A little artists blog hop action to inspire.... and connect cool people!
A couple of days ago I was nominated by a new lovely friend, Maz Hawes (please check her out because she is AMAZING) to take part in an artist’s blog-hop. I had NO idea about blog hopping, but now I do.....A blog hop is where one writes a post that is based on a few standard questions (in this case to share one’s own creative practice). It also is a way to introduce and learn about other artists and their blogs. I will be introducing the artist that nominated me as well as three other artists nominated by me (and those artists will in turn do the same). It is a great way to connect with other artists and to learn about their creative process. It excites me because one of my passions in life is bringing like-minded people together. This is the perfect way to do that across many miles and cyber space.
First of all, I love my new friend Maz, the minute I saw her work in an online art journaling group (A Stand for Art Journaling, created by the amazing Orly Avineri), I was captivated. TRULY captivated. I am so happy to be connected with her and to be able to be inspired by her creative bravery and authenticity through our (albeit virtual) connection. I hope to travel across the seas one day and meet in person!
I am nominating another brave artist from across the pond, Tara Leaver. I came across her work online, and find her entire vibe and philosophy quite entrancing (I'm not sure if that is even a word, but its perfect for how I felt when I saw Tara's work). She is also a crusader for the healing powers of art, and that just makes me downright happy. Please check out her work and read her lovely musings on her blog ASAP! There are two more amazing souls that I am nominating, but I haven't heard back from them yet. As soon as I do they will be added here!
Here are the questions:
How does my creative process work?
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
What am I working on now?
Why do I do what I do?
How does my creative process work?
I have been keeping art journals for over 15 years. My creative process centers around that practice. My journals are like old friends.
For me, art journaling is a spontaneous and intuitive practice....a form of meditation. Sometimes I set intentions and treat the process very ritualistically and intentionally, and others I just grab a pen or brush and lay something down as I pass my art table. Either way, whatever needs to come out does, and it usually clears the space for even more creativity and healing. I will typically either start each page (or spread) with a written prayer or a stream of consciousness release. These words rarely end up being an obvious part of the page, but rather a layer. If they are visible, one can rarely glean their meaning. They can be secret messages or mindless ramblings, but they hold the page together with their layers, texture, and energetic offerings. I rarely make a page without words as an ingredient; mingling them with paint, texture and marks allows for what I feel is very potent expression. A very important part of my practice is to stay present and not judge what is coming out (a simple idea, but not easy AT all most of the time). There are days when I make “mud”, and days when what evolves ends up being beautiful and pleasing. Both are valuable, but to value one over the other is dangerous for me, because just as all of my emotions are essential, so is every facet of my creative expression.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My work differs from others' work because it is mine. I know that sounds trite, but it really is so true. Just as I remind my students all of the time, I must remind myself that I have a unique voice, and the more I can listen and pay attention to that, the more my individual style and offerings will emerge and grow. I am not saying that it is easy to be true to that, because I can certainly get caught up in comparison, or imposters’ syndrome or feelings of unworthiness. I am also not saying that I am not inspired or influenced by other artists work. I bow down to other artists and revel in their talent all the time. It inspires me to no end, and I take it all in and let it percolate so that it can inform my own unique practice (on that note, if you haven't already, you must read Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon...BRILLIANT). My mentors and friends push me to be true to myself by watching them do the same. I am ever grateful for the existence of all of the warrior artists in my life. That being said, one thing that I feel may be different about my work from some other mixed media artists is that it is always centered around my emotional growth and the processing of my life experiences. I rarely come to the page with an intention or an idea of what I am going to make, but rather allow the universal creative life force move through me and take me exactly where I need to go in any given moment for the highest good. I find that the highest good usually translates into my own healing so that I can go forth from a grounded place and share that healing with others...which is really at the core of my life's mission.
What am I working on now?
I am working on a body of work that stems from my journaling practice, but will be displayed publicly and presented in a very different and more polished way than ever before. I have never consciously created a body of work for a gallery or any other purpose. It has always terrified me to show my art publicly because it is so intimate and personal. My work has always remained contained in the safe harbor of my trusty journals, and has only been shared with my family, students and friends. I was recently invited to do a show at my dear friend’s gallery, and instead of completely freaking out when she asked, I choked back the feeling that I would vomit and said “YES”! I am currently creating pieces for this show. They are mixed media pieces on paper that are mounted on wood. The theme is “following a thread”. This is a little sneak peek at some trial pieces.....
I am also working on my new website which will include a blog (this one) about my creative practice, art journaling resources and classes and will also be home to my portrait photography business, Woods Photography. There is another rather huge and exciting community project underway which is still a secret....so stay tuned for that! :-)
Why do I do what I do?
As I say in my bio, art (my creative practice) came into my life both as a gift and salvation. Learning to tap into my innate creativity through art journaling has helped me to navigate some dark times. It continues to be a grounding force in my life’s journey. I create because it is as important to my well being as eating well, sleeping, exercise and prayer. I strongly believe that creating art heals me on a deep level, and I strive to honor that gift by sharing my understanding of creativity as a healing tool with my students and clients.
