With this time of the year, it's often challenging to find time and even when I do, it is limited. I have always managed to art journal, but I'm finding it hard to work on anything besides that! I have times when I'm creatively blocked and this looks like one of those times. For a professional artist, a creative block is not just frustrating; it’s potentially career-damaging. When you rely on your creativity to pay the bills and build your reputation, you can’t afford to be short of ideas or the energy to put them into action! A "creative block" is the inability to access one's flowing stream of inspiration and creativity. What was once an ... Continue Reading »
Process
End To Begin …
It isn't often that a blogging day coincides with the end of an art journal. It's either the week before or the week after. This week it has occurred at the same time. This art journal began on September 23 and ended October 21. Today gives me a chance to go back and look through this art journal and see what I've accomplished. No matter where I am emotionally, this process gives me a sense of satisfaction. I completed something that I started and it is a strong visual, to the fact that everything has an ending. Wouldn't it be lovely if all endings were so bittersweet? But even at my most idealist high, I'm aware that many endings are ... Continue Reading »
What’s on the Studio Table…
What's happening at one of my studio tables...a journal in the process in Studio Nookery! From my wildly passionate creative soul to yours, always in peace. ... Continue Reading »
The Benefits of Collage. . .
The sounds of paper ripping or my scissors cutting paper. Glue sticks, colorful pens/markers, piles of magazines and baggies filled with imagery surrounding me. Ahhh, therapy begins and it's the most economic form of therapy. There's something about the process of collage, that soothes me and it appeals to the child in me; and getting into my inner child helps me move forward. It allows me take little nuggets of ideas and turn them into a visual tapestry. I can then transform my paper musings into something larger and tangible. Bottom line...it is a stress reliever and the simplicity of it, gives my mind a healthy break. With ... Continue Reading »
Choosing An Art Journal…
To begin art journaling you don't need a whole lot of supplies, but you do need a journal. Choosing a journal is a personal decision and there are lots of choices out there. Here is a list of the common types of journals I use along with my two cents of opinion! Hopefully, this is helpful, when you decide to begin or continue your first/next art journal. Bound Journals This is the most obvious choice for beginners, a bound sketchbook. My Pros Large variety of sizes. Available at many stores. Variety of paper weights. This is a great easy choice for an art journal; they have a wide choice of selections and you're sure to ... Continue Reading »
Creativity Snapshots
January always has me filled with energy and inspiration! On days, like this, I have so little to say, but my hands and mind are moving full speed ahead. I've decided to give you a few snap shots of what's I've been working on (some 3-D magic)in my Studio Nookery! Hope this sparks your creative energy in you or just bask in your brand of beauty. Please feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on your January creative energy and come back and check for my responses. See you next week! :) ... Continue Reading »
Art & Healing – Part 3 of 3
There is no right or wrong way to start an art journal, let your emotions guide you. An intuitive approach encourages you to just dive in, create and not think about what is is you're going to do. Let your unconscious mind take over the process. Some days, ripping through magazines to find images or text for your journal will be helpful, other days, writing or doodling will be all you can manage. What was helpful to me was to spend some days, just writing in a stream of consciousness, while other days, just putting down color on a page was all I could manage. As I went further along in the healing art journal process, I begin writing about ... Continue Reading »
