Thoughts - Journal - Art

While making houses Anne Marie told me that they were like my personal journals.  I've thought a lot about her words and realize that they were so true.  In fact most of what I make with my hands reflects my thoughts, hopes, view of the world in the same way my journals do.  

Many artists keep journals that become art pieces in and of themselves.  Mine are more mundane as they usually record what I'm working on, how I'm doing it and sometimes how I might feel that particular day without embellishment.  Of course when something 'large in my mind' occurs, both good and bad, it will get recorded but for the most part I'd say they would be pretty boring to anyone else reading them.

I've learned through the keeping of a journal, how often I go back to the same themes and thoughts, over and over again. My art is the same way - each piece might take a different form but the colors are similar, the themes are definitely similar and the thoughts I have while doing them are like favorite television reruns - making me laugh, smile, ponder and sometimes frown as I repeat a theme of birds, butterflies, love, music or home.  Very mundane I know - nothing very deep here, but everything my hands touch reflects a part of me as do the writings in my journals.

Are there some journals you'd just love to peek into?   Do you keep a journal and what form does it take?

"Whether you're keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it's the same thing.  What's important is you're having a relationship with your mind." - Natalie Goldberg

Time to Reflect

After non-stop 'production' work for most of this year -- after creating for self-imposed deadlines over the past three years -- I take a pause to reflect.

Is it because my whole life has been a series of 'due dates' that my mind thinks this pattern must continue.  Am I addicted to creating something that will be shown, exhibited or sold?  Is it possible for my can-do personality to create for art's sake alone?

These are the questions I've been asking myself.  As I finish up what has been fun, but demanding, thoughts of purely 'me' designs that I could develop fill my head with possibility. 

Is it possible for a person such as myself to be working on several totally different designs at the same time?  Is it possible for me not to say 'I want to finish this in a week, or a day or a month' but to let the work flow at its own speed?  Is it possible for me to turn the whole thing over to the inner me, instead of the outer me (since that outer shell seems to demand a 'schedule')?  Will I be able to relax and 'go with the flow' - no destination, no time line - lots of exploration, relaxed creativity, starting and stopping with no clock nor calendar to guide me? 

Stay tuned - and to anyone who has overcome this 'compulsion' thing I welcome any and all support and suggestions *smile*.

"Art for art's sake...it is the best evidence we can have of our dignity." - E. M. Forster

Art Lessons

[Note:  We got back from our trip to Arizona late last night. Today my brain is on jet lag and I have 'tons' of photo's to go through.  I had prepared this post before we went and it is my 'fill-in' until I can get back to you with all the trip stuff.  Thanks for stopping by.]

With my interest in the more abstract aspects of art creation I've begun a new-to-me learning process.  I have never formally had art lessons (if you don't count my eighth grade class where I was more involved in what I was wearing than what I was creating).  While I've been 'arting' for years and years it has all been by the seat of the pants - if it looked good to me it was okay.  But as I've begun trying to create my own abstract punchneedle art I realized that I might need some help.

I have turned to a book entitled "The New Creative Artist".  It is written by a painter Nita Leland but this book is geared to more than those armed with a paint brush.  She addresses collage and fabric also.  My main reason for starting with this book is that she has a good sized section on abstract art.  Kindly however, she begins with the basics of art in general and as I read through it I realize how little I truly know. 

So here I am immersed in words and concepts such as: elements of design, principles of design, line, shape, value, harmony, gradation, balance - ah the list goes on and on.  Thank heaven for artists who are willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us.

 "During your whole life as an artist, learn through painstaking experimentation, exercise, and practice how to acquire a masterly knowledge of your craft". - Paul Jacques Grillo

Studio Tour - Third Year!

This past weekend was the Open Studio Tour here in Henderson County, North Carolina.  This was my third year of participation.  Its always a lot of work, but when the visitors come in - look around, ask questions and visit - the preparation stuff is worth it!

I've been very fortunate each year because I've been able to display new-this-year pieces.  My friends and visitors walk with me through this life I call my art journey.  This past year, as with the year before, was filled with beads and beading.  Along the way I discovered the ability to create figures using beads and that has been my main focus throughout the year.

I want to thank each of you who attended the Studio Tour and stopped by to visit with me.  It is so much fun to meet new friends and say hello to old ones.

Each 'art' year for me seems to begin and end with the studio tour, or at least it has for the last three years.  The work shown on the tour is a culmination of work done the previous year -- and I always have something brand new sitting on my worktable to share with visitors.

This year is no different.  My work table is covered with punchneedle practice work and a fabric art doll in progress.  We never know what each year will bring - but for me, I hope that the coming art year brings lots of learning and growing and challenges all brought to life through the needle and thread in my hands.

"I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life. That's a great gift". - Twyla Tharp

Time and Art

I am reading a book about the artist and time and space. As I read the first chapter about time and how we relate to it I realized something about myself that was unexpected.

Because I am fortunate enough not to have to work outside the home I have large blocks of time in which to work (and play) in my studio. All along I have thought that those hours in my studio were 'free time'. I thought that I really wasn't putting any time constraints on my work. But as I read this book I realize that I am not free of time - not even close. Here's what I do. Mornings in my studio begin with turning the computer on. As we all know there is the little clock at the bottom right hand of the screen telling me exactly what time it is. Once my computer work is finished I turn to my artwork -- but I also turn on the radio. I love to stitch to classical music but every hour on the hour the news comes on (telling me exactly what time it is). Looking at these two basic daily rituals I realize that I am not in a 'time-free' zone at all. I am always somewhat conscious of the time and how I'm working to it. Can I get this section finished before lunchtime? Should I get out the sewing machine now or wait till later when I have more time?

Now I'm thinking that it might be fun, for at least one day a week, to not turn on the computer (until the end of the day when I'm finished creating) and to play cd's instead of the radio and see how I feel not having those time reminders in front of me all day.

We have time zones: Pacific time, Mountain time, Central Time, Eastern time - why not a 'time-free' zone? Wouldn't it be fun to spend time without thinking about the fact that you're 'spending' it. Wouldn't it be interesting to find out how 'hooked' I am to time and to always knowing pretty much what time it is?

Do you have any ideas about escaping from our man-made time zones?

"A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller". - Paul Klee

A Magazine-aholic!

I have to admit that I am (and always have been) a 'magazine-aholic'.  Is there such a word?  If there is, I am it!  I cannot resist a magazine.  As a child we used to visit my cousin's house on Sunday afternoons.  He was an only child and got to buy any comic book he wanted.  I would find a corner and curl up with all of his comic books - coming out of my hole only to have dinner with everyone.  As a young teenager we would visit one of my grandmothers.  She lived in a wonderful old California house - Spanish style with nooks and crannies and rooms that didn't seem to have any purpose at all.  She also had a huge selection of "Life" magazines. These were the original "Life" magazine with photos that took your breath away and that opened the world to the reader.  You have to remember this was a long time ago - well before anyone had even heard the word 'Google' or 'news 24/7'.  I would find a niche, stack up a bunch of pillows and a bunch of magazines and be lost for the whole afternoon.  Then came late teenage years when I discovered "Seventeen" and "Glamour".  I dreamed over these - shared them with friends - planned my whole fall wardrobe based on that fabulously thick September issue.

As a young wife and mother I was an avid reader of "Good Housekeeping", "Woman's Day" and "Family Circle".  Recipes were clipped, beauty tips were followed and tips for cleaning, cooking and child rearing were pondered.

You could say that the current creative part of my life began because of a magazine.  That magazine was "Somerset Studio".  The first issue I picked up, quite a few years ago, had a theme of Alice in Wonderland and it certainly was a wonderland to me.  Here people, just like me, were creating marvelous, inspired pieces out of paper and paint and found objects. I was hooked!!  Also during this period I began to pour over "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" and "Quilting Arts" each of which showed me the manipulation of fabric in ways I'd never imagined before.

Now I am a beader -- and there are bead magazines galore out there.  Unfortunately for me there isn't much beaded embroidery shown, or discussed.  Sometimes I can get ideas for my work from jewelry pieces but for the most part, these days, I get my inspiration from books instead of magazines. The magazine I now turn to is "American Crafter".  Not that they have much of anything regarding beads - but I'm trying to train my mind to see future beaded pieces by looking at a particular piece of pottery that appeals to me, or a figure, or a tapestry.  I try to translate what I see into bead form - almost as if I was translating from one language to another.  It isn't quite as satisfying as curling up with magazines strewn hither and yon and me in the center - but for now it will have to do.

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination". - Henry David Thoreau

Art in Asheville

Last week a friend and I went to Asheville for a day of inspiration.  Now mind you, Asheville is only 40 minutes away from our homes -- but its not often that we get a chance to just go there, tour the galleries and shops, have lunch and visit -- so it is always a special treat.

This day began at Bellagio (in Biltmore Village), a shop with the motto "art to wear" they feature clothes and jewelry.  The clothes are beautifully handmade - using colors and fabrics that can set your heart racing.  The displays alone are enough to make you want to stand in one place taking in the woven patchwork jacket hanging above a piece of elegant, contemporary jewelry which is laying on a beautifully draped scarf.  Yum!!!  So much art in one store -- and all of it wearable. 

Our next stop was New Morning Gallery - which is right next to Bellagio.  This shop focuses on art for the home - from furniture to pottery to whimisical sculpture shapes and mobiles.  If either of us had recently won the lottery we'd have been happy to clear out the entire store.  Around each corner lay a new and exciting piece.

Next on the agenda was lunch - and our conversation was sprinkled with 'wasn't that beautiful?' - 'how do you suppose the artist did that...'.

Then we moved into downtown Asheville where our first stop was French Broad Chocolates.  Oh boy -- my mouth is watering even as I write this.  We each chose two pieces of chocolate to enjoy there in the presence of that heavenly chocolate aroma.  Our favorite is called Thai truffle and it featured flavors like coconut, lime, lemon grass, ginger and green chili.  Sounds strange?  No, no, no -- it was by far the most delicious chocolate I've ever tasted.  Do I want to go back -- you bet!!!

Then it was on to Ariel Gallery and Blue Spiral Gallery and the Asheville Arts Council Gallery.  More feasting for the eyes, more wanting to capture each and everything in our minds so that after we left the images would stay strong.

It was a lovely day made even better by the fact that when I came home I made notes of ideas that I had while looking at all of the beauty -- perhaps someday I'll go back to those notes and make a whole new creation based on this one particular day.  Isn't it wonderful to spend a day with a dear friend and share some of the most lovely creativity that is available.

"Art demands constant observation." - Vincent van Gogh

What's It All About?

As the creative side of my personality has tried to burst through during my lifetime I always pictured myself with ideas and thoughts whirling like dervishes in my brain – then the picture transfers to my hands bringing these ideas to life – almost like magic. Hmmm – in the ‘real’ world my art life doesn’t quite play out like that.

I do have the ideas whirling in my head, but not all the time, sometimes it is an effort to search them out – like they have been put into a cupboard and I have to first find the cupboard and then remove all the cans and bottles that are stored there before finding this little idea crouching in the back corner.

Once I have the idea the ‘work’ part of the process surfaces. I often think that people viewing a piece of art have the concept (at least in the back of their mind) that the artist just thought up the idea and slapdash it was a finished piece. In reality, art is WORK!  It takes time and skill and patience and effort.

While I would love to be able to create my work ethereally – just sit down, stitch beads and say voila – it doesn’t work that way. Developing the skill to be able to not only stitch beads in place (so that they stay there) but to expand my knowledge with each piece is part of the joy of having the idea to begin with. I guess in some ways I’m more a craftsman than an artist. I love to try new stitches, to see what colors work with what other colors, to figure out how to stitch a figure design so that it conveys the whole original concept. In other words - I love the 'process' as much as I love the original concept. To put beads on and take them off when they don’t work - to start with one color only to find that it doesn’t please me or convey the design I had in mind – these are challenges that I gladly accept.

There is a passion to being a ‘working artist’ that greets me each day and I guess truly that is 'what it is all about’.

"The days you work are the best days." - Georgia O'Keefe

Heart and Soul

What is the secret Ingredient? So you have these beads and this fabric upon which to put them and you stitch and stitch being as careful as possible and you learn a new stitch for this project and you look at it and what do you think?  Hey, I did it!!  Hey, I did a good job!! Hey - what does it mean? And that last one is the question I constantly ask myself.  At first the beading itself was the challenge - since I had very little experience with it and absolutely none with encrusted beading.  As I've learned and practiced and taken off and put back on I've discovered something else.  The secret ingredient is 'spirit'!  To have a lasting quality, to feel really good about an embroidered piece, something of my spirit has to enter into it.  If I look at the work of others (please check out the links on the side of my blog) I know that what draws me to their work is the heart and soul that goes into each piece.  Each has beautiful skills - but the depth of the work is what draws me.  For me, to look at their work is to get into their hearts because they have obviously laid them open for all to see.  And that is what I long to do with my work.  Working with abstract pictures and figures I am more able to drop a bit of myself right smack dab into the middle of each piece.  Because creating a beaded piece is a 'slow' art it lends itself to being a 'real' part of me.  The time that it takes may encompass days when I feel joyful and days when I feel sad -- the colors, the stitches, the design all say 'deep down, this is who I am'.  Everyday I thank each of you who are out there wearing your heart on your sleeve by putting it into your chosen art form.  This is not an easy thing to do but it can be so rewarding.  Its that huge leap from craft to art. 

"When you do things from the soul you feel a river moving in you, a joy". - Rumi

Creativity

Today I would like to be silent -- and pass along words from another.  Jan Phillips has written the most beautiful tribute to creativity and I must share her thoughts with you.  This quotation sits on my work table (amongst all my other treasures).  When I am frustrated or seek inspiration or just need a moment of quiet I read these words:

"We get so caught up in the flurry of our lives that we forget the essential thing about art -- that the act of creating is a healing gesture, as sacred as prayer, as essential to the spirit as food is to the body.

Our creative work reveals us to ourselves, allows us to transform our experience and imagination into forms that sing back to us in a language of symbol who we are, what we are becoming, what we have loved and feared.

This is the alchemy of creation: that as I attempt to transmute a feeling or a thought into an artistic form that can be experienced by another, I myself am added to, changed in the process."

I pass this along to all of you out there who are bringing your artistic forms into being today.

"Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self." - Jean Luc Godard