Luny Landing won first place in the Master Team Sculptor’s category in the World Championship sand sculpture event. This event was hosted in Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada.
Artists from around the world went to great lengths to build these sculptures to withstand the elements and remain show worthy for the public and of course, the judges.
From the most artistic design to the smallest, most intricate detail, this show of more than 70 sculptures was a pleasure to see. It was quite clear that these artists had realized and embraced their passion for creativity.
Please continue reading on page 2.
Pages: 1 2
34 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 3, 2008 at 6:36 am
thinkmaya
You have a wonderful way of taking me back in time! I look forward to reading your posts and seeing what memories of mine come back to me ….
Self-doubt is bad, isn’t it? When I started going out with my husband 10 years ago, self-doubt really got it the way since he came from a “creative” field. In addition to that he was a little more of a critical person than I was used to. I simply let him take over a bunch of things he considered creative like cooking, home decoration etc. Over the years my husband and I have grown to understand each other so much better – he knows that his critical nature really affects my flow. I have grown to a point where I let his critical comments affect me in the right way. Having kids did something to me ….brought back my childhood … and in my child like free spiritedness I am so much more fearless and hence creative.
October 3, 2008 at 8:35 am
Cath Lawson
Hi Davina – that sculpture is awesome. I’ve definitely let self doubt get in the way. In my twenties I tried writing non-fiction. I had a little success with smaller publications. But when I queried the bigger ones and they asked me to send stuff in, I couldn’t do it. I guess I was terrified they’d tell me I sucked.
I kept trying with short stories too. Trouble is – I wasn’t writing what I wanted to write – I was trying to write for particular magazines that paid, which did nothing for my creativity. Same with novels – I can’t even remember how many half finished novels I have – because I was trying to write for the masses.
October 3, 2008 at 9:24 am
Laurie | Express Yourself to Success
“We hope for that trophy or gold star and if we don’t believe in ourselves enough, we won’t even try to reach for it.” So true – we get in the way of ourselves.
Self-doubt is so destructive. Fortunately, the older I get the more I realize I don’t have to be the best or perfect or even good at something for that matter. I’m slowly learning that I can do what I want just because I want to. So I started painting with watercolours. Someone else may think my works are just horizontal lines of colour running into each other, but I think they’re beautiful sunsets. Or sunrises. Or puddles. Whatever it is, I’m enjoying it and know (and am relieved) they’ll never show up in an art gallery!
October 3, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Urban Panther
Sand castles…oh, takes me back to Higgens Beach, Maine (near Portland) where we went for week every other year growing up. We would build the most elaborate sand castles with my dad, then stay to watch them be swept away by the tide.
Hmmm…I have done creative things all my life, and when life events get in the way such that I haven’t done anything creative, I am absolutely miserable and unbalanced. Fortunately, I found a partner who is equally creative AND totally appreciates my sense of art and design. I am completely at peace when I am working on something.
October 3, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Robin
Hi Davina – it took me a long time to get in touch with my creativity – I always used to think I “wasn’t creative”. For me it took getting to know myself as I got older, and redefining what I thought creativity was, I think – from doing lots of personal growth “work”.
October 3, 2008 at 8:05 pm
veredd
I do think everyone is creative to some degree. For me, perfectionism has always been my number one enemy. But I’m slowly getting better. The very fact that I started a blog, which is a very public, yet imperfect creation, is a huge milestone for me.
October 3, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Mike Goad
OMG! I had forgotten some of the wonderful sand sculptures we had seen on our trip to the Vancouver area. I think the ones we saw were in Victoria.
So far as my creativity, I was able to channel it at work. In fact, I think I was able to get away with not doing some of the things I was “supposed” to be doing because I was the creative and innovative member of our team — though, over time, it became more and more difficult.
Today, I’m using the blog for my writing and my photography. My creativity now is for my own pleasure and that of whoever drops by my blog.
October 4, 2008 at 1:42 am
Marelisa
Hi Davina:
That sand sculpture of the two martians is awesome. I completely agree that the first prerequisite to being creative is to think of yourself as being creative. I’ve been reading that creativity is not so much a talent as a skill that can be learned, and with the state of the world that we live in (population explosion, climate change, nuclear weapons, and so on) creativity becomes more and more necessary to our survival.
October 4, 2008 at 2:20 am
Stacey / Create a Balance
I spent most of my life hearing that I wasn’t a writer or an artist, so I guess self-doubt blocked my creative flow for many years. I finally broke past that self-doubt and realized I have my paintings and my stories to share and no one is going to stop me!
October 4, 2008 at 5:16 am
Evelyn Lim
Most certainly, I have let self doubt stopped me from exploring creativity more previously. I had told myself that I did not undergo formal training and that surely, my work could not be better than anyone else who had. I forgot that I should just be in the moment. Like Stacey, once I got through my imagined barriers, there is no stopping me now. I’d just go where my heart flows.
October 4, 2008 at 7:57 am
davinahaisell
Hi Maya. Thank you. Having children seems to have given you the gift of yourself back. I’ve always wondered what happens to us adults. Ever notice the difference between children and adults on a bus? The children are so much more animated. They sure are fearless aren’t they?
Hi Cath. Boy do I get that! Trying to “sculpt” creativity for someone else puts a new spin on things. That’s where I think skill comes in with regards to creativity – directing the flow vs going with the flow. Do those half-finished novels of yours still have a chance?
Hi Laurie. Yep. As soon as the questions and self-doubt drop in, that critical mind perks right up! Then the belief of “I can’t” grows and “trying” starts rather than doing.
Hi Panther. Those days at Higgens Beach sound beautiful! Creative energy needs to be let out of that cage. And I wouldn’t want to see a Panther kept in a cage too long
Hi Robin. While reading your comment I had the thought that for you it was about trusting the creative process and understanding its uniqueness in you.
Hi Vered. Perfectionism is a brat when it gets out of control…. or should I say when it gets in control. I like your blog because it takes me to so many different places. You have a lot of flexibility in your creativity, and I think you are good with the perfectionist brat because of that.
Hi Mike. Your photography is unbelievable! Like taking a Sunday drive every day. So at work you were a creative rebel per say? Those creative types at my previous jobs were envied.
Hi Marelisa. You should have seen the rest of the show. Unbelievable! I have more pictures that I plan to use in future posts: (That photo of the moon in my NBOTW post was another sculpture). I agree with you about the necessity of creativity in today’s world. And I think the learning is about knowing it doesn’t have to be a certain way for it to be called creativity. That’s when the self-doubt seems to creep in, when a person “tries” to make it a certain way.
Hi Stacey. You’re on a role! I’m curious though… were you hearing this from other people, or from yourself?
Hi Evelyn. You just go where your heart flows. There is no stopping that river!
October 4, 2008 at 8:27 am
Barbara Swafford
Hi Davina – When I first started blogging I would read other blogs and feel “less than”. It was when I realized I, too, have freedom of speak (in my own words) that released my creativity. I stopped thinking of the competition and by doing do, the words started flowing. Now you can’t shut me up. Haha!
October 4, 2008 at 4:27 pm
SpaceAgeSage -- Lori
Like Vered, perfectionism stifled me a lot, but now I have its number and am beginning to really tap into my creativity. I guess I just needed to honor it, instead of minimize it.
October 4, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Al at 7P
Hi Davina – I do miss the unbridled enthusiasm I had with creativity when i was young. Yeah I do agree with the point that competition gets in the way a lot of times with creativity, along with other frivolous distractions we allow to affect our creativity.
October 4, 2008 at 7:37 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Barbara. You’re so funny! It is true though what you say. We are all so different, we can’t compare against each other. I’m glad that you can’t shut up!
Hi SpaceAgeSage. I agree. You’ve just reminded me of a phrase from Wayne Dyer… “Everything you are against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you.”
Hi Al. Glad you’re back
“Kids just wanna have fun!”
October 5, 2008 at 3:32 am
Hunter Nuttall
Davina, those sculptures are unbelievable! Far better than the sand castles I usually see on the beach, to say the least! If we saw those kinds of things more often, I bet a lot of people would be inspired to be more creative themselves.
October 5, 2008 at 7:02 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Hunter. Thanks for popping over here. Yes these sculptures were unbelievable. I agree with you, creativity stimulates creativity… unless the ego gets in the way.
October 6, 2008 at 3:50 am
Caroline
So interesting that you write about this… I love to be creative and I love how I can get lost in creative endeavors (painting, photography). I am trying to sell some of my photos…but the ego gets the best of me. That nasty bugger continues to tell me that I am nothing special, there is too much competition, why would anyone but my things? It’s crazy!
October 6, 2008 at 7:56 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Caroline. You tell that ego to go stick his head in the sand! Don’t listen to a word of it. Your style, your voice are different than the competition’s and there are people out there waiting for it *smile*.
October 7, 2008 at 1:53 am
Friar
Boredom.
Sheer Boredom.
That’s what sparks my creativity.
I used to have a smart R&D job, and I didn’t really need to stimulate my mind anymore after quitting time. So much of my down-time after work was excercise and socializing.
But now. my career has changed to a mind-numbing job, where I want to gouge my eyes out, from sheer boredom.
It’s a good and bad thing. I’m not too happy form 9:00 to 5:00. But after hours, boy, has my artistic creativity ever INCREASED. I write, paint and draw constantly.
It’s almost like I need a stupid brain-dead job to motivate me to think with the Right side of my brain.
October 7, 2008 at 4:02 am
Leanne Magraith | Forever Change
I read your post Davina and started thinking about what has triggered creativity for me in the past year and in a nutshell it was boredom in my day job. So I scroll down the comments and the last comment by Friar was about Boredom. Too funny and too true.
My day job become increasingly boring so I found creativity to pursue in other areas of my life. Having a boring day job is not all bad as it is not too taxing and I have some energy left over to do the things I want to do after hours.
In fact recently at work I had a choice of moving into a more interesting job and I chose not to. This might sound a bit weird but I wanted to stay in the more boring job (and easier) job so that I could maximise the amount of energy I would have to pursue what I want to do outside of work.
Had I chosen the more interesting job, (interesting being relative here) yes it would have been more fulfilling however at the expense of leaving little energy left over to pursue what I want to do outside of work.
I am now even pursuing something creative that may even give me the opportunity to give up my day job and do something that really interests me and also taps into my creativity.
October 7, 2008 at 6:11 am
davinahaisell
Hi Friar. That is interesting, but not great that you are bored for 8 hours of your day. Guess you’re storing it all up for the after-hours club; out of the frying pan, into The Deep Friar – ha ha.
Hi Leanne. Well if anything, it’s easier to leave a boring job when you’re ready. I hope this pursuit of yours pays off.
October 7, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Stacey / Create a Balance
I think I was hearing it indirectly from other people. Maybe they were really telling me I wasn’t a writer/artist or maybe that is just what I heard. Either way, I never liked my writing or painting and decided a long time ago “it wasn’t my thing”. These thoughts are behind me now. It doesn’t matter if I am not a great traditional writer or painter. I have stories, thoughts, and dreams to share. People will hear my inner voice regardless of how I write or paint them. I have realized it is not always how you write but how you share your voice with the world.
October 7, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Dave Fowler
Davina, the distractions in life stunt my creativity. The same distractions that have seen me try to read your post seven times since you published it. There is also a time factor at play. I simply don’t have the time I used to have. I often feel rushed and sometimes feel stressed and neither of these states is conducive to being creative (for me anyway).
I think I’ve also buried some of my creativity because it hasn’t been a requirement for most of my adult life.
It’s frustrating because I recognise that I may have some talents but I haven’t been able to explore how far those talents extend.
I could write quite a lot about this, but then that’s the beauty of your post. It got me thinking and has left me with some questions I want to ask of myself.
Thank you.
October 7, 2008 at 10:32 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Stacey. You’re right. It doesn’t matter if you are a great traditional writer or painter, or how you write. The message you have to share is important and whether or not it is shared is even more so.
Hi Dave. Well, thanks for using some of your time to read and comment here. Time? What is that?
I hear you on that one! I am also hearing you say, “I could write quite a lot about this…” Hmmmm, I’m challenging you to. I’d love to hear the results of your reflections in a future blog post of yours.
October 8, 2008 at 12:36 am
Natural
Love the sandcastle pictures. I’ve seen a few of them via email. Very nice.
Self-doubt. Sure it has crept up in my mind. Like you I enjoy writing, though I have never really had any formal training in writing, but more in the public speaking area…sometimes I read blogs and wish I could write like that person. Can’t. I’m me. I have my own style, whatever that is and I guess that’s one thing I like about blogging, nobody can say I have to do it this way or that way.
October 8, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Dave Fowler
Wow. That’s quite a challenge.
I’m smiling as I type this because I didn’t expect to have a challenged laid at my feet. I’m not complaining, I mean it’s nice that you think I might have the capacity to write something fairly cogent along these lines but I’m not sure I do.
And as I think more about it…. I’m still smiling because I can see why your challenge is a clever one. I’d have to explore my creativity in order to meet the challenge. Very good!
When I do write something I’ll be sure to let you know.
Thanks Davina.
Dave
October 8, 2008 at 9:48 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Natural. I love your style! Your personality shows through very attractively through the words you choose and how you convey your message. I wouldn’t want to read ThinkingOutLoudBlog any other way! Subscribed ages ago.
Hiya Dave. Well, it’s time to pick up that challenge laying at your feet — it’s getting dusty
Can you touch your toes? The stretch will do you good! (Metaphor intended.)
Note that this was just a friendly challenge and invitation to write on this topic. I’m not expecting it, but would be pleased if it happened. I’d wager a guess that you’d be pleased too. The only pressure you might be feeling is from you
What is creativity to you? To me it’s about expressing and creating things. You can apply creativity to those changes you are making in your life right now. It doesn’t have to be a “thing” you are making or a story you are writing. It can be a creative way of handling things — a strategy is a work of art too.
Just some food for thought. Cheers.
October 8, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Dave Fowler
Hi Davina, I’ve been given it more thought. I’m convinced I’ll write about this now. It’s very appropriate to what I’m trying to achieve at the moment.
It’s fair to say that I am naturally creative but not necessarily in an artistic way. I love to solve real life problems and in that area I’ve often been very creative.
My turn around on challenges of any sort, whether friendly or not, is quite slow a the moment but I won’t let that stop me.
I’m going to have fun with this one. Thank you.
October 8, 2008 at 11:13 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Dave. You are so welcome. I can see how dedicated you are to making changes in your life just by what you have been writing about on your blog. And, from your earlier comment about how you tried 7 times to read this post I can also see that perseverance is important to you. Dedication + Perseverance (with a sprinkle of creativity) = Success! Have fun and I look forward to reading more.
October 10, 2008 at 11:28 am
Dave Fowler
I like talking to you Davina you make me feel even better about myself.
October 10, 2008 at 7:01 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Dave. Thank you very much. I am happy to hear that!
October 10, 2008 at 11:55 pm
lkleppin
Davina,
I knew I wanted to create, but it always took a back seat to: marriage, family, work, school (being the perpetual student that I am!)
I finally started to put it all in place during my graduate program when I would start registering for EXTRA classes in journaling, and weaving, and color design.
THAT’s what my spirit wanted to do! Glad that I finally listened.
Thanks for a good post. G.
October 11, 2008 at 7:17 am
davinahaisell
Hi lkleppin. You’re welcome. And now you’re probably wondering, “Why did I wait so long?”