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Welcome to Pairings
Pairings by Jann Alexander include creativity, inspiration, books, writing, photography, art, history, travel, Texas life, lore and more
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Jann Alexander
Sep 14 min read
How Do You Start What You’re Afraid To?
Knowing when to stop writing is a lot easier than starting to write in the first place. But it's simple: You just have to show up.
Jann Alexander
Jul 154 min read
Why The Fear of Ruining Your Art Will Ruin Your Art
Don’t let fear become the biggest influence in your creative life. Find your commitment to painting and writing by delving into your fears.
Jann Alexander
Dec 2, 20232 min read
Creativity Works … When You Work
Don’t fight it. Creativity is a choice. Once you make it, the ups, and the downs, are the fun part.
Jann Alexander
Mar 10, 20232 min read
What It’s Like
"The work never never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with" — William Faulkner
Jann Alexander
Apr 4, 20221 min read
What Are You Doing This Morning?
In one short paragraph author Flannery O'Connor nails down her work ethic — one that will motivate your creative soul.
Jann Alexander
Feb 24, 20213 min read
Prescription for a Creative Funk
To ignore a creative funk is to imperil your creative stamina. Here's out to take a time out to tend to your creative soul.
Jann Alexander
Mar 4, 20164 min read
Murder And Mountains: Two Books, Two Themes, Two Reviews
Last week I read two books in two days. Yes, that required putting a halt to all activities beyond eating and feeding the dog. Even...
Jann Alexander
Sep 6, 20141 min read
One Tree, Two Apps, Three Treatments
I came upon the tree I dubbed ‘Palo Duro Tree’ in a West Texas canyon, bent and alone, begging for a photograph. I obliged, using my...
Jann Alexander
Jul 21, 20141 min read
There Is Truth In What You Paint: Yours
#JustPaint Poster ©2014 JannAlexander.com if you’re a painter, and it’s part of your soul and the way you breathe, you know it, and...
Jann Alexander
Jun 22, 20143 min read
Finding My First Sweet True Love
Beautiful That Afternoon Later, I painted what I missed while reading. ©2014 Jann Alexander I was lucky to never lose my first true...
Jann Alexander
Apr 27, 20141 min read
Use All The Colors
“Detail makes the difference between boring and terrific writing. It’s the difference between a pencil sketch and a lush oil painting. As...
Jann Alexander
Apr 10, 20142 min read
Why Making Art Is Messy
Flower Child on the Porch by Jann Alexander © 2008 “Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived . . . Tidiness makes me think of...
Jann Alexander
Mar 14, 20142 min read
Why It’s Called Social Sharing
Branch Out After You Plant Your Roots by Jann Alexander © 201 How I finally learned to be as sociable online as I am off If you’re an...
Jann Alexander
Mar 12, 20142 min read
How to Deal With the Loneliness of Creativity
Why is creativity so lonely, even when we’re part of a team? Creativity is pre-destined to be lonely. We are all alone with our ideas,...
Jann Alexander
Mar 6, 20142 min read
The Challenge Comes With A Risk: Print, Or Paint?
The photograph (left) that inspired the painting (right) . See both here. As a photographer who paints, and a painter who photographs,...
Jann Alexander
Feb 28, 20141 min read
Let It Flow
Weekend inspiration from Jann Alexander and a handy little app called Notegraphy . #art #creativity #design #inspiration
Jann Alexander
Feb 25, 20145 min read
#Creativity: It’s a Wrap | Creative Blocks
Find your way through life’s creative blocks. © Jann Alexander We’re creative. But you’re stuck. (Just like I was last week.) So I’ve...
Jann Alexander
Feb 18, 20141 min read
Painting Trees: Only the Loneliest Need Apply
Trees in the Snow painted by Jann Alexander © 2014 The lonelier the trees, the better: I’m drawn to them like autumn leaves are to the...
Jann Alexander
Feb 17, 20142 min read
#Creativity: It’s a Wrap | On Balance
Finding balance in the creative practice, circa 1926 Among the most thought-provoking pieces I discovered for the new feature I’m...
Jann Alexander
Feb 6, 20143 min read
How to Jumpstart Your Creative Mojo
Get your creative mojo off the back burner . . . When you’re just coming down from a huge burst of your creative output, you don’t...
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