new mixed media piece & visual voice

 

 

This work required patience and navigating my creativity in the midst of the dailies of mothering. Most of my works do, but on days when I feel the strong urge to create, I realize I need to sometimes let go as well. Let go of the need to finish it all in one day. Breathe. Set it aside. Come back to it (as many times as I need to). And move forward (often times with a clearer vision).

Art cannot be forced, that I know. When I create pieces I'm content with, it's usually because I've walked away from it for a day to let it just be. I'll come back to it to see if it's telling me it needs more. Words. Layers. Paint. Imagery. Sometimes it does, but sometimes, lately, I've been drawn to NOT pairing my pieces with found poetry. Part of me just wants to let it speak for itself, and let the viewer come to their own interpretation, even when I know what it represents for me.

When I create a piece I'm happy with, I usually feel like I've been building upon it for the last 15 years, when I started my exploration of creative processes. In an attempt to solidify my visual voice & be more consistent in my overall work, I've been revisiting my works from earlier years. Most of the pieces I'm happy with reflect my style from those bygone years. It's ingrained in me. Texture. Photography.Various art processes. Exploring always. Of course, I've learned a few ways of incorporating imagery that help me go deeper into my layers (both metaphorically and physically).

I remember taking the above photograph either last winter or the winter before, while out on a walk. The first words that came to my mind were "bare boned branches." Yes, it relates to the way our beloved tree branches are left naked and vulnerable in the winter months, but also how I've been feeling lately. Raw. Stripped. Exposed. Overwhelmed. Needing some leaf-love (comfort) at times.

::this should be my mantra::

entry from my altered book/art journal

Free flowing, illuminated layers. I chose the phrase "this layered life" for my blog because that's what and how I live....a life of layers...shedding the old, embracing the new. This doesn't come without pain (what life doesn't?), but it does come with growth (a good thing).

I've been meditating a bit today on what it means to be a "healer." I have a background in the arts as well as the nursing field. My Enneagram is type 2 "the helper." I feel that my genre of art is at times, all over the place, but I've also been slowly (at times veering) accepting this. I start new blogs, I believe, because I've been trying to find my niche. I don't have one, when it comes to my style of art. Nostalgia and healing DO play a role in my work, as well as deeper awareness. My art aims to heal something in both myself and others, if it resonates.

Art journaling, conceptual self portraiture, alternative processes, mixed media, collage, found poetry, painting, ALL play crucial roles in my creative process. I use these various mediums as a way to further explore the layers (with layers) that are my life....my past, my future, my everyday, my wants, my desires, my light bulb moments, my sifting through multiple feelings about life's happenings, on a big level and a micro level. It's ALL important, and I'm finally okay with that.

College was a favorite time of mine because in what other arena can you learn/absorb so much and take so many classes that interest you all at once? Darkroom photography, papermaking, alternative art processes, expressive drawing, my art writing course (which I didn't know at the time, but I made my first art journal in that class!)...I somehow now, incorporate all of those niches into my work.

Art heals...creating art soothes me, and there is no "right" way to do that. It is highly personal, but when shared with others who feel or have felt the same way at times, it can bring a sense of community in the healing process.

I'm looking forward to sharing more of my healing arts endeavors here, in this space.

::mini handmade art journal for quick spreads::

Last year or so, I made a handful of mini art journals. I basically took some blank cardstock notecards, cut out some "pages" from various papers, and used a sewing machine to sew the pages into the card for binding. Then I reinforced the binding with fabric craft tape. I'll try to find some photos of the binding later. For now, the collage I created above, illustrates most of my art journal spreads I've made in this little book.

It's not necessarily a glue book because I do more than that in it. But it is a good way to get a quick spread done when you feel the strong urge to art journal/create and you're short on time. It's pretty consistent with my style in my larger art journals. I love playing around with different processes in this little book too because there's less self-imposed pressure to fill up a big ol' page.

Motherhood, Kids, and Art

 

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

 

-Pablo Picasso

 

Motherhood, kids, and art. Since having kids, I've walked the fine line between being overly protective over my creative time, wanting my children to see their mom creating, and inviting them to create alongside of me. But that quote above, is why I feel it's so important for them to see me doing what I do, as well as allowing them to explore their own creativity and express themselves through art-making.

 

Whenever I dig out my gelli printing supplies in front of Sophia, I know immediately she's going to want to gelli print alongside of me. When this happens, I try to take a breath and prepare myself for whatever and enjoy the time we are sharing together in that moment. Her fascination and pure joy while creating is quite refreshing to witness. I try to say "yes" more than "no" while trying not to lose patience if I can't exactly create the way I'd planned. This will be something she'll hopefully remember in a positive way--making art next to Mommy (and one I'm sure I'll look back on and cherish).

Book Pages & Gelli Printing

A few new gelli prints

Nourishing with art

 

 Just playing around with a new palette I bought myself, which was desperately needed, and a new mixed media notebook. Been wanting a mixed media book for awhile now so I can experiment on a bigger level. Looking forward to seeing what fills it's pages in the coming months.