12x17 - HOW TO GET STARTED FAQ
Like I found my way of doing things, you will find yours, but in the mean time here are a few tips to get you started on your year of discovery!
Get one! Something small, cheap and paper backed that you can shove in any old bag / coat pocket. My notebook was like my project brain. It contained everything… sketches, brainstorms, lists, ideas. This isn’t a place for finished ideas – or even things that make sense to anyone else but you. It’s just a place to throw the metaphorical paint at the wall and refer back to later!
Notes on phones are also awesome on the go but they can get a little confusing and generally end up in between shopping lists and work to do lists. I found it nice to be kept separate.
Write one! (In the first page of your new notebook). What is your motivation for taking on 12 projects over 2017 and what do you hope to get from it? It’s a good thing to come back to throughout the year.
To do! This is the really fun bit. Write out as many possible things to potentially do and explore this year as possible. Let your mind go wild, these aren’t things you HAVE to do. These are things you could do. And you can literally do ANYTHING! Don’t think whether you’d like to do them or not – just write them down.
Some things might come to mind straight away but others might take a while – maybe your friends have suggestions. Keep your mind open and don’t try to map the year out too much. It’s fun throughout the year to see where it takes you, depending on how you’re feeling and how much time you have to do things!
Choose it! Your list of potential projects may well feature a couple of things you’ve done before in varying amounts. For example - maybe you used to do art at school – so you’re thinking of doing a painting month. I would advise kicking the year off with something you have never done before. It’s a good way to get yourself in the mind set of starting from scratch and jumping in at the deep end.
Write it! One you’ve chosen your first project theme; write a list of absolutely everything that comes to mind when you think of it. Then over the month use this as your bank of starting points. Take Photography as an example:
Film cameras / Digital cameras / Developing / Polaroids / Fashion / Family photo albums / Studios / Close ups / Nature / Disposable cameras / Landscape photos / Portrait photos / Family portraits / Wildlife photographer of the year / Photographers gallery / Colour / Light / Street photography / Black & White / Memories / Selfies
I found this was a great way to kick of each month.
Speak to them! Friends, family, friends of friends – that already know about or do the thing your want to discover more of. Let their passion show you the way. It’s amazing how willing people will be to impart their knowledge on you – the curious beginner!
Use it! It’s your best friend in this project. It will help you find things to do and places to go in relation to your theme you never had any idea even existed. Don’t stick to the first page of Google results either – be curious, keep pushing doors and see where the rabbit hole takes you. Doing your research at the start of the month is really important and will ultimately inform a lot of your choices but remain open to things changing and going with the flow too.
Make one! This is the most important thing. Aim to do or create something unique at the end of the month – something that encapsulates what you’ve learnt. This is what gives your discovering a purpose and will guide all the things you are learning into one thing or moment.
The idea for the thing you’re going to do might happen in the first week – it might happen in the third. There are no rules. You’ll know when you’ve had the idea! And once you have – make it happen!
This isn’t about showing your highlights and best bits. It’s about showing where you started, what it lead you to and what you’ve learnt/created!
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Any other questions then drop me an email! [email protected]
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