Creative Day

I'm sick with a cold right now, but I decided it was important to carve out some creative time anyway. I know how easy it is to let it slide and have weeks go by without any soul art time. I also know what that does to me - not good. My son was in good hands with his nana and I snuck away to my studio. I'm so glad I did. I feel rejuvenated and inspired, and completely ready to rest now.  I painted; I illustrated some new patterns and made my own art papers; I listened to Bjork; and the sun was even streaming into my studio while I worked which is unusual for Vancouver - kind of my perfect day.

 

[ A work in progress ]

 

 [ My pattern and art paper explorations ]

With a contented exhale I'm off to rest,

Sassy Sketches

 

[ Two fun sketches I did recently on my reading retreat. I'm excited to see what they turn into when I incorporate them into new paintings. ] 

Sketching is so relaxing for me, almost meditative. I get lost in another world and when I come out there is a new creation in front of me. For whatever reason I stopped sketching for a lot of years, and it's only recently that I rekindled my love for it. I'm also embracing it as a great practical tool to take an idea and develop it off the canvas, and later bring it back to my painting.

I keep thinking it would be great to incorporate sketching into my daily routine. Maybe one day I'll get there. In the meantime I'll be happy with doing what I can. That's all we can do at the end of the day isn't it.

xo

Inspiring Reading Retreat

I was lucky enough this week to spend two days and nights away on a reading retreat with a great friend and professional colleague. We read, talked, brainstormed, inspired, laughed and slept. It was an intense time of self-reflection, business dreaming, research, planning, and creative exploration. I am exhausted and exhilarated. I feel like the ideas and projects that make my soul happy got the attention they deserve. And I'm back in my studio again, tackling all my wonderful client projects and personal projects with revitalized energy.

One particular book really stood out for me:

Grow Your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop and Sustain a Successful Creative Business, by Kari Chapin

I love Kari's creative approach to business planning and dreaming. Hers is the first business book I've successfully read cover to cover. She focuses on all the right things for creatives; pursuing your passion, determining what's a hobby vs a business, developing your mission statement/ purpose, time management, writing a business plan, and so on. A great book.

Thank you self. That break was just what I needed.

Doily Heaven

I bought a few vintage doilies on ebay and etsy recently. They are so much fun to use for texturing backgrounds.

There has been a creative burst and a new painting is emerging with these...

Lots of gratitude and happiness!

Tea Motif!

There hasn't been a lot of time for creating lately, but with stolen moments here and there I've had some fun extending my tea motif to greeting cards and more paintings. New supplies have added to the fun.

I ripped up yogi egyptian licorice mint tea pouches for these ones. 

I've been experimenting with adhering glitter so it's really on there & doesn't shake off easily. It seems Golden regular gel medium and workable fixatif are the magic combo.

Isn't it neat to see how far a motif can go?

Happy V-Day!

I used to feel Valentine's day was a manufactured holiday. Now I've really come to love it. It's a day we can give ourselves permission to stop the chaos and simply enjoy each other. It's fun teaching our young son that it's a day about showing others we love them, and thinking about others before ourselves. We made valentines for his friends and preschool teachers and special heart cookies with sprinkles (gluten free, but still yummy). He was pretty thrilled with it all.

I hope you and your loved ones have a great Valentine's day!

Creative Happenings

Creative happenings around here lately: I finished my surrender girl - she has come alive with rosy cheeks and a beaded scarf floating in the breeze. I'm really happy with how this piece turned out, and the process was wonderful – such a journey of personal introspection.

I've been experimenting with mounting my art prints onto wood blocks/panels. I'm giving each one a unique hand-finished touch including book paper sides, stamping/ ribbon/ glitter etc added after the print is mounted. I love this because it gives them that unique feel of an original. Also, I've done a bit more hand-carving of my own stamps. The one pictured here is a simple scallop stamp for edging. Fun. 

I love integrating small jewels, buttons and other 3D embellishments into my art. Here are a few new ones I've collected and am playing around with.

Creative play is such a big part of my soul-time. I love experimenting with new things and letting the process unfold organically. My studio is usually a mad mess after the creative storm, and I feel ALIVE! It's a beautiful thing. I bet you know exactly what I mean.

With creative energy and happiness,

Teacups!

A neat little number I'm working on right now. Teacups. Designed digitally with pen tablet, then turning them into motifs, making my own papers, and using them in my art. 

Illustrations from the heart

My latest creative explorations, hand-illustrated with my wacom intuos pen tablet.

One minute I was on task, working on an illustration project, and the next this lovely creature and these inspirations and textures were pouring out of me. When creativity hits I can't turn my back! They print really nicely too – I just did a few high quality runs. I think they'll be fun to carry in my shop.

Work is flowing right now, with lots of fun and inspiring design projects filling my days. Isn't it a great feeling when things are aligned? If only for a brief moment, we must enjoy it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

p.s. it's friday! That means it's time to check out all the posts from other creatives in the "Fearless Fridays" clan. Supporting each other to overcome our fears and pursue our dreams.