Starting the year somewhat organized

Over the past few weeks, my studio has become a collection spot. My work table was full of magazines, collage papers, cereal boxes I wanted to reuse and SO MUCH MORE. As I walked in this morning, I decided it was time for a quick tidy. At the last minute I turned the camera on, even though I was still in my jammies.

Want to know even more about my studio organization system? Check out my Arty Gang on Teachable where I share behind-the-scene peeks as well as videos to inspire your creativity.

My one word for 2024

I am looking forward to 2024 and all that I have planned. One of the practices I have had for many years now is selecting a word of the year. Ali Edwards was the first one I heard talking about this practice. Her One Little Word was such a novelty for me back then. It helped me move from “New Years Resolutions” to setting intentions for my year.

Over the years, some of my words have been create, focus, action, consistent and determined. Each one served a purpose and had varying levels of success. When I am searching for a word, I want a word that can apply to all areas I have intentions for…business, home, relationships, health.

This year as I sat down, I thought about what word I felt that I needed this year. I usually start in November just jotting down words as they come to me. This year my list includes: enough, consistent, progress, persist, focus, daring, discipline, intentional, resolute, break-through and change. I don’t have a hard and fast rule about not repeating words, so I contemplated “consistent”. This was my 2023 word and my success was not great this year. As I sat with the word, it didn’t feel right for my 2024 intentions.

Over the next few weeks, I would re-visit the list. Each time I would make a mark next to the word that stood out to me. As we are approaching the end of the year, I can see that I have one word that is winning the race.

Have you selected your word for 2024?

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The many chapters of creativity

I have been creative my whole life, but I have been through many chapters. When I was a kid, I didn’t even know that it was a chapter. I just did what I enjoyed. I learned to draw horses from my dad, made puppets, tried to crochet. In college I created out of necessity. My first Christmas at college, I had no money for presents. I went to the craft store, bought a few small cross stitch kits and made those for presents. In my 20’s I started my first creative business, making crafts and selling them. Then in my late 30’s I found mixed media. Each of these chapters has been in a different location, at a different age and for a different purpose. The one constant is me feeling the most like myself when I am creating something.

This latest chapter started when my son was little. I was a new-ish mom and wanted to get back to doing something for me. I found out about a class on lettering and doodling about an hour from me. That class was a big turning point for me. I had spent a few years really focused on my family, but this class reminded me how much I loved creating. So many of us give to everyone else around us, but neglect ourselves. I decided that I would be a better mom, wife, human if I made time for my creativity. I started with a few supplies and allowed myself time at night after everyone was in bed. Over the years the amount of time and number of supplies has multiplied. When my creativity became a business again, my purpose split….better human and sharing my art with others.

As I look forward, I see a new chapter coming. My son has two years left in high school and then will be moving into his next chapter. About the same time, we are hoping my husband can retire and then we will be moving. Will my next chapter be the same, just in a new location, or is there another metamorphosis coming. Who knows, but I do know that creativity will be with me wherever I am.

Creating on purpose

One of my big goals this year is to create more intentionally. In past years I have created alot, but I have also followed alot of “sparkly squirrels”…either new projects, new supplies or a technique I just had to try RIGHT NOW. I spent time skipping around, leaving unfinished projects in my path. By being more intentional, I have been able to focus more on a specific project and work through the full scope of a creative thought. This has made me feel more accomplished and it has expanded my creative knowledge.

Artists have a unique ability to tap into our creativity, but this can sometimes be a challenge. By removing obstacles, we can be more inspired and enjoy the process more.

How to create intentionally

• Create a list of 10 projects or techniques you would like to work on this month.

• Make a pile or list of unfinished projects you want to complete.

• Create a list of creative techniques you want to experiment with.

• Make a list of online art classes you want to start/finish/make progress on.

Once you have a list:

• Pick one of the above that you want to dedicate some time to. That can be a weekend, a week, a month.

• Clear your art space of any supplies that you don’t need for that project. Want to play with watercolors? Then you don’t need your acrylic paints or collage bin. Having a focused space helps me stay focused.

• Set time for your creativity. Schedule it just like you would any other appointment. Maybe you could add 15 minutes in the morning while you drink your coffee. Or maybe Saturday morning is free.

• Keep yourself focused. If you find yourself pulling out other supplies, no need to scold yourself. Just put them back and get back to playing.

• If you find that you aren’t enjoying the project you picked, no big deal. Pack up those supplies and start the process over with another project.

What exactly is abstract?

Ten years ago if you asked me what an abstract was, I would have mentioned Picasso or Jackson Pollack. I didn’t think that would be anything I would ever want to pursue. It made no sense to me.

I even remember my first ever watercolor class. It was with someone I was told was a famous landscape artist. His paintings were exactly what I thought I should paint….rolling fields. forests, mountains. I had never been to an art class before, but a friend had convinced me to go. She had taken several classes with him and told me how much she had learned. Perfect! I was living in a new state with only a few friends, so let’s go!

On day three of this workshop, we were working on coloring some bushes in a landscape piece. I had gained some confidence over the past few days and was feeling pretty good about this piece. As I added some intense pink to indicate the bougainvillea I saw in the reference photo, the instructor stopped behind me shoulder. He said “Oh, I see you like abstracts” and I could tell that was not a worthy goal to him. He then proceeded to grab the brush from my hand, “fixed” my abstract flowers, then said “Better” and walked away. Now if someone did that they would have to wrestle the brush from my hand, but this was my first foray into art. He was the instructor, so he must know better.

So what exactly is an abstract?

The definition I have applied to my work is “the absence of detail”. A more schooled definition is “having only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation.” I think of my art as abstracted reality…you know it’s a flower, but there is very little detail to tell you specifically what kind of flower.

Of course, this is my definition. I don’t believe in hard and fast rules regarding art, so make up your own definition. It makes no difference what you call it. Abstract can mean anything you want it to be and that can change over time.

“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see physically with his eyes.””

— Arshile Gorky

What is holding you back?

Confidence may not be the first thing you think of in relation to creativity, but it is essential to creative exploration and practice.

Confidence is one part of creativity that often is ignored.

The thoughts we have can affect our confidence in all things, not just creativity. How many times have you thought things like “I’m not any good at this”, “I’ll never be able to paint like <that person>”, “Why do I even try”? Your mind believes what you say.

Creative confidence comes with practice, just like many other skills. The more things you try, the more confident you become.

How can we nurture our creative confidence? Here are some tips….

• New experiences allow new ideas. Take yourself on an artist date. See, do, try something new.

• Stop the scroll. Instagram and Pinterest are great for collecting inspiration, but there is a time that you just need to stop looking. You have your inspiration, so now is the time to create.

• Lower your expectations. Allow yourself to just play with no predicted outcome.

• Use positive “I am” statements. Remember your brain believes what you say, so say good things. I have a post-it on my wall that says “I am a brilliant and successful artist”. Add some reminders to your creative space.

• Socialize. Find a group of artists to hang out with. Groups can boost your confidence by sharing ideas and realizing that everyone has the same insecurities.

• Know where you fit in. Find the right places for your art if you are sharing it. There is an audience for every kind of art, you just have to find them.

“A failure is only a failure if nothing is learned from it.”

— Dr. Alan Zimmerman

Let’s celebrate some women

I am always shocked when I hear how few female artists are represented in museums. Depending on whose numbers you look at, it is somewhere between 11% and 18%. Both numbers are upsetting considered about 46% of artists identify as female. That is alot of underrepresentation. I don’t have the answers to how this can change, but I do know that being more educated on female artists is one step.

So, let me introduce our first special guest…

Artemissia Gentileschi was born in 1593 in Florence, Italy.

At a time when it was unusual for a woman to be an artist, she not only painted but took on the patriarchal society. During her teen years, she was raped by her art mentor. Although she demanded a trial and testified, he was given a menial sentence that was never enforced. Artemisia took this outrage to her art.

She is most known for her interpretation of Susanna and the Elders. She painted the artwork to represent Susanna’s experience of two older men leering at her. This was the first time that sexual predation was presented from the viewpoint of the victim. She made a statement with that artwork, resistance to sexual attacks was legitimate. This seems like a small point in modern day, but look at this through the eyes of the 1600’s.

Artemisia was one of the first known women to have a successful career as a painter, a rarity when most women did not have a vocation outside of her home. At one point she was given the decision to be a nun or study under her father as an artist.

She is now known for her technical skill, especially her use of lights and darks. She was a master at chiaroscuro (a heightened relationship of light and dark). You can see this skill in the artwork here. She uses the light to make the woman the center of attention. Everything else seems to sink into the background and we are drawn into this woman’s life. She was also known to paint villains and demons to look like the man who raped her. Considering the times she lived in, it is amazing that she was able to continue painting.

Thank you to Artemisia for standing up to societal norms at the time.

50 before 50

I recently revealed on Instagram that I have given myself the goal of completing 50 paintings before I turn 50. I am obsessed with the fact about Picasso making 50,000 paintings in his lifetime. I started a little late to meet that goal, but I can set a smaller goal for myself.

My challenge’s only restriction is that a “finished painting” is something I would consider selling. I will be working on various substrates, many sizes and mediums.

I will keep you updated here on my progress, but also consider following me on Instagram and following my hashtags #50before50challenge and #50before50.