play – Page 2 – Play. Create. Discover…

art, Blog, Funny, inspiration, Monster Monday, Monsters, play, Poetry, Self-Awareness, Writing

The Daboo: Meeting Your Inner Trickster

June 28, 2022 Kristy Fae

After a playful gallivant down Creative Lane last weekend, tickled by the inspiration of Father’s Day, I wanted to share this silly poem and illustration I created for my Dad. Well, this also got me thinking about how we are (and in this case, how our creativity is) shaped by those who brought us up and by those who have been or continue to be around us. I, for example, can easily trace back certain traits I share with family members who modelled ingenuity, artistic talent, and creativity in many different forms. I recall teachers and mentors who encouraged my writing and artwork, and how much of a difference it made to have their support. I have fond memories creating unique projects with imaginative and dedicated peers in Film School. How many happy moments of play and inventive stories were created with friends, I wonder, throughout my lifetime? And this week, I am reminded of where a big part of my inner Trickster came from— my dearest Daboo. The Trickster: the one who plays lovingly and for the sake of joy; who teases and jokes to break the daily monotony; who is able to scramble reality in a way that creates hilarity; who can juggle words and ideas like an otter with smooth river stones. What fun it is to release that inner creature, and to have it embraced and appreciated! And what a big and beloved part of me that creative thing has become…

I feel endlessly thankful for all of these wonderful gifts that have shaped who I am and what and how I create today. And I share these ponderings for three reasons. One, to encourage you to take notice of what special talents and gifts you have that you may take for granted. Two, as a motivator to reflect back and appreciate— perhaps even thank— a few of your most influential influencers. And three, to urge you to really put awareness into how you encourage and influence others around you, because your words and actions can and do shape those very individuals. So there you have it, straight from the beast, so please feast on these ideas, if you like, and have yourself a wonderful and creative week! But before you go, come meet the Daboo…!

“The Daboo” By Kristy Fae

Well, have you met our dearest Daboo?
If not, I say, you really ought to…
With eyes of deep and emerald green hue,
And song so strong it’ll make you brand-new!

Beware his cunning tricks— he’ll get you
With musings of a red-hot teaspoon,
Or willies wetter than a slug stew,
And hugs held tighter than a corkscrew!

And when he starts the grand barbecue
It’s sure to be a hullabaloo!
There’s ne’er been one who can compare to,
Our one true and most dearest Daboo!

“The Daboo” by Kristy Fae

Thanks for reading and remember to always Follow Your Creativity! Subscribe for more nonsensical fun and creative inspiration. Also find me @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable monsters and other products!

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Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2022 Kristina Durst aka Kristy Anne Fae All Rights Reserved.

art, Blog, inspiration, Monster Monday, Monsters, oracle deck, play, Writing

The Trout Lily Flowerling: Come Out to Play!

June 21, 2022 Kristy Fae

With her radiant display of curled yellow petals, it’s no wonder that this mischievous little beauty is a sign of good things to come! Mimicking the Sun himself, the Trout Lily Flowerling reminds us to peek out of the safety of the shadows we hide in and to— at every opportunity— fly our colours high! A symbol of joy and playfulness, she will always surprise you with her cunning trickery and lyrical speech. This nifty little nymph is on the guest-list for my upcoming Self-Love Oracle Deck, so be sure to Subscribe for updates if you want to support her and other creative and whimsical friends!

Dedicated to my Mom, this illustration was made for her after she shared a picture of a Dog-toothed violet a.k.a. Trout Lily and reminisced about how it was the first flower out and about to signify Spring where she grew up! Well, I’m a bit late on Spring so I thought li’l Trouty would be happy enough to make her appearance here in time for Summer… So Happy Summer Solstice everyone! May it be a joyous and playful season full of surprises. What is a symbol you associate with your favourite season? Can you draw or write about it creatively as a reminder of what that season means to you?

Thanks for reading! Also continue to Follow Your Creativity @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable monsters and other products!

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Blog, Crafts, Monster Monday, play

The Creature Maker: Playing in Your Natural Habitat

May 31, 2022 Kristy Fae

“Kristy Fae Playing in the Monster Studio”

In case the above photo didn’t give it away, this past week was a fun one in the Monster Studio! Inspired by a special screening of The Princess Bride at the local Vic Theatre (run by the Victoria Film Festival), I jumped into one of my favourite creative pastimes— costume making! If you’re not familiar with the classic 80’s film, there is a scene in which a giant rat-like creature, known as an R.O.U.S (Rodent of Unusual Size) makes an appearance and, well, it’s kinda hysterical. Enter the opportunity to craft a somewhat creepy, awesome, furry headpiece— complete with my fleece onesie— and make an appearance at the downtown theatre. This is a good Friday night for me. This is me in my natural habitat. Goofy. Creative. Silly. FUN. What’s your idea of a good time?

So if you’re at all inspired to make your own creature headpiece, here’s a quick behind-the-scenes look at my creative process. After-all, you never know when the whim will come to gather a gaggle of fur-clad folks for a soiree out on the town (I highly recommend it!). I first created the main shape and frame of the headpiece out of upholstery foam, using hot glue to fasten the parts together. Then I folded over felt to create the pink nose and ears and hot-glued that, as well as fake fur, onto the foam. Using acrylic paint, I added colour and detail to the lips and nose. Finally, I glued in felt teeth and added felt to some buttons for the eyes. And ta da!

For those adventurous enough to try, please share your experience below!

Thanks for reading! Continue to Follow Your Creativity @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable monsters and other products!

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Blog, inspiration, Monster Monday, play, Self-Love, Writing

The Plushy Monster: Revelling in the JOY!

May 2, 2022 Kristy Fae

This week is all about reconnecting with the joy of your childhood self!

Anyone who knows me well, will tell you that I am more than just a fan of stuffed animals/plushies, and the truth is, I have always been. You know how they say that nothing is permanent? EXCEPT for my love of stuffies, that will outlast us all 😉

A few days ago, I went into my favourite toy store for plushy oogling (Kaboodles in downtown Victoria BC) and perhaps some purchasing too. I was lovingly telling the staff about what a giant kid I am still at age 37, and how my bed is more critter than Kristy. To my surprise, they informed me that most of their clientele who came in for these stuffed bundles of furry joy were adults— and especially so since this whole global pandemic hit. It made sense, despite the surprise, because after all, don’t all humans need affection, physical touch, comfort and… the ability to unconditionally and uncontrollably SNUGGLE, KISS, and PET a soft and loveable cutie at any given WHIM!? Well…you get the point. I’m a sensory person, I’m an animal lover, I’m a critter admirer, and I’m a cuddle fanatic. What else can I say, these squish-able, squeezable sacks of snug-fest spell out J-O-Y for me even on the darkest of days! And turns out I’m not alone.

So plush or other, what’s your J-O-Y bringer? Think back to some of your happiest, earliest childhood memories. Perhaps a favourite place, thing, game, food, activity etc comes to mind? Do you melt at the thought of rolling in a pile of warm, freshly dried laundry? Do that. Did hand painting let loose your inner hysterical Picasso? Hit up the dollar store for some quick art supplies. Were you a flower-crown prince or princess? Head to the park and get pickin’! If nothing comes to mind, try something you’ve always wanted to, or YouTube “fun activities for kids” for inspiration.

Whatever it is that will light up your soul, give it a whirl. And do not let anyone convince you that you are too old, or too mature, or that the thing is meant for another gender identity than yours, or any other excuse. Because it’s not true. Also, the people who refuse to play and delight in the simple and creative joys of life, are the ones who need it the most. So don’t listen to them! Just revel in the thing and let your sweet, childlike joy bubble up and remind you what living in this world can REALLY feel like!

Then share what you did with a friend or a loved one and encourage them to get in on the game…come on, let’s play!

Continue to Follow Your Creativity! Find me @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable monsters and other products.

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Blog, Funny, inspiration, Monster Monday, play, Videos

The Pterodactyl Hunter: See the World through a Creative Lens!

March 21, 2022 Kristy Fae

Today is a very special day because today is the day that Super Max and I launch our greatly anticipated Youtube Vlog called “The Monster Playground”! We can’t tell you how much fun we had making it— spur of the moment, when the inspiration barked out to us from a heron’s beak overhead— and we hope it adds a good giggle to your day too!

This YouTube Vlog, much like Art of Nonsense, is all about adding more creativity and play to your day and joy to your life! So without further ado, we are proud to present our very first episode, “Wild Victoria”:

Get ready to venture through the wild parks of Victoria B.C. with Kristy the Pterodactyl Hunter to discover the most fascinating and unusual creatures around! While she may think she knows what she’s talking about, can you find any mistakes that Kristy makes while identifying these gorgeous birds and animals (aside from her accent)? Come on, let’s check it out!!!

If you enjoy this 5 minute whacky demonstration of ridiculousness, then please like, subscribe, and share the fun! And make sure you get outside this week to enjoy seeing the world with an extra dose of silly sauce 😉

Thanks for tuning in! If you want to be notified of future blog posts, make sure to click FOLLOW and also find me @artofnonsense on Facebook and Instagram or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for more monsterly inspiration!

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art, Blog, inspiration, Monster Monday, play

Rolly Manatello: Rolling in Your Bliss

June 2, 2021 Kristy Fae

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I adore stuffed animals. I always have and I always will. I remember, when I was a kid, kissing each of the stuffies lined up in my bed before going to sleep. How could l leave even one of my cuddly buds out when I loved them THAT MUCH?! Even now in my thirties, I have to remind myself with a giggle that my stuffed friends that have received less attention than others recently, aren’t actually feeling bad about it.

Or are they? My mind knows they are not living creatures, but my heart? Welll…that’s a different story. So why fight it? Why deny our hearts the pleasure of adoring something THAT MUCH? So that’s what me and my newest addition, a Manatee by Jellycat (one of my fave plushie makers), lovingly named Rolly Manatello, have been up to lately: rolling around in blissful cuddles, savouring the soft and the squishy, visiting dreamland, and even painting pictures together— or at least side by side.

Manatee Plushie by Jellycat, Photo by Kristy Biscuit

Here’s a painting that came about in one of our rolling sessions. I decided to try out my new digital Procreate Watercolour brushes (from http://www.designcuts.com) in a quick ‘n’ dirty splash-digital-paint-around-a-digital-canvas sort of way. As is often the case when I sit down to do a fast, messy illustration, without an end-goal in mind, I love the outcome. And so does Rolly! We admire the movement, the imperfection, the tangibility of the work: the playfulness.

So if you’re needing a spirit animal as inspiration this week, why not bring to mind Rolly Manatello and get out there and roll around in your bliss!? Savour. Admire. Create. Play. Just like the laissez-faire demeanour so often attributed to the gentle giant of a sea-cow, the manatee: don’t think too much, just go along your merry way, stumble upon inspiration, dabble in it, follow your joy…and notice how your heart feels about it. Then come back and comment if you’d like to share your experience…

Happy Rolling!

Thanks for visiting Art of Nonsense! Also find me @artofnonsense on Facebook and Instagram or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for more creature fun and inspiration.

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Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2021 Kristina Durst aka Kristy Biscuit All Rights Reserved.

Blog, inspiration, Monster Monday, Monsters, play, Self-Love, Writing

The Dragon and the Fly: Sitting on the Water

May 24, 2021 Kristy Fae

Hi monster fans! Just dropping in with a little reminder and a touch of inspiration this Monster Monster. For those of you who have been trying to do too much, yet feeling more worn out and “less than” the more you do…this post may be for you!

If you’re anything like me, you have plenty of creative ideas as well as a never-ending list of to-do’s on multiple lists. If so, let’s just take a pause. Breathe. Seriously, just take a few deep ones as though you’re gathering up your fiery breath to roar it out at a gigantic marshmallow OR it could be a gentle subtle breath, like the breath of a fly, peaceful and easy. Do it in whatever way feels good to you right now and most importantly: enjoy it, savour it, like a delectable treat. Because it is one.

As far back as I can remember, I’ve adored dragonflies. With their enlarged, inquisitive, reflective eyes, thin bodies, and delicate wings, they truly strike me as something from out of this world. When I was young, I would take the dinghy out into the bay on the lake and rescue the dragonflies that had swooped too low for a fresh fly and gotten their winged waterlogged. I would retrieve them from the top of the lake’s surface, set them on the side of the dinghy, and watch as they would flutter their wings in the sunlight until they were dry enough to transport their bodies back into flight once more. Me, sitting in blow-up raft in the middle of the lake surrounded by bugs: and I couldn’t have been happier.

What magic comes to us when we are willing to pay attention to the small things around us? To sit still and hear our heart’s longing? To act on those gentle, shimmering impulses… like a dragonfly’s wing…?

So that’s where I’ve been and why I haven’t been keeping up with this blog lately. I haven’t been on the lake with the dragonflies, but out in the sun, at my drawing desk and craft table, with the little inspirations that come, trying to enjoy each minute of it all. And I don’t pretend that it’s easy to do less, slow down, and pay attention… but I guarantee, it is worth the effort to try.

“The Dragon and the Fly” by Kristy Biscuit

Thanks for reading! Also find me @artofnonsense on Facebook and Instagram or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for more monsterly inspiration!

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Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2021 Kristina Durst aka Kristy Biscuit All Rights Reserved.

art, Blog, Funny, Monster Monday, Monsters, play

The Sun-Monster: Soak Up the Fun!

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021 Kristy Fae

If you’re like me, and you live somewhere where the sun has been graciously showing its face more often these days, then you’ll understand this week’s illustration…Yes, I am more than ecstatic to be soaking up the warmth and light and am taking every opportunity to do so! I hope you’re all finding ways to play in, relax beneath, and otherwise enjoy, thoroughly, the sunshine. Haven’t we earned it!? Just remember to be a little safer than the overzealous critter below and use sun screen or cover up, hydrate, and don’t overdo it (as hard as that might be after waiting for what feels like SO long!).

Have fun and play safe everyone!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to subscribe for more monsterly fun! Also find me @artofnonsense on Facebook and Instagram or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable critters…

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Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2021 Kristina Durst aka Kristy Biscuit All Rights Reserved.

art, Blog, Funny, inspiration, Monster Monday, Monsters, play, Poetry

The Zuzzy Zzama: Creatures that Roll-Off-The-Tongue!

March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 Kristy Fae

Can you get this tongue twister to roll off your tongue— rhymes and embellished spellings and all? I’m having fun over here inventing new critters and their tails and tales. Have you got any silly willy furry friends to share with me? The key to success here is, you got it, have FUN and get SILLY!

This whimsical children’s illustration is the result of the second lesson of Lisa Bardot’s “How to Draw Fur in Procreate” tutorial that I’m following on Skillshare. Find more of Lisa’s tutorials and Procreate brushes at www.bardotbrush.com

Experimenting with different ways of how to make FURRY, FUZZY, HAIRY creatures come off the page as though you could reach out and pet them is especially exciting for me. Not only do I love furry creatures (and indubitably petting them) but I’m also thrilled about incorporating my learnings into my upcoming children’s book, “My Very Hairy Monster Friends”, featuring nonsense poems similar to the one above! Make sure to follow the blog for updates on this and other uberly creative projects…and last but not least, have a ssuper dduper dday!

Happy creating! For more creative fun and inspiration, find me @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and the Art of Nonsense Shop

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Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2021 Kristina Durst aka Kristy Biscuit All Rights Reserved.

art, Blog, inspiration, Monster Monday, Monsters, play, Poetry

The Simple Scribbler: Meaningful Meaninglessness

January 25, 2021 Kristy Fae

Sometimes it’s fun to simply draw,

Without the need to hum and haw,

So to the page the pencil goes,

And watch it as it simply flows…

Whether you’re a student of art, a professional artist, or a creative dabbler, it’s important to step away from the confines of projects and end results once in a while (or even more often than that preferably). Giving yourself time to experiment, scribble, scratch, doodle— and otherwise mess around— can not only be fun and therapeutic, but it can also give way to creations and ideas that could inspire a future project. You never know just what you might find: an outlet, a new technique, or a wacky character that jumps off the page and steals your heart! Here’s the little one born of my scribbles this week… what do you think? Should this Scribbler have his own story?

Take some time out this week to do something creative just for the sake of doing it! No means to an end. No agenda. No perfectionism. No erasing or un-doing even! Hide away from distractions and technology while you do it. Give it your full attention. Run wild with it! Take special notice of how you feel during the process— I’d love to hear about your experience and see what you end up with!

Happy creating!

If you want more nonsensical fun, find us @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest or visit the Art of Nonsense Shop for adoptable creatures and other products.

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