Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesday-11am

Rainy, cloudy, and thunderstorms all Memorial Weekend...but we had a brief respite when the sun valiantly attempted to make an appearance for a couple hours yesterday.    
 See!  I have proof!  LOL!
 Sorry--I can't remember now whose blog it was this weekend where they were writing about having an art block--but I realized that I had come up to a complete brick wall and I either had to climb up and over or go around.
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Around.  It occurred to me--why not just leave that first page and start my first page spread.  I have been watching all these various artist's videos and they often have several journals going at the same time and jump around from this one to that one.  Several even have two out when they are working so they can slap leftover paint onto pages on the second journal. My OCD self is fascinated, but shuddery.  
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One of the first "looser" things I have ever done was working on the bookmarks.  The bookmarks were an offshoot from the watercolor class I took at the art museum up here a decade ago.  We made a painting where we used real leaves and saran wrap!  Honestly?  Blew my little OCD mind.  I was so proud of myself on so many levels that I framed it!
We also did one where we put a lot of wet paint down, some gold dabs on last, scrunch up saran wrap on top, press it down, and let it dry overnight.  Scary.  No control, but I loved it! 
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I've done bookmark making sessions using that uncontrollable saran wrap technique several times in the years since then.  Sold some, given most of them away...but I can use a sheet of watercolor paper, experiment, and then cut up the best bits for bookmarks.  Small.  I like to work small. 
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So, anyways--back to going around the wall.  I was thinking...gesso.  I see all these people using gesso on their pages as a base and then using acrylics on top.  I thought--well, lady--you didn't have Dagan and Leah haul in the acrylic paint supplies for nothing.  How about trying something completely new on that big page spread?
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*shudder shudder*
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Aha!  I could start out smaller!  Remember in my handmade 5X7 art journal (where I've been just doing backgrounds) I gessoed a page spread white and another one black?  I could practice on a smaller scale!
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I actually painted some blobs of yellow and blue on the white background and used the baby wipes to smear it around.  Realized that I had used white acrylic paint and not gesso, but did my best to be smeary.  ;) 
 Took a picture after it dried by the window and it looks much more blue than green.  My camera shifts colors a lot.  My first attempt with acrylics and I think it's a quite acceptable smeary background.
 So last night I dug out the jar of real white gesso.  I've had it for years and it seemed a bit runny, but worked okay, I think.  I'll find out if it is smoother than the white acrylic I used by accident on the little green art journal.
This page spread looks frighteningly humongous to me!  I may end up doing one side at a time...but I have taken a step around the wall--LOL!  I expect my first efforts to be pretty bad, but if I don't like something...just open up another page, right?
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Confession.
I feel like a non-swimmer getting ready to jump in the deep end of the pool when I have barely learned how to hang onto the side of the shallow end and paddle my feet.  I've never even let go on the shallow end!  I'm a little bit nauseous just writing this.  
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I wonder why it scares me so?  Feels like some deep past life thing, to be honest.  I know it's not from this life...honestly, have never been discouraged.  Encouraged, in fact!  So I know it makes no logical sense...but this fear grabs me by the throat and makes me feel my life is in danger if I step across some invisible line.  ??  Has always happened to me with art and writing...and getting up in front of groups of people.
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Anyways, thanks to everyone who offered help with Mr. Linky.  :)  Jennifer told me that I could enter my bookmarks late in this week's challenge!  She said that the challenges are only suggestions and that any kind of creative artwork would be fine to enter.  So, I made it up and over the Mr. Linky wall, anyways--LOL!  Not that computer stuff does that irrational fear thing to me.  With computers it's more like being lost in the woods near a town, stumbling around--you know you'll either find your way out on your own or somebody will hear you calling for help--more frustrating and baffling than scary.  ;) 
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Looks like it's going to rain again.  I slept late this dark morning.  One of those really good mornings where pain didn't drive me out of bed and if I didn't move I could drift back to sleep.  Glorious!  I've got clothes ready to go in the dryer and more for the washer, so I'd better get moving.
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Happy Tuesday!
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"Life does not accommodate you; it shatters you.  Every seed destroys its container, or else there would be no fruition."
Florida Scott-Maxwell

18 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i like your descriptions of fear and being lost. made me giggle a bit - even if the fear is gripping.

Francene Stanley said...

The effects you can get from nature are amazing. Love the bookmark. I have no idea how big it is, but it looks as if it's been amde to fit a giant encyclopedia. Don't be afraid. Boldly experiment. It's like being in a sand pit with your little friends. Who cares if your castle falls or little Timmy knocks it over? Jst make another one.

http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com/

Dana said...

Love the bookmark! Your creativity inspires me. :)

Deanna said...

Those different techniques are fascinating. I've been playing a lot with some different techniques in my card making. It is fun. I wonder if there is a name for your fear?

We need rain so terribly bad! We are already watering gardens and it isn't even really summer yet!

Friko said...

You are a brave lady, you can do it. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Doesn't it feel good when you've achieved something you were scared to try?

Rebag said...

Oh for fun...looks like to me you are doing great!! I love the prints on the leaves and saran wrap...such a cool texture.........You asked if others have blocks...YEP......quite often,

Just take a deep breath........ then proceed.


Blessings.~

fishducky said...

I love trying new things! I'm sending you an email with a couple of things I learned in an art workshop.

DJan said...

Nice artwork! You are facing your fears and moving through them. Or around them, whatever. I enjoyed your writing of these "art blocks" you're having, Rita. Keep it up!

Not the blocks, but the writing, I mean. :-)

Toriz said...

YAY you! Baby steps; you'll make it over or around that wall! :)

You reminded me of something we used to do with string. Put the string in paint so it's covered in paint, spread it on a piece of paper in some random pattern, then fold the paper over and press it together. When it's dry, do it again with a different colour of paint. At the very least you get a pretty and unique background.

Janie Junebug said...

You are SO clever! That painting with the leaves is gorgeous. I, too, am filled with irrational fears. I found a cockroach in my house today and I'm ready to move out.

Love,
Janie

Nancy's Notes said...

Clever lady!!! Wonderful artwork, Rita!

betty said...

Glad you are thinking of conquering some of your fears, especially related to art/writing. I do believe you are very creative and talented with each! Again, glad you could participate in the challenges and that you are getting the hang of Mr. Linky :)

betty

Beth said...

I envy your creativity! You have made so many beautiful things!

AliceKay said...

It looks like you're making it over your wall quite nicely. Have fun working with your art. I've gotta admit, though...I had to google gesso to see what it was.

We had bad thunderstorms roll thru this afternoon. Heavy rains and high winds. I took some video of the storm, but I don't have it uploaded to YouTube yet. (tried but had a problem)

Dave said...

Experimenting is fun. So long as we learn something and arrive at successful ways of doing things. Your experiments seem successful Rita - Dave

Zue said...

Your framed painting with leaves is beyond beautiful. Gesso is very useful, but I tend to use white latex paint, though I do possess gesso.
Keep going, I can see you are developing your range of techniques....what could be better for expanding your repertoire?

xxx

Queenie Jeannie said...

I always love seeing your work!!! It seems so free and lovely. I'm not an artist, but you ARE!! Don't be afraid - soar!

Unknown said...

I really like your bookmarks and that technique!!!