Self-Portrait Tuesday-All of Me 4

Studio Friday on Thursday!

For those who know me well, this will be quite the shock---I've completed a project ahead of schedule! This week's Studio Friday challenge: search the studio for things old, new, borrowed and blue. So, let's see: the little cabinets with the drawers are the newest addition to my studio "furnishings." They were purchased to help me reorganize some of the "stuff" that had gotten so out of control in here. (The reorganization project was spurred on by my SF entry two weeks ago!) I was surprised that I found so little blue in here---not even old tubes of paint! But then there is my little Polaroid camera with the blue case. The real treasure is the "old & borrowed." It is a family photo album that I borrowed from my mother so I could scan photos and memorabilia to use as collage material. The most recent photos in it were taken during the Depression. I've had this in my possession for some time now, so I don't know if you could still consider that it's borrowed, or it I have just simply absorbed it into my collection of "stuff!" (Mom, I hope you're not reading this.....)

It feels so nice to be ahead of schedule for a change. Thanks, Andrea, for suggesting this one! 

Self-Portrait Tuesday--All of Me #3

Last week my "all of me" SPT entry was something I like about myself. This week, it's something I don't like about myself. I often crawl into my bed and sleep to escape: my thoughts, my responsibilities, my life. Sometimes it seems like too much to deal with.

Studio Friday---What's Your Poison?

This week"s challenge: name yer poison, pardner! What's my drink of choice while working in my studio? From the looks of things just about any old poison'll do!

What I take into the studio with me varies by mood and time of day. Early mornings: a big mug of French or Italian roast coffee with a touch of cream. What I drink from is just as important as what I'm drinking. A good, thick ceramic mug with a handle that feels "just right" in my hand. Later in the day I might have-----yikes!-----a can of Coke. Evenings find me drinking tea: usually herbal or decaf. And which tea depends on my mood and the time of year: when it's cold (like right now!) I want something spicy: Market Spice is my fave, decaf Earl Grey comes next. In warmer weather, or if I've just had a meal, I want something lighter: lemongrass, mint, or my favorite herbal blend, Evening in Missoula. Again, what I drink from is just as important. My best cup for tea is the little hand-thrown ceramic mug next to the Numi tea.

At this moment, I'm savoring the aroma of French roast and occasionally wrapping my hands around the mug to enjoy its warmth!

Drink up!

SPT All Of Me 2

I seek new experiences.

Spaghetti Sauce Inspiration

This is my ATC for the valentine swap. Vague ideas swam thru my mind, but no clear images were coming to me. And then I opened the jar of spaghetti sauce. There, on the lid, was my inspiration! "Share what's inside," it said. Things started clicking into place, and here it is!

Studio Friday---Fear

I fear chaos and loss of control. There is a space in my studio that is out of control. Because I don't have time, take time, or make time to gain control over it, I turn my head and deny its existence.

Mid-winter gift to myself

My friend Patti does the most amazing quilts. I purchased this one from one of her recent shows. Although it's hard to see in this photo, the colors are fabulous and work perfectly together. Patti is incredibly talented, and I get excited when she brings a new batch for "show and tell."

Sleeping on it

Sometimes I manage to amaze myself! I spent an hour or so last night wrestling with, yelling at, and being out-smarted by my computer.............trying to add links to this blog. I finally gave up, went to bed, and abruptly awoke at 4 a.m. with the thought, "OHHHHHHHHH, so that's how you do that!" I don't know how that works, but whatever it was that came to me was absolutely correct. Sometimes small successes are reason to celebrate!

All of Me SPT

Although I don't like to admit it, I often feel chaotic and disorganized.

Indulgence

These are the books I ordered last night from Amazon. I call it an indulgence, but these are the things that nourish my artist's soul. Now I await the arrival of the goodies that will be a feast for my eyes and spirit!

By accident........Studio Friday

This is a corner of a piece I did for one of my daughters as a gift. I used a photo of a painting she did many years ago, printed it on fabric, and began stitching, adding beads, glitter and paper. The "accident" occurred when I glued pieces of marbled paper to the fabric then decided I hated the way it looked. I ripped the paper away, leaving just portions of it on the fabric (the rust-colored areas). I loved how it looked, so began gluing, drying and ripping up.

Those "accidents" stretch and challenge my creativity!

Pesky growth experiences

One of my favorite artists is Brian Andreas (www.storypeople.com). I have two of his sculptures and two prints. The first sculpture I got has this story: "I finally got to exactly where I wanted to be, she said, so why won't all these growth experiences go away and leave me alone?" Yes, indeed!

When will I learn? Will I ever learn? I spent the better part of a day doing some collages for notecards. I offered some of my art work for a silent auction fundraiser for the agency where I work. All I got for my efforts was a huge mess. Nothing was going together right, things were crooked, and I finally threw in the towel. I am donating, instead, a handmade paper piece I did years ago---something that I like, something that has some quality to it.

The growth experience, the lesson in all this, is something that slaps me in the face with some regularity. If I try to force something, if I try to create something that is not authentically "me," the process is a struggle and unending frustration. The end result is something that I am far from happy with. The end result is something I want to throw in the trash.

When I look at what I attempted the other day and compare those results (and the entire experience) with other work I've done, the differences are obvious to me. And when I compare the creative experiences, one is of frustration while the other is one of excitement and pleasure.

I suppose what it comes down to is this: I can't do, and be happy with, what is not genuinely "me."