home exploring in water visualizing it as a lawn quiet the critic asparagus fern analogy perfect, beautiful imperfection journaling living in a 'dream' world? book list Always do what you are afraid to do. - Ralph Waldo Emerson	Quiet the Critic pre-creativity practice To reach the part of yourself that holds your creativity you often have to get past the road block of your own critic. That voice that says you are not an artist and therefore have nothing creative to give to the world. This is simply not true. This exercise is meant to bring to the surface that self-critic and put it to pasture while we explore. You may use whatever medium you wish for this process. Pen and paper will be fine. This is not an artistic endeavor so keep it simple. Details are not important. Don't spend too much time considering or planning this process. Sit with your materials. Get comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Let the ink flow and see what comes out. It may take a few minutes before you get an image or a voice from the critic. As it does it's negative talk just draw. Don't argue with it, don't resist, just draw. What does your critic look like? sample critic: ugly web design blabber mouth My critic can change shape and attitude on a moment to moment basis. This is the one who came up while I created this page. I like to have a good laugh at the ridiculousness of this critic and talk with it before I move on.