Borrowed from the Mad About Molds newsletter:
Here are the top 10 signs YOU might need an Artist Retreat Day.
1. You feel resentful about the success that other artists are enjoying.
2. You can't remember the last time you created something new.
3. You're bubbling over with new ideas and haven't had the time to develop any of them.
4. You've been staring at the same unfinished piece for longer than you can remember or care to admit.
5. You want to learn or improve a specific skill.
6. You have an approaching deadline for a contest entry, gallery submission or festival application.
7. You made a New Year's resolution about making more time for your creative work.
8. You feel like your flow of creativity is blocked.
9. You start to work on your creative projects but end up distracted by everyday life.
10. You always put yourself and your creativity LAST on the to do list.
(c)Linda Dessau 2005
Check out Linda's site here!
Sound familiar?
A couple of years ago I was scheduled to go to a weekend polymer clay retreat with the guild I belong to, but my car went on the fritz at the very last minute. At first I was just devastated, because I'd so been looking forward to the experience, but then I decided there was no reason why I couldn't just do the same thing at home. So for 3 days I mostly hung around in my jammies playing in clay, learning new things and polishing existing skills. It was a terrific weekend, and I have no excuse why I have not regularly repeated it. Come to think of it, I think that's what I'm going to do right now: sit down with my calendar and schedule some retreat time.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Ack! Or, the moment of indecision
My worst moment in any art project is always the point of the "am I done/have I gone too far." 
All she is at this point, really, is a primed canvas. She is structurally complete and nice to look at and if I wanted to, I could stop here, although that wouldn't really say much.
So now, here she is in all her freaky glory. Is it too much? Is it just wrong? I'm the worst possible judge.
At worst I can still take the hair out (not glued in, YET) and re-cover her head and leave her bald. Help! Tell me I'm not insane.
ETA: Never mind. I love her. Somehow all it took was putting her up for the world to see, especially contrasted with the last set of pics, and DAMN she looks good. I'm really happy with how she turned out. Maybe a little *more* hair. And then all I have to do is paint and seal the bottom.
All she is at this point, really, is a primed canvas. She is structurally complete and nice to look at and if I wanted to, I could stop here, although that wouldn't really say much.
So now, here she is in all her freaky glory. Is it too much? Is it just wrong? I'm the worst possible judge.
At worst I can still take the hair out (not glued in, YET) and re-cover her head and leave her bald. Help! Tell me I'm not insane.
ETA: Never mind. I love her. Somehow all it took was putting her up for the world to see, especially contrasted with the last set of pics, and DAMN she looks good. I'm really happy with how she turned out. Maybe a little *more* hair. And then all I have to do is paint and seal the bottom.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My sister made me do it.
My sister, the illustrious KatDoc, periodically abuses me because I do not post more pictures. She asserts that this is the point of The Blog. I tell her "different strokes for different folks" but she kind of has a point.
To wit:
This is the latest in my Theapoesis "series" (this makes me laugh. It's an inside joke, don't worry if you don't get it.) It's a piece I'm making because I've been asked to donate something to the silent auction for Freedom of Choice Ohio's annual Roe vs. Wade commemorative event. Unfortunately, I'm at the point where I have to decide what direction to take her, and I'm sort of stuck. Either rustic-y/ancient-y, sleek and modern, or dark and odd. Or some combination of the above. Oh, and by the way, the event's on the 31st. :}
She started her life as some sort of fashion doll, not a Barbie but I couldn't tell you who she was (nice strong square face instead of the usual Barbie heart-shaped one, which is what drew me to her.)
Her "skirt"/obelisk base is cardboard overlaid with paperclay, which will in turn (probably) be covered with unryu (mulberry tissue).
To wit:
This is the latest in my Theapoesis "series" (this makes me laugh. It's an inside joke, don't worry if you don't get it.) It's a piece I'm making because I've been asked to donate something to the silent auction for Freedom of Choice Ohio's annual Roe vs. Wade commemorative event. Unfortunately, I'm at the point where I have to decide what direction to take her, and I'm sort of stuck. Either rustic-y/ancient-y, sleek and modern, or dark and odd. Or some combination of the above. Oh, and by the way, the event's on the 31st. :}
She started her life as some sort of fashion doll, not a Barbie but I couldn't tell you who she was (nice strong square face instead of the usual Barbie heart-shaped one, which is what drew me to her.)
Her "skirt"/obelisk base is cardboard overlaid with paperclay, which will in turn (probably) be covered with unryu (mulberry tissue).
Friday, January 11, 2008
PMC class results
Here's my most excellent first creations in precious metal clay (click on picture for a slightly better view*):
The nautilus at the top is the best, IMHO. I forgot to put a hole in the other shell before it was fired, so if I want to use it as a pendant I'll have to drill it with my Dremel. The round, heavily textured piece doesn't show up too well, but is very pretty. The other two little ones are faces - the one on the left was too thick, didn't get completely dried out before I fired it, and "popped" when the little speck of water boiled (it doesn't show up well on the scan because it's being propped up by the little exploded place on the back.) It's still going to be cool for some project. The second face came out sort of rough, because the clay had gotten a little too dry to work with, so I dampened my hands to give some more moisture to the clay, and when it was fired the surface was sort of pitted. Oh, well, it looks pretty cool anyway.
Yay! It was fun, I got to play in mud *and* set things on fire!
*OH! HAY! If you click on the picture, then click again, then click AGAIN with the little magnifying glass, you get a pretty good look at them!
The nautilus at the top is the best, IMHO. I forgot to put a hole in the other shell before it was fired, so if I want to use it as a pendant I'll have to drill it with my Dremel. The round, heavily textured piece doesn't show up too well, but is very pretty. The other two little ones are faces - the one on the left was too thick, didn't get completely dried out before I fired it, and "popped" when the little speck of water boiled (it doesn't show up well on the scan because it's being propped up by the little exploded place on the back.) It's still going to be cool for some project. The second face came out sort of rough, because the clay had gotten a little too dry to work with, so I dampened my hands to give some more moisture to the clay, and when it was fired the surface was sort of pitted. Oh, well, it looks pretty cool anyway.
Yay! It was fun, I got to play in mud *and* set things on fire!
*OH! HAY! If you click on the picture, then click again, then click AGAIN with the little magnifying glass, you get a pretty good look at them!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
It's a new year
Ugh. So much for my intention to regularly post here about my art endeavors. Oh, well, we can only go forward, n'est-ce pas?
Things I am doing in 2008 for my artistic health:
1) Taking my first PMC class next Weds. Several months ago I was at a bead store's customer sale (where customers set up to sell their unwanted beads/supplies) and scored a PMC hot pot kit and a gob of supplies for $25! (I know! it made me squeal like a teenager!) The same store also offers classes, so rather than start fooling around with the stuff and making a hash of it I'm going to FIRST take a class. And my friend MC is coming with, which is always fun. I know, I know, I always swear I don't need YET ANOTHER MEDIUM TO GET INVOLVED IN because there are always more supplies and tools and ways to spend my money, but hey, many of the tools and supplies and skills I already have from polymer clay and other media will transfer nicely, thank you very much, and besides, $25 freaking dollars, people! That's about 1/4 of what the kit and supplies are worth retail.
See?! I can rationalize with the best of them.
2) Going to my first meeting of (and possibly joining) the local art dolls group. I had previously thought that they were only a fabric doll group (which is not my thing a-tall), but after corresponding with the person who runs their website it seems they do lots of different things. The activity after the meeting this month is image transfer, which I have done in a couple of different ways but it's always good to practice and learn more approaches. My only concern is that the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. and the activity starts at 1:00 p.m. - PLEASE don't tell me that their meetings are 2.5 hours long?!?!?! Maybe they take a lunch break before the activity. Maybe I should email Cyndi and ask her :).
3) Taking a class on using Shiva PaintStiks on fabric - stenciling, using rubbing plates, etc. I want to start using more fabric in my work and any time I can take plain inexpensive fabric and customize it that's a good thing.
4) Reading and working through Sark's Make Your Creative Dreams REAL: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day. I have discovered that much of my procrastination/avoidance is perfectionism gone awry. I get so overwhelmed by the prospect of having to do everything right - and right the first time - that I do nothing. Which means the things that aren't getting done pile up, which makes me more overwhelmed... None of this is conscious, of course, but the fact that I'm unaware I'm doing it doesn't make it less of a problem. SARK may be a little too cheesy/magical thinking/New Agey for a lot of people, but she's walking her talk, and her books are a joy for me to read. If you can read one of SARK's books without a big smile on your face through most of it, I would suspect you need a heart transplant. Or a big ol' squooshy hug.
On a less resolution-y note, I got Jane Wynn's Altered Curiosities for Xmas and am nearly giddy over it. I have gotten to the point where I HATE project books, because so much of the time they tend to gloss over the process in favor of the outcome, and I'd much rather learn new techniques and then apply them to my own stuff. Jane has achieved a lovely balance - starting with a raft of diverse techniques (resin, metalworking, reworking little plastic doo-dads) and then applying them to a handful of projects that are easily adaptable to your own choices. The best part, IMHO, is the section where she talks about the process of working out *your own personal symbology* and how important that is to making art that is truly yours. I've had the book out of the library for a couple of months already, so getting my own copy was an excellent score. Of course there were a few questions I had, so I looked up her website and emailed her - got an awesomely gracious note in return and answers to my questions. I'm finding that people are extraordinarily generous with their knowledge and experience - hopefully some day I'll be able to return the favor.
Things I am doing in 2008 for my artistic health:
1) Taking my first PMC class next Weds. Several months ago I was at a bead store's customer sale (where customers set up to sell their unwanted beads/supplies) and scored a PMC hot pot kit and a gob of supplies for $25! (I know! it made me squeal like a teenager!) The same store also offers classes, so rather than start fooling around with the stuff and making a hash of it I'm going to FIRST take a class. And my friend MC is coming with, which is always fun. I know, I know, I always swear I don't need YET ANOTHER MEDIUM TO GET INVOLVED IN because there are always more supplies and tools and ways to spend my money, but hey, many of the tools and supplies and skills I already have from polymer clay and other media will transfer nicely, thank you very much, and besides, $25 freaking dollars, people! That's about 1/4 of what the kit and supplies are worth retail.
See?! I can rationalize with the best of them.
2) Going to my first meeting of (and possibly joining) the local art dolls group. I had previously thought that they were only a fabric doll group (which is not my thing a-tall), but after corresponding with the person who runs their website it seems they do lots of different things. The activity after the meeting this month is image transfer, which I have done in a couple of different ways but it's always good to practice and learn more approaches. My only concern is that the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. and the activity starts at 1:00 p.m. - PLEASE don't tell me that their meetings are 2.5 hours long?!?!?! Maybe they take a lunch break before the activity. Maybe I should email Cyndi and ask her :).
3) Taking a class on using Shiva PaintStiks on fabric - stenciling, using rubbing plates, etc. I want to start using more fabric in my work and any time I can take plain inexpensive fabric and customize it that's a good thing.
4) Reading and working through Sark's Make Your Creative Dreams REAL: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day. I have discovered that much of my procrastination/avoidance is perfectionism gone awry. I get so overwhelmed by the prospect of having to do everything right - and right the first time - that I do nothing. Which means the things that aren't getting done pile up, which makes me more overwhelmed... None of this is conscious, of course, but the fact that I'm unaware I'm doing it doesn't make it less of a problem. SARK may be a little too cheesy/magical thinking/New Agey for a lot of people, but she's walking her talk, and her books are a joy for me to read. If you can read one of SARK's books without a big smile on your face through most of it, I would suspect you need a heart transplant. Or a big ol' squooshy hug.
On a less resolution-y note, I got Jane Wynn's Altered Curiosities for Xmas and am nearly giddy over it. I have gotten to the point where I HATE project books, because so much of the time they tend to gloss over the process in favor of the outcome, and I'd much rather learn new techniques and then apply them to my own stuff. Jane has achieved a lovely balance - starting with a raft of diverse techniques (resin, metalworking, reworking little plastic doo-dads) and then applying them to a handful of projects that are easily adaptable to your own choices. The best part, IMHO, is the section where she talks about the process of working out *your own personal symbology* and how important that is to making art that is truly yours. I've had the book out of the library for a couple of months already, so getting my own copy was an excellent score. Of course there were a few questions I had, so I looked up her website and emailed her - got an awesomely gracious note in return and answers to my questions. I'm finding that people are extraordinarily generous with their knowledge and experience - hopefully some day I'll be able to return the favor.
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