Art Every Day Month, November 9th
November 9th, 2008, 15 Comments
Today is the 9th day of Art Every Day Month! You're doing fabulously!
The box below is a widget that I will provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) about that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other folks whipping up! Check out the links from today's post, the previous week's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
Trust the process of the subtle push toward art and creative expression from inside you - it is the gentle call of your heart and renewed search for soul.
- Donald William Mathews
Red’s Intuition
November 8th, 2008, 11 Comments
Busy, busy day. Spent much of the day helping my sister move, came home to take our neighbor's dog for a walk and then crashed for a brief nap before doing a little painting. I decided to work on a painting that sat unfinished and was frustrating me. Honestly, I'm still not loving the result, but that's o.k. It was good to play with it some more. I'm calling it "Red's Intuition" and it's about 12"x6" on canvas. I had the idea for it ages ago when I was thinking about the signs and symbols that pop into our lives and give us those little nudges that come across as a gut feeling. I imagined what would have happened if in the story of "Little Red Riding Hood," the girl had seen the smoke curling from her grandmother's chimney taking the form of a wolf. I imagined she could have noticed this from a distance and prepared herself for what she was going to meet. I still like the idea of it, but maybe I need to play with it in a different format. And maybe it will grow on me more if I let it sit.
One of the things I enjoyed most about working on it was playing with the uttlerly luscious new tube of Phthalo Blue paint that got worked into the shadows and also over a layer of brown that I painted the sides of the canvas with. Yum. Such a gorgeous color.
Tomorrow's looking like a quiet day and I should be able to catch up with some emails and such. I've worked on my Soul Coaching assignment too, but I think I'll write about that tomorrow. I hope you're all having a beautifully creative weekend!
Art Every Day Month, November 8th
November 8th, 2008, 9 Comments
Today is the 8th day of Art Every Day Month!
The box below is a widget that I will provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) about that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it. Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other folks whipping up! The creativity I'm witnessing is truly amazing. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. You're doing beautifully!
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity. -R. I. Fitzhenry
p.s. I've been adding a quote each day to these posts for a little extra inspiration. If you have one you want to suggest, pop me an email!
De-clutter and Dance
November 7th, 2008, 15 Comments
I finished up "Walking in Circles" today. It's about 9"x11" with acrylic paint, ink, gel medium, and a bit of collage on watercolor paper.
It was rather gray out today, but I didn't mind one bit as I spent the day doing some more de-cluttering. Boy oh boy, was I overdo for some clutter clearing! I'm not going to beat myself up about it because, well, I'm making progress, bit by bit. I focused on my desk today, filing my to-be-filed pile and sweeping away the build up of dust around my desk chair. One little corner at a time. Progress feels slow, but excellent. Soul Coaching focused a bit more on de-cluttering today along with a look at how you relax and have fun. I often feel lazy, but I have a lot of trouble doing nothing. Something to look at. I put another ipod session to good use while folding laundry today. Good, loud music can make chores so much more enjoyable! What do you like to listen to when you're cleaning? Do you listen to anything while you create?
I sometimes do and sometimes don't. In the last few months, I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio versions of the Harry Potter series read by Jim Dale (who is simply awesome.) I loved the books and never really thought about listening to books until recently. I was introduced to the wonders of audio books when a post at Christine Kane's blog convinced me to check out the audio version of Martha Beck's Steering by Starlight (Beck reads her books for the audio versions and she's so funny!) and then branched into the Harry Potter series on the recommendation of Jim Doran, which has been great fun. I find these audio books great company when doing my least favorite chores (like dishes), when I need some convincing to go on a walk, and sometimes when I'm painting and want to shut out the world. I laugh out loud while I listen. 
As for music... well, for cleaning purposes I generally want music that's upbeat and fun, sometimes funny and always great to dance to (dancing while you clean is highly recommended.) Today's listening included Weird Al's "Trash Day" (very appropriate), George Michael's "Freedom 90," Supertramp's "Dreamer," Beck's "E-Pro," Destiny's Child's "Lose My Breath," Scissor Sisters' "Music is the Victim," and Prince's "Kiss." Other good ones for shakin' your tush: Missy Elliot's "Work It," Liz Phair's "Whip Smart," Cake's "The Distance," and Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." Well, that gave me an idea...here's a little treat for you. I put together a mix-tape of the songs I just mentioned. Feel free to use while you make art, clean up the house, or dance around in your underwear. Enjoy!
Art Every Day Month, November 7th
November 7th, 2008, 17 Comments
Today is the 7th day of Art Every Day Month!
The box below is a widget that I will provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) about that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it. Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other folks whipping up! I'm so inspired by the variety of creations. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem, simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
“There's room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. If you're trying to be like somebody else, then there is isn't.”
-Tori Amos
p.s. I've been adding a quote each day to these posts for a little extra inspiration. If you have one you want to suggest, pop me an email!
Celebrate Every Advance!
November 6th, 2008, 18 Comments
Ah, my migraine left and today felt productive. I did some serious de-cluttering as part of my work with Soul Coaching, choosing a corner of my bedroom that has been bugging me for ages. I put my favorite cleaning mix on my ipod, blasted it loud and got to work, sweeping up the cobwebs and dust, separating out the trash, putting things away, and cleaning the surfaces. It kind of amazed me how much time and energy it took to do this one corner and it was overwhelming if I thought about doing the whole room. But I didn't think about the whole room. Baby steps, baby steps!!! As author Denise Linn suggests, "Celebrate every advance!" Woohoo! I'm celebrating my clean bedroom corner! While cleaning, there were a few funny little synchronicities in the things I came upon, including a list of values I'd written out over a year ago. I need to check that list against the one I wrote this week and see how they match up!
I had fun with some art-making time this evening. I did a small piece on a 4"x4" canvas in acrylics based on a sketch from my sketchbook. I don't always bring my sketches to fruition, so it's nice when a little push gets them done. I'm calling it, "By the Light of the Silvery Moon."
This piece was all play and experimentation. It's not quite done, but I'm liking it. I put two leaves on the image at the end, but they're not attached. I really love the way it's come together. I'm calling it, "Walking in Circles."
In need of some inspiration? Check out Design for Mankind's latest zine! This month, the theme is the handmade market. You can view it for free online or purchase a print copy. If you're looking for something to listen to while you create, check out the latest Craftcast podcast which features an interview with Daniel Vosovic (from season 2 of Project Runway!) who has a new book out called, Fashion Inside Out: Daniel V's Guide to How Style Happens from Inspiration to Runway and Beyond. It sounds like a great read with lots of discussion about the creative process. And I'm sure it's visually inspiring too!
p.s. I love Ugly Betty!
Art Every Day Month, November 6th
November 6th, 2008, 12 Comments
Today is day 6 of Art Every Day Month!
The box below is a widget that I will provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link to your post (blog post or flickr image) about that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it. Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other folks creating!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to make a quick note about what you did today. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem, simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! It's great fun (and so inspirational) to see what everyone is up to. Keep on expressing yourselves! I love hearing about the knitting, painting, jewelry making, scrapbooking, sculpture, writing, cooking, and drawing you've been doing. Love it!
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
p.s. I've been adding a quote each day to these posts for a little extra inspiration. If you have one you want to suggest, pop me an email!
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
-Maya Angelou
Stripe-scape
November 5th, 2008, 17 Comments
Quickie post from me today. I had a monster migraine all day. It's just subsiding and I'm wiped out! I started this one in the morning, doodling in brown ink and using a spray bottle to make the ink swirl in interesting ways. I let it dry and then tonight I went back into it with Pitt brush pens. The ink scribbles reminded me of a Dr. Seuss-like landscape with wild trees and rolling, striped hills. So, this is what came from it. I'm going to rest my head this evening. I have some emails to respond to, but they'll have to wait til tomorrow. See you then!
Art Every Day Month, November 5th
November 5th, 2008, 17 Comments
Today is day 5 of Art Every Day Month!
The box below is a widget that I will provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link to your post (blog post or flickr image) about that day's creation.
Please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you don't have a page you can link to and want to share, feel free to use the comments section of this post to make a quick note about what you did today. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem, simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! It's great fun (and so inspirational) to see what everyone is up to. Keep on expressing yourselves!
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
The world is wonderful and beautiful and good beyond one's wildest imagination. -D. H. Lawrence
Two if By Sea
November 4th, 2008, 15 Comments
Another spontaneous, intuition-directed piece tonight. I prepped a few wood panels with gesso last night and today I pulled some materials for collage. I arranged different pieces together including some scraps from experiments on paper and a drawing I did last week. I brought some acrylic paint into it and some ink and here it is. I wrote on the left side, "One if by land" and I'm calling this painting, "Two if By Sea." It's 6"x6" on a cradled wooden panel. I think it's super sweet.
Hope you're all enjoying the evening! I am!
