Nine Tips on Being creative

Constantly staying create can be hard, especially is there is pressure or a deadline looming over your head. Luckily, there are may ways to help push creativity and to give you that boost of inspiration! Here are nine things that I have found help me in my times of artist block.

1. Surround yourself with inspiration 
It is hard to be creative when nothing around inspires you. I find that I am often not spontaneously creative, and if I decide that I want to be, I have to do a little bit of digging around before I can come up with any ideas. To help myself, I like to keep a lot of things that spark my imagination at hand. I follow as many art magazines that I can find. They are filled with endless examples of creativity and are a great reference to look at, even if you are thinking of non visual ideas. A few of my favorite are Hi Fructose, My Modern Metropolis, and Juxtapoz. Another great place to find inspiration is sites such as Reddit, Tumblr, and Pinterest. These websites are great for showing a variety of art, always having new content available and for the last two, a pretty good form of organizing what you want to keep. I like to tag posts and save them for later so if I'm hitting artists block I can quickly click through and get an idea!

2. Get nice lighting 
This is something that I have discovered form my own experiences; the better the lighting the better I work. Even though I find that I am most creative during the night, being in the dark not only dampens my mood, but it makes me tired and agitated. With good lamps on, and white light in the room, I feel like it is still the daytime and that promotes happy vibes. A happy artist is one who will never stop creating! 

3. Listen to different music 
Turns out, putting on your favorite jam to draw to will not help! Listening to music that you like can actually decrease productivity. Instead, try something to new to be less distracted, it will help you focus, and in the end, discover new music!  

4. Keep an art diary
I find it extremely important to be constantly doodling, collaging, and overall producing art for myself. Whenever I need to do something a little creative and I am out of ideas I can always go back to my sketchbook. I might find inspiration from some words I wrote down, an image I drew, or even just a few colors that I put together on a page. No matter what you could get out of it, I find that getting anything from it is very important, especially if you are drawing a blank. Find a sketchbook or journal that gets you excited. Slowly collect art supplies you find in elementary schools like glue, watercolors, markers and even fabric! Get inspired and just wreck that book! 

5. Produce work that you don't like 
This is such an important concept, and yet, it is something that I (and I'm sure others) really struggle with. Not everything you think of or make will be perfect and beautiful. It's impossible to not fail, and when one does, it's something that not only needs to be expected, but embraced. So what, that photograph was way too bright? Now you can learn to change the shutter speed next time, and even use this photo as inspiration for others. Lets learn from our mistakes and use them to benefit ourselves for future projects.

6. Change your setting
Get out of the house! Go to a library, park, or even a coffee shop. Let the smells of the outdoors, old books, and caffeine stimulate your brain. Studies show that coffee shop chatter can actually help you focus, and that the color green promotes creativity (wow Starbucks you know your stuff)! I find that going somewhere to do a task not only pushes me to begin the project but to finish it faster while also doing a great job. 

7. Take a break
Sometimes it is best to step away and take a break if you really are stuck. It can help to stop thinking because sometimes the problem is overthinking. One example can be found in my own experiences. I had a final film that was due and I was stressing over it because I had high expectations for myself. I was deliberating everything and could not come up with an idea, so my friends told me to take a break and go to the zoo with them. Turns out, when I went there I actually saw some great shots to take and got an idea! Another great idea is to take a nap. Studies show that naps between 1-3pm can stimulate better brain function, resulting in more creativity! 

8. Experiment with it
It is always important to step outside of the box every once in a while and create your own rules. Experimenting will make you produce things that you don't like, maybe even things you hate, but, it will also make you produce masterpieces! Trying new things will show you what you do and don't like, and give you inspiration to keep moving forward with new ideas. Even art that you hate that can give you ideas to create something you love!

9. Do it 
It's important to remember that if you are out if ideas, just start. If you are writing an essay, start writing words. Get to the conclusion first, or maybe from a random point in your thesis. Don't even write about the essay topic! If it is art related just start doodling. Even if you draw 200 circles again and again on a page you may find an interesting shape in the lines and get a brilliant idea! In the end, let's all take Shia LaBeouf's great advice and just do it.

-Olivia

Traveling Essentials

Hello, I hope you're having an awesome summer! As I'm leaving for Europe next week, I thought I would share some traveling essentials with ya. I'm going to London, Holland and all around Italy! These are items (I think) that are often forgotten but I know they'll be super helpful whilst I'm there.

Adapter
This may be an obvious one but I feel like it'd be super easy to forget. You don't normally think about charging your electronics and if there will be an outlet available because you just assume they'll be available ya feel ( In case you're curious, I got this one)

Reusable Water Bottle
Super important! You have to stay hydrated especially in foreign countries because your body is adapting to the time zone and weather. In Europe, water is hella expensive so bringing one of these will be very helpful. There may be public water fountains but you should do research on where you're going to see if you can drink from the fossett. (PS I like Camelbak and Contigo water bottles)

Fanny pack
You might think they're lame but let's be real , people will be able to tell you're a tourist anyways. A cross body purse is also a practical option, but someone could still tug at it and take things. A backpack may be a little risky as well since you can't see what's going on behind you. I just think the safest and least risky thing to take is a fanny pack but just take a small backpack or small purse if you aren't down for a fanny pack. ( BTW there are cute fanny packs!! Like these ones)

Umbrella
Even if you're going to Hawaii or Venice, it's always a good idea to bring an umbrella. You never know!! There can be tropical rainstorms or sudden showers. It's always good to look at the weather of the places you'll be traveling to anyways.

Disposable Camera
I don't really feel comfortable lugging around my big and bulky Canon camera in Europe. I constantly worry about it and I'm always so paranoid I'll lose it or someone will steal it. It's just unpractical and annoying to carry around. Soooo I think a disposable camera is a great idea!! I know you won't have the pictures electronically but there's something special about holding the pictures instead of looking at them on a screen. And you can always scan the pictures too. If you loose it, it wouldn't suck that bad as they're only about $3-$10.

I hope you enjoyed this post and got something out of it! I know all of these are pretty obvious but I came close to forgetting them so I wanted to prevent that from happening to anyone else. 

-Iris xx

It's OK To Be Sad

Because everyone cares to some extent 

Taking Risks

     

   Hey everyone, this post is a special one that is mostly just going to be talking and discussing topics and things that come to my mind. It's going to be a "journal post". A type of post where you don't know which one of us cacti is writing it. It makes it easier to discuss more intimate things and feelings, but also is comfortable because it's sort of anonymous.

   So i suck at taking risks. Most people probably wouldn't think that or know that, but i do. It's not even really fear of rejection,  or the actual action, it's just that paralyzing fear the second before of being utterly exposed and opening yourself up. Whether it's cliff jumping, or pursuing a passion, or telling someone you think they're cute, risks are essential to change in your life. Change is one of the biggest stressors in our lives yet it usually results in something happy.For example say you want to be friends with somebody. I can guarantee you that people are so caught up in their own insecurities and awkwardness that they are not even aware of yours. Just go up and talk to them. The worst that can happen is that they turn out to be an asshole and you can move on. It sounds so cliché but usually the way I get myself to take risks is to think about what the absolute worst scenario could be, and realizing that I would be fine. 

Our culture is really weird if you think about it. It has to always be a secret when you are attracted to someone, platonically or not, and it's made to be such a big deal. A whole load of time and worries could be cut off if we could all just be honest with each other. Telling someone "I like you" can feel like being naked and exposed, but that's just for a brief amount of time after which you can move from there.We've all conditioned each other to keep our feelings hidden and concealing our happiness and sadness, to figure out our thoughts on our own, when sharing and conferring in others is the best kind of release. I've been trying a lot lately to be more open and connecting with people more, trusting them to trust me. Honestly it's a slow process but it's made me someone that I like more! Feeling yourself connect with other people on an intimate level is one of the best in the world. Knowing you can trust someone unconditionally is too! So I challenge you to go out there and be open to trusting people. Don't go blindly into it though, find someone and let them earn your trust, but please be open to it. I can vouch for the fact that it is very nice to have people like that.

 Anyways that was my little rant of the night. I hope you can relate or this can help you in some way. If you ever need help or personal advice you can always email us at cactus collective@gmail.com, goodnight!!

(ps this was some art I made while bored, it's on adobe illustrator)


   

Good Hobbies for Relaxation, Creativity, and 'Me Time'.

Whether you are sticking magazine cut outs into a book, or repeating 'om' in your head according to your breathing, hobbies are great activities to slow things down and think. They can support calm and relaxing feelings, or can promote creative and fun ways to both record and organize your thoughts. Most importantly, hobbies create 'me time'. They enforce time for you to do something for yourself and this is something that I think is very important. It is easy to get lost in the redundant pattern of the everyday, whether it's school, or just hanging out with your friends (now that it's summer for some of you guys), but, it's good to stop and take some time out for yourself. This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be doing these hobbies alone (though you can), I simply want to suggest some activities that I find to be really beneficial and important to myself personally. Lets get started!

Relaxing Hobbies
1. Hikes  
There's something about the sound of crunching dirt under my feet that I love. The wind blowing at me, and the smell of fresh air. I can walk anything off, that's what I have began to learn this year. Hiking is a great way to empty your mind, or to think over something important. It's a good social and anti-social activity. And, it is beautiful. Hiking is open to changing depending on how you feel, because the activity puts a lot of the power into your hands. You decide on the environment, the path, the pace, even the distance, it's all in your control. Not to say that if you enjoy hiking you are a control freak, my point is that it is an activity that shifts according to your mood and personal preference. What a great way to exercise, while also getting thinking time into your day. 

2. Yoga
Though I myself rarely participate in any form of yoga, many of my friends practice it like a religion. After school they are always pumped to sweat (what is usually equal to a limb) in their hot yoga class, or to relax and breath in their meditation yoga lesson. Yoga comes in many forms; there's restorative yoga, Vinyasa yoga, hot yoga, Anusara yoga, and even partner yoga! All focus on different parts of the body and mind, though I can imagine that after any kind of class, you would feel great.

Creative Hobbies
3. Embroidery 
The art of embroidery has really began to be recognized this past year. Many artists, students, and creative individuals have been highlighted in this practice, and it is beginning to become a highly experimental art form. For my birthday I got an embroidery kit (best gift ever) and since receiving it, I have been sewing away. The act of sticking my needle through fabric and slowly drawing an image out of thread really is fun and calm for me. The practice is very slow, and not for extremely impatient people. However, I find myself to be picky with long term projects, yet there is just something about finishing an embroidery project that I get so much satisfaction out of. I keep starting more, so that must say something. You don't have to know what you are doing to start. There are many blogs and videos that give helpful advice on techniques and materials that you need. Plus, it's fun to see your art get better as you grow and improve as an artist. 

4. Photography
Documenting events, friends, and basically your life is an important part of growing up. We are constantly getting older. As we age, we all look back at our old self and say 'Was I really that stupid?' or 'Wow, I was annoying!'. But how did we grow into the people we are today? Don't you want to remember the version of 'you' that you are right now in this moment? Photography is a great way to record that. With visual images you can see many changes that have occurred throughout your life. You can see small changes like the clothes you wore, or how you did your hair and you can also see drastic ones, like the friends you hung out with and your changes in lifestyle. Photos hold priceless sentimental value that can help you remember and discover things from your past or present. You can snap a photo of anything, and once you look at it, no matter how long it has been, memories will start to come back. 

Me Time

5. Journal
When you hear the word 'journal' maybe people jump to the idea of a diary. Well, this is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the kind of journal that is a book for your creative side. Yes you can write your thoughts and about your day in it, but you can also create collages, and paste in song names, and draw portraits of your boy/girl crush (next to the page where you wrote their name 30 times in a row). Journals are more than just a recap of your day, they are creative outlets. They can substitute as a sketchbook (another important hobby) and are made to be wrecked. Draw on every page. Spill food onto it. Take it everywhere. Your journal should turn into a book filled with inspiration.  

  

Here's another- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFuurjBI1cU)

6. Discover Music/ Make Cd's
When was the last time you made a playlist, and burned it onto a Cd for a friend? If it was this week, then skip this paragraph because you are already set in this topic. Music is big part of many peoples lives. It is a great way to connect with others, and yourself. Though enjoying your favorite song is fun and nostalgic at times, it is good to make sure that you are constantly discovering new stuff. Share bands you love with your friends. Make collaborative summer playlists together. There is no better feeling than when you find a new favorite artist because a friend showed you. Now they're connected to that album, or that song, and you have made that track even more meaningful. Expanding your itunes library can be only beneficial, until it is too full and you need to start finding other ways to store your tunes ;).

7. Self-Assigning Projects

Lastly, projects. It's good to always have something to work on or fall back to when you're bored. Projects make you grow as a person and help you expand and learn. Self assigning projects are the best because you're giving yourself time to work on something that you are genuinely excited about. Have yourself learn a new song on guitar, or plan a photo shoot with your friends. Once you can play with ease, or finish developing your photos, you know that you've expanded on your knowledge or practice of something you enjoy, and that should feel pretty damn good. 

-Olivia

Coachella Bound Goodies!!

            Week one of Coachella starts today! Unfortunately I, nor any other cactus collective blogger, can make it to the music festival. Nonetheless, I have decided to make a Coachella packing guide for those who have the great opportunity to go. Here are some essential goodies to bring if you make it to week two! 

Have a great time at Coachella!

-Olivia

Room Inspo w/Plants!

 Hey everybody! So today i'm going to make a post about cute room decorations, I've recently gotten into decorating my room a lot more, even though it's mostly just ideas and not actually doing anything..oops. Anyway, I thought I would just show you guys these room decorations that I've been obsessed with recently. They're cute little simple, pretty things that honestly would compliment any room.

           This first one is a little terrarium. (All of these are from Urban Outfitters) it doesn't come with the decorations inside of it, but if you go to Micheals i'm positive that they'll have fake moss and any kind of cute little trinkets you would want to put in it. I like it because it's like the vibe of a fish tank, but without the fish and water of course. It just adds a really cool look and is a creative shape. Plus you can change out the stuff that you put in it to match the season or your room theme.

This next one is such a cute idea I love it so much! It would be insanely easy to do on your own so I don't recommend actually purchasing it, when you can go and get some little test tubes like these from the container store or any store where sell trinkets/furniture.  It 's just a little test tube case with flowers stuck in, I would love to put some fresh daisies and dandelions from my backyard, with a little water in the bottom to keep it fresher, and then keeping them by my window. And then afterwards I would press them into pretty little pressed flowers with this flower press that I have. I guess it would just be a really nice touch, and i love the idea because test tubes and flowers are never seen together, and I like the contrast of that.

This next decoration thing is supposed to look like a fire escape, with plants all over it. I love succulents  and cacti (could you guess) and so i thought it was such a neat cute idea that I almost bought it. And then I realized that it was over $100 and sadly, I would rather not. I love how it looks like they are crowding over and growing out,and it reminds me of my family's apartment in paris. It used to be a painter's workshop/apartment, and you can eat on the roof and see the Panthéon, (it's literally a street over). It has these HUGE windows with a gorgeous view, and you can climb this ladder to a little garden. I honestly wish I live there year round, but we try to go every summer. We're super lucky to have that in the family. After that long ramble, basically the point I was trying to make was that it seems very city-like, what with how people put out little plants on their balconies and all over their roofs.  The apartment is the top in the building (no elevator so it's 8 flights of stairs!) so you can see everyone's plants and vegetation that they put in their homes and I love it so much! When I go back this summer I will do daily posts with what I do, and put a lot of pictures! Sorry this post was so off topic but I just got really excited for what's coming up! Anyways I hope you got some inspiration and enjoy the blog! Let us know what you want to see next and i'll talk to you cacti later!

-Gaby


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