This article is based off the picture that I’ve included. I thought I’d delve into how we use creativity to express emotion, and so the picture is one that is based off a certain emotion that I have felt for a long time. It’s untitled at the moment. I was having trouble coming up with a name, and everything I tried sounded too contrived, so I just left it blank. (Any suggestions? Include them in your thoughts below!) It’s a photo-collage/ photo-manipulation.
This picture is kind of obviously based on being different and standing out. I know it sounds cliché, because everyone feels different in some way, but I feel different, not just in a metaphorical sense, but in a very actual, physical sense. I’m 6’5”, which is very tall for a woman. The average height of a woman is 5’3”, so I surpass that by over a foot! And it’s really hard being that tall. I frequently hit my head on low hung signs in stores, have to special order my jeans online and get people staring at me wherever I go. When I was fourteen, I moved to a state that got a lot of rain, and this image kind of got burned into my head whenever it would storm. I would be out with someone, and they would get out their umbrella, but if they held it over my head, they would get wet too, so I was usually left standing above a sea of umbrellas getting soaked to the bone, while everyone else walked along dry and normal. And even though it may not be intentional on anyone’s part, whether it’s the building designers, or the makers of jeans, or people in the store or anyone I happen to be around on a rainy day, it still hurts.
There’s an ache deep down inside that I have trouble finding adequate, or even enough words to describe exactly. So I express myself through my art. You see I’ve always found words to be frustrating, because they each have so many different meanings, you can never be sure that what you are saying to someone is what THEY are hearing necessarily. Not that art is really any different. A piece of art can be interpreted a thousand different ways, just as a word can. (Sorry, I’m going to go off on a side tangent here for a moment, which I tend to do, and then it usually ends up being my whole point anyways. Just bare with me.) I think that may be the real problem. Everything we have to express ourselves as humans is inherently an imperfect method of expression, because in order to perfectly express ourselves, we would have to actually BE the same person. But then again, by NOT being the same, by being different, and having imperfection, there is so much beauty to be had, so many different emotions and expressions and so many methods of creativity. And I think part of life is figuring out how you express yourself best, what you relate to, be it words or pictures or even music! And even though our expressions may not always be seen in the way we want them to, it’s at least a way to be honest with ourselves. Creativity and expression become a mirror to our very souls, a looking glass for our emotions to finally bounce back from and be seen with the eyes of our hearts. And maybe, just maybe, if someone is standing close enough, they’ll be able to see it too.
So, feel like sharing an expression or creation based off a certain emotion? Include links to your artwork, poetry, short stories, lyrics, liturgical dances, and sock puppet theater productions (or however you express yourself!) below, or send them in to info@girlsbydesign.com.

About Allie

Allie Osterloh is currently 20 years old and starting her second year of college this fall. She is majoring in Religion and planning to double minor in Psychology and Philosophy, though she has absolutely no idea what she wants to do after school. She enjoys reading, baking, art of all types and generally spending hours contemplating the meaning of life, the universe and everything, even though she’s already been told by multiple people that it is 42.

Hello again my lovely ladies!
So… I’ve been loving writing these music based pieces… simply because I love writing and music! So why not combine the two?
For this article I’m going to focus mainly on how people express themselves through music, I’m a huge fan of musicians who tend to get themselves across in their music no matter what they’re feeling… anger, tension, happiness, I really think it’s a great way to get across to people and to show a little bit of themselves.
Being a singer songwriter I like to get my own feelings across when I sing… It can help a lot when you’re going through a hard time, and then sometimes it will give you the best feeling in the world! Either way it all works out!
One of my favourite artists which I’m sure most of you would be familiar with is James Morrison. He is a huge artist at the moment. His unique voice, amazing guitar skills and beautiful lyrics go together perfectly.
All of his songs are just so perfect! They make my day listening to them and some can be really relatable. My personal favourite by him is his debut single… ‘’You Give Me Something’’.

Another one of my favourite artists who always speaks through her music is the one and only Taylor Swift!
This 19 year old starlet is known by almost everyone. From her light-hearted songs to her tearful songs, Taylor Swift never disappoints! The words to all of her music are so true, personal and relatable. Almost every girl can find at least one song that suits them. I really recommend you girls check out some of her songs.
She’s a huge inspiration to me because every word she sings means something to her, whether she’s telling us about past experiences (love, fighting, life etc.) or what she hopes for the future, her songs are so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever met an artist who sings so truthfully! My favourite song by her has to be ‘’Fifteen’’. This song is all about what it’s like to be at a certain stage in life, look back on what happened, and to see how much you’ve changed. The lyrics are truly amazing!
She’s currently working on the video for the song, but you can watch her talk about the inspiration for it and hear an acoustic version.
So those are two of my personal favourites. There are a lot more but I don’t think I could possibly list them all here. Way too many!
There are a lot of talented artists who do express themselves through their music and a good way to find them is to search on MySpace. Scan through friend’s pages and keep going until you find people!
I have discovered many bands and solo artists by doing that and a few days later their albums ended up on my shelf. It really is a fun thing to do and a great way to find new music.
Remember to have fun, smile, laugh, love, live and keep on singing girls!

About Tracey

I’m a young girl with big dreams living in a tiny little corner of Ireland! As you probably guessed music is my life and means almost everything to me. I laugh way too much and spend too much time with my guitar! My nails are always painted black and I have way too many earrings to fit in my room! I love Paramore and hope someday to be the next Hayley Williams. I love spending time with my amazing family and friends and making the most out of life!
Check me out!

Shannon Butler ~ Ceramics Artist
I have found art and ceramics in particular to be a very fulfilling way for me to express my inner self. Ceramics, or pottery as some like to call it, has a very tangible quality which I find deeply appealing. From a bag of clay you could create literally anything you want, and there is something very satisfying about taking an idea in your mind and making it into something real that you can touch.

I opened Kilnhouse studio a year ago in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada. I wanted to create a space were I could both make and sell my own work without having the hassle of dealing with galleries etc. Since my work is so personal and intuitive, I wanted to be able to place my pieces in the hands of my customers, and tell the story behind the work. I have had a very positive response to my small shop in this town.

It doesn’t matter what type of expression entices you, you should nourish it. It is very healthy to get out of your head and into a project of some kind. Talent is only half of what an artist needs, persistence is the other half. So make, draw, paint, photograph, tattoo, sing something, today!!

Visit Shannon’s blog to see her beautiful creations and read her musings.

Jenipher Hernandez ~ Video Blogging
I think what really interests me about vlogging is that it’s so much more personal than written blogs and viewers can actually get a better sense of what the person is saying and identify themselves to.

It was initially inspired to create Project Identity (my vlogging series on Girls by Design) by my very friends around me and my own personal experiences. It was a moment in time where we became overly concerned about fitting in with social groups etc, and once most of us snapped it was a big wake up call, this happened to us, imagine the many girls that go through this! And after reading Kristin’s “un-boxing day” I was determined to submit the idea and voila!

Project Identity is about giving girls a weekly encouragement to be themselves and motivate them to feel at liberty to express who they are and what they are feeling. I hope that through PI they can feel encouraged to express themselves, not just in GBD but anywhere they go.

Read (and watch!) more about Project Identity here and follow along with Jenny on the Girls by Design blog.

If you’re feeling the need to get it out, here are some resources for ways to express your feelings, opinions, random information or your creations online. If you’ve discovered some awesome website that I haven’t yet, let me know!

Girls by Design – Come and read the blog, post in the forum, share your thoughts with us, or if you want to write for GBD, email info@girlsbydesign.com! Watch for our new website to launch soon with all kinds of awesome new features that will help you express the real you!
Deviant Art – Calling itself “the largest art community in the world” is not an understatement. This site has everything artistic you could imagine. View and post photographs, digital art, collages, paintings, tattoos, crafts, cooking creations, poetry, writing- and the list goes on.
YouTube – So most people know YouTube as the place to watch music videos or post that hilarious late-night karaoke contest. But did you know you can get step-by-step instructions on doing your makeup? Or learn how to plant a garden? Awesome place to post videos about what you’re thinking or feeling, or for teaching something you know how to do.
MySpace – It’s been around for ages, but MySpace is still a great resource for performing artists, musicians, actors and everyone else who wants to showcase their talents on their own page and meet other like-minded artists.
Flickr – Flickr’s site says, “Share your photos. Watch the world.” And I couldn’t agree more. Upload pics of your newly redecorated bedroom, latest haircut, outfits you put together day-to-day. So many inspiring images to be found on here.
Craftster – Amazing resource for the crafty-minded. The site says “the term ‘Craftster’ means ‘crafty hipster’”, and you will find every kind of craft project here, from knitting to eco-friendly crafts to collage to making your own clothes. You can post your projects, and there’s a huge forum where you can get ideas or ask for help with something you’re stuck on, or just talk crafting.
Blogging – You can sign up for a free blog at Posterous, Tumblr, Blogger, Wordpress, Livejournal, or many other sites that offer blogs. Blogging gives you the ability to publish your own website without having to pay someone to design it and get it running! Whether it’s just for your friends and family or you want to broadcast to the world, blogging gives you the freedom to publish your thoughts and photos whenever you feel the urge.

About Jen

Jen Pimm is a freelance graphic designer and writer who feels blessed to have found a way to turn her love for all things creative into a grown-up career. As a writer and Editor for Girls By Design, she wants to encourage self-expression and confidence in young women because, once upon a time, she was not so sure of herself. When she’s not working like a fool, she’s probably taking artsy pictures of stuff, watching Jeopardy, or snuggling with her pug Stella. She appreciates a quick wit and is currently planning her next travel adventure. And now she’s on Twitter! At http://www.twitter.com/JenniferPimm or just tweet @JenniferPimm.

Kendra and Kristin challenged the teens who attended the Time Out Retreat at Warner Springs Ranch to identify the most important thing about living. “So we had these gals go into their world and create a project that reflects the challenge utilizing the tools they learned at the retreat, and then asked the GBD community to vote on their favorite one. The winner won a laptop computer! Woot! Woot,” says Kendra.
The winner of the contest is our latest Amazing Teen, Jozet Tayson. Just check out her submission.
Her answer to the question was family and friends, “I wanted to tell the whole world how awesome they are,” says Jozet. “They’re always there when I take a fall, knowing that they’ll catch me, or when I’m in euphoria, knowing they’ll be just as blissful as I am, and I wanted to acknowledge how much they mean to me” Thinking it might be too cliché of an answer, Jozet took the GBD challenge one step further and asked her friends in person and online what their most important thing about life was, and what were their undeniable dreams.
Her outreach resulted in her award-winning video. “I was surprised to learn about their ambitions. It made me become more aware of what they want in their life and if they acknowledge their hopes and dreams out loud, it could help keep that positive side in them to go after it. so, instead of it benefiting for me, I hope it benefited them,” she says.
Jozet is a senior in High School in Middletown, New Jersey. She is a member of the Environmental Club and she serves as a Club Officer and a Secretary in Key Club. Jozet also volunteers at her local hospital and library. On the lighter side, her fave childhood cartoon charaters are Scooby Doo and Shaggy. “Even though it looks hilarious when they get frightened or hungry so easily, they always, somehow, help save the day,” she says.
When it comes to expressing themselves on the web, Jozet advises teens keep their personal pages private. “Only let the people you know and trust see your space,” she says. She uses Facebook to stay in touch with her loved ones. “Keep in contact with the friends you may have just met or the ones you’ve grown up with. Ever since I moved, Facebook has helped me communicate with my friends and family back home.”

About Lara

Lara Piu also reports Good Things celebrities do and How to Live The Good Life Too on www.LaraPiu.com.
Photo of Lara Piu courtesy of Barbara Stitzer Photography, www.barbarastitzer.com

I talk incessantly with little or no sense of censorship. – Mari

Taking pics, eating, bonding with mah peepz, telling everyone about nerdy/geeky stuff with perhaps more excitement than the topic calls for. – Kathy

I make artsy scrapbooks of all my awesome memories, wear clothes I’ve unearthed at some fabulous vintage store, write in my journal and for GBD, work in my garden and take photos of everything. And I’ve found that educating myself and forming my own opinions on issues that interest me, from politics to religion to art, is a powerful way of expressing who I am and what I believe in. – Jen

I think everything I do is an expression of my self, I am not sure if it’s possible not to be myself in ALL I do. But if I had to narrow it down I would say I express myself by surrounding my self with people…I love to connect with people and help others connect with people I love to bring people together. – Kendra

Through my day job writing for LaraPiu.com (seriously!) and through singing and songwriting. – Lara

The parts of me that make up who I am, that can’t be separated from my identity, and when I express these values and beliefs, I am showing people that I am not afraid to be UNIQUE, that I am proud of who I am grown up to be. I am an advocate for the earth, and for human rights. After college I realized that it matters more to express what is important to YOU rather than what is cool to everyone else. And you know what? I was nervous at first, to let this side of me out, to express to my friends and classmates that I cared about this issue or that issue. It’s hard to step out from the crowd and say “this is who I am, this is me feeling comfortable in my own skin.” – Catherine