A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

art night

 

How does a night with friends new and old, chocolate and wine, inspiration and laughter, a night full of art sound to you? Then come on over!

 

That's exactly what we've been serving up at my house on Friday nights. A completely casual, non-threatening, fun and encouraging environment with ladies (Guys are always welcome--but no kids!) of all skill and experience levels together, oohhing and aahhing over each others work, playing with paint and canvas.

 

 

I supply the paint, canvas, chocolate and wine and everyone else brings only an open mind and a heart willing to experience all of the joy--not to get too gushy, but there is real joy--healing and whatever else they need from the creative process. We have experienced artists and novices who've haven't touched a canvas in years or ever all working together and loving it. Like I said, this is a completely non-competitive and non-threatening environment. And the goal for the night is not to create an amazing work of art (although you will see it's happening!) but to discover the joy in the creative process. Seriously, I've never been so excited about anything in my life.

 

Since my little studio can't hold more than a couple of people at a time and we've been looking forward to some big groups, I've turned our living room into a working studio with color and inspiration everywhere you look.

 

 

So what do my realtor, a waitress at our favorite brew pub, neighbors and friends have in common? They are all having a blast at art night! And--even though it's not the point--just take a look at the amazing art coming out of it.

 

 

 

This is proof that when creative human beings--whether they believe they are creative or not--find themselves in a encouraging, enthusiastic, artistic environment where they can feel free to create, explore and experiment, beautiful things can happen and art is born.

 

 

 

(We were undecided if we liked Tina's painting better right side up or upside down with flowers dangling.)

 

 

 

 

For fun we even started putting a blank canvas on an easel at one end of the room as a collaborative effort. Whenever anyone feels stuck with their own painting, needs a break, or has extra paint on their pallet, they can go over to the easel and add their unique touch to our progressive work. It is everyone's favorite painting by the end of the night!

 

 

 

 

I'm already starting to recognize each person's unique contribution to our collaborative paintings. And I'm so excited to see how our art develops and everyone grows, in relationship to each other and as individuals as we continue our journey together. Originally, I imagined we would get together once a month, but everyone has begged to keep having it so we're getting together every week as long as people are willing. If you happen to be local or close to Pueblo and want to join us, shoot me an email (sidebar, top right). And if you think this is a fabulous idea that you want to see in your own neighborhood, I can't shout it loud enough: do it!! It may change someone's life. I'll keep you posted on how things develop and give you more tips for setting up your own art night!

real life

 

Today was a hard day. Maisey lost a beloved pet hamster, Hermione, in the night and it was a long, cold day without our sweet friend. (Who can imagine the impact of one little life on another? Love is truly blind and irrational and we are all better for it.) I admit, particularly when it comes to my family, my first instinct is to avoid pain at all costs. To shut it out, medicate, do whatever I have to do to stop the hurt. But I'm learning there's beauty in pain and growth in loss. Letting those emotions have their way wakes us up to who we really are, makes us willing to reach out to others in their pain, and opens the heart to the reality of something bigger than ourselves out there. (Why is it that it takes being broken to open the heart up to God?)

 

So, instead of going to the idols of self-preservation in my pain, frustration and confusion, I'm heading to my journal, to color, to creativity, and seeking healing there instead. Not that art in itself is anything, but a vehicle to understanding, an opportunity to discover beauty out of ashes and--most of all--hope for a new day. And I for one couldn't be more thankful for it.

 

 

 

weekend crafting

 

Tif's tutorial came at the perfect time to distract me from the things I should have been doing this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's harder to get a good photo of your kitchen window than you might think.

 

speaking of goals

 

Another one of my goals for 2011 is to spend more time drawing. Actually, to face my fear of drawing (drawing anything that looks like anything, anyway) and to overcome it. One of my favorite creative pastimes and one of the things I love most about journaling is doodling. I don't have any problem putting pen to paper (although before I started art journaling, I used to), but to look at what's around me and try to represent it on paper scares the hell out of me. This is what I want to overcome. So, I've dusted off my charcoal and kneaded eraser, wracked my brain to remember techniques for shading, tried on elementary spheres and cubes and, if I'm not having the time of my life, at least I've realized that its not as difficult or as scary as I thought it would be. 

Besides signing up for a local drawing class, I bought myself a new sketchbook and have been doodling and drawing every chance I get. It's a great stress reducer and just plain fun once you give yourself permission to let go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there anything that you've always wanted to do but fear (of failure, of success, of what others will think) has stopped you from trying or from digging deeper? How about joining me in making this the last year we have to live with that regret?

getting started on the list

 

Often when I've heard or read interviews from accomplished artists (for lack of a better term) and they are asked what advice they have for aspiring artists, the answer is "make lots and lots of art"! Good art, bad art, it doesn't matter. Just make lots of it. I guess it goes along with the adage that Practice Makes Perfect. The more you do something, the more confident you are bound to get doing it, the more you will learn and the better you'll get. Thankfully, I have an incredibly supportive family who allows me plenty of time to work on my art but, still, I spend way more time just thinking about doing it. Too often I substitute real art time for quazi-art-time. Surely, you know the kind I mean. Instead of pushing past the creative blocks and unreliable motivation to just get in there and do the work myself, I settle for a quick fix from looking at other people's art on the internet, in magazines or books, collecting art supplies or the like. And if there's one thing Steven Pressfield has taught me it's that that kind of quick fix is more like an inoculation. And when it's a substitute for actually being creative for myself, I'm buying into the lie and avoiding what's truly important for my soul's growth. The only thing to do, then, realizing this is to suck it up, in season and out of season, and just do the work.

 

So one of my goals this new year for growing as an artist is to do the work of an artist as much as I can whether I feel like it or not. And so far, so good. I've taken a few more naps than I wish I had (Naptime is Resistance's most effective weapon against me), but spent a lot less wasted time on the computer and a lot more productive time at my desk. After the holidays I dug through the trash and chose some choice scraps of cardboard to paint and play with. Scrap cardboard is an ideal surface because it's cheap, readily available and already has some texture to add to your work. Not to mention the thrill of turning trash to treasure.

 

 

 

Again, there are no Mona Lisa's here but the point is I'm working and getting a chance to play around with my favorite new flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I even painted the backs thinking they'd make great mail art. But for now, they are adorning my desk and reminding me how good it feels to be productive. And gently encouraging me to keep up the good work.

more from journal the fourth

The snow is blowing sideways and piling up quickly outside, but inside we're warm and toasty, safe and sound. And with a steaming cup of tea at my elbow while we anxiously await the buzzer letting us know our blueberry crisp is ready, life couldn't be sweeter.

 

A few more experiments from the new watercolor journal.

 

 

 

 

And some actual finished pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I gotta get back to snuggling on the couch and watching The Cape!

a lesson for the new year

 

My plans have been frustrated.

We decided to wait until next week to start back to school, so much else going on it seemed necessary to start the new year off right. It was the right decision, but in the back of my mind (maybe not so far back) I was thinking, Awesome, now I get another week for myself! A week for art, and reading my new books and doing things that I want to do (before jumping back into the school day routine where my family comes obviously first.) Well, so far, it hasn't turned out that way at all. One distraction, interruption, diversion after another and I've barely spent an hour in the studio all week. I am tempted to pout, and to be honest, yesterday I did pout all day when a thrown breaker made me think the heater had gone out in the art room leaving me with no choice but to suffer in the 10 degree cold or to avoid it all together which I did. So, this afternoon--and yet another day of not getting my way--it hit me. There's nothing wrong with this picture. Everything is right as it should be. I'm the one getting my priorities mixed up. When my focus is on ME--what I need and want to be comfortable, happy, fulfilled, whatever--it inevitably leads to frustration. My life is not my own; it is a gift I could never in a 1000 lifetimes deserve or earn. And it has been given to me to give away not to hoard to myself. The irony is that the less I focus on ME, the more somehow I end up getting everything I need in the end. I think it has a lot to do with my own foolish thinking that I even understand what I truly need when in reality I barely understand what I want most days.

 

So here I am. A little beaten up, which can be a good thing. A little bit weary and a lot wiser. And, most of all, ready for all of the lessons small and large the new year has for me. I may be pushing 40 but I've got a lot of growing up to do.

Be back tomorrow with new art for the new year!