Illustration- Always learning

I have signed up several times for Lilla Rogers Mats Bootcamp class. I really enjoy it because it encourages and challenges me to create images I definitely would not do on my own and sometimes like recently gives me the opportunity to learn about something or someone new to me. This last assignment was to draw a portrait of a woman from the Suffragist Movement. Mine was Carrie Chapmann Catt who I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know about which is crazy because she was awesome and is one of the main efforts behind the 19th amendment which gave women the RIGHT to VOTE. Reading about her was truly inspiring.She also had some amazing quotes "Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture of life." and "Roll up your sleeves, set your mind to making history, and wage such a fight for liberty that the whole world will respect our sex." Thank you Carrie Chapman Catt for all you did. WOW!

3 inspirations

1. Love podcasts and I have been recently listening to this one.
 https://onbeing.org/ 
Just listened to this one with Sylvia Earle.
https://onbeing.org/programs/sylvia-earle-her-deepness-feb2018

She made me want to learn how to go diving and or atleast draw some creatures from the deep ocean.Her story is inspiring and her passion for the ocean deeply apparent.

Sylvia Earle: That’s the joy of being a scientist and explorer. You do what little children do. You ask questions like: Who? What? Why? When? Where? How? [laughs] And you never stop, and you never cease being surprised. It’s just impossible to be bored.

these lines felt like a poem that flowed out of her-
"But the flash and sparkle and glow of bioluminescent creatures. There were corals that just grow in a single stretch, no branches, like giant bedsprings, from the ocean floor. And when I touched them, little rings of blue fire pulsed all the way down, from where I touched to the base of these spiraling creatures."

2. This movie- Maudie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3721954/ 

3. This illustrated book I bought awhile ago but took it off the shelf again to be awed again.
Love these illustrations by Janice Nadeau  http://www.janicenadeau.com/books/harvey/ and the story by Herve Bouchard https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herv%C3%A9_Bouchard is a beautiful one about loss and being a child.

The What

I often make these quick marker notes on bits of scrap papers hanging around while I am working on something else. Perhaps the thing I am working on is really only a way for me to get to these notes. They are a form of leaving a path of crumbs so I know what I was thinking or feeling or understanding in a glimmer of a moment. It feels like an insight I need to hear for the present and a future me. This one is about "The What", the WHAT I am creating, the WHAT I want to create, the WHAT i feel swirl around my heart and brain trying to shape it's way into existence. I have often beat myself up, not literally, but energetically, in that I feel I don't have a defined one thing, one WHAT. My WHAT shifts and changes. It has been a re-occcuring sense of frustration that I am learning to embrace and accept and celebrate. My WHAT takes many forms. Some days it is clear My WHAT declares it's shape early, some days it feels like my WHAT is stomping through some thick knee high sludge with duck tape over it's mouth. Some days my WHAT has multiple arms gifting multiple gifts. Some days it is one, something simple like noticing the way the birds this morning took to the sky together like they had a glorious plan to surprise a tree. Some days, I have to re-discover my WHAT, sit it down on a chair, give it hands some markers and an hour or two to play with what it wants.
There is more in this WHAT attempt, more to clarify, and share, and define as I go but today this is the WHAT i got.

children's book illustration

I haven't posted or shared much about my pursuit to create children's books. I'm not really sure why. It is something I have been working on for many many many years. Did I say many, well it has been. But it is also something that I work on for months and then put away and take out again and then put away. I think it is really hard to go at it alone, to maintain momentum without an outside commitment. To think that I could write and draw picture books without the assistance and support of others was stubborn and a bit foolish. Last year I joined a writing workshop and that was incredibly helpful to receive feedback. I also really enjoyed helping others develop their stories. Sharing the process with other like minded people is essential, this I am learning again and again. I don't have to wait for some golden day to share some end point, I can share the bits and bits along the way. That is all to say that I am very grateful to have signed with a children's book agent from Red Fox literary. I look forward to collaborating and receiving the support and guidance I need to get some picture books out into the world....xoxoxo

One Minute Ink

 

These are one minute ink drawings with a found object. Pick an object, some paper, and ink, then set timer and go. I did these in the Fall but am really feeling like the first one at the moment.

 A bit of a push and pull tug of war struggle with myself.

Aaaaah. 

Shake it up

This little practice really can shift your mood, perspective, and invite new discovery. When I was in college I spent a semester in Florence. I made it a practice to walk home a new way, winding down new streets, getting lost sometimes, but always discovering and keeping my eyes fresh. I think I forgot how to do this as lately I have been very straight walking from here to there with not much wiggle room. I like to wiggle. My mind needs it sometimes. This morning in my yoga class the teacher mentioned this practice, that walking home or somewhere you often go try a new way, it helps with creativity. In hearing this I remembered and decided that today I would walk home differently. I wasn't sure which way but just something other then robot going. Well, i not only walked home a new way but that seed thought while in yoga opened up my morning not as planned.  I ended up having tea with someone unexpectedly. When I returned home my energy and mind seemed more aligned then they have in weeks. So when feeling stuck, wander off your normal routine and turn on a new street. It may just shake things up.

Drawing from Life

 

I've begun a new practice, I'm drawing from life. It feels super grounding.

I mostly draw from my imagination or play with materials , so this is different, a little scary and yet exciting. So far in the morning I do a little drawing where my starting point is focusing on an object or picture taken from life. It's a practice in both looking and seeing what is there, not how I think it should be or how I think it would look better but what actually is before me. And then also, letting it be something else, something not exact, imperfect, something my hand finds. When I was little I learned to draw in my mom's friend's basement. She had an after school art class and I didn't know it at the time but I think it was the foundation for me as an artist. We got to create still lifes from all these objects she had piled on a shelf and tons of fabric. I remember how the hour and a half flew by as I sat with colored pencils and drew petals on a flower, reflections in a glass jar, and the pattern off a fabric. I wasn't thinking about if the drawing was good or bad, my focus was on seeing. I'm forever grateful to my teacher for holding that space and giving me tools that I forgot I had.  I'm not sure how this return to drawing from life will develop or if it will influence my other art but 

I'm excited to find out.

3 inspirations

1. First book I've read in 2018 is Louis Undercover. Gobbled it up last night. Beautiful and inspiring illustrations and delightful writing. An amazing duo- Isabelle Arsenault for art and Fanny Britt as writer.

2. This is a great documentary and look into how David Hockney keeps creating his amazing paintings,,, really enjoyed it, called The Art of Seeing.
This is how I want to be as an artist when I'm 80.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5rCS6G3XU

3. Don't usually use markers but bought these to play with- they are yum! Copic- Blue.

Moving into 2018

Quote from George Saunders 

so it's 2018 and I'm feeling a slow move, a stroll, a pondering graze into the new year, a little hesitant, a bit uncertain, WHERE am I Going? WHAT do I want to Continue?....last year so many awesome creative new experiences happened, I galloped and NOW WHAT? what if it ends what if that was it.... see my thoughts have been creeping around my brain and tugging at my heart. Today I am back at home after a long 2 plus week break. I know from the past that when I am NOT practicing drawing, writing, making in some art form, that my thoughts have a tendency to generate doubt. My one remedy it to continue, get back in where I left off, start moving those hands. Splash some paint down, toss some words out, and shake it up. The only way to discover and reconnect with my WHAT and WHERE and WHY is to head semi-blindfolded in that direction with heart open to trust.. THE PROCESS will guide and help me.

The horse collage sketch book image and quote by George Saunders (great writer) above don't really have any correlation other then they were in a file on my computer called blog and I like both of them. Sometimes we just need to put something down to begin.....again.

This year I invite new creative collaborations, opportunities to share my art, writing, discoveries in any form they choose to take.
 However, picture books, sculptures, and prints are in my wide angled focus at the moment, we shall see how it evolves. 

Wishing the creative in you a delightful, fruitful, juicy journey in 2018! 
Whether you walk, gallop, stroll, or graze, may you discover your unique flavor of magic.
If you want to collaborate on something,,,, send me a note, would love to see what we can make together!!!!

creative prompt

In the beginning of this year I had some fun making this video for Carla Sonheim's 365 daily class.
It is a creative prompt to pick a few actions to do to a piece of paper.
Check the video out in link below.
https://vimeo.com/214351477/9d65d87f92

And the class is running again in 2018, so if you want a creative boost every day, sign on up at her website, link above. Enjoy!!!!!!!

3 somethings and something else

I'm not good at consistency. Growing up playing tennis I would hit one winner down the line and then the next would be a loop de loop lob over the fence.  It was like two different players appeared on the court. I don't really play tennis that much anymore. But I do see that consistency in the day of technology could be easier to achieve. Only share what is "good" "thought out" "fully formed." Only show the winners down the line. But I know it's not who I am. I'm a mixture of mishaps, attempts, creative explosions, and sometimes loop de loops over a magical fence. I don't even know why I am writing this now as I logged on to be consistent with sharing 3 inspirations ( or somethings that I have read, seen , noticed, heard lately) I've often thought it would be a good idea to do it EVERY friday, be consistent. That hasn't happened yet. I come on whenever I do and perhaps that is enough for now.


3 things that have nothing to do with what I just wrote above.

1. This book I recently picked up again off my shelf.  It's a highly original take on creativity from the high wire performer and artist Phillipe Petit.

 

2. This online class from Carla Sonheim is a daily creative boost in your inbox. It's a mix of quick exercises, painting/drawing/collage techniques, artist interviews and prompts, sprinkled with inspiring little moment videos. It's a gift every day for your creative self to grow. I'm planning to sign up again this year.

 https://www.carlasonheim.com/365-2/

3.

 

Had a tiny moment of clarity mixed with "What if" wonder while drawing and quickly wrote this on a scrap paper.  Really,,, What if every action were framed as an experiment? 

wakey wake

Last week I was in a yoga class and the teacher had a mantra he was offering through out the class- stay awake, don't go back to sleep, stay awake. Of course the more he said it, the more I really wanted to lay down on the mat and stop moving and close my eyes. Lately I have been wanting to crawl back into bed after my morning routines, not sure if it is the changing of the season or that I'm feeling a bit of, what next? I've been going creating for many months and feel a little pause as into what lays ahead. Stay awake- i tell myself. Stay awake with what I'm feeling. Stay Awake into this next phase, this not knowing where my art, my creative pursuits, my path is going. Stay Awake in the transitions, they have something to teach me. Something that wants to be open fully.

Shifting Creative Focus

What do you do when you feel your creative energy is scattered? Starts and stops and not able to get into anything. That is how I've been feeling the last few days. This morning I decided to look at my scattered energy. I could let it continue to scatter and be ok with that or be pissed by it OR give it something specific to do that has no thought and will maybe draw it into a more intentional way which will hopefully fuel the rest of the day. I did all three of those OR choices. I'm currently fresh after the last one where I discovered this, drawing targets. Somehow this little exercise shifted my energy. All I needed to do was draw target after target, circle after circle,  I even allowed myself to do a triangle target. This one page focus practice is helping for the moment, may need to do it again after lunch.

Keep Going

          How do I know i am going in the right direction? What is the RIGHT direction anyway? I suppose one knows when it feels off, when things don't sync or that little something inside you says, hmmm NO. But what if there are a lot of possible Yes directions? That is what I feel now. I have many possibilities of ways I want to go deeper into creating, many possibilities of expanding, learning, and ultimately sharing my art/ illustration/ story/ scribble collage ponderings. So today I tell myself, remind myself, it's the way, the space in between, it's here where I am now stepping further into my unknown discovering path, here writing this, drawing that, meeting new people, getting my hands glues stick ink messy, unsure of many things, but certain of one....Keep Going!!!!

3 inspirations from the past few weeks

 1.

This is one of the last views of Saturn taken by the Cassini spacecraft.
Cassini really blows my mind. Space and NASA's ability to discover what exists is AMAZING and AWE inspiring beautiful.
 https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/?topic=178


2.

 Discovered this picture book at the Brooklyn Children's Book Festival. I cried reading it on the subway. It is unlike any picture book I have read and reminds me to draw and write whatever is important to me. The illustrations are full of life and spontaneity-love love love. It is from a Japanese writer and illustrator and is put out by the fabulous Enchanted Lion books- my favorite.
The illustrator is Ryoji Arai and author Arata Tendo.

3. This is too good, makes me want to make some paper cut animations pronto
Terry Gillian monty python’s animations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ7JTB2CaN0

Play

play

plā/

verb

1.

engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.

This is one definition on first google. The "Practical Purpose" bit here stops me. I think Play can be purposeFUL though. Play has an energy, that is inherently creative. It swirls around, flips things over, makes the body skip up the street just to feel the lightness. It can reveal new ways of seeing, create rhymes to feel words chime, it can scribble to watch a marker dance. Play knows alot, much more then me. But thank goodness it lets me be it's friend. Thank you PLAY, every day for splashing your wonder my way!

What is your definition of play? And how can you invite it into any activity you do on purpose?

3 inspirations this week

                    1. Finding the above note in a box I keep about the creative process.
                    Seems simple. It can be simple. But then sometimes the mind tries to confuse it.
                    Make art, make moments,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;delight.

                    2. Stefan Sagmesiter is brilliant, its a must watch.   http://www.thehappyfilm.org/

        
                   3. This 1 minute crayon rubbing reminded me playing with materials
                       often gives me new ideas.

It takes COURAGE to...

Looking though illustration files today and found this I did a few months ago for Lilla Rogers Bootcamp class. It is a Courage Map. I really enjoyed this assignment as it pushed me to use writing, collage, and illustration in a new way. It was also personal and encouraged reflection on where I have been courageous both small and big in my life. I think continuing on the creative path, walking embracing dancing asking question with the unknown is a continual courageous act.
One step at a time....Trust the way!

Blocks

Confused? Blocked? Not sure what in the world you are actually doing? Uh yeah yeah and yeah.
Lately, I've been feeling ultra confused as to my creative path. I think there is an attempt to pretend I know what I'm doing mostly to convince myself. For when I let that "What the heck am I doing?" mind surface my making mind catches on and STOPS.... yes haults in it's glorious I'm not thinking but continuing in my intuitive let's see where this goes unattached way. I think this practical mind, wanting to pin my path down has actually hurt my flow. I have been pulled lately in wanting to decide where I want to focus my creative energy. I don't have one medium, one creative form that I can say this is what I make. Rather I love  bouncing between mediums, exploring forms. So what is the pull between? For a long long time I've wanted to write and illustrate picture books. I've spent many hours making mock ups, attending conferences, writing drawing sending out manuscripts, It has been an ongoing side dream. Recently I've thought about giving up this side dream to focus on other side dreams of my creative practice such as 3d paper sculptures and collages. I've asked myself what would it be like to put all those boxes of possible books away and say goodbye to that dream ( atleast for now). I suppose it is a giving up, but maybe it would also be a giving in. Going where there seems to be an opening in my life as opposed to banging on blocks. Certain doors aren't opening right now but others are. Doors that I couldn't have imagined.  I'm still not sure where this creative path is going but that's the point. To discover as I go. And if that means letting something go for awhile then I will. The most important thing for me is to continue, this, creating in some way and putting it out into the world. Sometimes a STOP is really a PAUSE, now its time to press PLAY again.

It's a constant remembering

 

I suppose it really would be helpful to have some clever tattoo as a reminder on my palm so when I pick up some brush, paint, or pen, I know. For me its about the process leading the way. 

And when I try to 

MAKE SOMETHING, or

MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN,

there is some kind of wall. I sense it as a feeling, it feels a bit like dread, like a chore, like walking into strong winds, or lifting heavy loads up a ridiculously steep mountain. I'm not saying that everything needs to be easy but I also don't think I need to experience struggling in my art making.

I prefer to experience the wonder, the mystery of NOT KNOWING where i'm going and discover what I'm making as I go. I prefer to trust that the process will unfold to tell me WHAT this SOMETHING wants to be.

Today in my studio, I banged against that feeling wall over and over again. Insisting my time be spent making a PICTURE BOOK. I've been working for years exploring this format, and truly enjoy it. 

But as I worked today a bit stubbornly I felt this idea of WHAT i want to make slip away.

It wasn't going to happen, not today, not this way I was approaching it.

With 10 minutes left in my studio, i gave into the urge I had been feeling from the morning,

the need to play with materials FIRST. For the collage, drawing, color texture adding 

reveal a story, image to me. 

I know I'm on my heart track when I don't want it to end.

I know I will forget this again. But I also know tattoo or not, I will remember my way.