"Life isn't about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself."
— George Bernard Shaw
Oh, do I love your inspiration Georgie!
I think I am in a perpetual George Bernard Shaw state of mind.
Exploring~ creating~ exploring~ creating.
So I've had this burning desire to use the backgrounds I painted.
Funny, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach them.
I got to thinking perhaps my watercolors
would look interesting collaged on top.
(With other interesting things of course...)
I tried laying one of my pears on top...
Wasn't sure if the colors worked, or if would even look good-
but after looking at it a while,
I'm feeling it may have potential.
I don't know about you,
but I have this habit of having to look at the steps I am taking,
for a while, and then continuing on.
It's a broken up process for sure, but I've never been able to crank out pieces.
I am not really sure if that's a good thing or not.
There's a rhythm to my process, that is like a dance...
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think...
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think...
hmmm... maybe a visual cha cha cha!
How about you?
What kind of process do you go through when you create?
We all have one~
much like the individuality of our strokes on the canvas,
the medium that we choose to work with,
and the things that "move us to create".
Exploring~ creating~ exploring~ creating.
So I've had this burning desire to use the backgrounds I painted.
Funny, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach them.
I got to thinking perhaps my watercolors
would look interesting collaged on top.
(With other interesting things of course...)
I tried laying one of my pears on top...
Wasn't sure if the colors worked, or if would even look good-
but after looking at it a while,
I'm feeling it may have potential.
but I have this habit of having to look at the steps I am taking,
for a while, and then continuing on.
It's a broken up process for sure, but I've never been able to crank out pieces.
I am not really sure if that's a good thing or not.
There's a rhythm to my process, that is like a dance...
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think...
take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think...
hmmm... maybe a visual cha cha cha!
How about you?
What kind of process do you go through when you create?
We all have one~
much like the individuality of our strokes on the canvas,
the medium that we choose to work with,
and the things that "move us to create".
ahhh... but the best part of today's post is
my g r a t e f u l giveaway...
my g r a t e f u l giveaway...
I've been wanting to do a giveaway
of one of my more recent birdie houses.
I have been overwhelmed with the encouragement,
the cheering on of my journey,
and the ever so kind comments that everyone has been leaving.
So it is with much g r a t i t u d e, that I am going to offer
the item below, as a sweet giveaway
for all of that kind support, friends.
To participate, become a follower of my blog
(and thanks in advance if you already are).
Leave a comment, and tell me what your inspirational words would be...
because, if your name is drawn,
I will personalize this birdie house with those very words.
One lucky winner will be posted Friday September 2nd.
thank-you friends!
What a beautiful post, Valerie! I haven't given it a lot of thought, but my creative process is similar to yours- take some steps~ stop~ observe~ feel~ think.
ReplyDeleteThe word that has been rolling around in my head lately is connect or connection, as in to God, myself and others. I also love peace, love, joy, and beauty.
I love your beautiful birdhouse. And I would love to have it in my studio with me!
Melissa
Valerie, just like you I am not able to crank out one piece after the other. Some of my pieces take a long time and I need to go away from them in between. Some work like clockwork. Some go into a completely new direction and turn up as something different. It's interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am with Mark Twain and his "20 years from now" quote. "Explore. Dream. Discover."
I love your birdhouses - and I am already a follower.
Dearest sweet Valerie, i am very much like you as well when it comes to my creative process. My pieces usually take a long time and plunging each stitch with lots of love and care. Sometimes the end result would turn out a little different from my initial design. I always have such fun and kick during the process.
ReplyDeleteYour bird painting is just so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your process with us. I always find that part very inspiring and interesting.
Your beautiful birdhouse is gorgeous and i treasure the one i have from you. Every time i look at it, it always make me smile and feel like you are there for me always. :)
I would love to have one of your bigger birdhouse perch in my little studio and i will have to go with the quote by Marisa of creative Thursday: "I am a Thriving Artist"
Have a lovely merry happy week sweet friend! Love to you!
I love your watercolors on that canvas, Valerie! Juicy color! I never know how a project is going to go. Sometimes the work flows and there is no stopping until I am done. Many times it is slow work - with lots of stops in between to pray for inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI am already a follower and would love to win one of your pretty birdhouses! Inspiring words, hmmmm. . . how about, "see beauty".
Have a blessed week, Valerie!
Lovely post Valerie, I have just found your blog (and become a follower) via Facebook Magically Mixed Media group and love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar process to you. I usually stop even if for a short while to get a cuppa so that I can see where I am going with a piece, whether it is evoking the feeling that I want and whether it is changing from my original plan (if I had one). Art journaling has helped me shorten this process sometimes but generally it is done in stages.
I have just quickly had a peak at your birdhouses and find them delightful.
My favourite art quote for inspiration is
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures"
Thanks for a great giveaway
Lee:)
for me it is about working quickly before my girl wants to come in and "help mommy!" LOL
ReplyDeleteLovely work as always Miss Valerie!
Sweet post...
ReplyDeleteI unsually find my inspiration from GOD, NATURE, or color. I like exploring techniques and try to just have fun with it. If i get stuck, i put the piece down for awhile and try and revisit it later.
DARE TO BELIEVE is the quote i live by today...who knows where my head will be tomorrow?!
Love and Blessing to you!
You know... It makes me crazy that blogger doesn't let you respond to a comment individually- so here goes a L O N G thank-you response. :D
ReplyDeleteTo everyone... thank-you thank-you~ it means the world to me that each of you left such uplifting comments and that many of you check in and visit here regularly. It adds so much to this art journey, to hear from other's and know that we all have similarities in our processes. I can't believe how inspiring it has been to read these comments.
I particularly love the choice of words, that each person shared, and would want to use on a birdhouse, if they won. It actually makes me want to do a piece of art, with a compilation of all of the words left here in the future.
Thanks everyone for always being "TRUE" and "SUPPORTIVE"... I'll be picking a winner by end of day tomorrow~ and a name will be posted by Sunday.
I am truly blessed by all of you!