Today, many of us are equipped with Smartphones that can take sharper, brighter (and more flattering) photographs than the fanciest cameras of the previous decade. In fact, thanks to our phone cameras, we are actually living in the most documented time in history! 

In light of our modern capabilities, one form of art that may not be quite as understandable to the youngest generation is portraiture.  

Why do portraits matter?

I’m not talking about photography here (although photography and portrait photography are certainly art forms as well). Thanks to our access to various media, and our interest in the imagery of famous people, I think that many of us can appreciate well-done and interesting photoshoots and portrait photography. 

For the purposes of this article, I’m mainly talking about portraits in terms of paintings or drawings intended to capture a person’s likeness. This is an art form that many people may be able to appreciate, but not quite understand the relevance of, in today’s world.

However, whether you are a professional artist, a student of art, an art teacher, or just a regular, “non-artsy” person, there are some very important reasons that old-school portraits actually matter a lot, especially in the “selfie,” world of today. Here are four reasons why you should stop and look at (or stop and create) a portrait today.

1. Portraits are Living History

One of my favorite things about using art to study history is that it gives us an authentic, direct glimpse into times past. Portraits from long ago give us unique insights into those who lived before us: not just how they dressed or looked, but also what the artists of the time valued enough to observe and capture. In a way, portraits are like time-capsules, packed with insights of the past.

While the style and subjects chosen for portraits have shifted greatly over the years, the truth remains that the artist will usually strive to capture something that is striking about the subject.

Thinking about portraits in this way can give us some interesting insights. 

For instance, look at the painting below, the infamous Madame X by John Singer Sargent. The portrait’s subject, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, was wealthy and well-known for her beauty. In fact, that’s probably why the artist wanted to paint her.

However, Sargent’s painting does much more than depict a pretty woman. Instead, Sargent takes something striking – and unseen- about his subject and brings it to the viewer’s attention.

Madame X  (1884) by John Singer Sargent

Many consider this painting to be the epitome of “a study of contrasts.” Virginie was known for her pale, white skin. Gautreau drew attention to this feature by painting the soft paleness of Virginie’s skin in stark contrast to her dark hair and the deep black, structured gown she wears. 

However, Sargent also seems to capture certain aspects of Virginie’s personality in the portrait that seem at odds with her physical beauty. He conveys her as vain and more than a  little bit scandalous: not nearly as beautiful on the inside as the outside (certainly not by the standards in those days).

How do we get all of this?

Her dress is much more revealing than befitted a lady of her time and status, her pose is proud and disdainful. These hints at character flaws play out in stark symbolic contrast to the subject’s idealized beauty. 

While it is considered to be one of history’s most famous portraits today, it was pretty shocking for the time period in which it was created.  From simply viewing and considering Madame X, we get a wealth of insight into the subject, the artist, and the values of the time period.

2. Portraits Reflect our Changing View of Mankind.

Through studying famous portraits throughout history, and especially by comparing them to each other, we can also observe history’s ever-changing perspectives about mankind’s role in the world. 

It’s pretty fascinating to see how big changes in portraiture (and their corresponding artistic movements) usually go hand-in-hand with ground-shaking historical event and societal changes. 

Studying portraits can even help reveal how, throughout history, one strong viewpoint often inspires an opposite stance.  The two examples below do a good job of showing this!

Romanticism: Defining Mankind as the Visionary

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog (1818)–Caspar David Friedrich

This portrait by German artist Caspar Friedrich shows a lone man contemplating the foggy vista before him. This image perfectly represents what we now know as The Romantic Era (the art movement known as “Romanticism”.)

As you might guess from the name, Romanticism offered a pretty dreamy view of mankind. 

Poets, artists, philosophers, and writers of this time perceived mankind as solitary, creative, emotional, and visionary. This time period also viewed nature and dreams as powerful, communicative, and sometimes even prophetic. The mood of this work definitely reflects a contemplative, quest-like view of mankind’s role, with an emphasis on man’s place in the natural world. 

Like Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, many portraits of the Romantic Era depict the subject as special, dramatic, and even heroic.

The settings are often special, too: dream-like, beautiful, or on a grand or supernatural scale. Therefore it is very interesting that –directly on the tail of the Romanticism Art Movement, a completely opposite portrayal of mankind developed: Realism.

Realism: Defining Mankind by Daily Action

The Gross Clinic (1875)—Thomas Eakins

The Realism movement in art came right after the Romanticism movement and is often seen as a direct rebellion against it. Whereas Romanticism gives an idealized view of man, Realism took the opposite approach and focused on- (again, you can probably guess it from the name) – the real.  

Often this involved the portrayals of ordinary people doing mundane, pedestrian or even ugly tasks, such as in the portrait above-showing surgeons at work. Mankind’s role in the world is therefore defined by daily action–the ordinary things of everyday life.

As you can see, portraits do more than just depict individuals–they give us a greater, more general understanding of mankind and the various ways we’ve understood our own value over the course of history.  Portraits matter because they show us where we came from and how we’ve changed.

3. Portraits Show Us How Art Influences Culture

We’ve talked about how portraits can reflect the values of a time period, and how they can even provide insight into how/why those values change throughout history. However, there is another crucial component to the art and society/culture relationship that we haven’t discussed yet.

 Portraits don’t just reflect changes to society; sometimes they help ignite them, too.

This isn’t just true for portraits, of course. Many art forms (and subjects) are capable of influencing culture. In fact, one of the measures of good art is: does it challenge the way we’re used to thinking about things?

However, what’s unique about portraits is that they do this in a way that everyone can understand. Everyone relates to a portrait. Everyone can connect with an image of another human being. When we gaze at portraits, we are automatically challenged to figure out how these representations are the same- or different- from ourselves.

In other words, when we look at a portrait, we look for connection. That connection, when we find it and explore it, can catapult new ideas. New ideas, in turn, can spark societal changes.

 For example, look at this famous self-portrait by Edvard Munch, “The Scream.”

The Scream (1893)–Edvard Munch

 This Impressionistic self-portrait by Munch ignores realistic physical details. Instead, it is entirely focused on emotion. It’s a portrait of the interior, rather than the exterior, which reveals the artist’s own anxious and horror-stricken psychological state. This was an incredibly bold and influential concept at the time of the portrait’s rendering– when psychology was still regarded as a fairly new science and mental illness considered something that should be kept a secret.

Today, we openly discuss psychological distress and mental health. Perhaps we owe some of the credit for this to artists like Munch who were among the first to openly depict this once-avoided facet of life. This is merely one example of one way that act may encourage the ideas and questions that ultimately help change entire cultural conversations.

4. Portraits Push Us Towards Connection.

Let’s go back to talking about selfies for just a minute. While they may arguably capture the beauty ideals of our current era (hello Insta-filters), and they can help us remember moments of our lives, selfies don’t challenge anything about how we can or should see the world around us.

Selfies are usually 100% surface value, and as the name would indicate, they are self-oriented. They don’t teach us anything. They don’t connect us to new or unfamiliar ideas.

I’m not saying all of this to attack the selfie. However, I do think that we live in a selfie world, and it would be truly sad if that became the documentation that defined our time culture. 

And that’s why we need art, and portraits in particular. Because, portraits–whether of someone else or ourselves–help us to make connections. Portraits show us how to connect with historical figures and movements, and they can even connect us with our own perception of others, or of ourselves (such as in Munch’s The Scream). When we study a portrait, or create one, we look for those connections I mentioned earlier–differences, similarities, challenges. 

Questions, too, are often part of that connection.

In a portrait, even something like a lingering question, or a glaring uncertainty, can connect us better with the work of art, its subject,  the mindset of the artist, other viewers and our own consciousness. 

When you think of a portrait that inspires a question, your mind might go to the same work of art that mine does:  Leonardo Di Vinci’s infamous oil portrait, Mona Lisa. 

Mona Lisa (1503)–Leonardo Di Vinci.

This painting has been dubbed the most valuable in the world and is often considered to be the most famous, as well.

The reason? Mona Lisa is a universal mystery.

Viewing this painting leaves viewers puzzling over the subject’s enigmatic smile and the way her eyes seem to watch you, no matter where you stand. When we see this painting, we wonder about the subject: How she was feeling? What she was thinking?

 Mona Lisa is an unanswered question for the generations, connecting us all. 

In our selfie world, portraits matter more than ever. It’s vital that we take time to look at, appreciate -and even create- portraits every once in a while. Portraits connect us to our past: to people not so different from us, but living in very different times. They show us how our ideas have changed and grown. They encourage us to analyze and to question.

Ultimately, I think that the habit of studying people through the filter of art grounds us in this knowledge: while we all connected by the bonds of humankind, we all have things to learn from that connection.

At Sparketh, we encourage a community that can learn about art in its various forms. We also believe that anyone can, and should be able, to foster any creative skills that they desire. Here, you’ll find numerous courses, taught by professional artists, that teach art in a variety of mediums, including this whole series on how to create portraits in a variety of art styles. So take a few minutes today. Put down that camera phone, and look at – or create your own- portrait. It matters.

Written by Kathryn Gustafson

The post Why Do Portraits Matter? appeared first on Sparketh.

Before you start telling yourself things like, “But wait, I’m not a poet,” let me stop you there. Combining art and poetry does not have to be complicated. It’s not about perfection, or even technique. Instead, it’s all about exploration and fun.  As you connect meaningful words with visual art, you may even find yourself relaxing and connecting to themes and ideas that you didn’t even know were floating around in your brain!

Personally, I find that creative challenges (like connecting art and poetry) often give just the right amount of structure and direction to inspire and motivate me, and I hope that’s the case with you, too. Here are 5 easy ways to connect art and poetry.  Try these ideas to learn more about poetry and create your own unique masterpieces!

1. Blackout Poetry

Blackout poetry is a fun and relaxing creative activity for all artistic levels and ages. Essentially, you take discarded paper media (books, magazines, or newspapers you don’t want to read anymore) and use it as a template to guide your blackout poetry. You’ll start by choosing a page and finding the words that jump out to you most. These words will make the basis of your poem, and you’ll black out all of the other words (the ones that you didn’t select).

After you’ve blacked out the words you don’t want, you can go back over those parts of the page and create designs or artwork to complement your blackout poem! I wrote a more detailed tutorial about how to do it here, so be sure to check that out if you like step-by-step instructions!

Artist Credit: Emma Powell

2. Create a Work of Art That Incorporates a Word or Phrase

Do you have a word(s), phrase, or message that means a lot to you? If so, why not use it as inspiration for a work of art? This approach doesn’t require you to necessarily incorporate a traditional poem. However, creating visual art around a single word or expression will expand that particular word’s meaning, power and resonance to the viewer. This is something that great poetry often does as well (just in a different way).

Start out by writing your word or phrase and brainstorming about it’s significance and meaning to you. What images, colors, and feelings come to mind when you think of your word(s)?  The visual components that you come up with don’t need to be obvious (in fact, your art will probably be better and more original if it’s not), but the connections between the word(s), color choices, and images have to mean something true to you.

There are many great contemporary artists who feature words in their art to create a powerful message or draw attention to a concept or theme. You can check out some of these artists and their work by clicking this link.

3. Write a Poem Inspired by a Work of Art (Ekphrastic Poetry)

If you are an art enthusiast who wants to flex your creative writing muscles, then you may enjoy the challenge of writing a poem about your favorite work of art.  There is actually a name for this type of poem; it’s called an ekphrastic poem.

If you want to write an ekphrastic poem, start out by choosing a favorite work of art for inspiration. Study it.

What is the scene being set by the image?  What colors, textures, figures, or symbols speak to you or create strong images in your mind? What themes are at work?

Brainstorm words and phrases for your poem as you consider these types of questions, then begin constructing your poem, line by line, according to your poetry form of choice (or in free verse, if you prefer).

One tip for writing powerful poetry? More is less. That’s why poets are infamous artists of revision. So write your first draft and let it sit awhile. Then revisit and revise, taking out the words that don’t add impact to your poem.

If are a teacher (or #homeschoolteacher) this would also be a great way to include some art history into a writing activity, or some creative writing into art. Overall, I think ekphrastic poems provide a valuable way to think about what speaks to us in our favorite works of art.

4. Create a Work of Art that Represents Your Favorite Poem

This poetry and art activity is the the exact inverse of the last one! Whereas ekphrastic poems put art into words, this activity is all about creating art that visually represents a poem that you love.

First, start out by choosing a poem that speaks to you. It can be a be a well-known poem, a lesser known one, or even one that you write yourself! As you think about the poem, consider why you like it. Brainstorm about what you will draw to reflect the poem’s meaning (either an objective/literal meaning or a personal one). Two members of the Sparketh team tried this exercise at home, which you can see below!

Maria, who you can watch doing weekly art demonstrations on our Youtube channel, used part of Langston Hughes’ famous poem, “Dreams” as inspiration for the artwork below.  Her drawing (featured below) shows a sleeping girl, surrounded in a surreal haze which represents her dreams.

Artist Credit : Maria Sandoval

Poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes, 1922

(Watch her create this piece on our Youtube channel!) 

Becca, a Sparketh instructor you may recognize from some of  our online art courses,  shared the below piece with the students in Sparketh Community.  The poem that Becca selected reminds her of her relationship with her sister, so her drawing reflects her personal connection with the poem.

Artist Credit: Becca Scoggins

Poem by AnaSoulful

Check out the free Sparketh Community here

There’s no wrong way to do this activity (or really any of these activities). The important thing is to enjoy connecting with words and finding ways to represent them through art!

5. Create Art From Words (Concrete Poetry)

We’ve talked about ways to use words in your art, but did you know that you can create art out of words?  Concrete poetry (also known as shape poetry) involves writing poems in such a way that the shape of the poem creates a visual image.

This gives the poem visual meaning, in addition to written meaning. Poets who write concrete poetry make very deliberate choices about where each line of their poems will naturally end, so that the poem’s words, and its shape, flow together to create a unique work of art/poetry. Check out the below image to get an idea of what this can look like.

Poem:  “The Swan and the Shadow,” by John Hollander, 1966

You can have fun connecting words and poetry by writing your own concrete poetry! Especially if you’re working with kids, it is easiest to choose a simple topic, such as a favorite activity or animal.  Hint: Think about something that will visually translate well as a simple shape on the page that you can fill with words. Next, outline the shape of your topic on the page.  Brainstorm adjectives, descriptions and short lines as your words for the concrete poem. Lastly, put it all together by arranging your final word selection into the shape you outlined! If this is your first attempt at concrete poetry, remember that it’s perfectly okay to keep things simple. This is a fun challenge that is great to do together as a family–even young kids will enjoy it!

It’s always a good idea to mix things up and be creative with how we see the world around us, and these 5 ideas for connecting art and poetry will have you stretching those creative muscles and hopefully feeling inspired, too! Whether you are a student or an adult, we hope you enjoy trying these activities out at home, in your classroom, or in your homeschool! Let us know which ideas you try!

The post How to Teach Poetry with Art appeared first on Sparketh.

When you create original art for someone,  it’s always a one-of-a-kind gift, so creating art for your mom for Mother’s Day can definitely be a great idea. However,  you also want to make sure that the art you give to your mom (or aunt, grandma, etc. ) is presented in the best way possible, right? Not just any doodle will do! For most moms, I think that the thought that is put into a gift means just as much as the gift itself. With that in mind, here are 5 tips for giving your mom thoughtful art – the kind of art that will make her smile every time she see’s it- this Mother’s Day!

1. Start with a Plan

It may seem obvious, but don’t just start drawing something generic with no plans or intention! Stop and think about your mom (or other recipient). Consider things like:

• Would she prefer something she can hang on the wall,  something smaller, or functional art?
• What are her favorite colors?
• What medium does she like and/or what is your strongest artistic medium?
• What subjects might speak to her (more on that later)?

And last, but definitely not least:

• How much time do you have?

This last one is so important. It’s probably easy for a lot of us to imagine the work of art we’d ideally love to create for someone. That creative mind gets going and it can kind of seem like the possibilities are endless, right? While that’s a great feeling, creatively speaking, it doesn’t always pan out when you are trying to create a gift by a deadline. If you only have a couple of days before Mother’s Day, you want to make sure and plan something that’s realistic for you to finish…and to finish well! In other words, if you’re short on time, a bigger canvas is not always better. A simple, but well-executed idea, comes across as more thoughtful than a hurried attempt at a recreation of Starry Night (unless you’re totally confident that a recreation of Starry Night is your jam, of course.)

Brainstorming in terms of subject matter, medium, and practicality will help you get off to a good start with planning a thoughtful work of art for Mother’s Day.

2. Be Specific

A huge part of being thoughtful is being specific! In order to be specific in creating art for Mother’s Day, you definitely want to choose the topic/subject of your art with care. For example, if you have a mom who loves to garden, you may decide to draw her some flowers. That’s a great idea, and on it’s way to being specific! However, you can elevate that idea even more by being specific in the type of flowers that you draw. What are her favorites? What colors does she love?

You can also think outside of the box of typical Mother’s Day topics, too! For example, do you have a mom who loves coffee? You could paint her the perfect cup of coffee. Or do you have special memories of being with your mom at a particular place? Whether it’s your favorite restaurant or a beach vacation where you both made good memories, painting or a drawing a specific location that means a lot to both of you is a great example of being thoughtful and specific. You could also take a favorite photo of the two of you together to try to recreate with art!

Here are some more possible topics/subjects to get you thinking about being specific as you choose a topic for your thoughtful Mother’s Day art.

• What is your mom’s favorite book or movie? Could you draw inspiration from either with your art?
• Does she have any hobbies you could highlight in a fun way with your art?
• Does your mom love music or poetry? Could you use lyrics/words in your art? (Here are some ideas for using words in art).
• If you were to arrange a table with items that represent some of your mom’s favorite things, what would be on the table?

With a little brainstorming, it probably won’t be too hard for you to come up with some ideas about how to create thoughtful, meaningful, and specific art for your mom this Mother’s Day.

3. Consider Functional Art

Art isn’t always something you hang on the wall–it can come in many forms! As you plan and think about your mom’s specific interests, one thing to consider is whether or not she’s someone who would enjoy a functional work of art. This can be a particularly good idea if your mom doesn’t have a lot of wall space, or if you’ve already given her several pieces of traditional art. There are a lot of fun and creative ways to make art that your mom will use/interact with everyday!

For example, if your mom loves being outside and gardening, consider painting something for her garden! Instead of a canvas, you could paint a large rock or paving stone, a statue, elevate a birdhouse, etc.

Over on Sparketh’s Youtube channel, we have a couple of examples for DIY functional art that you can watch to get inspired! The first is a hummingbird feeder adorned with gorgeous, colorful, painted hummingbirds.

You could also create a one-of-a-kind frame that can hold a photograph of you and your mom. In the video below, you can see how Sparketh’s Youtube artist transforms a basic frame into a personalized masterpiece,  using air dry clay and paint!

If you like the idea of functional art, here are a few more ideas to get you inspired:

• Hand paint clay (or polymer clay) beads and use them to create wearable jewelry art!
• Create a miniature drawing or watercolor painting, laminate it, and gift it as bookmark.
• You could also create your art on a small canvas and use hot glue to attach magnet strips to the back. Voila! The most artistic magnet ever.
• You could take a basic lamp/lampshade (check your local thrift store for best results) and paint the inside of  the lampshade with acrylic paint. When the light is off, the lampshade will appear normal. Turn it on and your beautiful artwork will shine through the lampshade!
• Use your artistic skills to create a one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day card that your mom will want to keep forever.

4. Use Helpful Resources

When you’re creating art as a gift, you obviously want to do your best! One thing you can do to can ensure you are presenting your best effort is make use of helpful resources like the professional online art courses we offer at Sparketh. If you are already a Sparketh member, then you know that we have a large variety of online art courses that can help you sharpen your skills when working with a particular medium or trying to learn how to draw something new.

It’s amazing what a big difference step-by-step instruction can make, especially if you’re wanting to draw or paint something that you haven’t tried before. Many of our students are amazed by the artwork they are able to produce when following along with Sparketh courses and learning through a step-by-step approach.

Our course library includes courses on how to draw a variety of different animals, still-life objects, portrait styles, abstract art, and more. If you’re a member, and already have something specific in mind to create for your mom,  you should definitely check out our course library. We probably have at least one course that will give you valuable tips and techniques to elevate your Mother’s Day art!

5. Add Finishing Details

Once you’ve planned and created your beautiful work of art for Mother’s Day, it’s time to think about the finishing details –also known as the presentation. A thoughtful presentation is the perfect finishing detail to show your mom that you were intentional about every aspect of the work of art you’ve made for her.

For example, if you used pencils, pen or watercolor to create your art, “finishing details” might mean finding a pretty frame to protect and go with it.  If you created functional art, or art on canvas, you might want to take a little bit of time to wrap your gift carefully.

Don’t forget to write a few special words to your mom, too, possibly even describing what inspired you to create you work of art for her! (The ultimate finishing detail is always the note!)

Moms (and stepmoms, grandmothers, aunts, and other honorary moms) are already likely to love any work of art that you’ve taken the time to create for them. Hopefully these 5 tips will help you create an extra thoughtful gift for the special woman (or women) in your life this Mother’s Day!

The post 5 Tips for Giving Your Mom Thoughtful Art This Mother’s Day appeared first on Sparketh.

Paint them timeless with art.

Because if you create it,

It stays in your heart.”

Okay so YES – I know I’m corny- but I just can’t help myself.  I’m one of those people who loves Valentine’s Day. You’ve probably noticed that hearts are everywhere lately because it’s the time of year that we show our love. (Although showing your love is always cool.) At Sparketh, here are 3 of the things we love most!

1. Art (bet you saw that one coming).
2. Opportunities to be creative.
3. Helping you nurture your inner artist!

In honor of Valentine’s Day (and showing our love for the above things), our team has put together some  kid-friendly art ideas that you can try out at home for Valentine’s Day. Below, you’ll find several free art tutorials, online art classes from our course library, and 2 heart-themed art contests that we are hosting this month. We hope you enjoy trying some of these art ideas out at home in celebration of Love Day!

On Social Media: Creative Valentine’s Day Ideas to Try at Home!

Over on Sparketh’s Youtube channel, Maria has been creating several DIY videos that you can use to get creative at home this Valentine’s Day! From kid-friendly DIY Valentine’s cards, to tips for painting the perfect rose, here are some kid-friendly Valentine’s Day art ideas for all skill levels.

How to Paint a Rose in Acrylics

Drawing and painting roses is a skill that every artist needs to acquire! And of course, roses are also on-theme for Valentine’s Day. Watch this video to see how Maria sketches and then paints her rose in acrylic paints. I always love watching her paint, and she’s got some good tips to share, too. After you watch the video, try painting your own lovely rose!

2 Simple DIY Valentine’s Day Card Ideas 

In this Youtube video, Maria will show you how to create two simple (but adorable) Valentine’s Day cards at home! The first Valentine’s Day card is a “Love Bug” themed card that younger kids are sure to enjoy. The second card is a whimsical, heart-balloon card.  These tutorials are not too difficult to recreate, and are great for kids of all ages. They would also make a fun family projects.

DIY Floral Wreath

I feel this project calling out to the mamas out there, and it can be a great family-project, too! This beautiful floral wreath is a work of functional art that you can recreate at home. Watch our Youtube video and then try it out for yourself. It’d also make a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift.

Easy Cling Wrap Art Project

This Cling Wrap Heart is easy to do, but it looks so cool! This is the perfect Valentine’s Day art project to try with young kids. Just make sure you cover those surfaces before you get started.

Heart in Hand Artful Illusion 

Kids will love this one, but so will teens and young adults! Over on our TikTok channel, Amy uses this quick video to show you how to create some convincing illusion with the power of art. Once you’ve mastered it, try it out for all the friends you’d like to “give a little piece of your heart” to.

Online Art Classes that Make a Great Valentine’s Day Gift

We offer professional online art classes for kids and teens here at Sparketh! These two courses from our online library are perfect for creating some Valentine’s Day art. If you’re a Sparketh member, you should be able to follow the links below, login, and get started.

(Not a member? Click here to find out how to try Sparketh for 30 days for free.)

This course, “Valentine’s Day Card,” will explore adding a 3D effect to a basic heart shape! This course is at a beginner level, so it’s great for everyone.

This course (which was designed for Mother’s Day) is called “Happy Mother’s Day,” but it works perfectly for Valentine’s Day, too! Hands are a difficult, but important, subject for artists to master. This course was designed for levels intermediate and up.

We hope these art ideas spark some creativity in your heart for Valentine’s Day (and the whole month long!) 

The post Kid-Friendly Art Ideas for Valentine’s Day! appeared first on Sparketh.

Whether your creative passion is painting, writing, music, digital content creation (or one of the numerous other creative endeavors), the internal pressure to only create your best can grow until it becomes the thing all creatives fear the most: the dreaded creative block.

And because we creatives take so much pride in our work, a creative block is beyond frustrating. It can be personally devastating. Even worse, a creative block can become a tricky cycle, messing up for your creative flow for days, weeks, months, or even years….IF you let it.

So don’t let it!

If you are a creative person, you will inevitably face a creative block at some point. It’s simply the nature of the beast. The trick is to not let it stop you from creating– and to get back into a creative flow as soon as you can.

At Sparketh, we’re all about nourishing creativity for kids, teens (and adults too). Every member on our team is a creative, and we get how frustrating it can be to find yourself creatively stumped. We also know how important it is to not let those moments get you down for long.  If you’ve recently had a creative block interrupt your flow, here are 10 tips to help you get it back!

1. Practice Everyday

This tip is #1 because it is literally the #1 most important thing you can do to get back into a creative flow. Because guess what? When you’re not feeling creative, it’s even more important to keep creating! And here’s a little secret: once you start creating everyday, inspiration will begin to make more regular appearances, too. Practice is fertile ground for creativity.

Artists and writers often refer to the creative Muses of Greek mythology, sometimes even giving procrastination an excuse by saying things like: “I’m just waiting for the Muse to strike.” The truth is that we give “the Muse” a pretty poor environment when we’re not working our creative muscles regularly. When you make a habit of practicing everyday, you’re pretty much telling your personal (theoretical) “creative Muse” that your door is open to inspiration.

The other important aspect of this tip is to be realistic in your daily goals. Don’t say, “I’m going to paint/write/practice the violin for 3 hours a day,” if you know that’s not something you can realistically work into your life. Start smaller. Keep it doable. Give yourself no excuses for not following through. Practice everyday.

2. Get inspired by others’ work.

In an interview for our Website, Sparketh‘s co-founder and CEO, Dwayne Walker said: “Creativity is always an extension of you. You can only create as far as you know, which is why it’s always important to keep learning.”

One of the best ways to be more creative (and get your creative flow back) is to dive deeply into learning and studyng the work of other creatives! If you’re a writer, read as much great writing as possible. If you’re a visual artist, go spend some time at your local museum, check out some of your favorite artists’ work in a book or online,  or take an online art class to learn something new in a hands-on way. You’ll almost always find that it’s natural to get inspired when you’re learning and studying others’ work.

3. Limit Yourself

“Limiting” or “narrowing in” on specific subjects, techniques, or work spaces can prompt creativity and increase your creative focus. Sparketh art instructor (and TikTok content creator) Amy contributed this clever tip. Speaking especially to visual artists, she demonstrated how (for example) limiting the subject that you are drawing or painting can allow you to try approaching the same subject in a variety of styles and techniques. If you find a subject/technique combination that speaks to you, you can “limit” yourself even further by trying some variations within those confines. You can apply this principal to whatever your creative interests are!

You can also limit your surroundings by going somewhere specifically for the purpose of creating, or limit your time by utilizing timers and setting deadlines. Setting these kinds of limits with your daily creative time can help you get into a creative flow more easily, no matter what your creative passive is. For more on this tip, you can watch Amy’s video, here.

4. Create gifts for the people in your life.

Another strategy that can motivate you to create is to find a simple, low-pressure creative project that you can do quickly, repeat often, and give away. This can work well alongside the “narrowing in/limiting yourself” technique, while also giving you external motivation to create.

For example, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, I got into the habit of making literary-themed watercolor bookmarks for my friends and sending them off in the mail. Each one only took me about 20 minutes. Every time I set out to make one, I automatically had a specific prompt: “What is that person’s favorite book?” I also had the fulfilling satisfaction that comes from making something for a friend. A lot of people found ways to get creative making things for people they cared about during this time of isolation. Some people baked for others, or made friendship bracelets, participated in TikTok dance challenges with friends, or played songs for people on Zoom.

I’m not saying we need to be in a pandemic/isolation to do this. However, I think that this time forced people to get creative about connecting, which resulted in a creative surge for many. There’s something very motivating and satisfying about using your creative interests to show someone you care.

5. Try a different setting.

Are you a morning person or a night person? Do background noises help you focus, or are they a distraction? Do you need privacy to be creative, or do you work best surrounded by other people?

We are all so different when it comes to finding the optimum creative environment. When you are trying to get into the habit of practicing creativity everyday, experiment with some different background settings. You may want to try getting up early, when everything is quiet. Or maybe working in a busy living room with the TV on makes you feel less pressured and more comfortable. Maybe it helps you out to go somewhere different- like a park or bookstore- to be creative (like in tip #3).

Sometimes, I’ve even found that sitting somewhere random in my house can help me be more productive (like on the floor of a room I’m not in very often). Play around with some different times and spaces and see what works for you to get you in a creative mindset.

7. Keep a journal or a sketch diary.

A great way to get in touch with your creative mind is to let it talk to you! Keeping a daily journal or sketch diary is an awesome, low-pressure way to get in touch with thoughts that you might not even be aware of.  This is also a daily practice (*cough* tip #1) that is totally doable.

You’ll find that once you get in the habit of observing and documenting via a written or sketch journal, inspiration seems to come from everywhere. Your brain will naturally begin to start looking at things from a creative perspective. A documentation of things that stick out to you can also reveal your hidden interests and prompt new ideas!

8. Make a plan and tell others.

We all do better with deadlines and accountability.  Being creative can often be a solo activity, so you end up being responsible for motivating yourself. This is one of the reasons that it can be so hard to get back into a creative flow after experiencing creative roadblocks.

When you don’t feel very creative, you may tell yourself “you’ll do it tomorrow.” Those “tomorrows” can add up. If this is something you’ve experienced, then this tip is for you: make a specific plan for your creative goals, and tell others about it.

Technology can help, too! Some people create digital calendars that will send them bossy e-mails everyday to remind them of their goals. Many creatives share their general and specific creative goals with friends on social media, alongside daily updates. Some people even livestream their worktime to stay focused and accountable.

However you approach it, making a plan and asking for accountability can help you stick to your daily practices and ultimately get into a better creative flow.

9. Give yourself permission to create something bad.

When you feel creatively empty, remind yourself that, “something is better than nothing.”  So often, the creative roadblocks that we face comes directly from the pressure that we create for ourselves. If you’re lacking inspiration, you may feel terrified of creating something bad, or of being faced with the feeling that you’ve lost your skills.

However, the truth is that something – anything -you create is going to be better than nothing! Remind yourself of some of the other tips we’ve already covered, and how creative practice can be a creative prompt in and of itself (even if what you create isn’t that good!)

The poet Maya Angelou, once said: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Use whatever little creativity you have inside of you (even when it doesn’t feel like much.) It will never be wasted. The best creatives have to create a lot of mediocre stuff before they come up with masterpieces, so give yourself permission to create something bad! You’re in good company.

10. Surround yourself with fellow creatives.

I mentioned that creativity can often feel like a solo activity. Many times -in practice- it is. However, creativity is also something brings people together.  We’re always creating with the intention of sharing with, and communicating with others. Connection, therefore, is really at the heart of creativity.

Surrounding yourself with other creatives (in your same area of interest, or otherwise) can be an important source of inspiration, accountability, and community. A great way to start connecting with other creatives is simply to tell others that you are one. Talk about your art, or your writing, or music (whatever it is!) And ask other people if they like to create, too! I bet you’ll find, pretty quickly, that you’re not alone. Not only is that a  good feeling, but it’s also a constant source of creative inspiration and encouragement.

If you’ve been struggling with any creative roadblocks lately, we hope that these 10 tips helped you out! At Sparketh, our desire is to nourish creativity and create an online space where kids and teens can be their most creative selves. We think that being creative is one of the most important things you can be, and we’re here to help you in your creative journey. 

The post Get Your Creative Flow Back with These 10 Tips! appeared first on Sparketh.

In a society that’s constantly changing – and with new jobs in rapid development – the ability to innovate, explore and create will be required of all of the future’s leaders. In addition to setting the youngest generation up for career success, regular creative practice also develops greater confidence and self-esteem in young people.

Creativity Builds Confidence

Creativity – and specifically art- has been shown to have many positive impacts on developing thoughts and emotions (read about some of them here!) Among other things, regularly practicing art can directly impact a child’s confidence and self-esteem. This has been observed by teachers and parents for years, and contemporary research also supports it to be true! If you’re a research person like I am, check out this 2019 study by Hei Wan Mak and Daisy Fancourt of University College London (and its supporting resources!)

More into conclusions? The research indicates that when a child consistently engages in creative activities  – particularly with his or her parents- this has a direct, positive relationship with a child’s self-esteem. This relationship has nothing to do with the child’s artistic ability. It just has to do with regular practice!

The relationship between creativity and confidence is multi-faceted. However, there are several specific things that happen in a child’s life when he or she creates art on a regular basis, many of which contribute to a greater sense of confidence and self-esteem! Here are just 5 of the  ways that creating art builds confidence in kids and teens.

1. Creating art provides a safe space for thoughts and feelings.

Growing up is hard, and talking about all of the things you’re feeling and processing can be even harder! The practice of creating art provides kids with a way to release feelings, and express thoughts, that they may not even fully understand. Creating art is also extremely meditative, which allows you to have conversations with yourself while you paint, draw (or whatever kind of art you’re into.) As Dwayne Walker, one of Sparketh’s co-founders, says: “Creativity is the compass needed to navigate your sea of emotions.”  Regular creative practice helps kids to understand themselves better, which likely contributes to developing a strong sense of self-awareness and confidence.

2. Creating art encourages you to express your ideas to other people.

This point goes right along with the last one. Regularly creating art doesn’t just help you to better understand your own thoughts and feelings. It also helps you to express them to other people. It’s a given that art is an outlet for self-expression. Self-expression teaches us (and others) that our unique ideas, feelings and perspectives matter. Sharing our ideas with others through art is definitely a confidence-building practice. While this is true for kids, it’s also true for adults, too!

3. Creating art focuses on the process of turning vision into reality.

In this article about the mental health benefits of art for kids and teens, I discussed how art can boost decision-making skills. Think about it. Whenever you make art, you are answering a series of questions for yourself. Most of these decisions aren’t complex. They involve making choices such as: What color? What medium? Which brush? What subject? Which line, where?

While these aren’t (always) hard decisions, they do require certainty, knowing your own mind, and figuring out how to produce a desired outcome. Each question answered in the artistic process is ultimately teaching the artist how to turn his or her vision into reality.

These things play a big role in fostering self-esteem and confidence. Furthermore, each decision made by the artist has an immediate and visible result–this can make you feel very powerful as you see how your choices have a direct impact!

4. Creating art encourages a sense of pride and self-worth.

Creativity is fulfilling. It’s a natural, and unique, facet of human nature that we desire to create art…and it always makes us proud when we complete a piece! This is one of the first things kids do naturally, right? Think of the way that toddlers immediately run to show their parents a drawing. The pride of completing an artistic work only grows along with the artist.

I think that some of this has to do with the pride that we get from showing ourselves that we can learn new things. There are always new things to learn in art. You can never be “done” learning. Art is all about learning, taking old concepts and applying them in original ways. The ability to demonstrate learning, express our unique art, and share it with others is one of the most fulfilling and confidence-boosting experiences for artists of all ages (from age 2 – 102).

5. Art encourages connection with others.

Art is often considered a solo activity. However, it’s actually more about connection than many people realize. Art is never a one-way conversation. Think about all of the art you’ve seen in galleries, in local art shows, or in your own group of artsy friends. It’s true that we create art for ourselves, but we also create it to be shared with, and experienced by, others! Artistic communities- both physical and virtual–  also give artists a chance to connect through art and encourage one another. By providing a way to bond with others, regularly creating art boosts confidence while encouraging relationships and connection!

Regular creative practice fosters confidence and a strong sense of self in so many ways, especially for kids and teens! If you’re looking to help your child or teen to become more confident, regular art practice could be boost he or she needs. We offer portable, scaffolded online art classes for kids and teens on our Website, Sparketh.com! Check it out to find out more about our classes and membership benefits! 

The post The Relationship Between Confidence and Creativity appeared first on Sparketh.

Today’s blog post is for any of you artists out there who are looking for some strategies for drawing better portraits. Of course, defining what “better” means also depends on your personal art style and what you are trying to achieve with your art. Every artist has their own unique style to cultivate and their own approach to Portraiture! Whereas one person may strive for Hyperrealism, another may be drawn towards a more Surrealist approach. On Sparketh.com,  our online art classes for kids and teens cover several different styles of Portraiture and teaches kids how to recreate them. This is an awesome place to start for young artists who are trying to discover their personal style. But whatever your preferred art style is, there are definitely some strategies that can help you to continue to improve your skills and draw better portraits!

The below portrait tips come from the professional artists and art instructors on the Sparketh team. Here are a few tips that have helped them increase their portrait skills and draw progressively better portraits. Below several of these tips, you’ll also find some visual examples that they created to demonstrate!

Tips for Drawing Better Portraits

1. Go from low to high detail.

This was the number 1 tip from artists on our team! When drawing portraits, always start with simple shapes. (For example, don’t start your portraits with a really detailed eye, even if eyes are your favorite!)  Once you have the shapes, you can get progressively more detailed as you add to your work.  One of Sparketh‘s art instructors compared this process to sculpting a face out of clay. In sculpting, you have to get the basic shapes and planes right before going in to add onto and tweak each one.

@sparketh

Community challege ends August 31st- for ages 18 and under! If you enjoyed this, check out the link in the bio for hundreds of creative resources for young artists #howtodraw #howtodrawface #arttips #arttok #myart #artistsoftiktok #artist

♬ original sound – Sparketh

2. Study proportions and planes of the human face.

While diversity is a huge point of interest when it comes to portraiture, there are some standardized features and proportions that you can study and practice to become more comfortable with facial anatomy! Learning some of the common planes and proportions of the human face can give you some great techniques to practice as you work on generic faces (or even as you develop an OC–original character).

As you become more comfortable with the basics, you can branch out and study features that are more common among certain ages, genders, and nationalities. The videos below from Sparketh’s social media channels will give you a couple of quick tips to get started, and our online art classes for kids and teens also contain several lessons on anatomy for portraits.

@sparketh

This should help with our self portrait drawing competition going on at community.sparketh.com! Submit one of your own for a chance to win $100 in art prizes #howtodraw #anatomy #drawingtips #drawingguide #arthelp #myart #artistsoftiktok #arttok

♬ original sound – Sparketh

3. Use a mirror to “check your work.”

Using a mirror may be an obvious tip for self-portraits, but did you know mirrors can help you with any of your artistic creations?

Reversing an image can help point out issues we may have missed in our artwork. If something looks off about your portrait (or any of your art) try looking at the piece in the mirror!  Since your eyes get used to looking at your paper/canvas from one perspective (sometimes for hours), this simple trick can be a good way to change your point of view. When you shift your perspective this way, you will often see flaws you may have not noticed before! Similarly, you can also try looking at your work upside down.

4. Try black and white.

Many of us love the fun of working in color, but sometimes going back to basic black and white can be a great way to hone your skills, especially when it comes to portrait work! Why? Charcoal or graphite (pencil) can be really effective tools to help you cultivate your sense of highlights and shadows, which adds a lot of depth and realism to your portrait.

Once you’re comfortable with adding shadows and light to your portraits this way, then its time to try a portrait in color!

5. Take a break.

Art can be such a meditative and high-concentration activity. It can literally take your mind off of everything else (which is one reason its great for helping kids learn how to focus and make decisions!) However, this also means that you can sometimes get hyper-focused on striving for perfection, especially when presented with a highly-detailed task like a portrait.

One quick and easy tip you can try when this happens?

Take a break!

Just like with anything else that demands your focus, sometimes a little break is all that’s needed to reset and approach your artwork with a new perspective. So if you find yourself getting frustrated: take a walk, eat a snack, chat with a friend or family member, play with your pet! We bet the next time you come back to your art, you’ll feel less frustrated and more ready to get creative and try a new approach.

6. Watch others create.

Watching other artists create is one of the best ways to get inspired! This is also a wonderful way to discover new styles and techniques that you’d like to try! When working on your portrait skills, you can follow artists who have both similar and different styles to your own. Getting inspired by a variety of different artists can be a great way to learn more about your own developing since of style. You can even watch a time-lapsed project and try to recreate it, step-by-step, in real time (and add your own twist!)

If you don’t already, follow Sparketh on TikTok, Instagram, Youtube or Facebook. Our team of artists is regularly creating free tips, tricks and challenges for young artists who are looking for artistic inspiration. For example, in the activity below, students learn quick way to recognize light and shadows in a fun and easy drawing activity.

@sparketh

To enter this art contest, you must be 18 or younger! Winner will receive $100 valued in art prizes- join the Sparketh Community if you haven’t yet and would like to enter! #artcontest #selfportrait #myart #arttok #drawingtutorial #howtodraw #artforbeginners

♬ original sound – Sparketh

7. Practice with a variety of subjects.

You knew this one was coming, right? The #1 tip for all things creative is to practice! The best way to learn how to draw better portraits is to get better every day by doing. Here are some ways you can encourage yourself to practice your portrait skills, every day!

• Set aside a little time daily to work through Sparketh’s Art Style Portrait Track. This will give you step-by-step guidance as you practice through several different art styles. It’s a great way to help you discover which style(s) resonate with you most!
• Ask your friends or family to sit for you so that you can practice drawing from life. It’s a whole different experience.
• Also practice drawing from a reference photos. Maria from our Youtube channel has some tips on this one, here.
• Don’t get stuck in a rut. Practice drawing people of different genders, ages, and nationalities!

We hope these tips help you in your quest to draw better portraits! We’d love to see your work, so please feel free to share it with us in the Sparketh gallery if you’re a Sparketh member, or in the Sparketh Community!

The post How to Draw Better Portraits! appeared first on Sparketh.

Today: we’re sharing NASA’s current art contest, discussing an FBI art case that Indiana Jones would love, and ogling at an 800 pound hunk of butter art.

Featured Art Contest: NASA Art Contest for Kids Age 4 -12

Art and science have a lot more in common than many people may think. Both involve testing theories, exploring curiosity, and making constant innovations. In recent years, NASA (you’ve probably heard of them) has been making an effort to engage the next generation of creative minds. And of course, that includes your artistically-minded kids and students!

Right now and through October 27, NASA is hosting an art contest for kids, age 4 – 12!  Students can take inspiration from 4 main topics:

• Rockets and Spacecraft
• Living and Working in Space
• Exploring the Solar System
• Astronauts

There are three separate submission categories for the contest (based on age of the child submitting), and each category will have a 1st and 2nd place prize.  The winning artwork will be featured in a NASA calendar! You can find out more about contest rules and submission guidelines in the link below.

NASA Art Contest Rules and Submissions

Art News: The Case of the Mysterious Medusa Mosaic!

It sounds like a Nancy Drew novel, or maybe an Indiana Jones movie,  but it’s current news in the art world! The FBI recently discovered an ancient Italian mosaic which has been missing for decades.  The 2oo-pound mosaic of Medusa was discovered in a Los Angeles storage building, where the FBI determined it has been concealed since the 1980s!  No one knows how the owner of the storage unit obtained the mosaic, although the piece last appeared in cultural property records in 1909.

The enormous mosaic piece was cut (and stored) as 16 separate pieces. When put together, it reportedly forms an image of  Medusa–the monstrous, snake-haired Gorgon of ancient mythology.

Special agents Elizabeth Rivas and Allen Grove worked to investigate the mosaic and return it to its place of origin. They collaborated with Italian officials to return the fragile artifact to Rome, where it will be studied and carefully restored.

According to special agent Grove (via CNN): “The mosaic was handcrafted from an age where people put an amazing amount of care and effort into it. It really speaks to the ingenuity and creativity of the time,” Grove said. “It’s not meant to be in Los Angeles. The mosaic belongs to the people of Rome. It allows us to understand a bit about the history of humans 2,000 years ago.”

One day, maybe we’ll see a photo of the fully restored mosaic art. Maybe we’ll even discover more about it’s cultural significance to Rome!

As for me and my mystery-loving brain… I want to know about the mosaic’s lost years!

Why was it in a storage unit in L.A.?

What was the owner planning to do with 16 heavy puzzles pieces of an ancient artifact?

What adventures did this work of art experience in its approximately 100 years of being “lost?”

What do you think, readers?

Trending Art: Butter Sculpture. Would you try it?

Did you know that butter sculpting is a thing? While you may not hear about it much, it’s actually a long-held tradition, dating back to ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture. Here in the United States, you’ll mainly find butter sculptures at state fairs, where they’ve been a more recent(ish) tradition held over the last 150 years. Last week, the below sculpture was presented at The Great New York State Fair. The piece is in response to the theme: “Refuel Her Greatness – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.” It was sculpted over a period of 10 days by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton and is made out of 800 pounds of butter. 800 pounds!

Behold it below. The process is pretty amazing to watch!

The sculpture celebrates female athletes, showing a progression of differently aged girls and women competing in physical challenges. Sadly, now that the exhibition is over, all of that butter will be melted down. Because you can’t eat just butter that has been an art exhibit, it will be recycled by a methane converter and recycled into renewable energy.

Here’s my creative challenge to you, readers. The next time you are at the grocery store, buy a block of butter and some large potatoes. Practice butter sculpting on a mini-scale, and then recycle your art directly onto that potato. You honestly have nothing to lose from this.

Viral: Artistic Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II Flood the Interweb.

Last Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at her Balmoral home. In last week’s blog, I discussed her legacy on the art world in the past century. In the past week, however, that legacy has only continued to grow. Why? The world continues to honor the monarch’s legacy with some amazingly creative works of art content on social media. The following Youtube Shorts, each paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, were viral this week. Each of them show astounding amounts creativity and talent.

Which one is your favorite?

https://youtube.com/shorts/fexFuS1QKhQ?feature=share

That’s a wrap on this week’s latest in creative content, readers! We hope you’ll join us again next Friday for the latest creative challenges, art content, and art news! As you go about your life this week, remember: you can be creative in everything (and anything) you do!

The post NASA Art Contest, A Creative Case for the FBI, and 800 Pounds of Butter! appeared first on Sparketh.

Today, we’re sharing about an amazingly talented 10 year old artist and an upcoming art challenge/contest for kids and teens! We’re also uncovering some spooky hints left by the ancient Egyptians about a long-long mummy! Lastly, you’ll find some viral (and adorable) TikTok drawing tutorials to get your October started out right.

Art News: Andres Valencia is THE Art Prodigy to Watch

A lot of young boys like Pokemon and G.I. Joe, and Andres Valencia is no exception. He is also a prodigious 10 year old artist whose pieces have sold for over $100K per creation.

In a very short time, Valencia has become a key artist to watch. Andres started selling his artwork professionally last December. According to Smithsonian Magazine, he was the youngest ever artist to show at Art Miami, and has since attracted celebrity buyers such as: Jordan Belfort, Brooke Shields, Channing Tatum and Sofía Vergara.

As recently as June, Adres had a solo exhibition at the Chase Contemporary gallery in SoHo. All 35 of the artist’s works were sold, each between $50,000 and $125,000 (per The New York Times.)

Artistic Influences:

Andres’ Cubist style is inspired by legends such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Condo, and Picasso….as well as Pokemon and his favorite, Click N’ Play army action figures. You can see some of his pieces in the video below!

Words of wisdom:

I love this young artist’s attitude in terms of creation. He told The New York Post: “I paint in little pieces. I work on it for an hour or two. Then I go do something else. I come back to it the next day and keep adding more.”

What a great attitude for all artists and creatives to remember! It can be easy to give overwhelmed by large creative projects, but you can do amazing things in just an hour per day!

Follow this artist on Instagram:

Keep up with this artist’s work by following him on Instagram here.

Art Contest: “Sparktober” is a month-wide art challenge for kids and teens!

At Sparketh, we’re gearing up for one of our most popular annual art contests -Sparktober- taking place throughout the month of October! In the Sparketh Community, we sponsor several art contests per year, but one of the reasons Sparktober is so much fun is that it’s a daily art prompt challenge + contest, too!

How it works:

Each day of October, there is a one-word art prompt for artists to take as inspiration and translate any way they want into art. Any medium and all levels of detail are welcome! Every day (or at the end of the month) artists can share their work with our online art community!

For kids and teens who are 18 and under, the creative challenge is also an art contest! At the end of the month, one young artist will be chosen to receive a $100 gift card to an art supply store of his or her choice!

Here are the prompts for October 1-October 31!

How to Enter:

To participate in the challenge, join the Sparketh Community (link here) and start creating and submitting for the daily prompts in October! While the contest/prize is only for those 18 and under, we hope that artists of all ages will join in on this month of creativity!

Art News: Ancient Hieroglyphics Contain Clues to a Famously Lost Tomb?

The Egyptians were ahead of their time in many ways, including their advancement in art and art preservation. Art was part of their daily life: their means of recording events, worshipping their gods and rulers, and honoring their dead. Egypt has given us some of the oldest, and best-preserved art of the ancient world.

When many people think of ancient Egyptian artwork, they envision the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti. This priceless work of art is a life-size bust dating back to 1351–1334 BC.   It’s remarkable for several reasons: it’s stunning in both its quality and preservation, and it shows us a rare, realistic image of the famously beautiful queen.

Nefertiti Bust, Egypt, Tell el-Amarna, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1351–1334 BC

A prominent Egyptologist, Nicholas Reeves, believes he may have found clues to the hidden location of Queen Nefertiti’s long-lost mummy. He believes that these clues are hidden within hieroglyphics found in King Tut’s tomb. (King Tut was the famed child-pharaoh and step-son of Nefertiti.)

Reeves says a pattern in the hieroglyphics may hold the key to finally locating the queen. The cartouches- carved oval tablets in the hieroglyphics – show King Tut being buried by Ay, his successor. Further investigation revealed that these had been painted over other cartouches that showed Tutankhamen burying Nefertiti (from the Guardian.)

Reeves believes that these depictions would not have been included as mere decoration, but have more to do with the location of Nefertiti’s tomb. Therefore, is possible that archeologists may be able to use these ancient clues to locate the lost mummy of Nefertiti.

I’m hoping this means we can soon learn more about this famous queen and life of ancient Egyptians! How about you?

Read more on this story here.

Art Ideas: Learn How to Draw All the “Cute Fall Things” on TikTok!

Sometimes you just need to draw something simple, fun and…well, cute!  Today’s featured TikTok artist has created a fall-themed series that will inspire you to doodle every day of autumn! The below video shows a quick and easy way to draw an adorable fox cartoon in less than a minute! I don’t know about you, but I always have trouble with foxes. (They either come out looking like a cat or a dog).

As you can see on the page, there are plenty of other doodle ideas to learn from this series! Give @planwithines a follow on TikTok for daily art ideas this season!

@planwithines

Replying to @eddemongirl a ~loose~ interpretation but still an easy way to draw a Fox #bujo #art #artinspo #bujoinspo #fallart #falldiy #halloween #halloweendiy #homeinspo #fox #foxes #drawing #easydrawing #tutorial #drawingtutorial #howtodraw

♬ gilmore lala – <3

A prodigious artist who creates an hour a day, the Sparktober daily art challenge, the ancient Egyptians who worked art into every part of life, and fun daily doodles of cute fall things…I’m sensing a theme here!

While this wasn’t deliberate, I think it’s a good reminder that creativity happens with consistency. As creatives, we may not always feel inspired. However, the best work happens when we put in time and effort, every day! I hope that was a good reminder for you, too (it was for me!) Stay creative and consistent, readers! See you back here for next week’s Art Club!

The post October Art Contest and Artistic Mummies! Sparketh Art Club appeared first on Sparketh.