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!

The Blank Canvas Blog Hop: How I Deal with a Blank Book Page...

Hi, It's Monday, September 15th, and it's Day 8 of the BLANK CANVAS BLOG HOP! I'm Virginia Simpson-Magruder and I am a jewelry, collage, and altered book artist and I'm here to share with you my tips for conquering the BLANK CANVAS! 

Up until a couple of seconds ago (this part was written Sunday morning) --- this post was my BLANK CANVAS. I've been sitting and staring at this screen for 15 minutes, and cleaning out my inbox for 20 minutes! All the while thinking about what I'm going to write about, letting all my thoughts mull around in the back of my mind, including my anxiety about possibly failing. 

So spelled out, this is usually how it goes before I get enough "juice", "umpfff", "spark", "mojo" to start a creative project: 

1. I think about the general subject matter or get an inkling of desire (to paint, to draw, to start and altered book, to write)....
2. I do something else (clean dishes, do laundry, call my mother, lay on a blanket under the tree, make some coffee)...
3. I berate myself and think I'm going to fail...
4. I pray for the divine energy to intervene...
5. I finally sit down (or stand up) in front of the "intended" project or art piece and...JUMP IN!

Can you relate???I bet some of you can!

Here are a few things I try to remember:

1. Don't punish or berate myself, or be critical of my procrastination: It's part of the creative process!
2. Give myself permission to wander around, go for a walk, put things away in my studio: It's part of the creative process!
3. Don't be afraid of making "bad" art, "ugly" art, "not good enough" art: It's part of the creative process!
4. Keep my intention to create in the back of my mind as I participate in my "non-making art" activities: It's part of the creative process!

The most important thing in approaching your BLANK CANVAS is to get into your right brain mode of thinking. The right brain is where creativity lives (versus the left brain which is where our analytical thought processes live) -- and one of the ways to get into that mode is to play with color, images, textures, words.  

MY TWO FAVORITE TECHNIQUES FOR OVERCOMING BLANK CANVAS PARALYSIS

I do one of two things to get warmed up and get the juices flowing. I start working in a SMALL or TINY book or journal. In the flip through below I show one of my altered journals, "Tiny Green Book". It is filled to the brim with images, color, and ephemera. I didn't think hard about what this book would contain except to select images, paper, ribbons, and text that have to do with the color green. Working in a small book or journal gives you the opportunity to complete a page easily without much thought. Focusing on a color and all its different shades and tones also stimulates the right brain. And as i am working in my studio -- if I come across an image or papers that i think will fit in it -- I'll stuff them in between the pages to glue in later. After working in a journal like this for 10 for 15 minutes I'm often ready to jump into a BLANK CANVAS.

To see my Tiny Green Journal Flip through Video go here.

Another technique I use and suggest to my altered book students is to have one altered book that is devoted solely to Playing or Experimenting with color, media, and techniques. Play with color, play with magazine images, play with art media, play with ribbons, play with glitter. Again, try not to think about what the end product is going to be. These play books often end up being my favorite altered books and journals. The more you fall into the color, shapes, textures -- the more you'll be accessing your right brain and you can follow that flow right into your BLANK CANVAS.

GIVEAWAY: Before you go -- be sure to participate in my Blank Canvas Blog Hop giveaway. If you go to my Wild Spirit Pendants' Facebook Fan Page and "Like Us", and then join my Kentucky Girl Designs e-newsletter list (click on the blue button in column to the right), you will have a chance to win my Wild Spirit Jaguar Pendant:

 

This hand-soldered collage pendant celebrates the Wild Spirit of Jaguar. Wear this pendant to reinforce the creative passion within you!

Have fun with these BLANK CANVAS tips and come visit me at Kentucky Girl Designs for more and a list of my workshops and upcoming e-courses.

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
10. Wednesday Sept 17 Susan Miller
11. Thursday Sept 18 Grace Howes go here
12. Friday Sept 19 Tori Deaux
13. Saturday Sept 20 Kiala Givehand go here
14. Sunday Sept 21 Martin Arkenstone go here!
15. Monday Sept 22 Nicole Piar

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

Hello, My Mane in the Wind!

Dear Mane in the Wind,
It's so GREAT! hearing from you. You've been on my mind...always...but somehow I just couldn't sit down at the computer to write you a love letter. I knew somehow that you'd understand, because your blood runs through my veins. I've guess I've been traveling the road of independence, maybe? Kind of like a teenager or college grad? Well,  I've been testing my wings; experimenting with different life situations; trying out all sorts of, hmmmn, illicit substances; giving up old habits and acquiring some new ones! Sometimes I feel very alone in this world. Sometimes I just want to be alone (except for my two kitties). But I really want to tell you and The World what I've been doing creatively for the past two years; what I'm doing now; what's been working and what doesn't seem to fit; what things I planning to do, what things I'm just dreaming about. I think there might be some kindred souls out there who are also traveling this road and I'd love to hear from them!

Was it only 5 years ago I started sharing this creative journey with you? I was so unsure of myself then, as you well know...And now, well, something is stronger! I now know and without hesitancy can claim that I am a gifted, creative soul!

And my mane definitely blows in the wind! It's great to be back!

Love, Love, Love,
Virginia

Photos of Some of the Things I've Been Doing in 2013-2014 (Teaching Artist for ATA; Get to draw Rodin's "The Kiss" at the National Gallery of Scotland; Studiy painting and drawing with Sabrina TerHeune; Hold "Express Yourself! Intro to Altered Books and Collage" and "Altered Book Portals as a Way of Seeing" workshops; Learn intuitive painting from Flora Bowley and Tracy Verdugo workshops; Teach altered books at The Gap, Inc.; "Hold Art Journal Your Travels" workshop at Book Passage; Expand my Wild Spirit Animals line of jewelry...) Visit Kentucky Girl Designs website for more info...

Love Letter

"My Wild Spirit: Rima the Bird Girl Becomes a Leopard", acrylic 2012

Dear Virginia,
It's been several years now since I've seen here what you've been up to with your beautiful, creative self. I've missed hearing about your various activities, your accomplishments, your disappointments (only avenues for growth my dear), your meanderings. And although it's been important for you to travel down the road of life to explore and see and hear and taste -- I do miss your presence. But know that I do not feel separate -- I only need to close my eyes, hush my mind, and listen -- and you and your life come to me in a kaleidoscope of colors. Nevertheless I do hope that one day soon you will return to share your adventures with me...and the World.

With All Fondness -- and My Deepest Love

My Mane in the Wind

Je Dessine: Letting Go of Perceptions

"Merman" acrylic

Over the Christmas holidays, while my husband was recovering from his hip replacement surgery, I had the thought to try to paint a picture of him at the beach. He is a religious body boarder and you'll see him in his wetsuit in the Northern California waves throughout the year no matter the weather or temperature. The prospect of him going without this ritual for over three months was depressing for him and I understood this need and his deep desire for that source of exercise, meditation, and natural immersion. So in late January, working from a photograph, I started a painting of him standing on the beach with the waves behind him. But I felt stuck trying to duplicate what I saw in front of my eyes. What I perceived in the photograph and translated to the canvas just didn't look or feel right. I mulled over it with with my teacher Sabrina then left. When I came back the next week I started on it again, but still not happy about what I saw. Sabrina then suggested that I start another canvas and try not to think about what I doing as I painted. We put on my favorite composer Eric Satie's music, and I talked to her non-stop about the time I had spent in New Orleans while I chose colors, outlined a shape, laid down paint. This painting is what I did in that two hour session. Although not consciously intentional -- for me it perfectly represents the essence of the man I am married to -- rising up out of the water with seaweed falling off of him and surrounded by the colors that he so loves. I did add the gills though:) I gave it to him on Valentine's Day.

Je Dessine: Big Fat Flower Pot

Painted maybe a month ago. One of those times I wish I painted more often so I'd have more of a "vocabulary" of images to draw from as I create a background. However when I look at this painting what I do like is that it seems to have some "gusto" -- a brashness -- that shows up in its color and size. I'm reserving this one to paint over next time I see Sabrina

In My Studio: Table of Books

Table of Altered Books

Took this photo at one of my last workshops -- most of these altered books I created over the past few years. The Pink Ballerina spread a la Degas (righthand back corner) is a French children's book that I am currently altering. I've recently been getting the itch to start some new books -- actually I have 4 or 5 that come to mind, seem waiting for that jumping off point. But waiting, at least "extended" waiting never gets me anywhere. I'll report back.

A Host of Workshops: Retrospective

Marilyn's "Between Kisses" AB Spread (Collage Cafe 1.21.12)

Here are photos and links to more photos (click on the captions) to Express Yourself! Workshops and Collage Cafes that I've held over the past few months. An assortment of women and men from the Bay Area keep proving to me how rejuvenating it is for the average human being to create something artful! Making art is a way one can be brave and take risks in expressing oneself without having to think too much about it. This is especially true I find with altering books: accomplished artists can renew and expand their creative spirit, and so-called "non-artists" can easily discover their creative side with the added benefit of the pleasure of seeing something that only they could have created. Marilyn (above) came to a collage Cafe and had this to say about it:

"Thank you so much for the collage cafe and more! t was so nice meeting you and your wonderful studio, jewelry, journals and inspiration! I did 3 more pages when I got home! I lovelovelove them... I can see the growth already. Again, thanks for all the fun and inspiration!"

Janet's Back Pocket AB Spread (Express Yourself! 2.3.12)

Janet's work was a great example of an artist trained in a specific area (mono print) who desires to experiment in another medium. Her use of color and choice of images is bold and experimental. Janet said this about the workshop:

"I had a wonderful time at Virginia's Introductory class. What fun to play with all those art materials and to start to transform a regular book into something so rich and original. I've wanted to learn to do "altered books" for some time and when I first met Virginia and saw one of her books, I knew she was the one I wanted to learn from. And I loved working in her studio. Everything you need is there. I look forward to going to her "Cafe's' and learning and playing some more in my book! Thanks Virginia!"

Express Yourself! at Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA (1.28.12)

My Book Passage Express Yourself! workshop in January was a lot of fun for me and the participants. Attendees ranged from "I've never done any art" to people who had attended art school. A fun note were two women friends who each brought a teenage granddaughter. Here's what Leslie (she created the above spread) said about the experience:

"I attended your Altered Books Workshop in Corte Madera, along with my granddaughter, sister-in-law and her granddaughter. We all had a wonderful experience and hope to continue altering books (and maybe our lives). Thanks again for sharing your talent with all of us. Each of us came away inspired to explore and develop our own artistic abilities."

Express Yourself Workshop!: Upcoming Dates & "Don't Think!"

 The next two Express Yourself! workshops will be held Saturday, January 7th (at Kentucky Girl Designs' studio in Novato), and a special one to be held Saturday January 28th (at Book Passage in Corte Madera -- go here to register).

Altering books is a great way to step over your preconceived ideas of what creativity is or what it looks like -- just grab a used book, some scissors, glue, photos or magazine images, pens and coloring tools and jump into a whole new way of expressing yourself! Using a few simple techniques you will produce an art object that uniquely reflects bits and pieces of who you are.

But the main ingredient is that you are willing to let go of any rules about what being artistic or creative means. Pushing past that thinking, analyzing, censoring, judging brain is an essential step in the creative process. This is a very difficult task for most adults, whereas children seem to have a blessed ability to jump in, imagine, fantasize, play, create from a very unstructured and happy place. It was a joy for me to have living examples of this in my December workshop. Maddy and Maya were twelve-year-olds and best friends who wanted to learn more about altering books. They jumped into my exercises with little hesitancy, quite a bit of joy, and their resulting pages were enjoyed by all, but especially by themselves. They created naturally, utilizing the "Don't Think!" principle. And everyone else in the workshop seemed to come to their own creative no-thinking place -- and it was reflected in their altered book pages. To see more of their work go here.

In My Travels: A Needed Vacation

Virginia Doing "Nothing"

Everyone needs a vacation to replenish, renew, rejuvenate -- yes? What about a vacation from creativity? I returned this year with my husband to the Four Seasons Resort at Punta Mita, as guests with our friends Bonnie and Larry. Lucky us. For some people it's hard -- very, very hard -- to resist the temptation to lie around and do "nothing" -- such as: sunbathing, and lying on canopied beds by the water, and dipping in the infinity pool, and of course sipping the local beverages and eating wonderful food.

But I rallied. And while Bonnie, Larry, and Munro got on their computers and answered emails, or dealt with business from afar -- well I, I did "nothing" for them too! (How generous of me!) This is perhaps the first vacation ever where I did "nothing". Well OK maybe I checked my email a couple of times (this is a very hard habit to break). And although I took an extra bag with art supplies and journals, only on the very last day did I do some color, tore out some pictures from magazines. Otherwise I just soaked up the sun, the balmy sea air, the tepid pools, ate, drink, and did nothing.

Now I'm back and time to catch up. It's the holidays...26 people for Christmas dinner! No time for nothing now!

Je Dessine ("I Draw") Show-and-Tell Monday

Sabrina and Magic

acrylic, watersoluble crayons

Hey it's Friday! Yep. I'm just r-e-a-l slow these days! Here's a picture I drew of Sabrina, my teacher, holding my stuffed pinto pony. Sabrina really liked the background treatment I did (different yellows, then scumbling with a paper towel), as well as the shadow of the pony's head that I accidentally left in. Sabrina said that it doesn't matter if it was unintentional or not -- everything is intentional in the learning process.

Express Yourself! Workshop September

 

  Emma's "Anatomy of the Heart" Altered Book Spread

This was my first Express Yourself! workshop held in my new art studio. I had four participants -- one who had been to quite a few earlier in the year, and three others who hadn't been before. I think the photos speak for themselves. Obviously something grabs hold of you when you open a used book and start laying down color. From a teaching POV -- it's often like watching a brush fire take hold, maybe the spark smolders a while, but then KABOOM! things start happening! Emma's talent was kind of awesome to behold -- her use of paint and color and images was totally different than anyone else's I've seen so far.

 Ingrid's Finished Pocket Spread -- "Beauty"

Ingrid has been to several of my workshops in the past and had returned to finish up some pages and complete a book. This pocket spread is bursting with color and embellishments, and she brilliantly brought the arms and hands out of slots cut into the image's head so that they would appear to stream along with her hair.

Shara's "Feel the Heat" Spread

Shara, with her typical jump-in-with-all-ya'-got style, took a fairy book for children and started to transform into a wildlife sanctuary that speaks of her kinship with animals. Love the boldness and use of the floral reeds!

Cecile's "Through Hell into Heaven" AB Spread

Cecile's strong design sense came with a BANG to the surface in her first-ever book spread. She was totally excited about what came out of her. And what a yummy use of browns and tans.

In My Studio: Tools of the Trade

In My Studio: Glittery Things

Oh My, My, My...I've Been Busy...But I have Been Thinking of You

I keep meaning to come here. I keep meaning to write about what I've been doing artistically. I just haven't had the energy or the focus or the desire to write. Well, the desire is there, but the willingness to step over my reticence has not. It's like loving someone dearly but hanging around in the shadows...not being able to actively reach out...you think about them daily but nada, no motion.

I do not mean to be gloomy -- there is much to rejoice about: I have been busy, creating jewelry every day; I am moving step by step toward my business goals and dreams; a fabulous clothing store in San Rafael took 30 of my pendants on consignment; I am gradually preparing for my next show/street fair on July 16th and 17th; I am gradually posting some of my new pendants in my Etsy shop; and I am making regular announcements on my Facebook business page. I'm even in the process of applying for an art studio at the Hamilton Arts Center in Novato. Lot's happening. Soon I will return to these pages...I promise.

In My Studio: Vignette

Brushes galore, a color palette considered, an eyebrow raised -- what more do I need to start?

A Re-Awakening of Creativity Through Altered Books

Sybil's Altered Journal Spread

The first woman to sign up for the first Express Yourself! Collage/Altered Book workshop I held wasn't able to attend that class due to work conflicts. Sybil was unfortunately also not able to make up her absence at any subsequent workshops due to scheduling issues. Usually I don't allow makeups, but because she was the first one to sign up I reexamined my policy and offered her a makeup at my home studio at a time convenient for both of us. Something just told me to do it and I am so glad I did, because I got a chance to see and reaffirm what altered books can do for a person.

When Sybil came to my house she said that a long time ago she did collage quite a bit, but over the years because bored with it and let it fall away. As I she shared with me her old collages (which were professional, beautiful, and humorous) her description of her process was so familiar to my own. I too had created collages and assemblages, been in shows, then had become bored with my art, and stopped creating. When I discovered altered books some 15 years later, a whole new world of creativity opened up for me. As Sybil began altering her book I watched a similar transformation take place. It was thrilling to see and recognize. I hoped that she would continue on her new journey. A few weeks later she sent me this photo of a beautiful altered journal spread, which she had created, along with these kind words:

"A single private lesson with Virginia inspired me to sit down at my art table and PLAY, after a dull and tedious period. The experience was quite extraordinary. She immediately encouraged a more care-free attitude and sparked my creativity and sense of adventure through her altered book technique. What's more,she shared materials and resources that provided new tools and fun possibilities. Now, I simply say, 'Why not?' and carry on."

Thank you, Sybil!