AEDM2015, Day 3: The Sea Is in Deep Blue Trouble

AEDM2015, Day 3: The Sea Is in Deep Blue Trouble (with pop-up closed)

Heading off to the Caribbean for a wedding so this image of a beach grabbed my eye. Then I just stared at it...nothing was coming to me and no other images popped out as I flicked through a magazine. Usually at this point my inner critic starts grumbling. The best tactic is to just ignore it and either walk away for a few minutes or just keep searching for the "right" pieces. Something always gives and for this collage things went a little bit wacky. I ended up making the fish into a "pop up" and the woman, well I just liked her facial expression -- she's either appalled at the dismal state of the oceans -- or she's in the process of becoming a mermaid!

AEDM2015, Day 3: The Sea Is in Deep Blue Trouble (with pop-up open)

AEDM 2015 Day 2: A Landscape I Didn't Know Existed

AEDM 2015 Day 2: A Landscape I Didn't Know Existed

How do I come up with the collages I create? I'm really not sure. Often I'll run across images that resonate with me on a deep level. I may not understand why or for what reason I am drawn to an image or a setting (such as this room), but I will add them into my journal and let them "percolate". I may eventually add other images to it and the story will start to unfold. Or I may add a line of text because it also resonates with me in conjunction with the image. Or the image may prompt me to journal. Sometimes I'll just leave the image as is -- just because I like it -- and I've come to see that there is creative payback in doing just that.

"She remembered this room. She remembered sitting on the linen sofa, waiting for someone or something to come through the door. It had been an hour or two of slow minutes and the light was fading. Becoming increasingly drowsy she stood up abruptly and walked around the perimeter of the room. There was a flash of movement behind her and as she turned she saw a shadow move in the mirror...."

November Is Art Every Day Month!

Day 1 AEDM, "Commitment: I Will Participate". 

It's cool that Art Every Day Month has rolled around again -- just at the right time for me.  I will be making a collage spread a day over the next 30 days and will be using one of my small Paperblanks journals. I had an Open Studio to day at the Novato Arts Center, and decided to work on my first spread while I was there. This is really my first piece of completed art in 5 months! I really have had little desire to move past the sorting of collage images and just a general puttering around my studio. 

Nevertheless when I sat down in front of the journal I had selected for this art challenge -- I knew that my desire to create would overcome my inertia as well as those inner critics that bounce around in my head. I was a bit awkward with the color and text and images -- but I pushed past my inner critic and "just kept moving". This is the 3rd time I've done AEDM (plus i did my own personal art challenge (Daily Journal Page Challenge) for 3.5 years) so I know the benefits of setting an intention and sticking with it. 

I must say it felt so-o-o-o-o good to create this spread! It's also serving as a visual statement of my commitment to continuing on with my creative journey.

Drop by Leah Piken Kolidas' website Creative Every Day and sign up for one of her art challenges -- it's not too late!

AEDM Day 11: "To Fly"

Art Every Day Month Day 11: "To Fly"

There are times on this journey that I wish I could fly more easily above the daily grind, obstacles, and limitations. Early this evening I lay on my back in the grass under our big old oak tree and just listened to the birds all around me. A small, cool breeze came from nowhere and then it changed direction and softly blew across my face. An oak leaf drifted to the ground next to my head. In that moment was a perfection and a reminder to carry on.

AEDM Day 10: "Magically Haunting"

Art Every day Month, Day 10: "Magically Haunting"

AEDM Day 9: "Beautiful Chaos"

Art Every Day Month Day 9: "Beautiful Chaos"

Today was a day fraught with worry and pleasure. My 18-year-old cat was in distress. I had to drop her off at the vet's in the morning and then go set up and teach a workshop at my studio in the afternoon. I was worried about her the whole day and all the while taught a great workshop -- loved the ladies who participated. But the anxiety I felt about my aging cat still remaned. I wrote about this in my journal -- and used the crosshatch technique to mask the specifics. I thought about leaving page as is -- just the writing. Then I wondered was there any color or something else I could add? Could I push myself past the starkness of negative conclusions? To me this page represents the part of the human spirit that can choose to love or find beauty in the midst of worry or chaos.

AEDM Day 7: "True Love"

Art Every Day Month Day 7: "True Love"

AEDM Day 6: "More Red"

Art Every Day Month Day 6: "More Red"

Decided to see how many small pieces I could fit onto a spread (I have several boxes filled with ATC-sized images). Red, again, seemed to be the color I was drawn to!