Collage Diva

AEDM #27 - Kismet

Do you notice signs? Do you make connections? I do - I believe in kismet.

On Wednesday, I took the day off to head 1-1/2 hours to attend my friend's mother's funeral. Before heading up, I stopped by the card shop to get a card and picked up a CD titled, "Tuscany A Romantic Journey." I picked it for the first track, "O Mio Babbino Caro From Gianni Chicchi" by Puccini but little did I know that this CD was picked for me, for the second track. By the time we headed out from the Mass and drove down the street to go to the burial site, the CD had cycled back around. I was at a stop sign ready to take a left turn and follow the long line of cars when I looked up and saw the most incredible site of geese in two v-shaped formations low in the sky and pointing the way. The orchestral version of "Con Te Partiro" by Sartori was playing. At that moment I knew I was exactly where I was suppose to be. Tears filled my eyes and my heart swelled. Now as I write this I am even more amazed for it is only now I realize that "Con Te Partiro" translates as "Time to Say Goodbye." 

Take a moment to close your eyes picture the geese and listen to the following track. (Note scroll down to the music player found in the right column to turn off the French music.)

I selected a variety of images for the digital collage to help me remember this day. 

Canadian Geese - remind us of the Sacred Circle, how life cycles on and about family.  The migration of Canadian Geese marks the passages of the Great Circle of the Year, and reminds us of the sacredness of the cycles of our own life.  We can also learn from the cooperative and communal behavior of these birds, who never abandon a sick or wounded member of the flock, and who know when to lead and when to seek guidance and follow.   The goose is also about traveling to distant places, it is about breaking free from one place to move on in your life in order to survive.  If you are stuck in an old pattern, goose can help you move forward bringing new patterns in.

Orchids - were selected for my friend Antoinette who is also my Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) teacher. She specializes in orchids. I had taken the photo of these orchids when in Boston last week. I kept the buds to remind us that during this time of loss there is new life yet to live and that all is not lost.

Lace - was added along with the fortune cookie message, "A chance meeting opens new doors to success and friendship" for the unexpected connections I made at the luncheon. One woman who lives close to me is preparing to open a fabric store specializing in Victorian notions (oooh think of the velvet and lace). This woman's sister who also connected with is a member of the same religious order as a dear colleague of mine and who in fact lives in the same house. The intricacy of the lace also illustrates the beautiful web of connections reminding me that we live in a small world where we are all connected.

Compass - is a familiar symbol in my work. It is a central image and design element in my True North Arts endeavor. It is interesting to see that this scan taken over six months ago, points in the direction of where I traveled - Northwest.

Keyholes - and keys are favorite symbols that I work with. This keyhole asks, "What lies ahead?

 

Michelle Ward poses the question, "What's your sign?" in this month's GPP Street Team challenge. Before I made this post, I remembered that Michelle's challenge involved sharing signs but it wasn't until I added her graphic above that it was to share a sign that reminds us of a loved one. OMG! Without planning, I answered her challenge. This all shows me that I am exactly where I am suppose to be.

Joy Diet #4 - Creativity and GPP #34 - The Dark Side

Warning: I took creative liberties with how I responded to the material in this chapter. Children should not attempt to do this with their school textbooks. The author of this blog will not take responsibility for the wonton destruction of other people's property.

I found a couple of golden nuggets in this chapter on creativity in Martha Beck's book, "The Joy Diet." The first nugget is Martha Beck's suggestion to conceptualize and write down at least one new, concrete idea that will help you obtain something your heart desires. This is a great idea for if you don't take any steps, how can you make things happen?

The second nugget is a truth I discovered on my own around six years ago when my ex-husband and I separated. We really weren't a good match and to make matters worse, he had some serious anger management issues. What I take away from all of it was how much of what "I took" -- you see I permitted it. In some way, I created the situation. Now this doesn't take him off the hook for his behavior but I now see how I didn't have to live with it as long as I did, nor will I *EVER* give up my peaceful life to such behavior.

I have a confession, I really can't stand Martha Beck's writing style. I'm particularly peeved any time she makes a list and it never fails the last item on the list is something random. It appears that the random item is selected to be far out, cute, funny. Her awkward sense of humor doesn't work for me.

Now I'm a highly creative person, one who regularly taps into this infinite well of creative ideas. As I read through Beck's suggestions, I grew so irritable that I decided to name her writing style (and some of her ideas) as the enemy.

I pulled out my black gesso, white gesso, scissors, and glitter. You know I felt so much better as I was defacing the pages that had ideas that I hated. I'm laughing so hard right now thinking about the irony -- how this book on finding *JOY* illicit such a dark response from me. Oh this is too much.

I'm not likely to look at these pages again, unless I did something about it.

This is just it, Beck's list of activities are only suggestions. They may work for you and I'd love to hear if they did. For me pulling out some paint and getting messy is a great way to work out my ideas and feelings.

Ironically, I didn't participate in the "Wreck this Journal" blog book group this summer. I bought the book and was all set but I didn't feel moved. I'm laughing as I write this because you know it felt so great to wreck the pages of this chapter.

I feel a bit justified too, for you see there is evidence...

...that this is a workbook. Who said that we had to stay within the lines?

I hope I didn't offend any of my fellow Joy Seekers who are participating in Jamie Ridler's blog book group. I do think there are great ideas throughout the book. I hope if you don't like an idea that you take the good parts and then get creative with how you want to adopt it. I can't wait to hear your reaction.

If you are looking to get your creative juices flowing one place I *HIGHLY* recommend is Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Challenge Blog. Just looking at Michelle's suggestions and how each participant plays with the idea is sure to get your creative bones dancing. This month's challenge is to work with black journal pages. My headstone page started off pretty black but lightened with all of the layers of white gesso that I stamped on. CLICK HERE to visit the GPP Crusade #34.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Carpe Diem! Seize the day and learn something new.

When I read Michelle Ward's challenge for September, "Learn Something New" I smiled and said, "that's easy, I'm always learning new stuff." In the last two years I've taken three classes between the local art institute and museum art center including digital photography, making art with Photoshop, and mixed media painting. I've taken four workshops and five online workshops. I even offered my first online workshop this summer that was a huge hit with 42 participants from 5 countries and I'm gearing up for two workshops starting this week. One is on "personal retreats" featuring a fun art journaling project where participants can make their very own retreat houses. The second workshop is a re-run of the Vision Card/Vision Journal workshop.

Although I've taken to offering some of my own workshops, I don't slow down on learning new things. I'm a committed life-long learner. Pictured above is my first painting using Chinese brush painting techniques. We started with practicing the word chrysanthemum and then painted them. This is one of four flowers taught in the Sumi-e tradition. The four flowers follow the seasons - chrysanthemums in the fall, bamboo in the winter, plum blossoms in the spring, and orchid in the summer. Our instructor Bruce Iverson shared some history and taoist philosophy as well as his deep love for the art. I was so impressed with how easily he made each brush stroke look. I have a lot of practice to do! I'm eager to carve out some quiet time for myself to practice.

This summer I started Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) lessons and I continue with the lessons this fall. I absolutely love this art form. Pictured above is my more recent arrangement. To see all of my arrangements so far, CLICK HERE.

The classes that I'm taking these days are bringing me back to my interest in Chinese and Japanese art forms and philosophy. I have so many things I want to learn and practice! In addition to learning the Asian calligraphy I'm interested in Western calligraphy and typography. I have some lovely books that show illuminated letters and other books that show so many beautiful scripts. I'm searching for a good instructor nearby as I know the best way to learn is from a good teacher.

Like many of my creative friends, there never seems to be enough time to do all the things I want to do. When I look back over the last couple of years, I can see that I haven't wasted my time. I've learned and shared so much. It is in the sharing, the exchanging of ideas and techniques that I find so much pleasure. Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team blog is a great hub for creatives to meet and greet. I encourage you to swing by there to see what other creatives are learning.

Cheers to seizing the day and learning something new!

Kathryn Antyr

RELATED LINKS:

Michelle Ward's GPP Crusade No. 33

Bruce Iverson, Chinese Brush Painting

Ikebana Flower

Creative Every Day

GPP #30 - Journal Each Day ~ It's the best medicine

Many thanks to all of the crusaders who stopped by and left comments on my handwriting and custom brushes (see my previous post). Some friends commented on how they find it hard to find things to write about in their journals. I felt the same way when I first started to blog. When I look back at those early entries, the writing was timid and dry. In the last year my writing now flows and I have an endless supply of topics and ideas - too many to record as I juggle a busy schedule of working full-time as a single mother. How did my confidence in my writing grow? By writing everyday! Julia Cameron urges her readers in "The Artist's Way" to journal every morning. I look forward to this time and have discovered that I dip into a deep well of ideas every time that I do.

Each day I receive an inspiration quote from the Henri Nouwen Society. I couldn't believe it when the quote appeared in my in-box titled, "Writing, Opening a Deep Well." I just had to share this with the other crusaders who struggle with writing. Henri says it perfectly when he writes, "But much good writing emerges from the process of writing itself." You may not be a morning person and in that case I suggest you find "your best time" to quietly sit and write three full pages. My morning pages journal is a simple notebook - it isn't anything fancy or expensive. When I start writing it may begin with mundane and routine things but within a few sentences the river starts flowing and I explore so many ideas.

But wait...look what else came in the mail this week, another Henri Nouwen reflection:

Look he did it again! He appeared in my in-box with words that reflect the power of writing and sharing our words with others. I have been touched beyond measure by comments and e-mails that I have received from bloggers the world over. I've taken risks when I share my journey and my personal stories. The risks have been worth it. This feedback has inspired me to keep creating and writing. I feel blessed that I've been a source of inspiration and consolation for so many. In turn the response to my writing has given me more than you can know. I thank you for reading!

Serendipity Strikes Again!
And just when I thought lady luck struck only twice look what came in today: Merriam-Websters word of the day is "chirography."

I nearly fell off my chair at work when I read the word of the day. Now how cool is this? The connections keep happening!

For more inspiration check out Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team challenge. This month it is all about using our own handwriting in our journals.

GPP #30 - Cat Got Your Tongue

Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Challenge this month is to play with our own handwriting. I've been doing a lot of art journaling in the last several months and have plenty of examples of my own handwriting. I've been craving more time playing digitally. My goal this year is to combine my handi-work with my digital play.

For this challenge I scanned a page from a notebook, digitally erased the lines, and then made a brush in Photoshop. Pictured above are three Photoshop brushes that I made: Play, me-flower, and Collage Diva signature. What fun! By creating a brush with my own handwriting it is easy to change the color and size. I also love that I now have my Collage Diva signature loaded in my brush library - now I can just stamp it onto my artwork before saving it for the Web. Woot!

Here is a look at the original journal page that was the source for my new brushes.



Check out Michelle Ward's GPP blog and visit the other crusaders. There are so many creative bloggers who join in on the challenges each month. You are in for a treat as you stroll through the blog roll.

GPP #28 - Damask Remix

In January, Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team challenge was to pick a shape and play with it. I played with the damask shape and you can see my results HERE. I loved the shape and the new colors that I played with but I was not happy with the composition of my journal page. I tried to brush it off and say, "Oh I'm just playing." But each time  flipped through my journal I stopped on these pages and felt big sighs.

Michelle's February challenge was the perfect solution. She suggests we look at "portion control" with our new shape diet (she is so clever). Showing some of the shape is far more intriguing and interesting than the whole thing. I tore out my journal page and started cutting it up into hearts and birds. Wow! I now love my page.

Check out these before and after shots - Damask Before and Damask Remixed!

Cool, eh? Now if you have a journal page that you look at and go, "eh." My advice is to pull out some scissors and start cutting!

Related Links:
GPP Street Team Challenge #28
Creative Everyday

GPP #27 - My Shape Crush

Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Crusade No. 27 is to pick a new shape and to play with it.

I decided to look for a new shape and headed to Michael's where I discovered my shape in the dollar bin.

As I walked around the store I found other stamps and stencils. The gorgeous paper was found at my favorite store Absolutely Everything in Topsfield, MA.

And check out these holiday crackers that I found! There were only $4! I just love those post-Christmas sales.

I played with the stamps that I purchased. I took some time to trace the edges and color in one of the shapes. There are so many variations found in damask. Tracing the edges helped me to get familiar with these three shapes.

On this page I layered the background with some tissue paper that I had. I'm really finding the damask patterns everywhere! I decided to work in blues and whites since this is the January color theme at Artsy Mama's "A Year of Color." This is a new color scheme for me. I used the stencils and stamps from my recent purchases.

I shuffled through my papers and found some examples to make this little sampler. I broke open a couple of those holiday crackers to include the wrapper on this page.

My work with damask has only just begun. I look forward to studying the shape more closely to make my own stamps and stencils.

When Michelle first posted this challenge I was all smiles. Each week I post an art journal prompt for the Soul Journal project and I had planned for this week a look at finding our "defining or power" images for 2009. Pictured above is the details of how damask made it to my soul journal. To see more about this project, CLICK HERE.

Holiday 2008 Scent

If you could label one scent for this holiday season, one that will be remembered as the scent for 2008, what would it be? This was the GPP Street Team crusade from Michelle Ward. I wanted to find a scent that I will associate with this particular season. I set out in search of it and when I was least expecting it, the scent found me. This was the first time I purchased a votive candle in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and didn't really pay attention to the fact that it was scented until I was burning it and a hint of rose filled the room.

Rose is the color for Our Lady of Guadalupe and I'm sure this ties in with the third Sunday of Advent  when you burn the rose candle {I'm not Catholic but my job gives me ample opportunity to learn these facts.} On the night of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe we also had a full moon. Another connection is the special significance the rose has for Michelle Ward. All signs seem to point to the rose as the scent for the season, at least while my candle has wick left to burn.

I've been missing my digital play and decided to design a digital journal entry. I photographed the candle and worked with layers. I just love the power of Photoshop. I had so much fun taking these photos and playing with them.

Read more:
Visit GPP Street Team Challenge #26

Creative Day #17
Visit Creative Every Day

GPP #25 - Gesso Resist

Today I took up the Green Pepper Press (GPP) Challenge #25. Michelle Ward hosts a monthly challenge and this month it is about using gesso as a resist.

I use gesso to prep journal pages. I love how I can transform ordinary paper into a canvas. I've observed some of it's qualities but have never thought to intentionally apply it using sponges, stamps, or stencils.

FIRST SAMPLE

Here are the steps for the first sample shown:

1. Apply a layer of gesso to a piece of paper.
2. Apply a wash of hot pink paint. I used a lot of water and acrylic paint.
3. Apply gesso using a sponge stamp.
4. Brush yellow paint and buff with a paper towel. The yellow mixes with the pink turning the background orange. The white gesso swirls turn yellow.
5. Apply a wash of red paint and buff. This brings out more of the pink color.

I allowed the page to dry in between each step. I love the build up of gesso - it creates a fantastic texture.

SECOND SAMPLE

In the second example the same steps were used above only different colors were used.

Burnt sienna and red were the colors used with some lumiere paint applied towards the bottom of the page.

The gesso pattern was applied using a stencil.

THIRD SAMPLE

I wanted to see how the build up of gesso looked under a rubber stamp. The same crown stamp was used to stamp on gesso and later the black ink. I like the texture and relief effect.

Visit the GPP Challenge page to see what other talented artists are trying with this technique.

Painting papers is a great warm up exercise. I not only get some great papers to work with in future projects, but I also get inspired to keep creating. Today I've been working on two paintings. Stay tuned!

What are you doing today to be creative?

Visit Creative Every Day.