"In Bloom" - collages 1 to 4

I'm so glad that I decided to work in 3 sketchbook journals at one time. See previous post here. This week I could eke out only a few minutes per day to work on my art. Making these mini (4"x5") paper collages fit into this time frame. 

"In Bloom" collage 1

"In Bloom" collage 2

"In Bloom" collage 3

"In Bloom" collage 4

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3 sketchbook journals - "In Bloom", "Language" and "Uncomfortable Zone"

It's time for me to start creating in a new sketchbook journal. Instead of creating in one at a time, I decided to work in three at once. 

"In Bloom" is another book made using collaged card stock like "Time For Tea". It's 4.5" x 5.5". Instead of watercolor paper like "Time For Tea", it's made with cut up magazine pages as the signatures. I will use this sketchbook journal to create small paper collages.

"Language" is an altered book that has monoprinted watercolor paper in various sizes. This one will be use to create sketches using words or sayings as a prompt.

"Uncomfortable Zone" is a 5" square book made of primed canvas.The story behind the title of this book has to do my goal to work outside my comfort zone. Creating on this material will allow me to add many layers of paint and pen marks. I'm uncomfortable adding layer upon layer in my art. I usually create in an uncluttered style. Let's see how it goes.
 
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Time For Tea sketches revisited

After finishing my Time For Tea sketchbook journal, I decided to take another look at all the sketches. As I was looking at the sketches, I had a feeling that this project wasn't completely finished. The sketchbook journal is definitely finished because all the pages are marked. The sketches, on the other hand, may have some more life in them. I thought it would be a good exercise to enlarge some of the more successful sketches to 9"x12". Some of the sketches translated to this size and some not so much. Sketch #22 9"x12" looks a bit pointy, which isn't pleasing to my eye. All in all, it was a great exercise.

sketch #5 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #10 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #11 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #14 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #19 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #20 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #22 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

sketch #23 - 9"x12" abstract and 4"x5" original

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sketchbook journals - update

The 3 sketches below were created as visceral reactions to the events of August 12th, going to The Huntington and artist Linda Miller in that order.

At the end of August 12th, I was drained emotionally from the events in Virginia but I wanted to at least work on one of my sketchbook journals for a few minutes. I have been spending most of that day creating gelli plate prints for collaging. I'll blog about that at another time. This sketch is made in my repurposed magazine sketchbook journal. I started by adding similar magazine pages to the right side to mirror the image on the left side. After reading a few pages from Jane Davies' book "Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language" earlier in the day, I was inspired to mark up  by painting the yellow open squares and small blue squares. I was getting angry and frustrated at what I thought was the lack of cohesion and creativity. I took a large brush and swiped black acrylic paint a few times across the pages. After I stared at what I had done, I realized why I felt this way. This sketch was my way of letting out the emotions from the events in Virginia. I stopped at this point because it was done. I had experienced a moment of art therapy.

Before the events of August 12th happened, I had scheduled earlier in the week to visit The Huntington with a friend on August 13th. The timing was perfect. We spent 2 hours walking around the peaceful gardens. It was a much needed relief. This sketch was made in response to that visit in my small artist made sketchbook journal. I painted using Golden Fluid Acrylic in Green Gold, torn pages from "To Kill A Mockingbird" and a black Sharpie.

Still on the peaceful mood from visiting the Huntington, I created this sketch on August 14th. It was heavily influenced by the brushstroke artwork of Linda Miller. I used Golden Fluid Acrylic in Naphthol Red Light, used tea bag paper and black acrylic paint.

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sketchbook journal - update

I'm continuing to work daily in one of the sketchbooks journals that I made. To see the other sketches, please click here and here. Most of the designs are loosely made, which is helping me work through my creative block. It's been fun so far creating outside my comfort zone. I'm pushing myself to go beyond minimal style. The sketches are from my repurposed magazine sketchbook journal.

With this finished sketch I had an idea to use torn brown paper with torn scenic magazine pages. The left side I decided to paint the brown and beige paper for contrast while the right side is the paper untouched. I prefer the right side. The contrast of the brown paper with the cool colors of the magazine pages is pleasing to my eye. What do you think?

This next one is 4 pages - the two colorful grounds plus 2 cutout top layers. I was going to add marks to the top pink layer but I realized that it should have been done before cutting out the shapes. I usually don't use bubblegum pink in my art. This sketch is finished.

Here's a look at the design underneath the pink cutouts:

I realized as I painted this sketch that I wasn't happy with the main design shapes. After staring at it for a few weeks, I decided to add the words from #100wordsin100days challenge from earlier this year. Not sure if I like it any better now but it's finished.

The next four sketches are in the early stages. It's hard for me to resist the urge to consider all 4 sketches as finished. Again, pushing myself outside my minimal style. I'm thoughtfully evaluating the next marks to make.

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sketchbook journal - update

I'm working daily in the sketchbook journal that is made from a repurposed magazine. I first blog at it here. Most of the designs are loosely made, which is helping me work through my creative block. It's interesting to me that when creating these designs; other project ideas are coming to mind that are not related at all. By giving myself permission to play, my art brain loosening up.

The designs below are for all intensive purposes finished in their current state. I'm ready to move on to the blank pages in my sketchbook journal.

This designs didn't go as planned. My initial idea was to comment on my personal conflict between commercial vs fine art. I like the elements but the layout is awkward. There are more elements that I wanted to add but the composition wasn't well thought out. Time to move on without finishing

I had fun creating this design with the colors and whimsical theme. It's not my usually style but it does make me smile when I look at it and that's a good thing. Again, the composition is a bit awkward. If the individual elements overlapped a bit then it would be more interesting design.

After staring at this design for a few weeks, I decided it was finished when I first created it. I envy artists who can add layer upon layer to their art. That's not me...yet...or maybe never.

If you read my initial post, this design was created because I like the technique created in the ground. I added purple in random areas and calling it finished.

Crazy mess! That's what I think when I look at this finished design. And that's okay. This design served it's purpose of getting me to put something down on paper...anything.

I have to admit this design could fall into the "Crazy Mess" category but I like it better than the design above. To me, it looks like more of a composition. Messy composition but still a composition.

Now I'm off to create more free flowing, creative block busting art!

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Creative Block and Playing

I haven't posted new artwork on my blog going on two months. I was in a creative slump. It has happened before and I'm sure it will happen again. I realize that stressing about it doesn't help. I decided to share because reading about other artists’ struggle with creative block has helped me. Maybe I can help someone going through it.

To try to kick start my creativity I looked at my list of fiber art projects to create and projects that were WIP. Nothing caught my interest. I looked on Facebook and Instagram to see what other artists are creating. Read about other artists working through their creative block, which was helpful. I tried to stay clear of Pinterest because it seems to be a black hole for me that I can spend hours perusing.  

Then I realized that I was over thinking it. I remembered what gave me joy as a child. It was sitting in my bedroom drawing and painting...for hours. Not for a deadline. Not for a specific project. Just for fun. To play. To explore. No judgment. No rules. No expensive materials. I realize that creating in a repurposed magazine gives me a chance to play and explore without the guilt of using up "good" paper and materials. Each design doesn't have to be perfect because that's not the point. To reiterate that point, I'm showing my sketchbook journal pages in the beginning stages. Works in progress. Imperfections. Not social media perfect. I'm working on multiple pages at once. I'm jotting down ideas that I will build upon in no specific order or time frame. My hope is that by freeing myself by playing, it will recharge my art brain. Pushing my art. Adding layers to my art. Adding dimension to my art. I will post updates to my art journal as the designs progress.

Here is the cover of the 10" x 12" repurposed magazine. I decided to keep it simple by painting black onto of a layer of gesso.

The first two pages started with the Warhol's Elvis art clipping from a magazine. This design is slowly developing.

The next pages started with the yellow-orange motifs. I wanted to remember it for a possible stamp or screen print. 

Continuing on with the next two pages. This design started with the mauve-y color paper from a fashion layout in a magazine. I wanted it to be messy. Not my normal style. My instinct is to stop at this point but I'm going to push myself to add more layers and possibly more colors.

I have to admit these next pages were created because I was pushing myself to leave some marks. Any marks. "Just put something on the page, Bloom!" I started by painting black over the whole ground. Once it dried, I took an old credit card and scrapped white paint randomly. I liked the technique and didn't want to cover too much of it up. I'm not sure about the design that's developing on top.

These next pages are falling back into colors that are in my comfort zone but the messiness of the overall design is not. Similarly to the design with the mauve-y color, I would normally stop at this point but I'm pushing myself to add more layers, marks and colors.

Like the design above, the colors in this design are in my comfort zone. More pushing myself to add layers, marks and colors.

Do you get in a creative slump? How do you get yourself out of it?

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