Daily Inspiration Blog

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June 2026

Published 2008

Check out this link to learn a little more about the inspiring educator and visionary artist, Corita.

Find out more about the book here, browse her collection, and read Ten Rules.

Watch a video series inspired by Corita Kent and Jan Steward's book,

"Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit" here.

 

This book is absolutely incredible!

It's a combination of all things wonderful - artless art, humanity, creativity, play, insight, culture, community, craft,

full of a rare type of wisdom, an abundance of ideas, assignments, methods, images, and a mystical way of "seeing"!!

I can't decide which is my most favourite chapter, one day it is "Looking", and the next it is "Connect & Create",

and today it is "Work Play".

That could be because today I'm working on a drawing of a crested pigeon in between trying to write and update my website.

Corita combined the two words "Work" and "Play" into the word "Plork". I love this word!! So today I am Plorking :-) 😀

In the chapter "Work Play",

Corita writes how we tend to think of "play" as without a goal, something abstract and perhaps irresponsible,

whilst "work" is suggestive of a goal representing something specific and honourable.

And so born was the word "Plork", which she explains as

"the one responsible act necessary for Human advancement," and it

represents the "ecstasy we feel when work and play are one."  (p. 159)

 

Anyway, I'll be continually returning to this book for inspiration,

as it is an essential manual that taps into the innate creative human spirit that is within us all. 

With technology rapidly overtaking art/writing by hand practice,

Corita reminds us that we are magnificently human and not computers!

 

Here is another assignment from page 56 of Learning by Heart in the chapter entitled Sources.

Give it a try!

"Look at a magazine in many ways-one way at a time-and write three lines about each point of view.

sociologically

historically

anthropologically

as a parable

meditatively

as a directory

as a work of art

as a fairy tale

as a revolutionary treatise

as humor

as poetry

as layout and design

as lettering

as political indoctrination

as an instruction book

Remember that sources are starting points.

When looking for sources for a specific project, don't get too fussy about what is appropriate.

Include everything.

Sources that might not fit one job may be just right for the next."

 

· · ─ ·☽𖤓☾· ─ · 

❤️ Enjoy Every Moment!! ❤️

#LearningByHeart #FreeYourCreativeSpirit #Looking #Sources #PLORK

𖦹🀢🀣🀦🀤⊹❤︎📚₊⟡⋆🎨🖌️⋆⟡₊⊹✐ᝰ🌀𖣐👀

P.S. Coming soon, a new channel 

"After much laundry comes a moment of ecstasy"

As always, stay tuned!!

Best wishes,

Paula

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