The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

Step Away From The Desk! Find Your Creative Zone In New Places

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SB server Ian visits poolside art studio

(Pic #1) As I make a total mess poolside at a tony Santa Barbara resort, server / musician “Ian” stops by to investigate the scene of the crime.

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(Pic #2) A few last strokes with Sennelier oil sticks. Exploring use of my left hand. Awkward but exciting.

I recently committed to keeping art supplies with me wherever I go. It’s been one of the most effective means of producing creative work. I keep a sort of “lunchbox” filled with little goodies from my local art store. Basics: tubes of acrylic paint, Sennelier oil sticks, graphite pencils with sharp points, newspaper (for ripping collage pieces as well as a way to protect the table you are working on), illustration board, colored paper, glue sticks.) These little treasures provide me with instant opportunities to paint, color or play with paper. Whether I’m waiting for my ride to emerge from the foamy poodle brushes at the car wash, or I’m staring resentfully at the blank walls of the DMV – I’m armed.

A few weeks ago,  Josh and I headed north for a couple of days in the sun at a seaside hair loss resort in Santa Barbara. At first I felt guilty, but then I realized I get to take my office outside. I got to create my own ersatz art studio amidst some of the most inspiring scenery on the planet.  All I needed was a table, which poolside server Ian (and his “man bun”) gladly shifted my way. (Pic #1)

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(Pic #3) Notice nature’s patterns and play with them.

Real productivity doesn’t mean you have to bury yourself in your routine. It means finding new ways to produce – and new places to do it.  For me, just being surrounded by fresh colors and quirky shapes is enough. Try exploring what surrounds you; find patterns in nature (Pic #3) or crazy color combinations in some lady’s muumuu. Play with those ideas and see what takes form.

A change in scenery can change your view — and the quality of your work. You will find yourself noticing things you passed by before, and that new habit will expand your visual vocabulary. Then, each time you paint, write, or make music, you will create something deeper, richer, and uniquely yours.

Acting On Impulse: It’s What Art’s All About

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(Pic #1) Responding to the urge – with a 10-minute sketch (Neocolor crayons on hotel stationery)

One of my most true passions is to surround myself with great art.  Lately,  I’ve been doing just that. In fact, because I’ve spent the last several months providing art for corporate clients with prestigious Manhattan addresses, I’ve been totally immersed.

I’ve been prowling through galleries, searching online, ferreting out emerging talent, and getting to know gifted artists I had only recently come to admire. Even riding on the Long Island Railroad, I’ve seen creativity flourish in the graffitied walls alongside equipment yards and railroad tracks. (Pic #2)

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(Pic #2) Forget MOMA or MOCA — it’s the LIRR for edgy art.

But still — until  last Monday — I was feeling unfulfilled. Like the line from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: “Water, Water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” I realized I needed to paint. Something. Anything. NOW. So here we go: a sketch I made in the bathroom of my New York hotel (Pic #1) and a photo I quickly took (angry about the dirty cymbalta window) on a hustling commuter train last week. (Pic#3)

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(Pic #3) A smudged window provides a veil of pastel blur for my spontaneous exterior shot on the Long Island Railroad – passing through Jamaica Queens, NY

My inner critic could spend a month telling you what’s wrong with these hasty little pieces, while my inner-child could spend a lifetime telling you what’s right about it. John Lennon had it right: “If art were to redeem man, it could do so only by saving him from the seriousness of life, and restoring him to an unexpected boyishness.”

A sweet reminder.  Yes – art is a business, there is an element of commerce, and that’s all good. But for me it also has to be about the 6-year-old girl who begged  for an extra 10-minutes before bedtime, because she still had sharp crayons, and there was still room on the paper. That 6-year-old doesn’t have a client, or a budget, or deadlines other than “lights out” —  but she loved art with all her soul. It’s good to catch up with her every once in a while.

Tunes From Trash: Making Music For A Song

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Landfill provides inspiration for children with a dream

The next time you find yourself whining about not having the right mans health materials, instruments, or equipment for your current project, watch the video above.

Don’t be a brat. Get creative.