New Hope

I have not been very committed to my art blog.  It has been a while since I have been able to focus on creative endeavors outside my sewing experiences.  Sewing is easy for me and I tend to procrastinate on my 'art' by sewing instead.  Lack of confidence?  Yes.  I am still rebuilding my confidence in  my art.  Partly because I have stretched myself to try new things and when you are learning new things you don't feel as comfortable doing them.  So, why stretch?  Mostly the human need to grow and exercise one's sense of wonder and knowledge.  Why not stick to what I can do - which is biological illustrations including botanical and zoological portraits?  I really got bored!  I live in a time when art exploration is not just about intellectual, museum quality work? I feel inspired by other ways of approaching the same topics.  I feel like the impressionists and the cubist and all the modern artists getting us to look at the world a different way.  I, too, want to interpret my world in a different way.  So, in my struggle to expand my 'art'.   I have ebbs and flows of creativity.  I am in a flow state right now.

I finally figured out that I could combine my talents - drawing, painting with sewing.  I love the feel of fibers.  I love to draw.  I love to sew!  Why not create art that gives those creative wings some flexibility?  I have been trying to explore mixed media and art quilting.  My favorite artists in this area are: Linda and Laura Kemshall, Beryl Taylor, Heidi Lund, Carolyn Dahl, Jane Davies and  Elsebeth Gynther & Christine Clemmensen to name a few.  They have inspired me to look at all my talents and try to bring them together.  Its a long and hard struggle but I am making it work.

I have started a 'sketch-a-day' trying carve out time for art.  I work full time and it is hard at days-end to muster any energy for something I am not yet comfortable with.  I bought a fun and silly book where each page gives you a prompt and you make it happen.  Here are some of them:

You know the prompt - drops of ink and blew it around.

Crayons are not just for kids!  I loved this one.  See the spooky face at the top?  I did this one around Halloween...

The prompt was to draw the sun in 10 different ways.  I interpreted it with embossing powders, shredded fabric circle, cut-outs, string, sponging, ink and blow, and crayon!

I have started on a mixed media art quilt. I have been making paper fabric (a la Beryl Taylor) and found some photo transfers, ATC's and other bits and pieces from other trial and error projects and putting things together.  It isn't there yet but here is the first draft:

So, I have renewed hope in what I am trying to do.  I really just want to be creative for its own sake.  However, ultimately, as I near retirement (in 3 to 6 years), I am thinking of ways that I can put my creative endeavors to work for me without loosing the joy it brings.  For now, I can just relax, be creative and enjoy it. 

I hope to be more diligent about posting.  Thank you for being so patient and sticking with me.  Best wishes.