The Blank Canvas Blog Hop!

Are you familiar with that feeling one gets as you're facing a task and you just don't know where to begin? Well artists aren't any different from any other person who hasn't a clue of where start a new project!

It's often a scary place -- especially when that blank canvas, book, piece of paper, quilt, chunk of marble is just sitting there! For an artist this can be a terrifying place to be. Doubts loom and often a litany of self-criticism rises to the forefront. The Muses have left the house. What if they don't come back? 

Luckily after many years of dealing with the Blank Canvas -- or in my case the "Blank Book Page Spread" (since I primarily alter books) -- I've learned a few tricks on how to get the creative juices flowing. And so have 16 artists in the Blank Canvas Blog Hop. Each of these artists share experiences on how they jump start their creativity PLUS each is having a drawing for a giveaway. So hop on over to the first artist, Karen Friedland on Monday, September 8th. 

And return to my blog on September 15th to see what I do to get myself moving in the flow -- and to enter for a chance to win one of my Wild Spirit Animal pendant necklaces!

BLOG HOP ROSTER for ARTISTS -- Follow the links to each day's artist to get tips on addressing the Blank Canvas and how to participate in their drawing for a free gift! And if you come in late to this Blog Hop you can go to any of the earlier artists' pages to see their tips and enter their giveaway contest (Sept 8-22).

Earlier Participants!
1. Sept 8   Karen Friedland 
2. Tuesday Sept 9   Lezette Markham
3. Wednesday Sept 10 Cynthia Patton
4. Thursday Sept 11 Jennyann Carthern
5. Friday "Frenzy" Sept 12  Kiala Givehand
6. Saturday Sept 13 Jan Blount
7. Sunday Sept 14 Effy Wild
8. Monday Sept 15 Virginia Simpson-Magruder
9. Tuesday Sept 16 Dariana Cruz


TODAY'S BLANK CANVAS ARTIST!  
10. Wednesday Sept 17 Susan Miller go here

Next in Line!
11. Thursday Sept 18 Grace howes 
12. Friday Sept 19 Tori Deaux 
13. Saturday Sept 20 Kiala Givehand
14. Sunday Sept 21 Martin Arkenstone 
15. Monday Sept 22 Nicole Piar

When you return on Sept 15 to here my tips on dealing with Blank Canvas Paralysis, you'll also have the opportunity to participate in my Wild Spirit Pendant Giveaway. First Like my Wild Spirit Animals Facebook Fan Page, and then Sign up for my monthly newsletter by clicking on the blue button in the column to the right of this post.

Wild Spirit Animal Pendant

Journal Page Creations...Day 50

Journal Page Creations -- Day 50: Journey

Crazy Love

Have I said I love creating art? Have I said it makes me feel good? Have I said how I love seeing how pieces fall together and colors blend or surprise, and images take on a wonderful, wierd quality? Have I said how much I love my studio?

Yes, yes, yes. I've said all those things and more! So why is it that it seems to take a Herculean effort to walk into my studio and start playing with my "toys" (as my friend/graphic designer/photographer/artist Mary Ann C. says)? WHY?

I suppose all artists struggle with this push me/pull me dilemma. It's such a crazy love I have with my creative muse!

Well gosh darn. Here it is again. What little thing can I do to keep my creative toe in the water?

1. Straighten one area of my studio.
2. Take a photo of anything.
3. Write and publish a post.
4. Write some new copy for an oriel pendant.
5. Make a new oriel pendant design.
   
6. Make a journal page.
7. Straighten a bookshelf display
   
8. Read an art magazine. (Alright, read one article.)
9. Tear images and words out of said magazine.
   
10. Paint Angelina Kitty's toenails.
11. Dress Angelina up and take her picture (Angelina has left the room now...)
    
12. Buy a colorful potted flower.
13. Read someone else's blog post.
14. Draw a very bad picture and write an apology underneath it.
15. Straighten my desk so all of the colorful things on it show up.
16. Pick some flowers for the house.
17. Create a display on the front porch coffee table.
18. Take a nap.

Care to add any?

What would it be like to not feel stuck? To just feel my mane blow in the wind?