Finding your design "voice" - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chellescakes 

K8 what  a crack-up , Thank you for giving me a giggle. ( I am sitting in the middle of a cyclone at the moment watching to see if we will get flooded)

 

My problem is never getting the creative juices flowing , it is stopping them . I have to listen to that inner voice that says "step away from the cake "

^^ This. Yesterday I had to step away from the cake. Often I want to add this and add that but I have to remind myself that a cake does not need to showcase 20 design techniques to be stunning. In fact, the most stunning cakes I have seen (and am drawn to) are very minimalistic in the design approach. I'm drawn toward cleaner lines and things like razor sharp edges on fondant. A 'naked' cake properly covered with fondant, and having a single focal point/burst of color does more for me than a poorly covered cake with bows and lids and the works.

chelle & vgcea,

write two extra pages and call julia in the morning

 K8memphis, what are we going to do with you?

Take a crazy idea and work on it ......

Perhaps the three pages of writing, to free up the creative juices, could be transformed into a regular session (shorter once a day or longer once a week?) when you experiment with fondant or a dummy cake or icing bag (whatever takes your fancy). Just play around with "gay abandon" and invent or have a go at that technique you've been dying to figure out. I do this when the mood strikes me, not on a regular basis, and I've surprised myself at times. If something doesn't work then you've learnt something and you're one step closer to figuring it out. Hopefully this may lead you to your own style/s.

I must add, I once did a creative writing course and we were taught to write non-stop for ten minutes every morning - just keep writing whatever comes out of your head without thinking about it and don't allow your pen to stop. I used to keep a pad and pen by my bed and do it as soon as I awoke. The quality of some of that mindless writing was amazing and it did start my creative writing juices flowing - not sure whether it translates to creative cake juices if you're not into writing.

Have fun!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cher2309b 

Take a crazy idea and work on it ......

Perhaps the three pages of writing, to free up the creative juices, could be transformed into a regular session (shorter once a day or longer once a week?) when you experiment with fondant or a dummy cake or icing bag (whatever takes your fancy). Just play around with "gay abandon" and invent or have a go at that technique you've been dying to figure out. I do this when the mood strikes me, not on a regular basis, and I've surprised myself at times. If something doesn't work then you've learnt something and you're one step closer to figuring it out. Hopefully this may lead you to your own style/s.

 

I must add, I once did a creative writing course and we were taught to write non-stop for ten minutes every morning - just keep writing whatever comes out of your head without thinking about it and don't allow your pen to stop. I used to keep a pad and pen by my bed and do it as soon as I awoke. The quality of some of that mindless writing was amazing and it did start my creative writing juices flowing - not sure whether it translates to creative cake juices if you're not into writing.

 

Have fun!

yes that's julia's point--just write juices flow

As I was told when I took my first semester of Short Story Workshop, feel free to write the worst <scatological term> in America.

Well K8 instead of writing , I instead decided that I would sketch at least three cake designs today. I used a cosmo that I  was given to read while I was getting my hair done for a little inspitation.  I came up with five quite good designs while my hair was being turned into it's glorious natural blonde . Thanks K8

Well, I'd be a total loss at all of this.  I have all the creative talents of a doorstop, and even less of the artistic kind.  If I started with a blank slate and nothing else, about 2:00 next summer I'd still be looking at a blank slate.  Now give me a 1" square piece of a photo and I'll turn it into something spectacular, but without that inspiration I'm useless.

I have the greatest admiration for all you talented folks who dream up these fabulous designs (which I admit I borrow from freely), but I realized long ago that I'll never be part of your group. *sigh*