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Happy Planet
EASTER
Stay at Home
Newsletter Resource
Week 3



As we head into Easter and week four of the Corona Virus restrictions I hope you are all well and managing this unprecedented time. It seems somewhat cruel that at a time when we are limited to only the most essential activities outside that the weather is due to be truly warm and inviting for the most part. The law of Sod comes to mind, but being safe and staying home is crucial and there will be sunny days in the future to join with friends/family and celebrate.

Those of you with gardens or yards are probably spending as much time in them as you can. Perhaps those of you who don't usually have time to enjoy your outdoor space are rekindling a connection with it, you may be doing the same with other creative activities. Please feel free to share photos on the Happy Planet Facebook page, or email them to me, and I can post them, don't be shy, it's not a competition and you may inspire others.

I know some of you have talked to me about the most difficult part of being creative is having the idea to start. With that in mind I have written an article around creativity and how you can use your permitted exercising time to also become an opportunity to collect items to use creatively. That article will follow the list of links to the resources.

Cheltenham, Science, Jazz and Music festivals have all been cancelled, however, worry not if you enjoy any of these subjects as the organisers have put a wealth of content online. You can find a multitude of their playlists on #spotify going back to 2015 here
https://open.spotify.com/user/cheltfestivals?
si=8EKcpFuSSA2J0lnRWePiSA&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MF
20%3AMusiccancellationcomms(Restofdatabase)&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=9757


If books and writers are more to your taste then they also have a home for some wonderful podcasts featuring fabulous writers such as Iris Murdoch, J.K Rowling and Arundati Roy. You can find the podcasts here
https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/podcast

If art is more your taste, then the Tate have a major retrospective of Andy Warhol, which while you can't see it in person you can tour online and there is a film about his work here
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/andy-warhol/exhibition-guide?
utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CRM_Apr_w1_Warhol_ExhibVideo_
Engaged&sc_src=email_1807342&sc_customer=882280&sc_lid=133996739&sc_uid=C0URkk7F
Lj&sc_llid=18212&sc_eh=ea859205f3f7f3e51#film


My favourite museum the V&A have lots of lovely resources to explore covering a journey of 5000 years of creativity where you can find inspiration or maybe just learn more about what you love, all to be found here
https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections?type=featured

If you prefer your online experience to be more about the present than history then I can highly recommend the webcams at #Explore. There are lots of wildlife and nature based cams to choose from, this one is Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa but you can access NASA, the Northern Lights and well go and explore
https://explore.org/livecams/africam/tembe-elephant-park
P.S. The film section is great too.

If you have little children to entertain during the holidays, I am guessing crafting ideas will be welcome and here are a good selection for all ages and abilities
https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/make

If you are not too keen on making or possibly the mess then how about a range of games and quizzes?
https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/games-quizzes

If you would like to make an Easter display but are not sure where to start then Harrogate Flower show have a video to show you hows its done 
https://www.facebook.com/HarrogateFlowerShow/videos/811872449306606/?
v=811872449306606


If you are missing the joy of travel then how about a collection of fabulous tours online? This is the Youtube channel for #AirPano where you can relive old haunts or discover new ones above and below the waves
https://www.youtube.com/user/airpanoru

And finally, Easter would not be Easter without some time in the kitchen baking, so here is a feast of simple Easter recipes for the young and old
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easter-kids



Creative Medicine for Corona Virus Stress
by Gail Curry


If you are feeling the stress of the current coronavirus pandemic then perhaps having a little creative time might help you slow down and immerse yourself in something that is enjoyable and beneficial. It has been scientifically proven that 20 minutes of any creative activity can positively change your brain chemistry and ease anxiety....even if you think you aren't creative and many people do. Engaging in creative pursuits is not be confused with being artistic, as they are not the same thing.

The way I look at them is this, being creative is a innately human quality we are born with. As children we embrace it and play, it is the process we enjoy and by tapping into that inner child we all have, no matter our age, we can give ourselves permission to play again. It is the process of creative play that will help you to feel better, if you make make something marvellous at the end, great, but it's not important to see that as the outcome.

As an artist I enjoy variety, I therefore encourage you to try as many different creative activities as you can until you find one that you enjoy, as if you don't enjoy it what is the point?

You may at this time also have children home from school who need some creative activity, so I have put together some ideas you can enjoy with or without children. I have deliberately kept them low cost, as hopefully you will find or make best use of what you already have.  



Creative Treasure Hunt

As we are allowed to go out to exercise, so long as we keep a safe distance from others, I have been doing one of my favourite activities which is a trip to the beach at low tide and collecting driftwood, interesting pebbles, sea glass, shells, pottery shards etc. All you need is a Tupperware box. I find a walk more interesting and I'm likely to walk further when engaged in a hunt. The trick is to use your finds creatively. Currently I use the glass, pebbles, shells etc. as a type of gravel to grow air plants on.

However you could make mosaics, or pebble pictures too. Equally you could pick up slightly larger stones and indulge in a bit of stone painting. This swept the North East two years ago and was a great way to get lots of people involved in being creative. You can paint the stones with a theme, maybe if it's a family activity you could do pictures of each other and then hide them in your garden or home and make it into a game. Equally you could turn them into a game like tic tac toe.

Driftwood makes excellent magic wands with a lick of paint and a bit of imagination, alternatively you would make some coloured plant markers for you garden, or some intention sticks to place in your garden or a vase with flowers to remind you of the intentions you have set. A simple set of acrylic paints and a couple of #sharpies permanent markers can work wonders. Acrylic paints are quick drying waterproof so you don't need varnish and you can clean your brushes in water.

Another activity for stones is dotting or mandala painting. Mandala is the Sanskrit word for circle. There are many ways to do make these patterns. The dotting is achieved by using different sized wooden dowels, or you can use nail dotting tools, which are easily obtainable and cheaper than the art market ones. Here again acrylic paint is used. You might find you need to dilute a little of it, depending which brand you buy. I usually recommend you paint the surface of the stone first and when that had dried start with a central dot and then apply more dots, working in circles with contrasting colours.

Acrylic paint starter set the works https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/acrylic-paint/complete-acrylic-
starter-kit/5052089215658


Wishing you all a safe and happy Easter

Gail Curry

Artist

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