Week of Williams.... Robin that is!- Creative Mastermind for Week 8/11 and 8/18: Robin Williams

Hello everybody and thank you for stopping by The Creative Cabana! I'm your host, Danielle and I am happy to be back at the The Creative Cabana after a rough and stressful week in the real world. Since my last post, which was just over a week ago (sadly), I have been very busy picking up extra hours at work, doing some volunteer projects, and this past Friday I had to have surgery for my wisdom teeth. It's been crazy and dare I say, a little bit painful. However, as I work my way through recovery I'm taking time to finish up a post that I intended to have published much earlier on. But they say better late than never so here goes...

This post is going to be a bit different than my traditional Creative Mastermind posts, because it's a partial tribute, partial recognition, and partial appreciation for the man I could easily call my favorite actor- the late and magnificent, Robin Williams. It's been a hard two weeks since his passing and I, like most of the world, still remain in shock over the news of his death. It's weird how we treat celebrity deaths, because it's not so much about the person who died anymore, it's how they died. Another great Hollywood legend passed away shortly after Williams, actress Lauren Bacall- but notice how she didn't get no where near as much attention as Williams did. I think the fact is, that everyone was caught off guard. I honestly don't think I've seen this much coverage of a celebrity death since Michael Jackson's passing back in 2009. I don't want to focus on Robin Williams' death though. I want to celebrate his life and success and share a few memories of him that make him a great Creative Mastermind.

I am a hard-core 90s child. I grew up with a lot of great nostalgic moments, several which involved Robin Williams. When I think back as far as I can to when I first became introduced to Williams, I'm torn between Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire. I can't remember which role I was exposed to first because growing up I didn't always catch on to movies or TV right away. I can remember though seeing these two films at a very young age and always laughing at scenes where Robin Williams shines. I suppose what made him stand out to me was his ability to change personalities so quickly. He always seemed to remind me of a little kid that was on a non-stop sugar rush. To help celebrate his obvious and amazing talent, I spent an entire week watching and reflecting on movies in which he left a strong impact on me. Want to see the list? well here we go:

1. Aladdin & Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Ok before you ask, if you didn't already know this- I'm not including "Return of Jafar" in this list because Williams was not involved in this movie with the role of the Genie. I am including the two films together simply for the sake of being in the same franchise. Ever since Aladdin came out in the early 1990s I've often said if Robin Williams could be animated as a cartoon character then the Genie is it. Disney animators have often said that Genie was created based off of Williams- actions, expressions, character, and personalities. It definitely shows. The clip here shows a few moments for "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" where Williams does some of his best jokes. 

2. Mrs. Doubtfire

This is probably my favorite role from Robin Williams as he portrays a kind, but "hip granny" who hatches up a plan to see his kids everyday while he and his wife go through a messy divorce. The character, Daniel Hillard, loves his children to death and decides he'll do anything to see them despite the objections of the loving, but work-obsessed mom played by Sally Fields. So when the Mom is hiring for a housekeeper to watch the kids, Robin Williams' character applies and gets the job disguised a loving British nanny. This movie hits all the right notes in terms of movie making- there's plenty of funny scenes, but there's also serious and sincere moments throughout the film. Sally Fields and Pierce Brosnan do a great job in their supporting roles and the children in this movie are to die for! It's a slam dunk cast. My favorite scene by far in this film is when a court social worker visits Mr. Hillard's apartment and he's still dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire. He's essentially playing two roles to confuse the social worker. I couldn't find a good clip to accurately show this scene- so the following clip is another favorite scene where Robin Williams just does an improv of several voices. Great stuff!

3. The Birdcage

This movie was hard for me to get into at first just because it was very confusing for me. I saw this movie when I was kid and was very confused by it because while it's a great comedy, there's many adult themes and other moral factors that, well children just don't understand at a young age. I saw this film when I got older and now that I understood the social environments being presented in The Birdcage, it made more sense. If you've never seen The Birdcage- you should, it's great. Robin Williams along with co-star Nathan Lane play a gay couple in South Beach, Florida who own a night-time drag club. When their son wants to marry his girlfriend from college, the men do everything they can to impress the girls' family who has a Republican senator for a father- yeah, this just begs for trouble. Both families go through a series of events involving relationships, scandals, and other humorous adventures all in the name of love, so that the children can get married. To see everything that makes this movie so great just watch this video featuring the best scenes of The Birdcage with Gloria Estefan's "Conga".

4. Ferngully

Ok, I have to admit I honestly forgot that Robin Williams was in this movie until I started going through my collection of movies to write about for this post. Ferngully was one of those underrated 90s kids movies that encouraged children to save the rainforest. It is great movie? Well, it's ok... in my opinion, Robin Williams and Tim Curry make the movie enjoyable. Robin Williams plays a funny bat who escaped a testing lab and lands in Ferngully. He tells the tree fairies, the residents of the land known as Ferngully, about the destruction that humans cause to the environment. Williams' character "Batty" (yeah, real original) befriends one of the fairies and helps them to save Ferngully from an evil pollution monster known as Hexus played by Tim Curry. If you've seen Ferngully chances are there's two things you remember from this film. One you might remember Tim Curry singing about "Toxic Love" and you might remember Batty's Rap- sung by Robin Williams.

5. Flubber

Flubber is another underrated, but still pretty good Robin Williams delight. This was one of Disney's "lesser known" films because I think it didn't really generate a lot of interest at the time. Flubber was a remake of the classic film "The Absent-Minded Professor", in which a scientist accidentally creates this dysfunctional goo. The goo causes all kinds of mischief and crazy stunts. Robin Williams plays the scientist in this film and enjoys interacting with his creation. I have to be honest, I have not seen Flubber in YEARS! I remember watching it and thinking "yeah this movie is ok", but that was it. I recorded it off of Disney channel back when the world still used VHS tapes and until Netflix decides to add it to the collection, that tape as been my only window to this classic. If you've never seen Flubber, it's a good "kill some time" movie. I like the parts where Williams plays around with Flubber in multiple scenes. Without ruining too much of the movie for you, here's a scene with Flubber in full action:

6. Jumanji

Holy crap do I love this movie! When you think of a typical 90s kid, this has got to be one of the movies that comes to mind. When Jumanji first came out, I didn't really know what to make of it- fun, scary, strange, weird, and massive. For being a 90s film, Jumanji was actually a really well-made movie. It had great visuals, good storyline, excellent cast, and a great action adventure built into it. Jumanji is about a game that comes to life and makes the lives of people who play it a living nightmare. Robin Williams plays Alan Perish, a child who disappeared in the 60s after playing the game with his friend Sarah. In 1995, two children find the game and as they play a round they release Alan who was trapped in the world of Jumanji. Alan, Sarah, and the two children play the game in order to fix the mess the game has caused. Robin Williams is a little bit more serious in this film, but he still gets plenty of good laughs throughout the film. I like Williams' role in Jumanji as more of the heroic icon. He's smart, funny, brave, and learns some good lessons throughout the movie. I highly recommend Jumanji for anyone who seeks a movie with an adventure!

7. Hook

The last Robin Williams film I would like to recognize from my childhood is Hook. Unlike the others listed above, this is probably the one film I had literally only seen maybe once or twice. I remember watching it in school because it was movie many of the kids enjoyed and it followed along well with the original Peter Pan stories. In this version of the Peter Pan classic, Robin Williams portrays Peter as a grown-up adult with two children who are kidnapped by a vengeful Captain Hook. In order for Peter to save his kids, he must return to Neverland and remember who he once was. Very similar to Jumanji, I think Hook allowed Williams to have a slightly more serious role. Hook has its fun moments and lots of good laughs watching Williams act throughout the movie. I think what draws me to this film, is the different portrayal of Peter Pan. I mean it reminds me of the "What if?" scenerio. What if Peter grew up? What if Peter had kids? Those questions get answered and what better person to be Peter Pan than the everlasting child himself- remember, I said earlier that Robin Williams often reminded me of a child. Besides who else would better suited to say: "To die would be an awfully big adventure..."

Ok my friends, there you have it! My favorite Robin Williams movies all tied up into my own Creative Cabana tribute to a wonderful mastermind and talent. I cannot express in words how much I will miss this beautiful soul, not just for his laughs and talents. He was also a great human in general- he gave so much to support St. Jude's- a philanthropy which I have personally supported through involvement with Greek Life during my college career. Robin Williams was someone I really hoped to meet one day, for real. There will never be another one like him and I still cannot believe that we will never see his smiling face again until it is time for us to pass on. I pray everyday for his friends and family who struggle with his loss. All I can say is Thank You Mr. Williams, Thank You. Wherever you may be, I hope you have found peace and happiness far beyond what this world could provide.

*All thoughts and comments mentionned in this post are strictly of my own beliefs. These do not reflect those of Robin Williams, his family, friends, co-workers, or entertainment associates. I do not own any of the movies mentionned in this post. All films and clips used belong strictly to their respective filmmakers, and producers. Clips used were published on YouTube from other associate users and have legal right under the Fair Use Act. Images used in this post were gathered from Google Images Search Results. These photos belong to their respective photographers/creators and I take no ownership over these images. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Creators Block, Paying Tribute, and More Housekeeping...

HOLY COW! I cannot believe it has been nearly two months, since my last post on The Creative Cabana. No, I didn't disappear off the face of the Earth and it's not that haven't been lazy. I've simply experienced a period of what I'm going to call "Creator's Block" and a case of poor time management. In any case, if you haven't been here in awhile (like me) or you are a new visitor... welcome to The Creative Cabana!  This is the place where creativity and fun thrive, and you get to embrace it all through my experiences. I have a few things I need to address first, so bear with me as we get through these items together.

Creator's Block
So in the time between now and my last post, I experienced something that I can't honestly say I've gone through before. I'm sure you've heard of the term "writer's block" in which a writer comes to a stopping point with no direction in sight. While there's plenty to write about here at The Creative Cabana, I've been trying to become more focused on creating things and then writing about them. I don't have access to a lot of the more advanced programs I'd like to use for things like photography, graphics, and multimedia production. So naturally, I have to get creative with the tools I have at hand. Since I wasn't getting that "light bulb turned on" idea, I decided to go off the grid for a little while until it came back on- although I didn't expect it to be for two months. However, I do have some great ideas in mind as we get into the "Back to School" season. I guess it's safe to say the light bulb as turned ON!

Paying Tribute
I find it ironic that the last time I posted on here was a dedication to the great Casey Kasem as we celebrated his life and mourned his passing. Here I am again honoring another great legend. I don't need to tell you how shocked I was when I heard the news of Robin Williams' death. In a way, I feel as though part of my childhood has died too. It sounds odd, and by now it probably sounds cliche too. I am a 90s child, so I grew up watching movies like Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Jumanji. Robin Williams was flawless in every movie I had seen him in. Prior to his death, I was shocked to hear that a man who brought so much laughter and joy to others, couldn't see the happiness within himself. As part of the "Creative Mastermind" section, I would like to do a special article written and dedicated to Robin Williams. So be sure to check back for that post, as I hope to have it published before the end of the week.

More Housekeeping
My friends and fellow readers, I ask for your forgiveness and patience for not having posted on here as much I had intended to. There has been a lot going on in my personal life and these are things that sadly have no place or right to interfere with The Creative Cabana. When I started this blog it was intended to be an outlet for all of the creative skill that I have built up inside of me. I still want to do that and in order to accomplish this I'm going to become more organized and efficient by scheduling ahead of time when I can create these posts to avoid any further gaps in postings. That being said, since it's time for back-to-school I'm going to do a couple of crafty/graphic ideas to help you design a DIY Planner and also Classroom decorations for my teacher friends. It's going to be a great time to get your crafty cap on, so be sure to keep an eye out for those posts.

Whew! I think that's everything. Again, to all of my readers thanks for sticking with me during this crazy time as The Creative Cabana is making a fresh new come back! Remember you can always follow The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more creative awesomeness and stay updated. Until next time, peace out my friends!

Good Tools Make Great Artists

Good Afternoon Creative Cabana visitors! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to give you a new post this week. Life has been pretty busy and I haven't had much time to sit down and share more creative goodness. It's a beautiful Saturday morning here in Ohio and I hope wherever you're reading this post from it's just as gorgeous outside. It's the weekend so if you're going to be out and about bask in some fun activities with the family to help start the summer season! If you're staying indoors for the weekend, I've got some great tips to help exercise the drawing skills we've been discussing this month.

Since I've been dedicating June as the month of drawing, I think it's important to talk about what tools you should have to help enhancing your drawing skills. Most people think you have to be some kind of Picasso in order to create good art, that's not entirely true. Drawing serves many purposes other than just basic art principles. Personally, I've drawn out many essential plans in my life such as designing my bedroom before I moved, drawing a outline plan for a scrapbook to cut costs, t-shirt designs, etc. So you don't have to be an expert, but to have expert results you should invest in a few good tools.

The general rule of thumb is a Number 2 pencil and a piece of paper- yeah, but let's go a little bit further. If you plan on keeping a collection of your drawings try getting a sketchbook to keep these pictures in. The sketchbook doesn't have to be super fancy most run anywhere from $3 to $15 depending on size and design of the book. I've got about 5 sketchbooks and a few tablets, but I like to draw a lot so I'm a bit advanced in that department.

The second tool to invest in is quality pencils and erasers. A regular pencil is ok, but I've noticed that drawings done in No. 2 pencils can fade quicker and can be messy if you smear your pictures frequently. Drawing pencils usually come in packages so you get different sizes to use. Most pencil packs range between $3 to $25 depending on what level you need. It sounds strange that someone would pay over $1 for a pack of pencils, but these are not your ordinary writing utensils. Drawing pencils come in different strength settings and different materials. Some pencils are made from charcoal to give subjects more detail and darker imagery, while other pencils are designed to provide light/smooth lines. You may see pencils labeled "HB", "2B", "8B", etc- this indicates the hardness of the pencil. The harder the pencil the darker and deeper the lines will appear to be. You may not need pencils this advanced depending on what you intend to draw, however if you want to practice using a variety of strengths in your pencils it would be a good idea to invest in a small pack of drawing pencils. You can also practice the shading scale with these pencils to see how each one can be adjusted in value as you draw.

The one final tool you should invest in is an eraser. This will probably be your best friend throughout the drawing process, so be kind to it. You'll want to have a standard eraser and also a special eraser called "kneaded". The kneaded eraser is one of the coolest things you'll ever come in contact with. It's an eraser that you can stretch and change forms- think of it like chewing gum. This allows you to reach and erase small spaces where normal ruler wouldn't be able to clean. Plus if you get frustrated with your work, it's a fun way to relieve the stress by simply playing with the eraser! 

Please note that while these materials aren't exactly essential to your drawing needs, they're good investments to have if you plan on maintaining your drawing habits a lot. Don't over do it though, start out small and stick to the basic tools before you move on to more advanced (and expensive) tools. While you're at, share your drawings here at The Creative Cabana! I would love to see your work and you can have your talents known throughout the world wide web! Simply share it on Facebook or Twitter just search for The Creative Cabana. Go fourth and explore your drawing abilities. Have a great weekend and we'll see you all back here for a new weekly Creative Mastermind. 

*Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. These photos were used for visual representation and educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Creative Mastermind for Week 06/09: Jim Reed, Extreme Weather Photographer

Happy Monday friends! Hope you've all had a terrific weekend and that you're having a good start to the week so far. It's a new week, so that means we have a new Creative Mastermind to announce. Over the last few days, I've been contemplating about which direction I wanted to go with when deciding this week's mastermind. I like relevancy, and I try to pick subjects (and people) that center around current trends based on what I see in the world around me. One of the things that has really caught my attention lately is the weather. A very broad subject, the weather is changing and because we're in the transition period between Spring and Summer we see a lot of patterns in the weather that effect us- our daily plans, moods, and even our health. Recall last week's post "What a Beautiful Day for Sketching!" in which the weather was so gorgeous outside I just had be a part of it. There's the really good and beautiful side to weather, but there's also the mysterious, dangerous, and breathtaking part of weather too which sometimes I think people tend to or try to forget about. 

I have a strong passion for weather and believe me when I say that for many years I had every intention of going to college to study meteorology. When I got to high school though, I was discourage from the field because of the struggles I had when it came to harder studies in Math and Science. None the less, of all the research I've done one of the pieces of evidence that scientists rely to study the weather is photography. Using photographs, scientists can use visual evidence to study a weather pattern and determine the movements of a particular storm (even in the aftermath). One man who stands out among many nature photographers is Jim Reed, this week's Creative Mastermind. 

 Jim Reed was born in Georgia in 1961, but raised in Springfield, Illinois. From an early age he developed a love for storms and passion for photography which literally came together as "the perfect storm" for him. He went on to receive his Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of South California and started his career in film-making in the 1980s. He was producing many pieces such as commercials, music videos, and occasionally working on motion pictures. In the early 1990s, Jim Reed settled in Kansas and returned to his love of storms with his new skills in photography and cinematic arts.

His work has been seen throughout many books and TV programs spanning all across globe. He's been featured on channels such as Discovery, National Geographic, and even The Weather Channel to display his work and showcase his knowledge of storms through his art. Reed has also been honored many times through several organizations for his outstanding work in photography within his field. 

What makes this field of photography so unique is that not only does it open doors for creativity, but it's also unpredictable and spontaneous. Even with today's technologies, scientists still do not have a full understanding of weather systems and how they can predict the wrath of nature. So when photographers like Jim Reed go out into the field, you really don't know what to expect and what work they'll bring back with them. Hundreds of severe thunderstorms form throughout the North American region each year, but only a handful of them will produce really significant storms that spawn phenomenons like tornadoes, baseball sized-hail, or devastating flood levels. So when storms like these develop, Jim Reed takes advantage of the situation to document these developing cells. 

It's hard to exactly define the qualities that are precise reasons why Reed is a Creative Mastermind. I have a lot of respect for the art of what he does- it's more than snapping a picture of clouds. Each moment he captures tells a story from an event that could change history. For example, Reed has several photographs that captured the critical moments of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005- before & after, damage, during the storm, people driving through the storms, etc. Sometimes photos like these are the evidence that meteorologists use to survey storm strength and damage for insurance companies. After all a picture is worth a thousand words- but sometimes these pictures can be worth a thousand lives. Businesses looks back on these pictures and can say "this is where we went wrong and this how we're going to fix it". 

On the creativity side of Reed's work, I have to give major kudos for color and angle of his shots. While these images may reveal somewhat scary situations, they also have a certain degree of beauty in them. In this field nature is the canvas, and timing is everything, so Reed does an excellent job of using these elements carefully in a timely manner. Weather can change so quickly, and safety is important when documenting nature's wonders. Reed handles each of these factors with excellent consideration and precaution- though a few of his images I'm sure you'll agree appear to be "too close for comfort".

 

Overall, I think Jim Reed is a pure talent not just to photography, but also to science. Reed captures images that portray visual evidence of our scientific understanding of weather. I encourage you all to watch some of the various documentaries on extreme weather and see just how far crew members, such as Jim Reed, will go to get the perfect picture. This work is truly fascinating, and you can tell from the images just how passionate he his about weather. Don't take my word for it though. Visit his website: http://www.jimreedphoto.com/index.html and get up close and personal with nature's fury. 

Congrats to Jim Reed, Extreme Weather Photographer for being crowned this week's Creative Mastermind! Your talents have not gone unnoticed, and you are an incredible contribution to art and science lovers everywhere! If you would like to nominate someone to featured as a Creative Mastermind, go ahead and share your ideas with The Creative Cabana. Leave a comment on this post with the name and details of your nomination or you can share your nomination on Facebook or Twitter just search "Creative Cabana". 

* All images used in this post are the sole property of Jim Reed and Jim Reed Photography. The images were gathered from Google Images Search Results and are used for educational purposes only. Bio information was used from Jim Reed's website directly and I hereby give citation to the following website: http://www.jimreedphoto.com/index.html. All opinions in this post are my own views and do not reflect the views of Jim Reed or any of the organizations he has serviced. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

What a Beautiful Day for Sketching!

Good Afternoon everybody and thanks for stopping by at The Creative Cabana! It is so gorgeous outside today compared to yesterday's weather when it was rainy and gloomy, but hey that's what makes everything so pretty outside right? Well, this beautiful weather inspired me to sit outside and do something I really haven't done for awhile...sketch. In my previous posts, I talked about June was going to be dedicated to drawing and I've started out with the first step into creating develop drawing fundamentals.

As far back as I can remember in my art classes, usually the first project we would do is what's called "freehand style", you basically draw the object as you see it giving the subject as much or as little detail as you'd like. This is a common warm-up exercise for many artist because it exercises your muscles, but also your sight. The concept is designed to help practice for more detailed drawings that may come later on. With these exercises you can practice your skills in things like lines, shading, value, and sometimes color. Most freehand styles are completed in a short amount of time, so it's best to stick with the basic outline of your subject and go from there. I'm going to show you an example of the drawing I did and you can see a clear visual of the freehand technique. So lets get started!

You can do your practice sketching anywhere you choose. I wasn't going to let a beautiful day like this slip away, so I picked outside in my backyard/patio area. Grab your sketchbook (or just a few sheets of paper), pencil (preferably), a drink (because Art can make you thirsty), and maybe even some music if it inspires you. I had my sketchbook, pencil, water, and phone outside with me. My cell phone served as my radio, but I'm also one of the few households that still has a land-line phone too.

When choosing your subject, don't go for something complex and overwhelming. Especially if you're a beginner in the field of drawing, you don't want to kill your arm on the first try. Half of the experience in free-hand style is getting you to relax and see objects with a clearer vision. Personally, I think landscapes or small, still life objects are good for sketching because they remain fairly stationary and they give a decent canvas to start with. For my example, I've decided to sketch a group of flowers we have hanging in the back area.

Now if you're wondering "is there a secret as to where you should start drawing first?", I say NO. I've always started at the bottom and worked my way around in an outline form, and then filling in the rest later, but everyone has there own preferences. The main thing to remember is to sketch the basic shapes first and then go back for detailing later. I think flowers and trees are easy to sketch since there's so many random lines within each one's texture you don't have to follow the exact patterns in detailing. Yes, you want it to match as closely as possible... however, it's ok if you don't always "stay within the lines" and go outside the box a little bit. Once you've got your basic outlines drawn, then it's up to your creative skills to lead you through the rest of drawing. Remember sketching is practicing, no one expects your picture to come out looking like something Van Gogh would've had hanging in his bedroom. In fact, here's how my sketch turned out:

Sure, it's far from perfect! But for not having done any serious drawing in a few years, I'd have to say I don't think I did too bad in this round. People and Cars are probably the hardest things for me to draw, but I love a good challenge and I think we can work on those two subjects later on. Overall though, how did your drawing turn out? Don't worry if it's not the greatest looking piece of work you've ever seen, we are all creative in our own unique ways and art is in the beauty of the beholder. 

  

Now it's your turn! Share your sketches with The Creative Cabana by simply leaving a message with an image of your sketch on this post, or you can share it with us on Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't done so already, be sure to "Like" The Creative Cabana on Facebook and follow us on Twitter- @CreativeCabana. 

Go out, enjoy the fresh air and expand your creative minds! Stay tuned for more posts on our Drawing series and be sure to watch for the next Creative Mastermind coming up on Monday! Take care and have a beautiful day.

*All images used in this post were taken by myself and I am the sole owner of these photographs. 

Creative Mastermind for Week 06/02: Edwin Binney & C. Harold Smith, Founders of "Crayola"

Good Day to you my friends and welcome to The Creative Cabana to help kick off the start of the month of June! I hope you all had a great weekend and that you're ready to begin the summer season with a variety of creative projects. Each week to help me get inspired for the week's discussions and Creative Mastermind candidates, I tend to do a little brainstorming and eventually I get drawn to a particular concept of who shall be named Creative Mastermind for the week. Over the weekend I spent a day trip with my family visiting a home decor and home hardware store shopping around for the endless list of things we need to help fix our the house the way we want. One area of the store I went to was the paint section- naturally I'm looking into re-painting my bedroom at some point and wanted to get some color ideas. Upon looking at the various brand names I came across one name that I haven't read or thought about in many years- Crayola.

Whenever I see the name or a product titled "Crayola", I instantly think back to my childhood. For many people Crayola is a staple symbol in our childhood. We grew up drawing with the crayons, and being amused by the in-box sharpener that came in bigger packages, or we used the markers that seemed to dry out after a few uses. Crayola is by far the most popular art supplier for children because they pride themselves in making their products "child-proof" with no mess technology and easy to use instructions. In order to establish Crayola as this week's Creative Mastermind, I have to give the credit to the two men who created the "Crayola" brand, Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith

Binney and Smith, who happened to be cousins, formed their business partnership in 1885 which initially began as the "Binney & Smith" company. The men were working to create colorants to be used for industrial businesses. Remember that colors during this time period were limited because of dyes and pigments that were available (and affordable). In the early 20th century, the men began selling basic slate pencils to be used for tablets in schools. After doing some experiments with various industrial materials, Binney discovered a unique concept that would become known as the "first white dustless chalk".

 In 1903, Binney and his wife began development of their own wax crayons which today bears the name "Crayola". By the way, in case you didn't know where the term "Crayola" comes from, it derives from the french word "craie" which stands for chalk and "ola" for oily. Crayola becomes a big hit and goes on to become the household name that it is today. Crayola now isn't limited to just the crayons though, the products have ranged from paints to silly putty and even coloring books. This has become a childhood favorite for many decades and popular tool for even the youngest of artists. 

When I sat down and thought about what makes Crayola shine in creativity, the main idea that comes to my head is that the products inspire the creativity. Having the option of applying colors to everyday surfaces can spark imagination and exercise our artistic skills, no matter how limited they may be. I think what makes Crayola so creative too is that with crayons in general, there's really nothing else like them. Who would've thought that a few colored pieces of wax could amount to such artistic detail. Paint is one thing, and pencils are great too. But when the crayons were first introduced, there really wasn't anything to compare them to. Many people were intrigued by the fact that there's no dust from these crayons- a revolutionary idea. These fundamental tools are essential to our creativity because they help to illustrate our thoughts. Maybe you should dig out that old kindergarten picture you drew of your family- it may not look like much now, but once upon a time it was valued portrait. Crayola's products help children build memories, spark creativity, and set the standard of learning through art. 

What are you waiting for? Grab your crayons, coloring book, and go do something creative! Crayola's name will be around for quite some time, but you're not getting any younger and besides, it's fun to relive your inner-child. Thank you Crayola for giving children of all ages a chance to develop artistic skills and teaching us to be creative in everything we do. 

Thanks for spending time with me at The Creative Cabana! If you have an idea for someone who'd make the perfect Creative Mastermind, send me a message by leaving a comment on this post, or you can share ideas on Facebook or Twitter just search "The Creative Cabana". Have a beautiful afternoon and keep checking back for more creative topics this week! June is going to be the Month of Drawing, so watch for upcoming posts related to drawing tips and tricks. Stop by again soon! 

*I do not own Crayola or any of the Crayola brand-named products. Those products and their patents belong to the Crayola company and their respective developers. Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search Results. I have no relations to Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith, I have used the Crayola brand in this post for discussion and educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

Creative Mastermind for Week 5/27: Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, Creators of "The Magic School Bus"

Hello once again to my Creative Cabana readers! I hope you've been enjoying the new design format and that you've had a chance to re-familiarize yourself with the site and content. I've had some trouble getting this week's Creative Mastermind post released mainly because of issues I'm having with my internet signal. Without going into too much detail, I have to say that it's really been a challenge keeping everything updated online when you only have limited internet access half the time! It makes me wish I could go back to a simpler time, when technology didn't 100% take over the work load... a time like Kindergarten. 

Schools around here are getting ready to go on summer break and it's really gotten me thinking about how much I miss school. I was one of the students who actually enjoyed going to school, but I also liked having a nice long vacation as much as the next kid. So when school was out for the summer, there were a couple of things I would do to keep on track with studies during the summer. One thing was to complete different activity books geared towards various subjects and grades- my Mom used to get these from Walmart or Kmart and I HAD to have these finished by the end of the break. The second thing I would do, which was 100 times better, was to indulge in an educational cartoon titled "The Magic School Bus"- and guess what, that is this week's Creative Mastermind! Snaps to Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, the creators of the popular children's books and tv show, "The Magic School Bus". 

Anyone who was a child growing up in the 90s, knows just how popular this show was. Even though the series concluded in 1997, it still maintains it's popularity with children even to this day. For those who may not be familiar with The Magic School Bus, it started out as a series of children's books about a class with a fun teacher, and crazy school bus that had magical abilities. The children, their teacher known as "Ms. Frizzle", and the Bus share in many adventures as they learn about different topics in science. Ms. Frizzle uses her crazy gadgets inside the bus to take the children on different "field trips" to explore areas to teach the kids about how science works in the world. Both the books and TV show gave children a fun and innovative way to learn because everything in this show was centered around children and seeing it through a different environment. Kids could relate to the desire of having fun "field trips", Ms. Frizzle is adorable and full of laughs, the kids are pretty much like regular school children- funny, smart, but curious. The Bus sometimes shows it's own emotions by doing all kinds of wacky things during the trips, but also gives kids the idea of  "Wow! I wish our school bus was that cool!". 

And then of course there's this.... the theme song. The theme song that EVERY KID knew and was probably just as memorable as the Captain Planet theme, because it sounds so cool. Little Richard sings the lyrics with a wicked instrumental background that just makes you want to dance. Take a listen and for those of you who grew up with this show, get ready to reminiscence. 

The credit for the creation of The Magic School Bus goes to Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen who originally created the concept in the mid-1980s. The TV show aired on several children's networks from 1994 to its conclusion in 1997, although many Magic School Bus books continued to be published. Joanna Cole is the author of the Magic School Bus book which has sold millions of copies world-wide and in multiple languages. Cole has said that she always enjoyed science in school and even had a teacher that was similar to Ms. Frizzle. 

Bruce Degen is the illustrator of the series and responsible for the design of The Magic School Bus, Ms. Frizzle, and the children. His animated style can be seen throughout the TV series as well as on the covers of the various Magic School Bus books. The style is very similar to the animation seen in other children's shows such as Arthur. Degen did an excellent job of portraying the unique cartoon look along with the realistic design of the scienetific scenes. In one episode, Ms. Frizzle takes the class inside of a human body to observe how we digest food. Regular images of inside the human body can be quite graphic even for kids. However, Degen gave an animated portrayal of what the body looks like so that children can understand what they are seeing. The overall design of the characters is fun, but developed. 

So you know a little bit about The Magic School Bus and its creators, but you might be asking- what makes them the Creative Mastermind? Well, there's a couple of different angles to look at this from. In Degen's case, I really applaud him for the well-developed illustration. The mix of education and animation can sometimes be too clumsy and doesn't have the impact on kids like it should because they feel they're just watching a regular kids show. He was able to take a realistic concept and translate that into animation to make the world of science seem more kid friendly. The Magic School Bus really engages the kids to watch and learn because the action draws their attention. Degen illustrates the scenarios in a way that differentiates The Magic School Bus from being too straight forward, thus making it a kids educational show. With Cole, she has the imagination of a small child and brings out the characteristics of a typical elementary school child through the characters. Ms. Frizzle is like a child in a way, because she's so carefree. You never see her crying or get very serious with the kids, because she believes in "taking chances and making mistakes". The writing is excellent too, from jokes to facts. Cole has a strong sense of humor which shows within the series, but also works it well with the learning aspects. It's hard to combine education with cartoons because children expect to be entertained. The Magic School Bus has all of those elements- humor, truth, adventurous, and entertainment. 

Overall, I have to give Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen, and the team of "The Magic School Bus" an A+ on creativity. They hit all of the right notes with this series, books and TV shows. It has long captivated the hearts and minds of children, educators, and parents for many years. It's a great classic that will live on for many years to come. Many school even show episodes to their class for specific lessons because it's so entertaining and educational too. Shows like this help us to reflect on how we educate our children today because they are the future. Congrats to the Magic School Bus for being this week's Creative Mastermind! 

Think you have a good idea of someone or something that is worthy of the "Creative Mastermind" title? Send in your suggestions to The Creative Cabana. Simply leave your thoughts in a comment on this post or share them with us on Facebook or Twitter- just search Creative Cabana. Check back for more Creative Goodness from The Creative Cabana. Until next time, have a great weekend everyone! 

* I do not own The Magic School Bus, Arthur, Captain Planet, or any other show mentioned in this post. The Magic School Bus is the property of the Scholastic Publishing company and is owned by the respective publishers/authors. Images used in this post were gathered from Google Images Search Results. The YouTube clip provided in this video is available for educational purposes only. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

Welcome Back to The Creative Cabana!!!

Hello everyone and welcome to The Creative Cabana! If this is your first time here, make yourself right at home and enjoy the wonderful array of creative projects and ideas I'd like to share with you. If you're a return visitor, welcome back to the newly designed format and be sure to browse around for your favorite project ideas listed under the different categories we like to focus on.

If you've ready the previous post about being "under construction" then you might have an idea of how ridiculous the month of May has treated me. I bounced back and fourth between work, vacations, internet errors and a few other tasks that had top priority on my little "to-do" list. Furthermore it was my intention to release this new format yesterday, however due to the Memorial Day holiday I was slightly delayed.

Currently it's a gorgeous 80 degrees here in the state of Ohio, we just had a brief shower and the sun is setting- to me this is the ideal condition for relaxing, which tends to give me creative inspiration. That being said, I'd like to take this opportunity to unveil what plans I have in store for the month of June and long term goals for The Creative Cabana.

For each month I'd like to spotlight a specific area of creative projects: graphics, video, audio, drawing, painting, etc. For example, next month I'll be focusing on drawing- a topic which I've been wanting to discuss on here for awhile. I had intentions of posting different topics related to drawing back in April, but unfortunately didn't have the extra time. I have several drawing books which I'll also be sharing with you and you can follow along for tips on different drawing techniques. With a special focus topic for every month, it is my hope that it will engage more visitors to be interactive with my blog plus it gives me a chance to exercise my project skills for each topic I choose.

That takes care of business for now. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for this week's Creative Mastermind. In the meantime to help get those creative noggins-a-joggin, be sure to follow The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Click on each social media text to be directed to the respective page and join in on the fun! Until tomorrow, have a great evening!!!

The Creative Cabana is Going "Under Construction"

Good Morning Creative Cabana visitors! I'm very sorry I've been MIA for the last two weeks. There's been some issues that have come to my attention which have prevented me from posting on here. The first issue I came across was that I was without internet access for about a week, go figure me and my technology issues. Then when I did get my internet back, I wasn't able to set time aside for getting the posts up. Part of this goes back to "time management". Any time you're working on a creative project, you have to manage your time wisely in order to complete your projects without hassle. I'll be honest, I'm a great organizer but sometimes when other things get in the way it's hard to manage my time to get things done. With that being said, I've evaluated The Creative Cabana and have decided that it's time to make some changes. I'm going to reconstruct The Creative Cabana in an attempt to make it more functional and effective. This way I can improve the site and bring it up to its full quality potential. While I working on getting this site updated, you can still follow The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I'll try to update on the progress as much as possible, so you don't miss out on any creative awesomeness! In the meantime, take care and keep exercising your creative side!

Creative Mastermind for Week 4/21: Andy Warhol, Pop Artist

Welcome to The Creative Cabana and join me in a round of saying "HAPPY FRIDAY!". Hopefully you've had a great week, for me it's been pretty hectic which is why I'm running behind on getting my posts online to you. Every day this week I have had something major come up and it has really messed with my schedule, but better late than never- right? Well you know they say "good things come to those who wait", so for those of you who have been anxiously awaiting my post, I greatly appreciate the patience. For this week's Creative Mastermind, I'm highlighting someone who has been an artistic inspiration to me for many years. This person created a form of Art that remains popular today and has sparked a lifetime of famous images. This week's Creative Mastermind goes to Pop Artist "Andy Warhol".

You've probably heard the name before if you've ever studied Art History or if you have seen some of his famous work. This guy took the realms of art and really expanded his creativity through his unique designs. Warhol was born in Pennsylvania in the late 1920s and studied Commercial Art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in the mid 40s. He began his career working in advertising to create many commercial poster designs and was also one of the first people to use printmaking with a silk screen. Warhol went on to gain fame as a fine artist and was credited for his movement of art known as "Pop Art". Warhol passed away in 1987, but his legacy has left an impression on fellow artists and admirers around the world. 

Here are examples of Andy Warhol's most famous pieces: 

I don't know where to begin as far as reasons for why I adore Warhol's work. I love the color, the way certain details "pop", and I admire just the iconic display of each image. While each of Warhol's designs depicts some kind of famous person or novelty, he did an excellent job of keeping the integrity of the subject in each picture and uses color to effectively portray the style of each image. For example, in the pictures I have shown above look at how "easily recognized" these subjects are. Not just because you know exactly who or what it is, but what does the portrait say about them? Look at the vibrant colors used in the portrait of Marilyn Monroe. You have yellow, pink, and black- When I think of Monroe, the first thing that comes to mind is her beautiful blonde hair which is accented in Warhol's depiction of her. For John Lennon's image, I note the variety of colors used which helps to recognize his colorful personality. As cliche as this sounds, literally what Warhol has done here is he took a trait from his subjects and allowed them to "Pop" out in his work through his techniques of Printmaking.

Another reason why I think Warhol's art is so popular is because his work is so distinct and relate-able. I feel like many people tend to have more of reaction to artwork that they can connect with and appreciate instantly. Everyone knows who Michael Jackson is, everyone can relate to Campbell's Tomato Soup- these are all things the public is already familiar with and they don't have to put a lot of thought into figuring out what the picture is or what it's supposed to represent. You can appreciate the artwork for what it is at face value. Plus Andy Warhol's "Pop Art" movement was so innovative and ahead of it's time, it's almost like looking at the future of photography and art. We can imitate the "Andy Warhol" look now from using programs like Photoshop, PicMonkey, and Instagram- but back in the 60s you didn't have those luxuries. He had to create each piece by hand, which can make this even more classic! 

His style is seen today through different commercial art designs and techniques. Think back to the 2008 election with Barack Obama and John McCain. Did you happen to see this image floating around? Very similar design and technique, and clearly it's reminiscent of Andy Warhol's iconic style. I also read just recently on the internet that more of Warhol's late work has been discovered included images he had created through digital art and computer design. If you'd like to read more about that and see images of this discovered work, visit http://gizmodo.com/andy-warhols-lost-amiga-computer-art-rediscovered-30-ye-1566990245 or take a trip to the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and see it for yourself!

Overall, there's just so much talent and creativity to appreciate from Andy Warhol. His artwork is truly an inspiration to people who have a passion for art, graphic design, print, or just creativity in general. Andy Warhol is a great artistic legend whose iconic displays set the bar high for a whole new genre of art and creative development.  Here's to a great and tremendously talented artist, we salute you Andy Warhol and miss you! 

So there you have it my friends, Andy Warhol- your Creative Mastermind of the Week! If you know someone or something, that would make an excellent Mastermind, share your suggestions with The Creative Cabana. Either leave a comment on this post, share it with us on our Facebook page, or you can tweet your nomination to @CreativeCabana on Twitter. Until next time, enjoy the rest of your Friday! 

*I do not own any of the works credited to Andy Warhol, nor am I a relation or have any connection to The Andy Warhol Foundation. The pictures used in this post as examples of his work are the property of Andy Warhol himself, and the respective photographer. The Obama "Hope" design is also not credited to myself and I give the ownership of that design to the respective owner/designers of the image. Opinions used are strictly my own and do not reflect the opinions of those associated with Andy Warhol, The Andy Warhol Foundation/Museum, or the Obama Administration. No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

The Basics of Web Design: Part 6

Congratulations! You've reached the finish line of Web Design! If you've been following this series from start to finish, then you know it's been a long process- but like everything else in life, it takes time. Your website is now designed to the look that suits you and your followers, plus you should be proud of yourself to dedicating the time to create your site. I'll be honest with you, I'm by no means a professional web designer, but I've at least given you the tools I learned to help you get started in creating effective websites. 

Personally, I'm a self-learner and a lot of things I have to teach myself in order to make it understandable for others. When I created my online portfolio in 2012 and The Creative Cabana in August of 2013, I utilized a lot of great FREE materials in order to achieve these goals. If you find yourself working on a limited budget and wanting to create a good site, then I recommend doing some good research. I've checked out many books from my local library and also found some great tips online. Use the tools you have access to in order to build your foundation for a good digital presence. 

As part of the series finale, the final step in your process is clicking on a button that you'll mostly like see in your editor (depending on which host format you use). It probably looks something like this:

Don't let this little button scare you. This is the function you'll initiate once you are absolutely certain that your site and everything on it is ready to go. Once you click that button, that's it, you will be officially live and a member of the World Wide Web. You can always go back to your web editor and make changes if you need to, but just remember your site is live. 

Some web hosts will also offer you some form of tracking tool where you can view analytics for your site. This gives you an idea of how much traffic your site is attracting which can be very helpful especially if your site is for a business or service. For example, with The Creative Cabana, Blogger gives me "Stats" updates where I can see the number of visits to my site, where they're located, and from what site they are finding my blog. It's really interesting to see what information you can find from the people who are looking for you. So if you're reading this right now, Thank You. You are not just a visitor number to me. You are someone who shares in the mutual interest of creative projects and it's a true pleasure having the chance to share my ideas with you.

One final note, and read carefully because this is a BIG tip! Simply publishing your site is not enough. You've got to get your name and/or brand out there, so get ready to do a little marketing! The best way to promote your new site is to share it through Social Media. This gives people easy access to your site, plus it will give the internet gurus a chance to log your address and become familiar with it, so you'll show up in search engines a lot faster. Don't be afraid to use your personal social media accounts to get your first few visits. People and Services are often promoted through "word of mouth" so sharing it with friends leads to co-workers and eventually leads to business opportunities. Don't expect to get 10,000 views over night but using Social Media to get the ball rolling is a great way to drive and promote your new site. Eventually you'll want to professionally connect it with other social media networks, but that's a whole different perspective. 

Well there you have it everyone! You are officially a Creative Cabana Basic Web Design Graduate! I hope you've enjoyed this series and that you've learned a lot from my experiences in creating a successful starter website. I'm still working on getting my site for my online portfolio updated, and when I get that finished I'll be posting that on here for you all to see. If you'd like to share your designs and success with me, please comment on this post and include a link to your newly developed website. Don't forget to follow The Creative Cabana on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I wish you all a terrific Friday and have a wonderful Easter Weekend! 

*Images used in this post were gathered from a selection of results using Google Images. I do not own these images, and I give full credit to their respective owners and creators. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

The Basics of Web Design: Part 5

Salutations and Good Day to you my friends! I know it's been a few weeks since our last Web Design discussion, but hopefully you've taken the time to really reflect and focus on creating your custom site to their full, creative potential. In the last episode I talked about content and developing it for your site. Content is ESSENTIAL to your website, but so is organization and that's what I'd like to talk to you about in today's episode. Organization goes hand in hand when creating a website. Think of it like you would organize a three-ring binder. You want it to look good and make the information easy to find. If you cram papers into the binder it gets messy very quickly. Websites are the same thing- keep the content organized and looking fresh, so you won't have any issues!

Think back to earlier in our series; in part 3 (click here to see the post) I talked to you about templates and using them as a foundation for setting up your pages. Templates are helpful because they give you a guide on where you can place certain pieces of your page. After you've uploaded the content you wish to use for your site you might be looking at the page and thinking it still looks to cluttered or items are in a good spot. For example you may find that your site looks something like this:

No offense to whoever created this site (I got this off of Google Images as an example image), but there's a lot of crazy stuff going on visually and you really don't know where to look first. There's color, different text styles, images, and it's all really being blown at your face at once. While all of these elements are great for a website, you have to sort and filter which items grab the attention in the best way. When I created my online portfolio for the first time, I searched around the internet and looked at other people's profiles as examples to follow. Regardless of what your website is being used for I suggest you take a peek at similar sites and follow their structure. Pay attention to where logos, social media apps, search bars, and other important parts are placed. Be sure to stay consistent too. If your visitors are navigating through multiple pages make sure to keep your fonts, logos (if applicaible), and title fonts remain consistent to avoid confusion. If you ever navigated through the different pages of The Creative Cabana blog you'll notice that the fonts are the same, banner image, and titles all remain the same. This makes it easy for people visiting my blog to find the information they want quickly and easily.

While you are editing the design of your pages don't worry if you have to adjust your template- they're only used as a guide and do not limit the boundaries of your design applications. Trying move images to the center instead of off to the right, change the font of your name or business, consider moving the links to other pages into a top bar instead of a side box. There are multiple ways you can develop these pages so that your pages can flow and engage with your audience better. Over time you'll pick up on what things you can change and adjust on your site. For now concentrate on giving your site a good visual display by keeping your pages organized and fresh. Here's an example of a good design to give you a little inspiration:

Stay tuned for the final part in our Web Design series which will focus on publishing and promoting your site! Now that you have it finalized, proofed, and developed it's time to hit that magical "publish" button and spread the word about your talent. It's going to be very exciting and I can't wait to wrap up this great series with you and go out with a bang! Keep checking back for updates. Until next time, have a great day and I'll see you back here at The Creative Cabana again soon!

*Images used in this post were collected from Google Images Search results. I do not own any of the businesses seen in these images. These images were used only as layout examples and have no reflection on the business themselves or the quality of their product. The Bitstrip image used in this post was created by the Bitstrip application on Facebook. I do not own Bitstrips or any of their developers. No Copyright Infringement Intended.