Live Your Art: creative therapy

Showing posts with label creative therapy. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Sick, with benefits

Both of the kids are sick. At times, it's been crazy, but on the other hand, I've bee able to carve out a few more hours to work. I followed Ali's A Week in the Life album project, and was finally able to finish the album. I had some very old chipboard dividers that were perfect for the album. I kept it SIMPLE - I do have a tendency to make things much more complicated and time consuming then they need to be.

I got a few journal pages done as well. I used two of the prompts from Creative Therapy, What book influenced you and if you could buy something for someone else, what would it be? For the latter, I had a background already done that worked perfectly; it was made from the stubs from bills! For the Wrinkle In Time page, I used a crumpled map, inked it, and then applied one of Tim Holtz's new masks. Speaking of masks, I have a Halloween tutorial using alcohol inks and masks on the MDW blog. There are four different projects up, so take a peek! (Here's one for you!)

Monday, September 1, 2008

Finally finished!

Whew! (that starts with a "w", right?) I have finally finished my 20 ATCs for this month's exchange. The theme, as I mentioned previously, is "w", which has now morphed from "whatever" to "whatever the hell I want." (You'd feel the same way, too after making 20 different ATCs.) I can say that I'm very proud of the lot. Mixed Media Monday's theme this week is nature, and I'm sneaking it in here with the sunrise and tiger because I do want to mention again the rusty paper technique I learned on their forum. I really loved illustrating over it - it has such a unique, beautiful tonal range. Thanks, Diane!

Creative Therapy's catalyst this week is fear, and as I've stated before, drawing in ink was a huge fear of mine. HUGE. That may sound silly, but I've spent the years working in looser mediums - pencil, paint, pastels, and the thought of that ink line just scared the shit out of me. Pardon the language, but it's true. So I've been filling my ink journal, drawing ATCs, sketching in pen right in my copy of The Creative License, by Danny Gregory (LOVE it!) and I can now say, I am no longer afraid of ink. In fact, I find I am reaching for a pen more often then a pencil when I sketch. I'm even liking some of the people I've drawn. In ink. No pencil. It still kinda amazes me. I have a long way to go, but lesson learned. Just do it. and do it. and do it...

p.s. - You still have time to post for the Ugly Paper challenge on the MDW blog! I'll be giving away the RAK on Sept. 7. Check it out here!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Creative Therapy and Post 100

Wow! One hundred posts! I can't believe it! What an interesting experiment it has been so far! It's a strange beast, this blog thing. I really feel as if I'm writing to myself most of the time, even though I'm aware that others will read it. I guess it's that delayed response that does make it feel more like a journal then a public posting. Then the comments come, and you realize that there are people out there reading it, from all over the world, and it morphs into an exchange rather than a recording. I remember the thrill I got when I read comments from international readers. It was, and still is, so amazing to think that someone is sitting at there computer on the other side of the earth, looking at your work. I think it does have the power to bring the world closer together.

Another thing I'm absolutely thrilled about is my new art journal class at MDW on September 27 at 1:30. I have been waiting to teach an art based class, and there couldn't be a better one for me then art journaling. I know it is quite en vogue now, but I've been doing it all of my life. I even took a feminist journal writing class in college. As Matt and I were bringing the books back in from the garage last night (new bookshelves, wahoo!!!), I could fill up a whole cube with journaling/creativity/artists books, some I've had since college. Yet, I'm still working on the details of the curriculum. I've been doing this for so long, I'm not sure what would entice somebody new to art journaling to try it. I know what I like, but will others like it, too? I hope that if I teach my passion, it will ignite the passions of others. I just hope I can spark it enough to get them to sign up in the first place!

Which leads me to today's entry for Creative Therapy. It is an art journal page, for the topic, "What's the one quality you look for in a romantic partner?" If I had to pick just one, I'd have to go with a sense of humor. It's what's gotten us through tight patches, defused arguments, and just plain made life fun. It may not be the most "romantic" quality, but it's a relationship lifesaver and spark at the same time. 15th anniversary this December, so I'd say it's working pretty darn well for us!

Friday, July 4, 2008

catalyst 16

Happy Fourth of July! Little known fact, but I was a poly sci major when I entered college, and at one point aspired to be in Congress. That didn't last long, and although I'm not as involved in politics as I used to be, I've made my donation to the Obama campaign and will hold another national mock election in my social studies classes this year. Our process may not be perfect, but I do believe in it and am grateful for the rights and freedoms I enjoy in this great nation. Happy Birthday, United Sates! Maybe now I'll go make a party hat, as my daughter suggested...

Didn't get last week's catalyst up, but here is this week's from Creative Therapy. The theme was your Dream Home. My husband thinks about this a lot, and has great plans (probably from his architecture/engineering background), but honestly, I don't. Sure, I'd love to have a studio, and an extra room for an office and the weight equipment would be nice. A lush, green backyard that went on for miles would be heaven, especially if it had lots of shade. But you know what? I love my little house. It has super high ceilings and open architecture that makes it feel big and airy. I may have to work in the family room, but that means I'm not separate from my kids (or the dinner in the oven). Yes, the backyard is small, but it requires very little work. A smaller house means a smaller carbon footprint. I think I dream instead about he improvements I'd like to make - a new fireplace (I hate the icky beige marble!), new kitchen cabinets (oak does not give off that modern vibe), and new tile showers (those fiberglass all-in-ones should be illegal!). That's my dream - improve what I have, instead of dwelling on what I don't.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I'm a Cover Girl!

Just got word that my card will be featured on the cover of the Aug/Sept issue of Stampers' Sampler! I even get a short article on their web page! I screamed so loud when I read the email that my kids thought something was horribly wrong. They were not amused when I informed them that I was screaming for joy, and even less interested in why. I guess drama is more appealing!

Don't forget to check out my challenge this week for My Daughter's Wish. You can use any medium you'd like to participate, even a written entry on your blog. Also remember to leave a comment here for my RAK! The deadline for both is Saturday, June 21.

The page today is for both the Creative Therapy theme this week and Scrap Stars. I love the topic for Creative Therapy this week - one lesson you'd want to teach your children. It was hard to narrow it down to just one. I'm pretty confident right now in their intellect, and sense of responsibility for their age, so I decided on magic. Yes, I said magic - the magic in life. They see it now, everywhere. We have garden fairies that live in the backyard, Santa came at Christmas, the Tooth Fairy made a visit last week, and seeing a dragonfly or butterfly is a mystical event for them. Unfortunately, too many adults have lost that ability to believe - to see the magic around them. I don't want them to ever forget that it is there, whether you are 5 or 50, it's still all around you.

While I'm not such a bling girl, the platinum theme from Scrap Stars certainly worked with this page. Ooooh, it's Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance and Ghost Hunters night! Let's see if I can wade through the projects on my desk and actually catch one of them! ;)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Summer Explorations

Whew! Summer's here, and I've been able to play a little. I sent off a package to Somerset at the last minute (but still by the deadline!) for their black and white call. I am finally starting to get back on track with projects for the Artist's Circle Yahoo group, and we're doing Beryl Taylor again. Happy about that one, since I was too busy to play round one. I actually ordered Mixed Media Explorations this time, and I'm so glad I did! Beryl gives great examples, and more importantly to me, lots of instruction on technique! I highly recommend it. I do want to give a brief plug for my upcoming mini-album class on June 21. Check it out at the right! Okay, on to the challenges!

First up, Laura's wonderful Wishchick challenge for My Daughter's Wish - PAINT! Is there anything better??? GPP Street Team has crayon rubbings this month, so I used some paper I made for that on my layout. I used a lego base for the pattern, then covered it with yellow paint. I glued some hand dyed paper towel over that, then edged it with white crayon. I also edged the LO in white paint. Check out her fab pages and challenge here - you could win a RAK! The topic - thanking someone - is catalyst #13 at Creative Therapy this week. So many people came to mind, but I settled on my husband. I think I usually give him more grief then thanks, but he is the light of my life. Thanks, babe!

A few samples of rubbings - I've just started to play with this, but I find I prefer just the crayon texture under paint to an actual design. It gives a great background layer! I think I'll make several texture papers to keep on hand for projects. The card was made from a rubbing I took from my brush cup! It's a fabulous little ceramic cup with glazed fish around it that my brother gave me. I used a paper scrap from my desk that had ink remnants on it and embossed over it. It fit so nicely with the By the Sea theme at Mixed Media Monday, so I made a simple card.

Now I really must clean my house. Art and house keeping seem to be diametrically opposed. I try to ignore it when I'm working, but after awhile the clutter (not to mention the dog hair on the floor) crawls up my spine like an army of red ants and I have to submerge myself in domestic duties. But maybe I'll make more more sheet of fabric paper first...

Friday, June 6, 2008

Summer's Here!

Did you hear that great sigh of relief? It's been a challenging school year, and I am so very grateful for the start of summer vacation! It's always hectic at the end of the school year, so I didn't have time until now to do Lisa's fabulous ATC challenge for My Daughter's Wish. I cheated a little on this one - I didn't have an accessible childhood picture of myself that fit the theme, so I used one of Madeline instead. I had a little fun in Photoshop with it (hurray, just got my new Elements!) and then added the ever present paint and text.

The catalyst this week for Creative Therapy is if you could make a big impact on the world, what would it be? I had planned to write a long entry about my thoughts and feelings on this subject, but as the piece came together, in true Buddhist tradition, it seemed that simple was better. Last week's Step Outside Your Box Saturday was pint drips, and although I played with drips on some patterned papers, I never posted any. Drips seemed like the perfect touch for this one, so I used watered down acrylics and a dropper to add them.

Breathe in. Do you smell it? Jasmine, water, paint, wine coolers, farm fresh produce from our own little town, fireworks and sidewalk chalk? Smells like summer!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Catalyst #11

This week's catalyst for Creative Therapy involves your first memory. Mine goes way back, when I was probably about two, in my crib. I remember waking up, to what in my mind's eye was in the middle of the night, standing up and grabbing the bars of my crib, and calling for my mother. I remember watching the dark doorway for her, and and seeing her arrive. She picked me up put of my crib, and that's where the memory ends. Although it's a gray, sleepy scene in my mind's eye, it's still a warm memory. My mother was there for me when I needed her, and 37 years later, she still is.