I have some great Pop Art hanging on my walls. The rooms tend to light up, with the celebration of vivid, wild colors and designs. My Pop Art got me thinking…where else does Pop Art reside? Then I realized, just about everywhere!

I was cleaning my kitchen the other day and pulled out products from under my sink. Boy, they were just screaming with Pop Art. Cleaning products consist of screaming colors that say “Buy!” “Use me!” “I can do anything!” Cleaning products advertise themselves as little cleaning superheroes, requiring the biggest and brightest of colors (You don’t see any superhero in beige, now do you?)

Then when I made lunch, I realized that Pop Art was practically falling out of my cupboards – from my tunafish can to my loaf of bread; bold color, bold design.

Of course, we know the reason why. Pop Art colors and design entice the eye. Advertisers and designers know that boldness will win your wandering eye at a grocery store. And subliminally, we all think, “Hmmm…there’s just something about this packaging that makes me think it will work well.” Does it? Well, that’s up for debate! Certainly colors and designs attract the eye and send signals to the brain. What makes you choose one product over another, well that’s a horse of a different color.

Pop Art abounds, that is for sure. It’s an active art form, brimming with life and color. I’m glad to have some hanging up in my household, adding that certain flair to my day.

My Pop Art adds a bold sweep of color and design to any room…sometimes making the rest of the room pale in comparison. That’s because most of time, we’re not used to that much color. Many of us tend to go toward beiges, off-whites and black. Pop Art asks for a little more. It asks you to shake up your internal color scheme a little!

So where to start? One of the easiest ways to spice up your color scheme is with accenting pillows; an affordable way to add a dash to any room. Now if your Pop Art piece is comprised of bright reds and yellows, you have your choice of either of those colors for your throw pillows. Or you could think outside the box entirely and choose a lime green or a bright blue. Since they are accenting touches, you can take more colorful chances!

Another way to add just a touch of inexpensive color to a room? Accessorize! Whether its candles or vases or table-bound picture frames, pick a compatible color and fire away! You’ll be really surprised how just a few minor touches really “pull” the color scheme of the room together.

Of course, if you’re feeling like investing a little more time, painting is an option. And you don’t have to contend with every wall. Sometimes painting a single wall is more than enough.

The point is, when it comes to adding color to your room, there are worlds of possibilities. Take some chances. You’ll be glad you did. Color adds a certain something to everybody’s love.

So you want to send a photo into MyPopArt.com but you’re just not sure which one. Maybe you want something totally new, totally you. But you can’t afford the cost of a professional photographer, so you’re left to your own devices. Not to worry. The possibilities are endless, as long as you have a camera with a timing device.

Sure, you could ask a friend to take some shots of you but we all know that can feel awkward sometimes. Even the most extroverted of us can feel self-conscious. You feel like you’re trying too hard. Posing is awkward!
Well, timers allow you the freedom to take the photos the way you want. (Of course, if you have a remote control, even better yet!)

First, test your shot. Set up the camera and note the perimeters. When you look through the viewfinder, look for guidelines. If you plan on sitting on a park bench, for instance, find the “box” that you will fit into within the shot of the bench. Of course, the great thing with digital is that you can experiment. So what if you cut off your head or leg for a few shots.

For me, I like to get the setting right before I begin shooting – no “heads off” shots. I can easily see that I have a foot or so worth of headroom and play within those perimeters.

You’ll notice when you take photos of yourself, you feel a little more at ease. You feel like you can experiment more freely. Pretty soon, you’ll have a killer shot of yourself that is relaxed and distinctly you! Then you can send it into My Pop Art for the royal Pop Art treatment!

Some people think that it’s a little cheesy putting photos of yourself and your loved one all over the place – a case of coupledom overkill. But when a relationship starts, there’s a celebratory sense that just can’t be denied. That’s where MyPopArt.com comes in. They give you creative permission to celebrate that loved one in a bright, bold and distinctive way.

It’s sometimes hard to decide how to share your feelings about a new loved one in your life. You don’t want to sound too corny or go on endlessly. But you’re also happy and proud. You find yourself talking a little bit more about him or her, thinking a little bit more about him or her…it’s alright. It’s love.

Try taking some photos together. It’s a fun bonding experience for the two of you. And you know what? You can tell a lot from those photos. Look at the body language. What does it say to you? Can you see the bond between the two of you? Are there similar physical traits you share? Who is looking at the camera? Who is looking at the other? No need to make sweeping generalizations based on body language…its just fun to note.

Once you decide on the best shot, send it into My Pop Art so the artists there can give it the royal treatment. Once you get it back, put it in a place where you can truly appreciate it, like when you get out of bed in the morning or over a mantelpiece.

It’s alright to be corny about love. Love can be corny…that’s the beauty of it! Why not take the corniness to new heights by making a Pop Art rendition of a photo of the two of you? Let it celebrate love for you in a big, bright way!

My Pop Art has a ripple effect in your home. There’s something about the vivid, enticing colors that seems to magically “wake up” a room. But there’s other ways to add some light to your home, that don’t require much effort of money…and can make a big difference on the overall feel of your home.

Light is a powerful element in our life; something we don’t give much mind to. But it’s affecting us all the time. Too little light can lead to depression and lethargy, especially during the depths of the winter months.

One way to brighten things up? Take a good hard look at the the windows in your home. Do you tend to leave the blinds down throughout the day or the curtains drawn. Try a day with them pulled back. If you’re concerned about losing heat, its easy enough to do some weather proofing to windows. In my attic, for instance, I decided to seal the windows permanently and then used a window caulking so the air wouldn’t get in. So now, when my step daughter goes up there to paint, she can do it in nice, natural lighting.

You also may want to take a look at your lamps. There are so many options for bulbs nowadays. It doesn’t take much to experiment with some brighter wattage or “soft light” bulbs for effect.

And last but not least? Candles! Candles create a lovely, warmly lit atmosphere anytime. Just make sure they aren’t toxic, overly scented candles which end up being deleterious to your health.

Light. It’s an important element to our mental health. Take a look around and see the ways you can brighten up!

My Pop Art provides artwork based on your artwork. It’s a collaborative effort. But you’re creativity needn’t end there. No matter what you do for a living, adding more creativity to your life can provide you with a channel of expression, a spark to your life, a feeling of connectedness to a bigger purpose.

And believe it or not, there’s ways to add creativity to your life that don’t have to cost a lot of money or land you back in school again. Creativity is all around you and if you start your morning out right, you can be poised creatively. This means your day will be touched by creativity and more opportunities will present themselves, more clever solutions, even, dare I say, more money chances to make money (creative people are creative financially as well!)

Before you get out of bed in the morning, spend a minute – one minute – to review your dreams. They are a host of creative power. If you can, write about them. You don’t have to know exactly what they mean, you just have to “touch” them mentally, connect with them. Undoubtedly, there are messages to be had…can you guess at them? Dream interpretation doesn’t have to be such a painstaking process. Inherently, we know what our dreams are trying to tell us.

Getting in touch with your dreams allows your subconscious to feel more tended to. It’s like a muscle that needs strengthening. A well-worked subconscious naturally lends itself to more creativity, since that is its wellsource.

Give it a try tomorrow morning. See if your day feels a little different. Your subconscious is a major part of who you are. Connect with it again. You’ll be glad you did.

The wonderful thing about fashion is its ever-changing nature. Every day, you get the chance to re-invent yourself with your choice of clothes. Your style is a very real extension of your creativity, so why not play it up a little? Here at My Pop Art, we like taking our art to the extreme, not just with our Pop Art depictions of your photographs but in all aspects of our life.

So how can you add some Pop Art to your fashion? Take a look around your household. Undoubtedly you have source material all around you! Product designers spent tons of time perfecting the perfect color combinations for their packaging.

Take a look at your laundry detergent, for instance. It’s undoubtedly a bold, bright color…usually very Pop Art. Could you make an outfit based on those colors? How about a brighter, bolder makeup choice (for the ladies…and heck, the gents, if applicable.)

Maybe Pop Art colors are a little too bold for you. That’s alright. You can take that same color combination and mute them a little, making it more palatable for your tastes.

Most of tend to drown ourselves out in white and beige and black. We become a little too comfortable with our color choices, afraid to stop outside of the “color box.” Experiment with Pop Art colors one day. Undoubtedly, you’ll get all sorts of flattering compliments. People like color! And smart color combinations abound, even in your cupboard and closets.

Don’t be afraid…it’s only color!

I don’t know about you, but order new art makes me want to get the rest of my house in shape before hanging it (and places like My Pop Art offer wonderful pieces, perfect to lift the spirit’s of any house.) And while it may be early for a spring cleaning, you can begin to prepare now.

The first step is a little planning (which is great because this requires the least physical effort!) What do you want your home to look like this spring? What changes would you like to make? Which rooms seem to just not work and why? Having a good, overall picture of how you’d like the house to look after your completed is always useful.

Then keep your eye out for “trouble areas.” A closet that seems teeming with junk. A drawer where you keep too many random items. A basement full of moldy boxes. Make note and put them in your mental planner.

I start a little early so there’s not as much to do when spring arrives. I’ve already cleaned out the garden area though its still too early for planting. If there’s an article of clothing that just doesn’t work, I put it in a bag that I take to Goodwill. I already bought some new curtains for the living room (since the ones we have up have been there for too long! Plus new curtains are a great addition to a more “springy” home.)

So that’s a little groundwork. Nothing major but enough to take some of the heat off when spring rolls around. Once your house has had a little face lift, you can hang your new artwork up proudly!

Creativity can be an “outside-in” process. Many people believe its some complicated undertaking, becoming more artistic. You think you’ll have to go back to school or start wearing floppy hats and sipping espresso in cafes. Creativity is what you make it! My Pop Art, for instance, serves as a collaborator with you. You provide the well-constructed photograph and they’ll supply a Pop Art rendition of it. Simple as that – you’re an artist…or at least on your way!

You may want to take a look around your home and see where else you can infuse some of your new artistic sensibilities. Start with your bedroom. That’s where you wake up. If you see an inspirational piece of art when you open your eyes in the morning, you remind yourself of your own creative possibilities.

Next, move to your kitchen. Something as simple as your plates and cups can provide you with a sense of play and fun. What plates do you like to eat off of? Why? I have brightly colored plates with hand painted stars all over them. Every time I pull one from the shelf, I smile inside. They just lift me up.

The point being: if you want to make some changes to your life, open your creative passageways. Its not that difficult. It can be as simple as obtaining a few pieces of new art to hang on your walls that simply inspire you. Or making some small changes around your house; new curtains, pillows…whatever makes you smile inside.

Once you start making these changes, you’ll notice a snowball effect, I guarantee!

When we wake up to the fact that we’re all inherently creative, we can begin to live that we’re truly meant to be living. Sites like MyPopArt.com specialize in bringing the artist out in you, by developing Pop Art from your photography. But there are other ways to integrate artistry into your life, as well.

Let’s do a quick examination of what doesn’t work creatively. Sometimes its easier to eliminate than add!

Television watching. Hello, brain sucker! If you want to make sure you’re working at your least creative level, make sure you watch an overabundance of television. And pick the most mind-numbing shows you can find; reality show, soap operas, infomercials…you shouldn’t have to look far!

Overeating. While it may have worked for Orson Welles or Marlon Brando, overeating is a way of hiding from your creativity. If an urge is hitting you, try feeding it with a good book or a journal entry, not cookies and soda! Bad food sends you on a sugar rollercoaster, leaving you incapacitated to create.

Talking on the Phone. That’s right. While its good to connect with loved ones, it can be a space filler and a creativity sucker. Too much time logged on the phone diffuses possible creativity. Stop being a chatty Kathy and get to work!

Having an artist’s mind requires some honing, as you see. It may be time to start removing some of the detritus in your life that seems to be sucking your life force away from you, instead of moving you forward creatively.