March

tech·nique| tekˈnēk |

noun

1. the manner and ability with which an artist, writer, dancer, athlete, or the like employs the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor.

2. the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field.

3. method of performance; way of accomplishing.

4. technical skill; ability to apply procedures or methods so as to effect a desired result.

As creators, we’re constantly envisioning the things we want to make or hearing in our minds the sounds we want to create. Technique is the personal strategy that allows us to enter into the production of those ideas—the process of working towards the vision we have for a piece of work. It’s how we use our own tools to turn what’s in our head into something real.

For painters, technique centers around paint and brushes and color and image-making; for musicians, it’s notes and sound and the way you hold your guitar; for audio engineers, technique is where you place your mic and how you layer the tracks of a song together. No matter the medium or the tool, experimenting with techniques will almost always improve your creative process—or at least move it down the road. 

For this first round of technique, we’re starting at the beginning.  This month, we’ll take some time to learn more about our tools, optimize our work flow and be ready to show up for inspiration when it strikes.       

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Check out last month’s deep dive into creative tools, and be sure to sign up for our weekly creative prompts.