Easels

Easels come in all shape and sizes, fit for purpose or adapted to suit.  I currently have 3 I use, from desktop to freestanding and they serve to support a canvas or board while I create, providing that foundation and balance to my creativity. 

I began thinking how as an artist I have different stages to my creativity that need to be inspired and supported.  Whether I'm going to tackle a 'table top piece' or a massive canvas and so need my free standing easel, so too does my creativity need the support.  Somethimes I do spend to long on my computer, be it blogging, emails or looking at some of the great videos out there my creativity needs to be kept in check, so I might need to do a sketch, write in my journal or work through ideas that could lead to a larger piece of work. 

That's where I have found these challenges come in handy, they are gentle ways you can keep your focus in different areas of your creativity, from the ones you participate in daily, like the April A-Z blogging challenge to the monthly Creativity Every Day or any other challenge.  What is important is that they all serve to provide that regular support from the comments and encouragement you recieve from others, to the pat on the back you give yourself every now and again as you complete the challenge and grow as an artist, writer...creative...and more!  You'll one day look back appreciate just how far you have come!

Date

When was the last time you went on a date?

I'm talking about an Artist Date, when it was about you and your creativity, feeding it, nurturing it, encouraging it to grow.  Inspiring it, spending time on you, taking time for you?

You can choose what you spend your time doing, go to the park, listen to your favorite music, visit a craft store, have a coffee...in my case a cappuccino, even dress up like a rock star! 

There are so many things you can do, if your stuck for some inspiration check out Julia Camerons book Artist Date Book, where she gives you 364 additional ideas, why not get started today.  When you get a chance check out some of the other participants on the A-Z Challenge, be inspired!...be blessed!

Clay

I was given some air drying clay for Christmas and wanted to start creating and experimenting.

I started off with some plaques with encouraging and inspiring words, here is a sample, forgot to put some holes in them so they may adorn a journal or other piece of art work.

They serve as reminders to what I want in my life

Books

My love for books started at a very young age, and as I have grown up I go through phases of the type of books I collect.  In my early teens I was sold on romance novels. When I did my degree I only brought health, nutrition and massage technique books, my DIY phase saw how-to books, decorating tips and fancy techniques.  My fiction phase included science fiction and thrillers.  Now I am an artist it's amazing how many wonderful books there are and over the years I've collected quite a few (see my previous post).  The great thing is being able to connect with the writers, many of whom are artists themselves.  One of my first mixed media books was Beryl Taylors' Mixed Media Explorations I was just blown away by the techniques and detail in her work, and this led me on that journey and adventure of exploration in the world of mixed media.

Whilst I try and curb my purchases - I am always on the look out for the next book to get excited by!  What new purchases have made their way on your shelf?

Artist

The A-Z blog challenge starts today!  During the month of April we will be blogging daily following the letters of the alphabet. I have also decided to give myself an additional challenge and post a completely different post on my other blog Inspiration, Art and Creativity  
 

My word today is Artist.  I have been inspired by so many artists over the past couple of years, I started to think back to when I first knew that mixed media art was what I most wanted to do.  It happened about 3 years ago when I came across a site called Artella  On seeing the site which was founded by Marney Makridas it involked a wide range of feelings.....excitement, uncertainty, a warm feeling - like you've come in from the cold and get to sit by the fire with a large mug of hot chocolate and marsh mellows or whatever your comfort food/drink is.  I knew I wanted to spend more time exploring and it indeed did seem like a land of adventure. 

This then unfolded the journey into other sites, courses, books and challenges that has enabled me to learn so many wonderful techniques I can apply to my own work. I have also been blessed with interacting and connecting with many inspiring, encouraging and extremely talented artists.  If you get a chance, check out Artella there is an awful lot of encouraging and inspiring information, and at the moment they are running some special offers that are worth taking a look at.