The Collector

How does it begin? Innocently enough most often we begin to collect things. One becomes two and then we find ourselves seeking more. But why? What is it about certain inanimate objects that speak so loudly to us? Objects that we must hold on to simply because we enjoy having them around. Collections that inspire and enhance our surroundings don't need an explanation.

Perhaps the collector collects because she enjoys the very process of discovering that perfect addition to the collection. The thrill of the chase so to speak. It's what drives many a collector out into the fertile hunting grounds of thrift shops and yard sales. Collections need not be expensive or exotic as long as they bring joy!

A few things that bring me joy; white porcelain, vintage suitcases, old buttons, seashells, foreign postage stamps, maps, cookbooks, pewter and silver, bird figurines, textiles and linens, antique handkerchiefs, vintage Christmas ornaments, cookie cutters, lamps, transfer ware.....

Creative Spaces

My friend Kim and I were posting back and forth the other day about our respective creative spaces. Particularly about how messy we tend to be when in the "creative zone." I did not share with her that creative spaces had been on my mind a great deal lately and even the topic of my next blog entry. I don't have a real artist studio but I am lucky to have at my disposal an entire unfinished basement to create in. There are drawbacks, chief among them chilly temperatures in the winter. I've soldiered through many a creative stints until my hands became too cold to cooperate! Often, I'll drag materials upstairs to the dining room. I can't help but feel I'm creating a bit of visual chaos when I relocate to our main living space. It is the basement where I am the most free creatively. Free to be messy, free to walk away without cleaning up, free to have multiple projects going on at once! It's certainly not always pretty but it's where you'll find me when I have met life's other demands.

"Above All Humble"

I thought it might be fun to see how a project progresses through a few stages of it's development. I began this self-portrait collage as part of Make it Mondays weekly challenge. I had never done any sort of self-portrait before and was a little stumped on how to begin and what to include. It felt odd focusing on my likeness in a project! As with any collage, I began with backgrounds. I chose a map of Kentucky (my home state,) photocopies of antique letters from my great grandmother (some date as far back as 1858!) I also added a page from a botanical book as well as bits from an old Farmer's Almanac. All background images were sanded and distressed. Next I laid on an old black and white head shot from my theatre days (yes, it's 20 years old!) Behind the photo I used two circular atlas images and on top I placed all the fun birds and flowers. I had so much fun choosing the flowers and birds. I decided to include a bit of symbolism in that the crowned bird on top is the very common raven. All the other "fancy pretty birds" are placed below the raven's image. That was my shot at paying tribute to being above all, humble. Various text clippings were added and finally I finished by adding rubber stamped images. I don't know if I'll ever do another self-portrait but thank-you Make it Mondays, if not for the weekly challenge I would have totally missed out on this very fun project.

Home Sweet Home

A vase full of fresh flowers, a framed snapshot that brings back happy times, children's drawings...these seemingly small touches make a house a home. While my home is not by any means reminiscent of a magazine layout (you can tell that by the pet hair and stacks of magazines strewn around) I do love these personal touches that make our home cozy.

In fact, home is where I almost always want to be. Home is a haven from all the distractions of the "outside world." Peaceful, comforting and, at times, slightly dusty. HOME, I LOVE YOU!

Gorgeous Paper

I don't know how many people get as excited as I do about beautiful paper. Everyone has their own creative triggers, I suppose. I recently received my first order from a great company called Hollander's, the largest retail source for decorative paper in the U.S. They boast a stunning variety of decorative papers, over 1600 styles to be exact. From marbled to silk-screened and delicate handmade papers to breathtaking Florentine prints,

it was was with extreme difficulty that I narrowed down my final selections. By the way, the Florentine prints figured largely into my first order.

Checking out was a breeze. When one of my papers was out of stock I was called immediately to choose an alternative. The customer service was amazing, especially for a company of its impressive size. My order, expertly packaged, arrived within the designated time. At last I could see and touch it for myself! Pure delight. My papers were just as amazing in real life as they appeared on the web site. Many of my selections are worthy of framing as-is, true works of art.

If you are into fine paper as I am visit Hollander's at http://www.hollanders.com/

Variations on Themes

Why is it that certain themes seem to show up repeatedly in an artist's work? Maybe it is because there is that certain something that just keeps on giving and providing more and more inspiration. Birds show up regularly in my collages. I don't have an explanation for why I love to focus on birds in my work, but I do so on a regular basis. I even decoupaged an entire mannequin in a "birdy fashion." I suppose the why doesn't really matter just as long as one continues to find inspiration. For now, my birds will continue to soar!

Ode to Vintage

Just a few photos of some of my vintage clothing and accessories. I'm always on the lookout for vintage hats and handbags. Some of it I use and wear and some I just love to look at. This was just a fun photo shoot focusing on the simplicity and classic nature of these colors.

Random Ideas

So many ideas swim around simultaneously in my mind, it is hard to know which ones to scoop up and give life to. Bits and pieces that float around as colors, images, words or shapes might grab onto one another and become a collective idea worth materializing. All of this happens with very little assistance from me. I am simply receptive and willing to allow random creative ideas a place to ripen. I like to live very much in the moment when it comes to acting on ideas. Spontaneity has magic in it! I might have a very vague sense of how I want to begin a project but that's it. Over planning has killed many a good idea.

The challenge, every time a project is begun, is how to give life to that initial idea that sparked interest. Head and hands must come together in a concerted effort to materialize what was once just a random and passing notion. When that happens it is pure magic and I can't think of a better way to spend my time!

Challenge yourself

I recently joined a terrific online group called "Make it Mondays." It is part of the larger site http://www.gomakesomething.com/ which I am a huge fan of. Every Monday they offer up a new invitation to make something within a given theme. Last Monday the theme was postage stamps. One could use the stamps in any way in the finished piece. This week the theme was the color turquoise. Again, the invitation is very open so long as the color turquoise is used.

On-line groups such as "Make it Mondays" can be very motivating. They give just enough of a suggestion to get you thinking and, more importantly, to get you creating! The real fun is in viewing other artist's interpretation of the theme. "Make it Mondays" invites you to share photos of your finished work with other artists. There is even a Flickr "Make it Mondays" group. What fun to see how others interpret the invitation to create. This egg collage is how I heeded the call to go make something this past Monday.

Craving Color

Perhaps it's just spring fever but lately vivid colors are creeping their way into much of my creative endeavors. I often work in a quite restricted "burnt umber" sort of palette. I love the time worn look of old book pages and yellowed lace. Lately, though, something inside me is yearning for deep, saturated COLOR. If it is too early to get that color fix from nature just create it yourself!

Why Collage?

Collage opened me up to a whole new world of creativity. I've always been creative but I just could not find the right media. I loved drawing as a child but stopped sketching by adolescence, I just never felt my drawings were "good enough." I love color so I tried painting. It was more fun to play around with palettes than to actually come up with a decent composition. My creativity rested dormant for many years. I dabbled in a few different things but pursued no serious creative outlets.

AND THEN CAME COLLAGE! Finally, something just clicked inside of me and I had found my creative niche. I've often wondered what it is about collage that attracted me in the first place. I love the completely random nature of collage. For me, it has been as much about the process as the finished product. I have only a very vague sense of what I want the finished piece to look like. I leave a great deal up to "creating in the moment." That is where the magic happens. Too much forethought and my work lacks that spontaneous spark. I use only what I have within easy reach and make it work within the scope of the piece.

This collage is one I completed quickly and with delight. It began with an unclear path as so many do. Collage often creates itself as little "stories" develop as the work progresses. I call this one "Air Mail."

Fashion

A "fashionista" I am not. Most days, comfort dictates what I wear. I do make an effort to put myself together when I go out. I enjoy shopping when the mood strikes and as I have a teenage daughter, the mood strikes her frequently! Fashion greatly motivates me aesthetically, however.

Often my favorite aspect of a movie or play will be the costume designs. Haute couture can be very inspiring often highlighting whimsical and outlandish designs. Vintage fashions are very inspiring as well. I love how an entire era can be identified just by looking at the fashion styles of any given time.

Colors, patterns, silhouettes and certainly hem lengths change by the season. From shift dresses to bell-bottoms, from peasant skirts to mico-minis there is certainly plenty to draw inspiration from. So while I may always be a jeans and black sweater kind of gal I can still be inspired by all things fashionable in my artwork.

Make Your Way

A famous quote by the author George Eliot; "It is never too late to be what you might have been." Indeed! Beautiful and wise words that can be applied to so many areas of life. If you are craving a creative life begin it now. Understand the importance of being an active participant in your life. I value my creative energy too much to ever let it slip away. If I had thought it was too late to pursue a creative path I certainly would not have attempted it in the middle of my life! Thank-you, George Eliot, your words have become my mantra!

Think Fast.

Making time to be creative is always a challenge. But for people who have that driving need to express themselves through creative means, it is a necessity. I often have several projects going on at once. There is usually a long term project that might take many days or weeks to complete and several "mini-projects." The "mini-projects" are those that can be completed in a matter minutes. They are perfect for when I just want to escape for a few minutes and produce something out of that moment or experiment with a developing idea. The week-ends offer the luxury of big chunks of glorious uninterrupted creative time but during the week, small projects fit the bill.

Girl of the World

This is the second in a series of four decoupaged mannequins I have done over the last two years. She is called "Girl of the World" as she is styled in a travel motif. Maps were used as the base, followed by retro-style luggage stickers and embellishments. Mannequins have been one of my favorite projects and are the largest scale items that I have done to date.

Time is of the Essence

If you are interested in Finding Your Style it will take some time. Invest the time it takes to discover what it is that truly speaks to you. If you put the time into developing your creative pursuits the pay off will be well worth the investment. Carve out a little time each day to experiment with your creativity. Perhaps buy a sketchbook or journal to get you started. Make a list of creative experiments you'd like to try. Research a new craft or technique or join an on-line art group

Take charge of your creative spirit and make the time to nurture it a little each day. When creativity becomes a personal priority you may find that everything else begins to fall into place.

It Certainly is....Different

One of the most difficult things about putting your creations out in the public eye is bracing yourself for the feedback. I find creating an extremely personal pursuit and sharing the fruits of my labor is a humbling experience. A few of my decoupaged mannequins are on display in the shop I manage. They do turn heads. I've grown accustomed to the puzzled stares and the occasional "What is THAT?" You can always count on children to be perfectly honest! While positive feedback has its place, I tend not to be very motivated by the opinions of others.

At the end of the day I know that I do what I do for ME. Creating is as much about the process as it is the finished piece. It's about trying to create something tangible out of the endless ideas that swirl around in my head. It is about following through on a handful of those ideas and coming up with something that does not exist anywhere else.

The Origin of Ideas

"How did you think of that?" If you're the creative type you have probably heard that question numerous times. People are always curious about what sparks a particular idea. For me, most often, inspiration interrupts my sleep. I awake suddenly in the small hours with an idea already turning around in my mind.

Ideas shape and form themselves from one thing to the next while I sleep, morphing into this or that. Once the idea has concocted itself to its liking then it alerts me. A sort of creative alarm clock, if you will. I then toss and turn a bit, firm the idea up and make mental notes. I know from experience that the ideas which visit me in the night are the ones worth pursuing. Surprisingly, I do not forget them nor do I write them down. Nocturnal inspiration may carry on like this night after night for a couple of weeks. There are fruitful periods as well as dry spells but such is the mysterious ebb and flow of life.

Unlikely Settings

Sometimes half the fun of composing and shooting photographs is choosing an interesting background. As is tends to go with creative pursuits, this can often happen somewhat by chance. While trekking around outside with my dog I decided this birdbath with ice inside would make an ideal background. But ideal for what? I settled on this necklace with clear glass beads because they seemed to echo the icy feel of the shot. I then turned to color and set up this still life using items that matched the birdbath's indigo hue for a monochromatic look. Keep your eyes open for possibility and be willing to take chances. Finding Your Style means thinking in ways that other people probably would not.

Collecting is half the fun

There are two types of people in the world; the collectors and the non-collectors. There is no need for me to clarify which category I fall into! If you are a collage fanatic like me, collecting materials for your projects is a necessary and fun pursuit! Putting those bits and pieces to use in a finished piece is extremely rewarding as so often you may have had no idea where that bit of lace or those colorful buttons might end up. For those who wish to get started crafting but have no clue how to begin, I highly recommend trying collage. I will definitely be blogging frequently about collaging. In the meantime, gather up those pretty baubles you have stashed away and think about how you might put them to use in a finished project!