Inspiration Exercises

 What inspires you?   Inspiration can come from many sources.  Some of them may be items or even events that you enjoy, where as others can be things or situations that you detest.

Recently, our A Muse group had an exercise to share something that they loved, and something that they hated.  How they chose to share this was up to them.  It could be verbal, visual, or audio.  Each of us had about a month to prepare.  I was draw to create something visual.  I was also drawn to research the two items.  Ironically one was a thing and the other was a word.  How was I going to visually share a word?  I decided to present the words in definition form.  Upon further research, I discovered a connection between the two items.  What an amazing segway.

Emotions can be an incredible source of inspiration.  By allowing yourself to delve into your grief, anger, or depression, as well as the euphoric emotions, you can discover some amazing imagery, color, or just plain inspiration.  Sometimes is is difficult to let go of the emotion.  Once you let it go use it to create.  Sometimes writing about the hurt or pain, can be a release.  Sometimes I will run words together and create a textured background for something more pleasant.   Ergo only I truly know what is contained on the page.  The cancer of the extreme emotion is removed by the words, and I can move on.

My art journal contains what I refer to as scream pages.  These pages allow me to vent all of my anguish, with out injuring someone else. with my words.

To start looking for your inspiration, make a list of things that your like, and a list of things you don't.  The look for your next muse.

Inspiration

My art journal is a space for inspiration.  Recently, Ben and I began a exercise to help him wind down before bed.  Drawing for him is a stress reliever.  He wanted to draw something with me, and on further discussion he wanted to doodle.  I told him, I sometimes began doodling with a squiggle.  Thus began our doodling journey.  
In our recent  A Muse meeting, each attendee was given a squiggle to jump start their imaginations.  Sometimes it is a challenge to get past the suggestive images that may spring to mind and look for the less obvious.  Faces, almost always surface. In this squiggle I see music, grapevines, a butte or mesa, tropical fish, and many faces.

As with doodling there are no right or wrong rules.  The squiggle is simply the inspiration.  Think of it like you are looking for images in the clouds.  When using the squiggle, it is OK to change the lines to better fit with the images you see.  Add color to define those images.  
Your imagination does not need to be exposed by only drawing, try using fibers to highlight your squiggle.  Create a mixed media collage of images.  
You are only limited by yourself.  You are not being graded on this, nor are you being judged.  This is your chance to try different techniques.  If you feel inspired to mix oils with chalks, follow that inspiration.  Remember that this is where you test your creations. We don't know if something is going to work or not unless we experience it first.  We have jump started our imaginations with the squiggle, now breathe and put your ideas to the test.  Creativity, and imagination will only grow when we use it.   
Remember that creativity comes in many shapes and disciplines.  2D is only one tiny aspect of creating, and what happens in your art journal can stay in your art journal.  You are the creator and it is up to you to decide IF you are going to share or not. Happy Journaling

Unleash your Inner Doodler

I created this on a blank sheet of paper and scanned it in.  Ahhh nothing like hand done doodles.

WORKING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

My son complained the other day, that he liked to draw what was in his mind and he really didn't like people telling him what to create.  I tried to explain to him, that as a student it was important to learn to draw "on demand".  Learn the discipline.  I think working outside of your comfort zone is the same.  We are happiest working with things we are comfortable with. Color, mediums, like paints, or pencils, even techniques.  So how do we begin to work outside of our comfort zone?

Start with a palette

When doing free form peyote stitch, I start with a palette of  colors.  Not being an orange/yellow and gold person,  I found it challenging picking out these beads.  Once  my palette is put on the mat,  additional colors that add a bit of contrast, or enhance the original beads are added.   Greens, pinks and a red luster bead  work with the original beads.  True,  a little more comfort has been added  with these colors so, as I am learning the discipline, these will help calm my nerves.  Eventually, I may eliminate the comfort beads.  But as they work well with the original palette, I won't tell if you don't. 




Paper is the same way.  Pull together a bunch of colors that you are indifferent about or do not like at all.  Or use one of your journal inspirations.  Funny, I found an attraction to many things outside of my "go to" colors.   Have you  pulled together a couple of color schemes outside of your comfort zone?  Now, play around with the sheets of paper until that inner color guru tells you that it is  a good combination.  (Photographs here do not give you a good idea of what I 'm working with.)

Don't be afraid to try something.  That is what the Art Journal is for.  Put the piece in your journal. I like to mark mine with a YIKES!  or UGGGH! when something doesn't work.  But the journal is not just for those "UGGGHS";  Include your successes.   OK; how do I put a beaded piece in my art journal?.  Scan it or take a picture of it and put that in your book.  Until next time. Just itching to doodle....... 

Ahhh Color

Color is perhaps one of my favorite tools to use when creating.  Often, I will have people say that they are uncomfortable with working with color.  So let's see how to handle the topic of color in our Art Journal.

For color inspiration, I look at things around me.  The row of yarn in a store, or a box of tapers.  Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration, or most magazines will have great for color combinations. Some of my favorite periodical sources are Coldwater Creek Catalogs, Country Living, and Better Homes and Gardens.   Someone has already taken the journey to put together the photographs and color  combinations, so now, you cut it out and paste it in your journal.  

Now you are ready to find the materials that work with your color combination.  Take your journal into a store or rummage through your stash; using the photographs you selected, pick out beads, ink, paper, yarn, ribbon, or paint to match the colors you see.  It is OK to put a small swatch of paper, a splotch of ink or paint in your journal along with the photo. Don't forget to add the bits of ribbon and yarn you find too.  Now, when you are looking for color ideas, pull out your journal and see what you have collected.


Another idea.  Go to your local paint shop and pull out one of their swatch brochures.  They will have lots of paint color combinations for you to look at.  Hey, color is color, and ideas are all around us.  Once you release the ties that keep you from freely exploring color, then you will find color inspiration all around you.

The Emotion of Color.  Yes, I did write the emotion of color.  Color, for years, has been used to calm, warm, and invigorate.  So, let's think about our own emotional reactions to color.   I say Puce and you say?  Most of us have favorite colors, and many of us have colors that we say "YUCK" to.  Tap those emotional reactions.  Believe it or not, we use color emotion all the time, but are usually unaware of doing so.  Next time you are flipping through the latest copy of Country Living, take a moment to think about why this photograph is appealing to you and that one isn't.  Listen for your inner emotion to the color combinations.

OK, now that you are identifying those combinations that "work for you"  Let us take this another step.  WORKING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. 

Well maybe that would be a good topic to explore next time.

A new journey

It is with great trepidation that I begin this blog again.  Life is a series of journeys, and often we have no idea where they are taking us.  Shortly after starting this blog, I found myself on one such journey.  I was suddenly facing the possibility of losing everything that my life was built on. As an artist to be faced with blindness, was pretty scary, albeit I know there are a number of talented artists with visual impairments.  I was also looking at the loss of the use of my hands.   How could I be creative or teach if I am unable to even pick up a pair of scissors?  The lesson is to have faith and wait to cross the bridge when you get to it.  Ha, how many times had I heard my own mother utter those exact words?  So, I waited and endured the treatments for a brain tumor and today I am on the mend.  Eye sight, motor skills, Check and check. 

So what is my purpose here?  For many years I have kept various journals, and I wanted to share with you, my journey of Art Journaling. " What is art journaling?"  That my dear friends is simple.  For me, an art journal starts out as a blank book.  A lot like this blog.  With in the pages of the book I write, ideas, goals, pose questions, and add doodles..lots of doodles.  "Do I have to be an artist to do this?" No, you do not.  An art journal is a great place to try things out,  put clippings from magazines, old greeting cards you love, wine labels, seed packets,or just doodle.  You cannot mess it up.  It is for your eyes only.  Unless you want to share.  Think of it as your creative muse.  "Well, I have Pinterest." Fantastic.  You already have the concept of "art journaling" as far as collecting.  Let's take this a step further.  

I have been a rubber stamp artist for over 24 years.  The post for this Art Journaling blog will resemble my own AJ.  I will explore and share with you, many techniques that I have developed over the years, such as antiqued enameling, and painting with paper.    Please be patient as I become tech savvy, and post doodles and more to the blog.

Until next post, when I will journal about color.

A work in progress

I have kept  journals over the years, combining words and illustrations...patience as I explore this application and try to incorporate a number of drawings and photos in this space.  It will be a challenge to post my thoughts, and dreams; for so long many of them have remained very private.  There is  much that can be shared and perhaps we can explore and share this journey together.