Intrigue and Inquiry


Another face! This time using Faber Castell Pitt Pens of varying sizes. I'm still not certain what's behind these faces, but there is something there that intrigues me. They're very mask like, and I enjoy playing with the shapes and the textures. Thoughts of the "wise man" or the "sage" come to mind, and many of the faces have a sense of calm and a slight smile. I'll keep exploring these faces until I can discover their meaning for me. I am a firm believer that we need to pay attention to the things that keep popping up in our work. These make perfect subjects for our lines of inquiry.

I've only done some small pieces, and this one is merely an experiment on cheap drawing paper to try out the pens. But, I definitely think larger works need to happen.

Watercolor Layers


Using a lot of watercolor techniques from the Cultivating Creativity workshop, I layered the paint onto these 5x7 papers. I simply immersed myself in playing with the techniques and playing with the paint.


I really like the richness created in the layers and textures. They seem to have a certain glow to them.They have been sitting around the studio for a while now, and I'm not certain what I'll do with them. Perhaps I'll add one of my faces or monsters.


Myths About Creativity


For a while now, I've had a lot of ideas about creativity bumping around in my mind. I've even written about some of them here and here. Over the years I have read quite a few books on the subject such as Ken Robinson's Out of Our Minds, and I am currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic.

I am a firm believer that everyone has the innate capacity for creativity, but so many people buy into common myths about it. If we can see past these stories, we can see just how straight forward creativity can be. I am looking forward to exploring my ideas on creativity and how I can help people reconnect with theirs.


Art Trends and Authenticity


It seems that every few years there is another trend in the arts and crafts world. Scrapbooks, altered books, artist trading cards, Zentangle, and now adult coloring books. I was reminded of the adult coloring book fad as I walked into a local Barnes and Noble, and saw a display of couple dozen books in the entry way. I am intrigued by these trends since they seem to last a few years, and then it’s onto something else.

I think these all simply speak to our innate need to create. There’s something inside of us all that we want to share with the world, and we have this feeling that this thing, whatever it is that we want to share, will bring some meaning and some purpose to our lives. Creating something, whether it’s painting, drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or inventing, is a way for us to have a piece of ourselves out in the world. It’s an act of manifestation as we try to bring forth a part of our inner world, our inner vision.

Everyone has this desire to leave their mark on the world, and the struggle to fulfill this desire leads many into the "creative arts". They see someone painting, or building, or singing, or writing, and the say,”Hey! I’d love to do that.” For many that is where the little voice in their heads takes over spreading doubt and fear, and the initial excitement subsides into negative self talk. People talk themselves right out of even trying, and they say “Hey. I’d live to do that, BUT I don’t have the talent or the imagination. I could never do anything like that.” So, they look for something safe, something with a known outcome, something that keeps the inner critic at bay while quelling the urge to create.

Many people turn to the latest trend to try their hand at creating. It’s less intimidating, it involves less risk, and it often involves less thinking and imagination. For a while this foray into the latest crafty craze feeds that urge to make and create, but then, it can lose its appeal. These trends can be unfulfilling in the long run because the Spirit is always looking for authenticity. Following someone else’s directions, leaving all the decisions to someone else, and coloring in someone else’s drawing or design can leave a hollow feeling. We want to be original. We want to create and not simply make, and if we can't find a way to turn these fashionable art forms into authentic expressions, we can lose interest in them. We then look for the next greatest thing, and the cycle continues.

It's no easy task to be original if we’ve had a lifetime of people, even ourselves, telling us that we are not creative, imaginative, artistic or talented. When we’re filled with fear and doubt we need to let go of the past, not worry about the future, and focus on the present. We can only create in the here and now.


But how do we do that? How do we quiet the inner critique and stay present? How do we find an authentic inner vision? Well, that’s my mission, and I have some vague notions and ideas right now. I am looking forward to sharing more when those ideas have gelled into something more concrete.

Nonlinear


My journaling process is not linear. I am not one who has to finish one page before I move onto a new page. All pages are fair game at anytime, and when I want to add to something in progress, I flip through those pages that already have something going on. When I need more room, I flip to blank pages to tackle a space that is unfettered and uncluttered.

These two spreads are perfect examples. The spread above was started in early November shortly after the Arizona Art Education Association Conference in Prescott. I started the page by gluing in some fodder from the trip, and over the last couple of months, I have been slowly adding to it building up layers of watercolor, watercolor pencil, and ink.


This spread was started a couple of days ago when I broke out the liquid watercolors. I wanted to do a little experimenting with these concentrated paints, and I had a yearning to tackle some blank space. So, I turned to a blank spread, and I used yellow, orange, and brown to begin a haphazard painting across the pages. Tonight I added the watercolor pencil squares to give the spread more structure. As always, I have no plan for these pages, and they'll develop over the coming months. As I've said before, Art is about the discovery.