The BLUGH: April 19, 2023
“Art is not about thinking something up. It is the opposite — getting something down.”
BLUGH day!! Currently composing this BLUGH from the GSP airport and drinking a beer at 11:30am (illegal?). I think the waitress brought me the wrong beer. Will I ask her to take it back and bring me the beer I ordered? Definitely not! (18 minutes later update: it was the correct beer all along)
2 b honest w/ u, it has been hard to motivate myself to write the BLUGH lately!! And I love the BLUGH! It is a creative outlet and I think that creativity is SO important for every human being! But WOW the distractions that I find all of a sudden when it becomes time to write the BLUGH or journal or be creative in any way. In fairness to me, I do think it can be hard to be creative in 2023 on planet Earth. Like, there is SO much content and part of me feels obligated to consume! And not to be political but…idk…capitalism? I work in advertising so this is not anti-cap, but also like…it’s expensive out here! If there is any hint of a little voice in my head telling me I need to WORK the job, I am like aye aye sir yes sir got to provide for my family (note: I have no dependents but feel a very strong sense of duty? Help me.). Despite the internal and external distractions, I persevere and create onward!
Here is a creativity questionnaire (and my unsolicited answers) to get you thinking about creativity in your lyfe:
What creative thing(s) did you before you were full adult?
Justina Answer: goofed around, drew, wrote poems, wrote stories, theater stuff.
What creative things do you do now?
Justina Answer: The BLUGH, improv, making my family/friends laugh, problem solving at work.
What inspires you go take creative action?
Justina Answer: Seeing my friends take creative action and SUCCEED (just doing it is succeeding). That is the bomb.com. Also, seeing people doing things I want to do and thinking, “damn, I should be doing that”. Finally problems. For better or for worse, if there’s a problem, I want to solve it and so the creative juices start flowing.
What creative endeavors are you curious about?
Justina Answer: sewing, storytelling, producing a live show, doing a limited episode podcast (keyword: limited).
What gives you creative energy?
Justina Answer: SLEEP, my family, the desire to make people laugh, people being nice, honest feedback and creative collaboration.
✍️ LEARNING OF THE WEEK: Morning Pages. You’ve heard of them from The Artist’s Way. But what are they? They are “three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing,
done first thing in the morning”. I can wax eloquent about Morning Pages and I want to talk to you about them so please reach out! Honestly, I am a cheater and can’t make myself do longhand, so if you are like me, here’s a lil website for keeping up the habit!! Morning Pages also serve therapy for free so that is pretty nice! ✍️
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION
Should I really be promoting consumerism in a BLUGH meant to encourage creativity? In this case, YES, because I am promoting a fellow creative. We discovered her on Instagram (social media can be used for good) and she is such a cool lady. I mean, look at this and this and this. If watercolor is your thing, I definitely recommend checking out her shops (she has two): Blule and Colour Up Your Day. She is in Australia so please be patient with shipping.
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BOOK RECOMMENDATION
I have already discussed the Creativity Bible, The Artist’s Way, in a previous BLUGH, so I want to take this opportunity to promote a book that really got me feeling/thinking/being more creative. My Brilliant Friend and the subsequent books that are of the Neapolitan Novels, are engrossing, yes, but also made me feel smarter and more creative? I’ve never encoutnered a writing style like Elena Ferrante’s (nom de plume) and I know I am not alone when I say it’s very special. It is not happy stuff hahaha but it inspired me to write and listen and live!!
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TUMBLR
Do you guys remember tumblr!?!?!? tumblr consumed me from the years 2010-2013. I was INTO IT. And now, today, April 19, 2023, I share with you, my tumblr. There is no original content, mind you!! I just used it to reblog content I thought was funny, clever, cute, or aesthetically pleasing. It’s a little time capsule into some of my creativity (is curating digital pictures a creative activity?)!!
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199?
Self Portrait
Lips. Eyes. Shorts. Hair. I dabbled in the visual arts in my youth and here I am pictured with myself in a drawing buy me. I signed this artwork because I knew it was special. I really appreciate the little leg tilt of the one in the background? Subtle, but powerful.