It's been a bit quiet on here of late. I've been having a big think about all my blogs, and where I want them to go, and I have decided to make a few changes to this one. I don't have a lot of my own creative work on here at the moment - that's partly because I'm just not getting the time to do my own thing very much (though hopefully that might change when my youngest starts school in September) and partly because I'm so shy of showing it to people - this is something which I'm going to have to get over, but in the meantime I've decided that I'm going to make this blog a little less about me - I still want to use it to share my own work when it happens, but I want to share some of my creative finds on the web, and a few more things that inspire me. Who knows I may even feel able to promote it then!
So, as you can see, the first step has been to rename it. I shall sort out the IP address at a later date when I get round to it.
Saturday 25 June 2011
Saturday 28 May 2011
Fairy Door
I loved fairies when I was a little girl, but as the mother of 2 boys I don't get to indulge those memories now. We've just come back from a few days away at Center Parcs (actually got to go without spending a fortune, since we went midweek and out of normal school holidays) and behind our villa there was of course lots of trees. One in particular caught my eye as I was sitting relaxing on the patio area - the base of the tree had a little arched hollow which looked just like a small doorway. On our last day, having some time to kill, and nothing better to do, I decided to turn it into a proper fairy doorway. If I'd had a little longer and the tools to do it, I might even have been tempted to make a more 'permanent' working door, but this gave the desired effect. I like to think that the next inhabitants of the villa might include a small girl to 'discover' it....
Saturday 16 April 2011
Reassurance for Artists Lacking in Confidence
I've always struggled with self-confidence when it comes to my artwork - as someone said on a TV programme I watched last night, showing it makes me feel a little as though I'm standing naked on a podium and inviting comment.
However I recently came across this hugely reassuring blog article during my browsing. Entitled 'How to Steal Like an Artist (and 9 other things nobody told me)' I found it hugely reassuring. I suppose it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or feel myself, but it feels so good to have those 'personal' feelings validated by someone else, even though I know that shouldn't be necessary!
The very first point he makes is that there is nothing new under the sun (I hadn't realised that this phrase, which I use quite a lot, is actually biblical - from Ecclesiastes apparently). Even what appear to be the most original ideas are based (subconsiously or not) on someone else's work. You take what you want or need and assimilate and adapt, and make it your own. As he puts it 'the artist is a collector'.
I also appreciated his second point: 'Don't wait until you know who you are to make things' - his point is that the process of creation will help you to know who you are, and if you sit around waiting for it to happen, it won't happen. This reminded me of another quote I came across recently (I think it was from Picasso) which said that inspiration will find you, but that it has to find you busy.
He also talks about something called 'imposter syndrome' - I hadn't come across this before, though apparently it's pretty common in educated people. He describes it thus: 'It means you feel like a phony, like you're just winging it, that you really don't have any ideas what you're doing'. His response to this is that none of us do - so you should just get on with it, do what you have to/want to, and 'fake it 'til you make it'.
There's lots more useful stuff in his article, but in the final point he states that 'you must embrace your limitations and keep moving' - and that 'devoting yourself to something means shutting out other things'. I've always fought with this, so it's good to be reminded about it. Although that's not to say that single-minded devotion is required, as he also quick to point out.
As someone who has always struggled to see my personal work as worthwhile, or 'good enough', these are all things that I needed to read. I thought I'd share them here in case someone else might find them useful, and also so I would have them here as a handy reminder to myself. Anyway, I can heartily reccommend the article if you want to check it out for yourself.
However I recently came across this hugely reassuring blog article during my browsing. Entitled 'How to Steal Like an Artist (and 9 other things nobody told me)' I found it hugely reassuring. I suppose it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or feel myself, but it feels so good to have those 'personal' feelings validated by someone else, even though I know that shouldn't be necessary!
The very first point he makes is that there is nothing new under the sun (I hadn't realised that this phrase, which I use quite a lot, is actually biblical - from Ecclesiastes apparently). Even what appear to be the most original ideas are based (subconsiously or not) on someone else's work. You take what you want or need and assimilate and adapt, and make it your own. As he puts it 'the artist is a collector'.
I also appreciated his second point: 'Don't wait until you know who you are to make things' - his point is that the process of creation will help you to know who you are, and if you sit around waiting for it to happen, it won't happen. This reminded me of another quote I came across recently (I think it was from Picasso) which said that inspiration will find you, but that it has to find you busy.
He also talks about something called 'imposter syndrome' - I hadn't come across this before, though apparently it's pretty common in educated people. He describes it thus: 'It means you feel like a phony, like you're just winging it, that you really don't have any ideas what you're doing'. His response to this is that none of us do - so you should just get on with it, do what you have to/want to, and 'fake it 'til you make it'.
There's lots more useful stuff in his article, but in the final point he states that 'you must embrace your limitations and keep moving' - and that 'devoting yourself to something means shutting out other things'. I've always fought with this, so it's good to be reminded about it. Although that's not to say that single-minded devotion is required, as he also quick to point out.
As someone who has always struggled to see my personal work as worthwhile, or 'good enough', these are all things that I needed to read. I thought I'd share them here in case someone else might find them useful, and also so I would have them here as a handy reminder to myself. Anyway, I can heartily reccommend the article if you want to check it out for yourself.
Friday 8 April 2011
Spring Inspiration
The beautiful sunshine has inspired me to grab my camera and take a few shots - I knew what I wanted - a springtime shot by the river (I'm planning to do 4 at the same spot, representing the seasons, and already have a winter one) and another of a tree in blossom. I'm fairly happy with these - I especially like the atmospheric mistiness of the first one, and I always love to see the light shining through trees and flowers. I plan to use the images in some mixed media artwork, though at the moment I'm not sure when I'll find time to do it - too little time too much to do!
Wednesday 16 March 2011
The Gallery: Icy Branches
I've always been inspired by trees - I think my favourites are beech, oak, silver birch and willow, but I'm really not fussy. I live in an area of lots of tree-lined roads with large mature trees all around and I often rush out with my camera having spotted something on my way home (effects of light through the trees especially) that I want to capture. I'm keen now to start developing something from some of these photographs, and have been experimenting so far with mixed media. I'm itching to do more...
In the meantime I thought I'd include one of those photographs I dashed out to take a month or two ago in the snow. I think I should have tweaked the depth of field because the focus is a bit dodgy, but I'm ashamed to say that I tend to be lazy and hardly ever switch the camera to manual.
Those cold sparkly days which make the branches of the trees look like lace are just so beautiful.
(This post was prompted by The Gallery: Trees over at Sticky Fingers)
Sunday 13 March 2011
Progress Report
It's been rather quiet on here lately - I've not forgotten about this blog, rather I've not had a great deal of time for personal creative projects. Everything I've been doing has been business related. I've got 6 new products in the pipeline, I'm trying to re-do my website myself to enable it for e-commerce, and also set up on a new selling site, not to mention maintain the existing outlets. There's also been a sudden flurry of orders to fulfil. And because I rather let things slide in the house (too busy doing artwork) over the winter, and we want to get it back on the market soon, there's a lot of spring cleaning to do. The knitting is progressing (slowly) and I'm enjoying that - I always found knitting relaxing - and I've also discovered a new addiction - Pinterest.
It's strange, when it comes to social networking, I find that I love blogging, but have no real interest in Facebook and Twitter - my presence on them both is largely for business reasons. I wish I could get into them a bit more, but they don't really interest me. But Pinterest is an entirely different story. I found it when I was deliberately searching for a virtual pinboard facility which I thought would be useful to save images I came across and wanted to use as reference material etc. I found Pinterest mentioned on someone's blog, and requested an invitation, since it's still in Beta. I'm so glad I did, because although still a little flaky at times (I don't think they're quite able to cope with the demand yet) I love it. The site is a very creative one. I love the fact that it's not all about shopping and fashion (there is some of that on there, but not too much) there are lots of creative people pinning fantastic projects, artwork, quirky items, sayings, views, ideas... the list goes on. I suppose it appeals to me because I'm largely visually orientated, but you can click through to the source of the image and I've discovered some fantastic inspirational sites that way. If you're not already on there take a look.
As part of getting the house ready for viewings, and spring cleaning, I've also been trying to improve our storage - a trip to Ikea was in order, and I came back with lots of underbed storage, shelves, etc. which I've had to put together myself (sigh). But while there I also invested in a small A2 size plan chest (with any luck if these sell well for Ikea they'll introduce a larger version - plan chests are so expensive, yet essential in any art studio - my portfolios are bulging, and everything gets creased and dog eared.) And a small desk for just £10 to use in the kitchen so that I can do some art projects in there - I have found that taking 20 or 30 minutes while I'm in the kitchen cooking or whatever, means that I can actually make some progress, and life is a little less frustrating, than always waiting for a couple of free hours which never seem to arrive. It also means that I don't have to clutter up kitchen work surfaces all the time. Who knows I might even share it with the kids! The picture below shows the new set up including a new art storage system, also from Ikea - the lower drawers have the kids art materials in there, the top ones my own - just a few from my collection that I'm using on current projects. I'm very pleased with it all so far. I'm tempted to add an inspirational notice-board above the desk, but that might be taking over the kitchen too much!
My next project is to tackle the studio/office/gym. My husband is keen to have a rowing machine, but what with my printer and all the office furniture and the existing cross-trainer I can't see how it would work. Another trip to Ikea and a major make-over is needed, but is probably not worth it if we hope to sell.
It's strange, when it comes to social networking, I find that I love blogging, but have no real interest in Facebook and Twitter - my presence on them both is largely for business reasons. I wish I could get into them a bit more, but they don't really interest me. But Pinterest is an entirely different story. I found it when I was deliberately searching for a virtual pinboard facility which I thought would be useful to save images I came across and wanted to use as reference material etc. I found Pinterest mentioned on someone's blog, and requested an invitation, since it's still in Beta. I'm so glad I did, because although still a little flaky at times (I don't think they're quite able to cope with the demand yet) I love it. The site is a very creative one. I love the fact that it's not all about shopping and fashion (there is some of that on there, but not too much) there are lots of creative people pinning fantastic projects, artwork, quirky items, sayings, views, ideas... the list goes on. I suppose it appeals to me because I'm largely visually orientated, but you can click through to the source of the image and I've discovered some fantastic inspirational sites that way. If you're not already on there take a look.
As part of getting the house ready for viewings, and spring cleaning, I've also been trying to improve our storage - a trip to Ikea was in order, and I came back with lots of underbed storage, shelves, etc. which I've had to put together myself (sigh). But while there I also invested in a small A2 size plan chest (with any luck if these sell well for Ikea they'll introduce a larger version - plan chests are so expensive, yet essential in any art studio - my portfolios are bulging, and everything gets creased and dog eared.) And a small desk for just £10 to use in the kitchen so that I can do some art projects in there - I have found that taking 20 or 30 minutes while I'm in the kitchen cooking or whatever, means that I can actually make some progress, and life is a little less frustrating, than always waiting for a couple of free hours which never seem to arrive. It also means that I don't have to clutter up kitchen work surfaces all the time. Who knows I might even share it with the kids! The picture below shows the new set up including a new art storage system, also from Ikea - the lower drawers have the kids art materials in there, the top ones my own - just a few from my collection that I'm using on current projects. I'm very pleased with it all so far. I'm tempted to add an inspirational notice-board above the desk, but that might be taking over the kitchen too much!
My next project is to tackle the studio/office/gym. My husband is keen to have a rowing machine, but what with my printer and all the office furniture and the existing cross-trainer I can't see how it would work. Another trip to Ikea and a major make-over is needed, but is probably not worth it if we hope to sell.
Friday 4 February 2011
Inspired to Knit Again
I always enjoyed knitting - it's therapeutic, creative, and can be fairly mindless, allowing you to listen, chat, or watch something at the same time. I was first taught to knit by my mum when I was 4 or 5 years old, so that by the time I was 12, I was knitting my own fair isle and aran jumpers. At the age of 14, I learned hand-spinning, and at 16 got my own spinning wheel and started creating my own yarns to hand-dye and then knit. I carried on knitting and spinning regularly until I was about 30, and then for some reason stopped. Wool shops were closing, and getting hold of beatiful wools and knitting patterns had got harder (with the notable exception of Rowan). I finally sold my spinning wheel about 10 years ago and it's a long time since I did any knitting. But knitting has become fashionable again, wool shops are opening everywhere and there are now gorgeous wools and patterns being created. So I have been tempted to dust off my knitting needles once more.
The reason behind it all - I came across a pattern for a gorgeous cardigan on ravelry.com, via another site, so I found a suitable yarn (a gorgeous pure wool/lambswool mix - the photograph doesn't do it justice), and I'm now ready to get going again. The last piece of knitting which I started (a shawl for my expected baby) was never finished, and still sits reproachfully in my knitting bag, stuffed in a cupboard - maybe I'll use the wool for something else now. The cardigan I'm about to knit is a large snuggly one, so there's a huge pile of wool, and goodness knows how long it'll take me to knit, so lets hope the enthusiasm lasts!
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