bell hooks’ continues to challenge perspectives, engage readers and thinkers, and honor resistance. I often wonder how hooks would comment on and contribute to current events, but then I reread their words and have my answer; there’s comfort and power in revisiting hooks’ work. In bell hooks’ memory, let’s make some art inspired by a few popular quotes. You can do these creative prompts by yourself, with friends, or your children, students, or clients.
Here are some tips to get started:
- These prompts are designed for drawing, however you are welcome to use any art tools and make necessary adjustments.
- Read each quote out loud- slowly. Pause after each sentence. When you finish reading the quote, don’t do anything just yet. Let it sink in. Read the quotes again.
- If you are inspired at this point, go ahead and create! Pick up your preferred tools and make marks.
- If you’re looking for a little more guidance, follow the prompts provided.
- Feel free to process the debrief suggestions in a journal or out loud.
- Have fun and take care of yourself, friend!
1 |
“The practice of love begins with acceptance. The recognition that wherever we are is the appropriate place to practice. That the present moment is the appropriate time.” – bell hooks
Suggested Materials:
- Timer
- Paper
- Drawing tool
Creative Prompt:
- Set a timer for a short period of time, whatever that means to you. Thirty seconds? Two minutes? Five minutes?
- Try your best to draw something perfectly. You could draw a still life, landscape, portrait, or anything else that you can see with your eyeballs.
- Tip: Challenge yourself to draw what you actually see, not what you think you see.
- Stop drawing when the timer goes off, even if you aren’t finished.
- For everyone who isn’t an experienced artist, this drawing probably won’t look perfect. Even if you are a professional artist, you will likely want to change something about your picture.
Reflections:
- What can you accept about this artwork?
- What can you appreciate about your creative process?
- What effort do you recognize in this artwork?
- How do you feel about not making the picture look “perfect”?
- How would additional practice change how you feel about this process?
2 |
“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” -bell hooks
Suggested Materials:
- Paper
- Drawing tool
Creative Prompt:
- Draw a single dot anywhere on a fresh piece of paper.
- That’s it. That’s the entire prompt.
- Resist the temptation to add more.
Things to Think About:
- How do you feel about creating a simple drawing?
- What do you appreciate about this artwork?
- Does this artwork feel “finished”? Why or why not?
- What benefit does solitude have in this artwork?
- What else do you want to add to the drawing?
- Were you tempted to use a smaller sheet of paper or make the dot bigger? How would those changes reflect or contradict the quote?
3 |
“I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance.” – bell hooks
Suggested Materials:
- 3 pieces of paper
- Drawing tool
Creative Prompt:
- Decide what you want to draw- it can be anything!
- Start drawing on one of the sheets of paper. Make your drawing big enough to fill up the entire piece of paper. Set this work aside.
- Take out a fresh piece of paper and tear it up into smaller pieces. Use one of those small pieces for this next drawing.
- Attempt to copy the first drawing you made (the one that filled up the full piece of paper) on your small piece of paper. Even though this paper is smaller, try to fill it up with your drawing.
- Choose something new to draw- again, it can be anything!
- Take one of the pieces of paper you tore up earlier. Draw your new idea on this small piece of paper, using all the space available.
- Now grab your other full piece of paper. On this paper, attempt to draw the same drawing you made on the little piece of paper and fill up the page completely.
Things to Consider:
- How were the two processes different?
- What outcome do you prefer? Why?
- Describe the experience of creating these artworks?
- What was it like to “narrow down” your work?
- What was it like to expand your work?
4 |
“It is essential for everyone to remember that they are not only more complex than the way they represent themselves, they’re more complex than the way white society represents them as well.” – bell hooks
Materials:
- Paper
- Drawing tool
Creative Prompt:
- Create a complex image, whatever that means to you. If you don’t know what to draw, draw a geometric shape.
- Fill your piece of paper with complex images or geometric shapes. You can either draw the same image/shape again and again, or draw different images/shapes every time.
- Increase complexity by overlapping images/shapes, varying sizes, using different colors, or applying different amounts of pressure with your tool. There are so many ways to get creative here- don’t overthink it!
Get in Touch with Your Feelings:
- Compare your original image/shape to the final artwork. Describe the changes.
- How did you know the artwork was complete?
- How did you represent complexity in this work?
- What sticks out to you in the final product? What stuck out to you during the process?
5 |
“No black woman writer in this culture can write ‘too much.’ Indeed, no woman writer can write ‘too much.’ No woman has ever written enough.” – bell hooks
Suggested Materials:
- Paper
- Drawing tool
Prompt:
- Pick a single word- or sentence- that means something to you.
- Now, write ‘too’ many words. Write them all over the page. Or write them ‘too big’. ‘Too’ bold. ‘Too’ chaotic. Do ‘too much’.
- When you think you’re done, keep going. Practice overdoing it and embrace the discomfort of not making something pretty or nice to look at.
Questions for Reflection:
- How did you experience writing “too much”?
- How did you challenge yourself?
- Were you tempted to disregard the prompt in any ways? When did these feelings came up? What did you do?