Welcome to the final Day 7!

When it comes to sharing good things, I can't NOT include documentaries.

I love documentaries. The people profiled in the ones listed below inspire me through their vision, their purpose and their creative processes.

~~~

1. Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel

I didn't know much about Diana Vreeland before I watched this, but I was quickly drawn in by her drive and her incredible vision. “I wasn't a fashion editor, I was the one and only fashion editor”, she said. This woman had gusto, I can respect that.

2. Woody Allen: A Documentary

Personal life aside (no debates here please!), whether you love his work or hate it, no one can deny how prolific this man is in creating films. I was fascinated by this glimpse into his creative process and execution.

3. Modern Masters – Henri Matisse

I love Matisse's work and can't get enough of him so of course I enjoyed this BBC documentary hosted by art critic Alistair Sooke. If you're into modern art you might enjoy it too, as well as the other documentaries in the Modern Masters series, featuring Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

4. Fabulous Fashionistas

An inspiring documentary featuring six vibrant women, ages spanning from 70s to 90s, who enjoy life to the fullest. From the production company's website: “ Fabulous Fashionistas will change the way you think about old age, the way you dress and indeed the way you live your life.” I want to be like them when I grow up.

5. Greenwich Village: Music That Defined A Generation

A great look at the Greenwich Village music scene, folk music, and how it played out in politics, culture and society at large. It features many musicians and songs I'd heard before, but wasn't around to enjoy at the time (I came a little bit later). The purpose and tenacity held by some of the musicians featured for their cause inspires me to think about causes I hold dear and how I could use my creativity to serve them.

6. Chased By The Light: A Photographic Journey With Jim Brandenburg

I picked up this documentary on a whim at the library a few years ago and still haven't forgotten it. Part visual meditation, part inspiration, it follows National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg on his quest to capture one photograph a day for ninety days, with only one click of the shutter allowed – no second chance. After watching the documentary I went on my own quest to find its companion book that features his photos and was delighted to find it in a used bookstore.

~~~

Et voilà, if my math skills prove to be correct, this last list tops up the 41 good things I wanted to share and brings my 41st Birthweek Bonanza to a close. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Forty-one good things is but a drop in the bucket of all the good stuff that's out there, but it's a start. I hope you've enjoyed exploring them as much as I did.

A recap:

Day 1: 4 Art Classes of Workshops That Were Pivotal In My Artistic Journey

Day 2: 7 Websites For Lifelong Learners and Creative Types

Day 3: 6 New Recipes We Tried That Made It Into the “Keeper” File

Day 4: 5 Animated Films Worth Watching If You Like Art, Music, and Stories of Hope & Heart

Day 5: 10 Books About Artists, Making Art or Selling Art

Day 6: 3 Projects And The People Behind Them Who Inspire Me To Reach Further

Day 7: 6 Documentaries About Inspiring Creatives and Pioneers

*Dave checking out some of the Gerhard Richter paintings at the Tate Modern earlier this year.*

I love documentaries, especially documentaries about people who are creatives, visionaries and pioneers. Not only do I get a glimpse into their creative process, I get to be inspired.

Let yourself be inspired, here are ten documentaries to get you started:

Gerhard Richter Painting I LOVE to see artists at work and gain insight into their creative process. This documentary left me feeling validated and inspired. Seeing an entire room of his paintings in London earlier this year was the cherry on top.
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff The man did an artistic film called The Red Shoes in the '40s, and Rambo in the '80s! With contributions from Martin Scorsese, Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall, this documentary was a great look into a man's creative legacy.
Herb & Dorothy A fascinating story about Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a postal clerk and a librarian, who were two of the most famous art collectors in New York.
EAMES: The Architect and the Painter A glimpse into the creativity and lives of husband-and-wife team Charles and Ray Eames. LOVED it! Someday I will own an Eames chair...
America's Castles: The Homes of Frank Lloyd Wright This is a great introduction to Wright's work and vision. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything recent to link to for this one, but if you can find it on Netflix or at your local library, I highly recommend it.
Objectified Done by the same folks who brought us a documentary devoted to Helvetica, the font, Objectified is an enlightening look at industrial design and the detailed planning that goes into anything from the lowly potato peeler to the technology we use every day.
The September Issue A great glance into the life of Anna Wintour and Vogue magazine's prep for its biggest issue of the year – and in Grace Coddington's creative process for coming up with the photos made famous on the news stands.
Bill Cunningham New York People like Mr. Cunningham, who do what they love and love what they do, inspire me. Period.
Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman Another inspiring story about a long-time practitioner of his craft: architectural photographer Julius Shulman. Beautiful, beautiful images.
In the Realms of the Unreal (see trailer below) A documentary about unknown-to-me self-taught artist Henry Darger. This man meticulously created an incredible imaginary world for himself, I don't think I've ever seen anyone so prolific. His story is eccentric and his art sometimes disturbing, well worth the watch.

How about you, do you have any favourite documentaries?

I'm always up for a new one!