This season brings sights and sounds that you can't get any other time of the year. Use this time to boost your creativity for next year.

This time of year is the best time to stockpile your creativity to zoom into the new year. Right now is the time to collect the sights and the sounds that you can’t find any other time of the year and turn them into ideas for your upcoming art. Here are some ideas on how to do that.

Go out and buy a brand new sketchbook specifically for gathering ideas for 2007 art. Next, follow these steps to fill your new sketchbook.

1. Close your eyes

Yep, take a moment to close your eyes in the midst of all the crazyness and try to make the feeling that your having into a visual compilation, then sketch it with the intentions of painting it after New Year’s. Do this everyday until 2006 is over. By the time 2007 comes around you will have a bounty of ideas.

2. Study light

Study the Christmas lights and New Year’s fireworks to observe how colored light works on objects. Don’t forget to write down your observations for later.

3. Take in the culture

This time of year is the perfect time to take in your local culture and reap ideas for your art. Go to school plays, church music extravaganzas, parades, and parties and collect the experiences in your sketchbook.

4. Take a step back in time

Take this time of year to dredge up childhood memories as you go back home to visit mom and dad. Sketch things that bring back these memories.

5. Clothing 101

Take a look at the outfits that people done this time of year and sketch them. This will give you a great reference to go back to when the weather is warmer.