Nurturing Creativity - Week 33

I tell you...I have not idea WHERE time goes.  I picture some huge black hole that just sucks the minutes, hours, days, months deep into its core before you know what happened!! That's what it seems like anyway.  So, here it is Wednesday and I haven't posted my Nurturing card for this week yet.  But, like they say, better late than never.

Imagine You Can

This is interesting in its timing...what with the Faces Journal and all.  Concept is that even though what ever creative project you are working on, even if it isn't as good as the "professionals" in your field....SO WHAT!!  Those "professionals" started out once with as little experience as you have and they would not be where they are today if they listened to that voice that says we should stop because we will never be as good as .. (fill in name of professional here) ...  Lesson?  If you are enjoying your creativity discovery and journey...keep on going and doing what you love to do!  Who knows!! Someday you may be one of those "professionals"!! (If you are...please don't forget what it was like just starting out!)

So, I wish you all wonderful days of exploration and joy and fulfillment in whatever you are doing to make this world more beautiful!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G

I recently read in the Kemshall's wonderful publication - 3Fold - about a challenge journal they did and it excited me a lot!  I've lately felt a real desire to do something outside my comfort zone....to learn something new...try something I've never considered possible before.  Sure, I might fail miserably.  So??  I've done that before and lived to tell about it! So, I contacted my good friend and fellow risk taker, Wil!  It's always more fun to do these things together, right?  Well, she was on board to do that and we had several e-mail conversations about just what we wanted to do.  As you can imagine....there is only one rule!  NO RULES!!  We won't even be working on the same theme but will have a generous and very workable timetable just to keep each other accountable.  I'm SOOOOOOO looking forward to this! 

I know, I know.....it's not like I need more pressure or more to do, right?  BUT....there is something to be said about stretching oneself.  I think it keeps the creative juices flowing and enhances the other skills as well.

My challenge to myself -- a journal about FACES!  Mostly drawing but any technique is applicable and expected.  Depends on what "toy" grabs me when I enter my studio in the morning!

The next two paragraphs are rather philosophical so if you aren't into that.....just skip them!!

Now, in the spirit of true confession.  Drawing is an area of abject fear to me.  Comes mostly from a very fearful experience in elementary school about a drawn dinosaur whose feet didn't touch the ground when the picture was completed.  Can you say humiliation?????  That is one of the areas of challenge for me...to face that fear and deal with it.  That coupled with the fact that many people say that anyone can LEARN to draw.  OK, so let's put that theory to the test shall we?

The second confession is that I am going to take this journey publically on this blog.  Why?  Because that helps to reinforce my commitment to vulnerability with my art.  I had to give up the quest for "perfection" when I became an artist.  Not that I don't strive continually to improve and learn.  I just had to realize that it IS a journey and the first steps can't be expected to be "perfect".

In light of all that soul-searching and philosophical stuff.....here are my first attempts at drawing a head/face of a Roman statue.  I like starting here because the pictures are all gray-scale so I have more chance to get acquainted with light and shadow without being distracted by color at this point. 

Now.....with fingers crossed and eyes half closed.....I'll jump in this new ocean of discovery!!

I guess I am protecting myself just a bit.  I'm not showing the original picture I'm sketching from until I get at least a little closer to what it looks like. My goal now is just to be able to tell it is a human face!!! And the other caveat.....I'm just working with a #2 pencil at this point.  Haven't yet purchased actual sketching pencils.  Perhaps this week???  I sold some note cards so have some available art supplies money!

Face 1 - Roman Statue -- For this one I started with the eyes as suggested by one person.  Found it terribly difficult to find a point of reference that way.  But alas.....here it is. I know classic Romans had long noses but I think I got this one just a tad too long!

Face 2 - Roman Statue -- Started with the head shape this time and like it much better.  It is still more narrow than the original but I think a better proportion.  Although, the head is still a bit mishapen.

That's it for today kiddies!!!  Will post more when I get the next drawing completed.  Have a very busy day today getting some things done to meet deadlines and some other things in the mail.  Hopefully I'll get to it this afternoon.!!

Just Playing Again

Was just playing the other day and I was thrilled at how it came out so thought I would share it here with all of you  (you know who you are!!)

When Wil was here we played with some encaustic wax.  L O V E D it!!!  Don't have any myself but I'm all about making do with what I DO have these days.  Fortunately, with grandkids there are always broken and no longer used crayons around.  Thought I would see how they worked together and below is what I came up with.  It was a bit plain though so I got out my other latest toys....alcohol inks. Fantastic fun BTW!! The inks are eggplant and a silver additive ink.  The paper is almost regular size (8.5X11) card stock.  I see more playing with these babies in the future!!!

I titled it "Solar Flares from the Purple Sun"

Nurturing Creativity - Week 32

Wow! Can you believe it???  August already....It's been hot and muggy here mostly.  So glad the studio is air-conditoned!!  So, a card for this week..... here goes nothing!!

Celebrate Small Successes

Not hard that one! At least not having to pare down some HUGE success at this time in my life, right?  Small ones are about it. Still, they need to be celebrated.  Can you say short term goals????  Yep, it works.  In fact, there are many many days that I have to settle for just getting something done that day!  That's about as long term as it gets sometimes. And on the days I don't get anything "productive" done....I celebrate having some time out just to rest and chill!  I think I've got this one handled!  I kinda prefer longer-range goals...and I DO have many of them.  Life lately though...often seems to be mostly just surviving to create another day!  Just think how much I'll enjoy the coming time when life will be a bit more predictable???...maybe????  Oh well, a girl can dream right?

More Little Treasures

One of the ATC swaps I am participating in is themed:  "Wake Up and Smell The Coffee".  Well, I ask you now, could I actually NOT do this one????  Hardly!!  It had my name all over it!  I had a ton of fun with these.  The back"grounds"  (lol....get it???....."grounds"....oh my) I made from used coffee filters which I tore, let dry and then cleaned off.  I was hoping for the coffee aroma to remain but alas....no such luck!  Bummer!  Some of them have pieces of Caribou Coffee bits on them. Caribou Coffee is like our regional coffee house. All I know is that they are closer than Starbucks....which on some days is a definite advantage!  The metal bits are from a coffee flavored energy drink can Wil came across when she was here this spring. That is drink is named Java Monster.  Sounds like me before I get my first cup in the mornings!  One has stamps on it that I made with an actual coffee bean....Italian Roast to be exact!  So...enjoy while I go grab a cup of coffee!!

"Java Monster"

(Savor every sip)

"Life Is Short"

(This is the tag line for Caribou Coffee)

"Caribou Coffee"

(Just a little "shout out" for the locals!)

"Coffee Java"

Little Treasures

I think ATCs are so wonderful when you just need a bit of something creative to do.  I'm in several swaps and am just under the wire on a couple of them due to circumstances.  But I have completed them and here they are!  These are for a Birthday ATC Swap.  There are about 30 people in the group so everyone on their birthday (or at least clost to it) receives about 30 little greetings from all over the world!  I so enjoyed savoring each one in March!  Here are the ones I did for the June, July and August birthdays.  Also, in case I mentioned it so long ago no one remembers......I have also set myself the additional challenge to theme each month.  I check out an online calendar that lists all the special themes for each month.  So...here goes.

June - Roses Month

"A Rose by Any Other Name"

July - Ice Cream Month

"We All Scream for Ice Cream"

August - Water Quality Month

"Cool Clear Water"

There is more to come...perhaps even later today!  So check back with me, OK?

Fun Stuff From The Past Month!

FINALLY!!! I am getting to post about all the fun stuff we did when Wil was here! Always a fun time of "playing" in the studio!

First is a pounded fabric piece. (Ahhh the patience needed for this one! Good character building actually I guess)

Then a couple of sunprints. On the purple one I used the plastic rings from milk containers and some river rocks. The picture is actually of the piece all ironed and smooth. The "wrinkles" were made when doing the sunprinting.

This one I used rice and salt. This one is also ironed.

I had never done any splatter painting so one day we took the paints and fabric outside to play. We had picked up a tile covered little breakfast type table for free on the side of the road just up the street. It was PERFECT for these projects because we didn't care if it got paint on it or got left out in the rain. These were lots of fun and I really like the results.

Next we did some ice cube dyeing. We used some dye that I had still in leftover from a previous project. All mixed with water but no soda ash. Thought it would be interesting to see how much "oomph" it still had. Not too bad really!! Especially considering some of it had been quite diluted for the original dyeing session. Another patience builder but this on is only overnight! The fun of it is that when the dye is frozen in the ice cube trays you can't tell what colors are in which cube! Always a surprise! I love that!

Then I wanted to do some more breakdown printing. (I must have a need to build patience come to think of it....this one requires waiting 3 days or so for the thickened dye to dry on the screen! No instant gratification there!) These started out as red and purple I think...but ended up a bit more on the red side actually. A bit too much on the red/pink side for my taste but they are so beautiful and textured I know they will be awesome either overdyed or as a background for some other technique! I just love the urban-ness of them. Totally different from my love of outdoors and nature. Funny how that works, huh? I am posting them below in order of the printings I did. The first one is the lightest because not that much of the dried thickened dye comes off in the first pass. They get progressively darker.

I've been busy this month getting some things ready to sell (at least hopefully sell!) So, now...back to the "grindstone"!!