow is also a neutral colour and often chosen by to-be parents that don’t know the sex of their baby. Yellow is inviting and friendly, however it can also be associated with warnings and hazards.
Purple
Occasionally associated with royalty and wealth, purple also provokes feelings of wisdom, magic and spirituality.
Green
Like the leaves on a tree, green is often linked to nature, freshness and good health. Alternatively, green is also connected to positivity and confirmation – such as ‘green means go’.
Pink
Regardless of its shade, pink regularly echoes sweetness, sophistication and care. Similar to the passionate qualities of red – but with a more empathetic tone.
Black
Like the potency of the colour itself, black signifies strength, power and formality. Choosing black as a key brand colour also depicts formality and security.
White
Considered as a simple, honest and innocent shade, white can also provoke feelings of openness and integrity.
Why not send one of these colourful Moments to a friend and see how it makes them feel? Download the Momentful app on iOS and Android today!
After three months of extended deliberation, and a great deal of nail biting, our panel of judges have finally decided on a winner.
For those who have not been following the drama as it unfolded… here’s a quick re-cap:
Our ‘This is the Moment…’ film competition was launched in the middle of last year’s pandemic. It called for amateur and first-time filmmakers to help people combat the lockdown blues and submit homemade movies about what it was like being isolated from those who matter to us the most.
A few months later, after meticulously reviewing the entries from Momentful users and the public at large, the judges arrived with the following results… (cue drum roll):
WINNER: JOSHUA BLACK | CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES | UK
A very familiar tale of lockdown blues where COVID-19 seems set to ruin a special birthday. However, the ingenuity in an emergency can never be underestimated as a friend comes to the rescue with an unexpected surprise to save the day.
THE JUDGES SAID: “Change the Circumstances by Joshua Black stood out to us as a winner. The way the film genuinely uplifted us all and left us with a warm glow clearly demonstrated it was a film that had true heart and had met the brief.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED: CHEN SING YAP | SHIFT | CANADA
A heart-breaking tale about the lengths a mother will go to, to protect her ill son from the dangers of COVID-19. What seems like a desperate story of sacrifice and loneliness, delivers a tear-jerking finale. Watch with tissues at the ready!
THE JUDGES SAID: “We wish every idiot not wearing a mask right now could be forced to watch this film. It’s original, thought-provoking, impactful and so poignant – some of us cried… a worthy runner-up.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED: NOMASONTO NHLAPO | THE BREADWINNER | SOUTH AFRICA
As the pandemic grips the lives of billions of people worldwide, one woman feels the pressure of impending joblessness and homelessness. Is fate destined to deal a final cruel blow? Or is hope and salvation to be found at the very last minute?
THE JUDGES SAID: “A great storyline that kept you captivated all the way. And some pretty nifty dance moves thrown in at the crescendo. Hard not to enjoy!”
COMMENDED: JULIAN KAY | THE CORONACHINS | UK
A familiar feeling of dread we can all relate to as an important anniversary looks like might have been forgotten. But luckily there’s a get-out-of-jail-free card that can save the day. Or can it….?
THE JUDGES SAID: “This was definitely the most original and the most silly entry of them all. And given the circumstances we’re in – it was exactly what we all needed. Well done!”
COMMENDED: RICHARD BUCK | OCCUPANDI TEMPORIS | UK
A very contemporary storyline of man and 21st-century technology. Do we control it, or is controlling us? Do we even really know for sure…?
THE JUDGES SAID: “As a film it was quite sweet and quite neat. Charming and flirtatious but without crossing the line.”
The winning film, Change the Circumstances by Joshua Black, and two highly commended, were picked out from hundreds of entries by an illustrious panel of expert judges, including:
John Wilson:
British film editor John Wilson’s works include Billy
Elliot (2000), The History Boys (2006) The Book
Thief (2013), London Road (2014) and Me Before
You (2016).
James
Macfarlane: James is a leading lecturer at
London University in Advanced Digital Publishing Technology and
Platforms. He is also a resident judge at the SetSquared Young
Business of the Year, as well as University Young Entrepreneur.
Tracy
Edwards MBE: Explorer and winner of
the 1998 Jules Verne Trophy for the ‘fastest circumnavigation
around the world with no stopping and no outside assistance’, Tracy
and her all-female crew also broke seven world records. She was the
first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.
Jo Hemmings:Jo Hemmings is a Behavioural Psychologist and a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS). She specialises in media analysis as well as a being a relationship coach and TV and radio personality.
Suzy Edward, CEO, explains how blown away all the team at Momentful were with the response to the competition: “I want to put out BIG HUGS to everyone who submitted an entry to the competition. There was an incredible outpouring of emotion and talent in each and every film. Now that the films can be made public for all to see, I’m thrilled that everyone will get to enjoy them as much as we have.”
John Wilson, one of the UK’s leading film editors (Billy Elliot, The History Boys, The Book Thief) and our Chair of Judges says: “It really was a pleasure to be part of judging the ‘This is the Moment…’ film competition. The panel felt that the overall quality of the finalists’ submissions was both impressive and highly entertaining. It’s a shame there had to be a winner.”
Jo Hemmings is a Behavioral Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society, specialising in media analysis as well as a being a TV and radio personality and dating expert. She says: “This last year has affected every single one of us. Anxiety, stress, uncertainty and in many cases, grief have touched us all. As humans, we all use different mechanisms to deal with these unfamiliar emotions, particularly after coping for such a long-term haul. These films present a great example of unique human engagement through the medium of seeing others’ outlooks – and, at the same time, bring a welcome level of support, entertainment and comfort in these isolating times.”
Tomorrow, the 28th January, marks a pretty special day. It’s all about community… coming together… and being a team… and we need all that right now.
So, what’s the point of Global Community Engagement Day?
Sure, businesses, organisations, and everyday people around the world should always be engaging actively with their communities. But this day reminds us why. It reminds us of how we can learn more about the world around us by interacting with different cultures, ages, genders, races, and religions.
Now, more than ever, community is so important. We might not be able to physically meet up and help each other in the ways we’d like – but we can be there when we can’t be there in many others.
One of those ways is through Momentful. Send a Moment today and engage. Spread the word. Be there.
We’re so proud that our fabulous artists come from all over the world – so we’ve decided to talk about them here, and the countries they’re from!
James Booker Queensland, Australia
James offers an abundance of colourful, over-the-top and often out-there collages. Branching out from writing and illustration in 2010, James launched Random Galaxy, adopting his techniques to begin developing a photo-manipulation collage style of art.
Rebecca Elfast Gothenburg, Sweden
Rebecca is an illustrator and surface pattern designer. Producing artwork that is fun and colourful, she works with a mix of handmade and digital techniques. Ink and watercolour are her favourite media and the layered, transparent principles of those techniques are often visible in her digital work as well.
Josephine Wall Dorset, United Kingdom
Josephine specialises in mystical, surreal-like, fantasy paintings. Inspired by greats such as Magritte and the pre-Raphaelites, she often strives to impart a message in her scenes, and inspire her audience to take a personal journey into her magical world.
Steve Spazuk Quebec, Canada
In a technique he refers to as “fumage,” Steven Spazuk has reinvented traditional artistic approaches, by painting with smoke. Since 2001, Spazuk has refined this skill – making the relationships between humans and the natural world his primary focus.
Schim Schimmel Arizona, USA
For over 20 years, Schim has been painting in a style uniquely his own, expressing on canvas his love and awe for our incredible planet, its animals, and the universe that brought them into being. Through his work, Schim hopes to inspire others to be more conscious human beings living within a vulnerable ecosystem.
Happy Fluff Comics Chennai, India
Akshara Ashok is the creator behind the hilariously popular Happy Fluff Comics. The much-loved series documents the life of Fluff, the girl next door unabashedly highlighting situations and problems we come across every day – but seldom discuss in public.
Vincent Hie Amsterdam, Netherlands
Clarity, articulation and high attention to detail are key elements in Vincent’s work. Loving the beauty of shapes, forms, colours and sounds, Vincent made the switch from tradition tools to digital software back in the early 2000s.
If you want to check out the works of these, or any other of our artists, just hit ‘search’ and ‘browse our artists’ in app. Remember! Momentful is free to download on both iOS and Android.
In case anyone is wondering where all this talk about Pride has come from, here’s a brief summary:
Pride is a commemoration of the Stonewall riots of the late 1960s. These events were the spark that galvanised the LGBTQ+ (then gay) community to promote activism for equal rights. Pride became a celebration of the bravery of those who were otherwise persecuted by the law and social pressure (and sadly, many still are to this day). The fight was for freedom of sexual and/or gender identification. Right, now that we’ve dealt with housekeeping – let’s get down to business. What does Pride mean today?
In a word, Pride is f**** awesome! It celebrates individuality and uniqueness on an immense scale. People all over the world, stand in the face of persecution and tyranny and express their unbridled joy at being oneself: wholly, freely and without reserve or judgement. It’s wonderful, and….the parade has been cancelled this year due to COVID 🙂
However… this doesn’t mean that “Pride” itself has been cancelled, so don’t fold up the bunting or put away your NHS rainbows quite yet! There’s a whole bunch of ways we can celebrate Pride Month this June from the comfort of own homes. Many of the world’s favourite artists, musicians and other content creators are LGBTQ+. So, there is an abundance of creative forms to draw from there to get the celebration started. Crack open the bubbly, get a feather boa on and have your own drag-house party!
This is a month when we can all celebrate our diversity and individuality and feel acceptance and love. One day, we might not need a set-piece month for us to feel our best unique selves, free of persecution. Until then – let’s party like it’s 1969!
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