Creative Deep Dive Program
Week 1: Diving deep into ourselves
An intro video from Benz
Please watch this short video before you start working on the materials.
Creative Audit Workbook (pdf)
In this exercise you will be setting an intention for the rest of the 6 weeks, find where you stand in your art practice, and identify where you want to go next.
Meet The Artist Workbook (pdf)
This exercise will serve as your artist ID. Through this exercise you will define and revisit your identity as an artist. Be as honest as possible with your answers. Knowing your inner artist (which is YOU!) is the foundation of all the art that you have made and will be making in the future.
Week 1 Study Guide Video
In this video I interview Larissa Martin, one of the artists in the in-person Creative Deep Dive Program about her experience working on week 1 materials. She shared some of her answers from “Meet The Artist” exercise and how she is applying her answers from the exercise in her studio practice. Click the button below to watch the video.
Additional resources for Week 1 (optional):
This video “12 artists on childhood” by Louisiana Channel
This video “How artists explore their identity” by Moma
This video “Yayoi Kusama: Obsessed with polka dots” by Tate
Week 2: Inspiration Inventory for Artists
Please watch this Intro video before you start working on this week’s assignment.
Inspiration Inventory Workbook (pdf)
In this workbook you will be invited to create your own inspiration box (either physical or virtual) and observe how you are influenced by your external environment. At the end of the exercise you will be invited to break out of the box and create your own piece based on your own creative desires and values.
Additional resources for Week 2 (optional):
It’s nice that is a nice inspirational website for visual artists.
I love browsing through The Sketch Book Project’s digital library.
Week 3 : The Principles of Art
Before you begin your week 3 workbook, please watch this Creative Seminar on “The Principles of Art” with artist and educator, Lisa Solomon. If you want to go straight to her recommend resources, you can go to minute 17.
The Principles of Art Workbook (pdf)
In this workbook you will be exploring your history of learning the principles of art as well as observing and learning about best practices from your favorite artist(s)
Additional resources for Week 3 (optional)
Week 4: Money Reset for Artists
This week I interviewed Carolina Gruner about her approach to money and abundance. Here are some key takeaways from the interview.
She does not let the amount of money she has define who she is or how she lives her life.
Despite not having a traditional job and living below the Finnish poverty line, she has always managed to live in her dream (rental) homes. This is because she KNEW that homes are really important to her and she always took the time to visualize and dream about creating the kind of home that she wanted.
A useful practice to include into your current daily practice: Take time every day to feel into what it is like when you achieve your dreams (whatever your dreams are).
This one is obvious but it’s good to be reminded. When you “try” to sell your art, it usually doesn’t work out.
Week 4 Money Reset Workbook (pdf)
Additional resources for Week 4 (optional)
Recommended books by Carolina Gruner
Week 5 Talk About Your Art
Before working on this week’s workbook, please watch these two artist’s talks. Observe what you like and do not like about these talks. These observations will help you when you begin preparing your own artist’s talk.
Week 5 Talk About Your Art Workbook (pdf)
Week 6 Goal Setting From The Inside Out
Dear artists
This is the final week of Creative Deep Dive and I have a special gift for you; an audio clip. You can use this audio clip as a meditation before your studio time or you can just listen to it for pleasure. Either way, I hope the audio helps you find your center and develop your own relationship with goal setting so that you can be who you truly want to be and pursue all the creative goals that your heart desires.
Please note that in order for the meditation to serve you best, you should be ready to receive it. Make sure to listen to it in a quiet place and set aside 5-10 minutes.
My best wishes to you,
Benz
Week 6 assignment (pdf)
Optional video on goal setting