Sometimes the best way to beat maker’s block is to leave your desk, close the computer and go for a walk. For this Creative Walkabout, I spent the afternoon with our Intro to Acrylic Painting teacher Courtney Pilgrim of My Friend Court and took her to my favorite spots for finding unusual color palettes, beautiful objects and… really fancy toast.
Before Courtney hopped on a plane to jet from Atlanta to SF, I asked her what types of places she likes to go for inspiration. When she has a spare 30 minutes, where can you find her?
Fuel Up
Four Barrel Coffee
What’s obvious here is the time, care and intention that goes into each cup of coffee or slice of toast served. At times it may seem borderline preposterous, but when looking through the lens of a maker, it’s easy to understand why each sip and bite is so darn good — you can taste the care that went into it.
Flip Through a Bunch of Books
And that typewriter? SWOON. Alongside books, you can find all sorts of odd and unexpected treasures on that front table, and throughout the store.
The shop feels more like a curated experience, closer to a crowded art gallery and antique store than a modern-day boutique. There’s something very curious about the objects that find their way to this spot, and we’re guessing the carefully selected combination of items is no accident.
Appreciate the Art of Others
This spot also happens to be home to an extremely colorful mural… that we just had to take about 50 photos in front of. Aside from making for a stellar backdrop, the great thing about walls like this is that they force you to think about large scale art and how it interacts with the world around it.
4. Get Back to Nature, Even in the City: Whether you’ve got a huge expanse like Central Park or a little parklet in the middle of a boulevard, there’s nothing like breathing in freshly cut grass, towering eucalyptus trees or straight up manure to help reset your creativity. We hit up Alamo Square Park to ogle at the Full House house and to go for a little wander through the woods. You’ll notice that the grass is not green at all — it’s all part of a “brown is the new green” campaign to get San Francisco parks to use less water. We’re into it!
Truth be told, this park is where my husband David and I shot our engagement photos. And wouldn’t you know it, Courtney and I seem to have accidentally shot our own set of engagement photos during this part of the walk ;)
Find a Gallery/Shop/Cafe You’d Like to See Your Work In
6. A Midday Refreshment is a Must: Whether you go for a cocktail, mocktail or second cup of coffee, it’s important to take a moment and just chill. Seriously. Sometimes the business of walking around to get inspired can get so distracting that you forget to absorb everything you’re seeing. If you’re with a friend, take a minute to chat about what you’ve seen or even to chat about nothing at all.
7. Take a Dance Break: For real. Dancing in the street gets your adrenaline pumping and will help you take yourself less seriously. Don’t get us wrong, there’s a time to be serious. But sometimes you just need to act like a total fool and dance your face off in public.
Warby Parker’s San Francisco outpost
8. Try on Silly Hats (and Pose with Hat-Wearing Mannequins): Never underestimate the power of silly hats, silly faces and silly mannequins.