Creative Minds Need to Rest

Did you ever have a period of time in your creative mind where it all comes to a screeching halt? One goes along merrily creating, being in the groove and there doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to get all of your projects completed, and then--------WHAM---it comes to a stop. Just as if a huge stop sign popped up on the road when you are driving, and it demands you to lean on the brakes. What causes that? Are other influences in one's life dictating this change? Have you already "used up" all the creativity that you have? Are you just tired?
It seems when one gets stubborn and says to themselves, 'I will just work through it' whatever you work on just doesn't turn out the way you would have liked it to. So, you look at the piece you have just finished and ask yourself, 'now why did I even bother to try to do this?'
Perhaps when that happens, the best thing to do is just put it gently away for awhile. Maybe read a book, have coffee with friends, visit a gallery, or something else that might have been nagging at you in the back of your mind for some time now and you have been ignoring it. A little R&R seems to be in order here. Although, to me R&R means rest and rejuvenation, I would hate to think that this would be the end of the creative life.
Somehow, I don't believe that would ever end in someone who lives, breaths and sleeps the process.
What do you do when that happens to you? I know that every time I talk with another artist or go to an Art Boutique (and by the way if you hare looking for inspiration, I know a perfect spot called Seranya Studios Art Boutique in Plymouth, WI. There are over twenty artist featured there and one can feel the vibes of creativity) one's attitude shifts and you can feel the stirrings of the next adventure into the art world.
Share with us what you do to get through that phase of emptiness.


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Something of the ordinary

Sometimes I can't help but think that the best of days are the days where nothing extraordinary happens, but the day rolls along with all the wonderful ordinary things. Having the ordinary tends to make one see and appreciate the extraordinary. Have you ever taken a simple item and thought, "how can I change this or enhance it to make it into something else?" Is this something that artists do, or is it something everyone does? I tend to believe everyone does it to some extent or another. How does one color, or stroke of a brush, or a word on paper change the whole prospect of the outcome?
As I was disgusted at all of the leaves falling in the yard, and the thought of having to rake them all off of the lawn, I took a minute to realize how each one was so beautiful in its own way. I picked up one leaf, then two, and then all of a sudden had a whole basket full. And it was so pretty with all the colors and different shapes. Now, from turning the thought around of having to rake all of these leaves, to thinking I want to pick them all up was a thought that made me smile. The basket of leaves was pretty, but they would soon dry up and I would have to throw them away.
How could I change that process, and what tools would I need to accomplish that? Having plenty of canvas boards handy from my attempts at oil painting, I decided to adhere the leaves to the canvas and surround them in oil colors that remind me of fall. Knowing the leaves would decay the way there were, I decided to dip them in Mod Podge, and that in turn would adhere them to the canvas. After that was totally dry, I brought out the oil colors of fall. The bright oranges, reds, golds and yellows. Then before the paint dried, this big old spider crawled in, so I left him there. :D
So, this ordinary leaf that I was dreading raking up, was incorporated into a piece of art that will be enjoyed. It might not be your particular choice of art, but it is a representation of metamorphosis art--turning an ordinary leaf and changing it.
Take a look around you and decide how you could change one ordinary item and make it expressive in whatever medium you like. Share with us your creations. And, if you haven't stopped down at Seranya Studios Art Boutique lately, do yourself a favor and come on in the see the work of several new artists. Some are fabulous in taking the ordinary and turning it into extraordinary.


Stay tuned.

Happiness IS

Happiness is seeing all the wonderful scarecrows that line the Mill Street of downtown Plymouth, WI.
While driving into work Tuesday morning and coming down the hill to turn onto Mill Street, my heart smiled when I saw the scarecrows lining both sides of the street as if to say, "welcome to my town, I know you will like it too."
This task of making and stuffing all of those scarecrows was truly a task of love accomplished by the community and assembled at Seranya Studios Art Boutique. A very loud shout out to Susan Radke who organized this adventure and saw it through. With the support of the whole community and Susan stuffing all the heads for the scarecrows, the mission was completed so that all of us could enjoy them. They were finished in time for the Plymouth High School homecoming this weekend and will line the parade route.
These are the things I love about small town America.
The other merchants on Mill Street also contributed many hours of work into this project and we salute them for their part.
If you can all take a ride down Mill Street and let your heart smile I would greatly recommend it. The downtown area is growing and evolving into a great place to stop,shop,
make new friends, revisit old friends and just take in all the wonder of fall and the feel
of that small town America.
A special thanks to Jackie of Allechant, Gina of Maggie's Closet, Mike Jarvis (Susan's husband) and Kathy Cooney who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make all of this possible.
The excitement in the air in Plymouth for the season makes one wish they were back in high school experiencing the joy of the homecoming weekend.  No matter what your age, you
can still be young at heart and take in all there is to offer.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh--life is good.


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Thankful

I, for one, am thankful for all the gardening tips we received last week because by following them I got to have more play time among my "stash" collection. A double shout out to Susan Radke for those fabulous tips. I will (almost) be looking forward to seeing snow on the stems of the cone flowers.
While digging through my collection I cam across some knitting needs and yarn that I purchased probably five years ago and it triggered a longing in me to do something with it. After all, it is fall, it is getting chillier out and the days are getting shorter again, so what better time to get "comfy" and do some knitting.
The big problem that came up was, what do I want to knit? Could it be a sweater? Or how about a cape or maybe scarves for Christmas presents.  With that though, I heard a silent
groan from my family....Ugh, no more scarves please.
Ok, time to google knit patterns and see what pops out that just has to be knit. Gosh, do you realize the number of websites that are connected to knitting? How many blogs, books, patterns, etc. there are? If I read all of them, there wouldn't be any time for knitting.
The things I need to consider are, do I want a quick project, a fancy project, or perhaps one I can just relax with and also carry on a conversation or watch TV while I am knitting.
What do you prefer when you are working?
Somehow, I always dream of creating this "out of this world gorgeous" garment that will have everyone oohing and aahing--but alas, that will remain just a dream. When it gets right down to it, I like to be able to keep my hands busy, create something and yet my mind wander and wonder about everything else under the sun. One can get into a zen-like trance and still be creating--perhaps that is the best benefit of all.
How do you approach your creations?
Got to run, Knit 1 Purl 1 is running through my brain.


Stay tuned.