Creativity: How to Draw Fantasy Creatures

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Drawing fantasy creatures takes some skills that go beyond the normal realm of drawing because you can’t find a subject to pose for you – unless you live in an enchanted forest! So you are faced with not only the task of learning how to draw you are also faced with the challenge of tapping into your imagination and then putting this down on paper. Here are some solid tips that will help you imagine and draw better fantasy creatures.

How to Tap into your Imagination

1. Doodling and drawing with a free style is the best way to get your creativity and imagination flowing. The process to follow is to simply draw quick sketches and then modify them as things start to appear. It goes something like this: Draw a roughly human shaped head then start to add a body to it but don’t consciously make it a human body, vary your lines and see where it goes. You will be surprised by what happens. Your eye will start to see things in a different way and you will create some fantastic creatures. These should only be quick sketches and you should draw lots of them – fill the sheet of paper and see where the drawings go. This is a great way to come up with the initial idea for a new fantasy creature.
2. Changing the shape of existing creatures and animals – Many of the most familiar fantasy creatures are variations of familiar animals. A Unicorn is a variation of a horse and a Dragon is a variation of a Dinosaur. Think of other creatures and doodle their rough shape while thinking up variations. What would a cat look like if it had scales instead of fur? Or how about a Giraffe with short legs?
3. The Power of Combining Animals – this is a very powerful way to create new fantasy creatures and Greek Mythology is loaded with this kind of beast. A Centaur is half man and half horse; and a mermaid is half woman and half fish. The possibilities are endless and when you are doodling out ideas don’t limit yourself to just upper and lower body combinations. Try combining limbs, torsos, heads, hands, feet or anything else that strikes you.
4. The creative power of distortion – Often times fantasy creatures are distortions of humans or other animals. Think of your drawing as a lump of clay that you can mold into any shape. Distort the arms, legs, torso, head or anything else. This will reap some great results. If you draw a human that is very skinny with an oversized head you are heading toward something goblin-like. And if you draw a human that is very thick and stocky you might be heading toward a Troll or Ogre.
5. Here are a couple of unusual ways to tap into your imagination and create unusual fantasy creatures. Try making an unusual sound then try to draw the creature or beast that would make that sound. Or write out a description in words for your beast then try to draw it. These two techniques bring other parts of your brain into the process not just your hand-eye coordination.

The Mechanics of How to Draw Better Fantasy Creatures

1. Everything relates to human anatomy – If you practice drawing people you will get much better at drawing fantasy creatures. The same basic rules of musculature and skeletal understructure apply to all biological creatures – even made up ones. Remember: Skin or fur is something that covers muscles and bones but don’t completely hide it. The bones and muscles show through. So draw more people and your fantasy creatures will improve.
2. Draw more existing creatures - Fantasy creatures are almost always variations of creatures and animals that already exist. If you want to draw a dragon you should think about and look at pictures of dinosaurs and large lizards. If you want to draw a unicorn you should use a horse as your model. And there are many variations on the human form. If you want to draw a dwarf, an elf or a goblin you can use the human form as a perfect starting point. The important thing to remember is that the more horses you draw the better your unicorns will be and the more dinosaurs you draw the better your dragons will be. And the best thing about this is that you can easily find pictures of horses and dinosaurs to look at while you draw.
3. Use your drawing tools for more expression – When drawing a creature you have to think of its disposition. Is it a gentle creature or a mean creature? Use your pencil in a way that expresses this. Dark, bold and sharp lines are usually better when drawing angry or scary creatures and soft lines are usually better for gentle, mythical creatures. This is something that is often overlooked but it is very important. You are using your pencil in a way that goes beyond just drawing lines. And this applies to a whole spectrum of techniques including short lines, long lines, choppy lines and even shading.
4. Don’t hesitate to look at and copy other peoples work. Carefully looking at other fantasy work will improve your work dramatically. When doing a copy you are forced to see things you wouldn’t normally see and this is a great way to learn how to do it yourself. – Just don’t claim the creature as your own.
5. Keep a sketch and doodle book and work in it often. This is something that works real well for me because looking over many pages of doodles you have done in the past will often inspire new ideas for drawings of creatures.

Drawing fantasy creatures is a challenging yet rewarding hobby. It has the dual benefit of improving your ability to draw while cultivating your creativity and imagination. With a bit of practice and an understanding of these basic tips you will be drawing some amazing fantasy creatures in no time at all.

Will Kalif is a writer and artist of fantasy. If you would like to learn more about drawing fantasy and medieval creations check out his free fantasy art school at:The Fantasy Art School

Or you can visit his site devoted to fantasy, creativity, and all things medieval on the web at: Storm The Castle.com

Creativity: Breathing Out Stage Fright

You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and last minute stage directions. In the audience are the director you'd like to work with, the reviewer everyone listens to, and your first acting coach. The blood pumps in your ears, your heart is racing, and your throat is so dry you can't possibly speak your lines. Every muscle is tense and you want to run.

It's called the "fight or flight" response. It's also called stage fright. Stage fright comes in many different forms. For some, it's a nervous energy that disappears as soon as they begin performing, or a familiar sensation that's always under the surface but feels manageable most of the time. For others, it's so debilitating that they can't get through an audition to even be part of a performance.

Stage fright has huge repercussions to the health and well-being of the performer.

Dr. Louise Montello of Musicians Wellness, Inc. has worked with injured, blocked and anxious performers for many years, and has developed a rich set of tools that we can use in moments of stress and anxiety.

One of her most powerful techniques, from the Yoga tradition, is breath. Breath is a key link between the mind and the body. Our body's autonomic nervous system is made up of the parasympathetic nervous system (related to relaxation, creativity and awareness) and the sympathetic nervous system (related to analytical thinking and action). When we're in "fight or flight" mode, our sympathetic nervous systems are in charge, and our bodies, minds and emotions are locked into battle with an imaginary enemy (while our creative expression gets caught in the crossfire).

Deep breathing and the specific techniques that will be described in this article can reawaken your parasympathetic nervous system.

Note: In yogic breathing exercises, it's important to always breathe in and out through the nose.

1. Diaphragmatic breathing ("belly breathing")

Why? It allows you to move more air into your body and also to send more stale air out on the exhalation.

How? Practice this type of breathing while holding your hands on your belly, to feel it expand as you inhale, and contract as you exhale. Your back and sides should expand and contract as well. Watch a baby sleeping to get a really good demonstration of belly breathing.

2. Even breathing

Why? Will smooth out your breathing and help you to feel grounded.

How? Breathe in and out for the same number of counts.

3. Two-to-one breathing

Why? Since exhalation is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system (related to relaxation, creativity and awareness), long exhalations also help to induce relaxation. This exercise is helpful in times of great stress (i.e. auditions).

How? Breathe in for a certain number of counts, and then breathe out for twice as many counts (count evenly in your own time), pushing the breath out from the belly.

4. Alternate nostril breathing

Why? By alternately breathing through our right nostril (connected to our sympathetic nervous system) and our left nostril (connected to our parasympathetic nervous system), we can balance our entire autonomic nervous system.

How? To prepare for this exercise, clear your nostrils by breathing in and out quickly several times in a row (another technique called "cleansing breath"). Now, fold the index finger and middle finger of the right hand into the palm, and use the thumb to close your right nostril and your ring finger to close your left nostril.

Begin by inhaling through both nostrils. Then breathe out through one nostril, while blocking the other, and then switch and breathe in through the other nostril.

After three complete breaths, exhale without switching sides, and do three more breaths. This means you're now inhaling on the opposite side that you started from.

Now rest and breathe deeply and evenly through both nostrils for a few minutes. Then repeat that cycle two more times (with a rest in between), so you've done three cycles in total.

You'll be amazed at the difference these simple breathing exercises can make, with a few short minutes of practice every day. Then, at times of stress, you'll have a valuable tool to support your performance, and all your creative dreams.

© Copyright 2005, Linda Dessau. All rights reserved.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. Visit www.preparingforperformance.com for more help with performance anxiety.

Creativity: Analysis of The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs: A Study in Lateral Thinking

I first read The Monkey's Paw as a youngster in Junior High School. I was touched by how an elderly couple received the gift that everyone would want, three wishes, and how the gift turned into a curse.

I knew something was wrong at the beginning of the story when the previous owner tried to throw it in a fire. I also had a suspicion that though the paw granted wishes, it wouldn't work the way the person making the wish intended. Years later, I saw the Movie "Bedazzled" with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. It's a version of the Faust legend, and hilarious. The Devil (Peter Cook), offers to trade seven wishes for Dudley Moore's character's soul. Dudley is madly in love with a young woman and is more than willing to trade something as worthless as a soul to win her. What the devil does with Moore's wishes makes for one of the funniest movies in the history of film-making. But I didn't know about "Bedazzled" in 8th Grade.

The couple, being older, quite naturally asked for money. And not a great deal, at that. They never realized that it would come as an insurance claim on the death of their son who was working in a factory. Grief-stricken, the wife insists that they wish he would come back. The husband reluctantly agrees. When they hear a knock at the door, the wife runs to open the door. Afraid of what would appear, the husband wishes it would go away. The wife opens the door and sees nothing and hears only the wind.

What a scary story and what a rotten ending, right?

At the time I read it, my English Teacher, Miss Downing, asked the class what we thought of the story. We all felt sorry for the couple. Should the couple have wished for something else with their first wish. Of course they should have, we all said. But of course, no matter what they asked for, it could have turned out as badly for them. And the previous owner had warned them it was a curse and not a blessing.

Miss Downing wasn't about to stop there. Next she asked, should they have asked for son to come back to life? Of course, we all said. But not as a walking corpse.

Then came the biggest question of all. Should they have wished he wouldn't come back?

Nearly everyone in class agreed with what the couple did. That was supposed to be the end of the lesson.

I wasn't as eager to give up. "They wished for the wrong thing," I said.

Miss Downing was ready to move on and wasn't too pleased with me. "And how's that."

"They should have wished that the whole thing never happened because they let the man burn the monkey's paw."

"I never thought of that," my teacher said.

Today, people would call this thinking outside the box. It doesn't require great brilliance, but you do have to try to imagine other alternatives than the ones that are presented to you.

I made another teacher unhappy when I was in the 6th Grade, Miss Janitz was beginning a lesson on archeology. Everyone in the class really was eager to learn about mummies and ancient cities and she gave us a scenario where an archeologist is digging in the sand in Egypt. He finds an ancient box with a hairbrush, a necklace, and a coin dated 38 BC.

I immediately broke out laughing. All the other kids gave me a strange look but I couldn't stop. Finally Miss Janitz said, "Stop that, John. What's so funny?"

"The coin isn't real. You can't have something dated BC before there's a C.'

It turned out I had spoiled three days of her classes.

Copyright 2005 by John R. Anderson

John Anderson has always tried to think outside the box, often with disastrous results. As a stamp dealer, he was always three years ahead of the market and seldom made a profit. He wrote a crime novel involving mitochondrial DNA five years before forensic experts began to use the procedure. His novel, The Cellini Masterpiece, and written under the penname of Raymnd John, is another example of bad timing. Its plot, which is similar to The Da Vinci code, was rejected in the mid-1980s because it was considered by some reviewers to be too unbelievable. Anyone interested in contacting him should log on to http://www.cmasterpiece.com

Creativity: 20 Ways to Keep Your Writing Inspiration and Creativity High

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a change so that
we don't stay in that place. Yet, many times we forget some
of the simple things that we can do for ourselves, quickly
and easily to bring our inspiration back and increase our
creativity.

1. If you usually type your first drafts, hand write them.
Nothing compares to the feeling the ink melting into the
paper and the surge of that creative flow.

2. If you spend too much time at the computer, take a break
every hour. Go for a walk or just sit outside in the sun.
Even five minutes in a winter sun does wonders for a mood
and creativity.

3. Flip through magazines or books. Their colors and ideas
will give you sparks and switch your attitude. Blue and
green can reduce your stress levels by 30% or more.

4. Add strong smells to the room. Light scented candles
around you, visit the fruit isle at the grocery store, or go
to a store that is heavily scented. Find an orange or
strawberries and smell it. Both will change a mood or
create inspiration. Smells awaken your creativity. Smells
trigger memories and are a great method to rekindle stories
from the past.

5. Go see or rent an inspirational movie. Relaxation time
is important. You can even take your notebook and record
inspirational phases. Afterwards free write that those
phrases bring up from your subconscious.

6. Read a book that stirs you or sparks your creativity.
If you prefer, read poetry.

7. Look at bold and bright colors for a few minutes. These
change your mood.

8. Talk with a friend about your topic to flesh out ideas
and creativity. Record the conversation, with their
permission of course, and play it back to hear the little
nuances that you might have missed.

9. Write an e-mail to a friend to tell him or her what you
want to accomplish. If you are stuck, say so and ask for
help.

10. Check in with your vibrational energy and do something
to switch it into high gear. Take a shower. Go for a walk.
Turn on some music and dance naked for a few minutes.

11. Hire a virtual assistant to do some typing so that you
can stay focused on writing. You can fax your writing or
dictate it into the computer and send her a voice file for
transcription.

12. Go to church for the noon service or whisper a prayer
or two. This reconnects your energy with the universe and
replenishes what might be missing.

13. Complete an appreciation exercise. Pick something
around you, like the telephone, lamp, or pen. Talk to it
and tell it how much you appreciate having the electricity
to turn it on, the opportunity to write with a tool that has
the ink inside, not like a quill, or the softness of the
paper you write on. Be grateful for that you have and not
what you are missing. Or make a list of "count your
blessing" items.

14. Write a personal note to friends or family and tell
them how much you love them, appreciate their
thoughtfulness, or kindness.

15. Authentic, flat-out, raw laughter frees the psyche and
opens the creativity process.

16. Find a setting with lots of trees and flowers and feel
nature. If the weather permits, take off your shoes and
socks and feel the grass between your toes. Nature has a
way of freeing our spirit and renewing our soul.

17. If guilt or a passed incident has captured your mind,
write a "Dear Me" letter and ask yourself for forgiveness to
loosen it’s grip and expand your freedom.

18. Are you use to writing in a quiet place? Find a
noisy place to write, like McDonald's or the mall. When
your space is noisy you will have to focus harder in order
to write with clarity.

19. Go for a quiet leisurely drive, listen to a favorite
CD. You can sing out of tune and no one will notice
(laughter aloud).

20. Do something nice for someone else that you wouldn't
normally do and be a gracious receiver of a hug.

That was exciting, wasn't it? Post this list in a
conspicuous place so that it is readily available when you
need it, right next to your writing area is best. Do one or
two of these daily and keep on writing. Your readers are
waiting to read your words.

Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing &
Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet
writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and
articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

Creativity: New Inventions - From Absurd to Wacky!

New inventions? Heard of a revolving restaurant combination television tower? How about color x-ray pictures? Or heard of a new invention that turns the sea's salt water drinkable? These are wacky new inventions not having been fully used!

Are you on the lookout for shirts that don’t require ironing? For $4,000.00, you are able to purchase a shirt processed out of titanium-alloy fibers interwoven with nylon. Suffering from persistent back pain? A new invention, based on data from the makers of SynchroMed, is an infusion system that works better and requires much smaller doses than intravenous methods. It's a pump that delivers the medication directly to the place where it can be virtually efficient. The new invention is paired with the world’s first and only implantable and programmable drug pump. The morphine comes packed in a pager-size pump and set under the skin of the stomach. A minute tube or even catheter attached to the pump will inject a measured dose of medication to the fluid-filled space surrounding the spinal cord.

There are hundreds of new inventions introduced to the market.

Do you have a new invention worth patenting? The place to go to is the USPTO, United States Patent & Trademark Office. It is mandated by Congress to conduct the examination and issuance of patents and is responsible for setting the standards on what defines a new invention.

Even though you can’t patent an idea, you are able to protect your invention in its beginning. Apply at the USPTO for a disclosure document. The date of initial conception of your new invention will be the receipt number that USPTO gives your document.

The disclosure document works in the favor of the individual who documents the invention’s date of conceptualization. The USPTO leans towards granting patents to the individual who initially thought of the idea and took out a disclosure document to have it recorded. With the disclosure document for your new invention, you are able to move towards the patenting of the new invention.

A new invention is deemed patentable if:

• The new invention is novel. It must be different. It shouldn't have ever been described in a prior publication and / or even publicly utilized or even sold.
• The new invention is useful and / or utilitarian.
• The new invention is non-obvious. It shouldn't be an extension of other inventions. Its function mustn't be readily obvious to a knowledgable host.

The 3 major categories which a new invention will be classified under are:

1. Utility – A vast majority of patented new inventions fall into 3 classes: chemical, mechanical and electrical. For mechanical and electrical hardware, the term utility refers to any "new and useful process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter or even any new and useful improvement thereof." As regards to chemical composition, the term "composition of matter" can include mixtures of ingredients, as well as, new compounds.
2. Design – This patent is given a new invention if it's a primary and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. Take a table as an example, it's utilitarian and has existed for centuries. The novel appearance of the table is protected.
3. Plant – This patent pertains to invented or even found, asexually reproduced, distinct and a new kind of plant. Asexual plants are those that have been reproduced by rooting of cuttings, budding, grafting apart from seedlings. Patents for design and plant have shorter terms in comparison with utility patents.

New inventions come in all shapes and sizes. They can be wacky, absurd, practical, revolutionary, even unexpected. Have you got one?

© Copyright 2005 Emmet Press All Rights Reserved

Emmet Press is a freelance writer on the topic of Invention Information and other subjects of interest. Check http://www.inventioninfo.info.

This article may be republished electronically and / or in print as long as it is unchanged and this resource box with its active links remain.