A Whimsical Bohemian

Digging Deep

 I am amidst of wave of change.........a change in my perspective......finding new inspiration, broadening my scope, dipping in to the vast seas of various artistic possibilities and also of life. Even though I am proud of the things I paint/create it's merely a wee part of the things I can do or would like to tackle.  My hands are itching to twist some wire or sew a stitch or hammer a nail or mold some clay or play with photos or suddenly be completely and utterly inspired by something I find I can do by mere trial and error.  I don't want to be a stagnant artist - a one note - I have always been someone who wants to do everything...right now! BUT with the overwhelming desire to do that comes a bit of a muddle as I think "which thing should I do first?" Ye olde monkey brain where the monkey doesn't just sit in one tree for a while, oh no, it has to keep going from vine to vine so fast it's a blur. There aren't enough hours in the day.

I want to orchestrate a symphonic bliss of creative happiness for myself by trying new "notes" and new "phrases" in various processes and challenges I give myself artistically and personally. I want the sounds I hear to be my own joy resonating through my soul. Not that my current art doesn't do that for me now but there is more in my repetoire I've not done yet or for a while for one reason or another. What am I waiting for?

I am currently in process of working on cards, folded 6 1/2 x 5 greeting cards w/envelopes with images attached to the front of things I've drawn, painted or taken a photo of. Though that is not a far reach it enables me to capture those things on a smaller scale and make them available to a broader audience.  When I have these packets completed and in my shop (and hopefully elsewhere)it will be the time I begin this feeling of reaching deepier in to the idea bank in my head.

It's all part of the process. Many people don't want to stay in just one single place....we all need to move around in our artistic worlds with our eyes wide open and our hearts receptive to new and adventurous inspirations.  It's trial and error.....it's trying to do something new that may, in fact, fail.....but at least you tried. Then one wonderous moment it happens.....the planets align, the Universe is smiling and there it is.......whatever it is you've done......and you just know it's right.

Things in life can leave you feeling half empty sometimes......things can come at you with the speed of a comet when you least expect it. (as has happened in my family recently) It can change your personal and artistic course for a time while you deal with whatever it is or heal from whatever it was. This we cannot avoid. It is what we do afterwards that makes the greatest difference.

With love and the hope you will always challenge yourself to reach for the stars!

Lisa

 

Celebrating Christmas and a Friends Birthday on the same day.......with ART to share

Hello all, I trust you all had a good holiday whatever you did and whomever you were with. It's hard to believe it's over but if I am to be honest with you, I'm somewhat glad. December is a tough month for me as it's a time of remembering and missing my Mom even more and my oldest brother and all the raucaous family gatherings of yore.  BUT it is what it is and we got through it - thanks in large part to going to our friends on Christmas day....they may not be family by blood but they are family nonetheless and it made the day very special.

They are our dear friends June and Ray. This is the second year we have gone to their home for Christmas in the lovely Santa Cruz mountains.

(I borrowed this above photo from her blog of their beautiful tree and just some of the decorations) 

So BohoHandyman and I made and brought 4 quiches of various kinds and 5 loaves of pumpkin bread......these served as appetizers and were nearly all scarfed down right after we put them out. (that's always a compliment) We actually made 6 of each but kept a couple quiches and one bread at home. The house was busy with people and cooking and a lovely table set when we arrived.

There were 12 people for dinner that included us... Ray and June, June's parents who came to stay for the first time from Nevada - it was wonderful finally meeting them, both are so sweet and her Mom is a very talented needlepointer and plans to join in OWOA in Feb..... one of her sisters (who I hadn't met before either) came for the first time as well and she is a crack up......There was also Ray's Dad

who is as spry and sharp as a tack, still lives alone and drives over the hill..... and he is 92!!!! (the above photo was taken last Christmas while we played a game, he's wearing one of the party hats I brought for June's birthday that year) After meeting him I formed a mad crush. Sadly I didn't take photos this year...I was just too busy visiting.

Ray's 3 grown kids were there too......and Ray's best friend Mark (who I've come to consider a good guy friend) and us. It was a great group.Their home was decorated up beautifully, the long table set so lovely and all the food was served with love.

 But that's not all we celebrated that day, you see June was born on Christmas Day so of course that is celebrated separately......later after dinner Ray brought out the cutest snowman cake made by a friend of theirs (sorry you can't see the front of him but he had a real carrot nose and real twigs for arms)...

The other cake was made by Ray with three snowmen atop and a big # "2" candle instead of a bunch of candles. He used a 2 to celebrate it was their second birthday/Christmas together. How sweet! I was so chomping at the bit to give her my gift ALL day but I waited....we did the singing, the cake and she opened other gifts first and then......

(By the way for those of you who have done One World One Heart over the years.....Ray and June are a love connection that came from the 2010 OWOH event. She had wanted to set up a blog AND be a part of OWOH after hearing about it for so long...so that year she did. A blogger in Montana who "met" June through OWOH that year saw where June lived and informed her she had a male friend who also lived in June's area and thought perhaps they'd be a good match. She and Ray ended up emailing one another, finally met in person.....and the rest is history. How about that? I laugh that I am responsible for them meeting in a six degrees of separation sort of way) Anyway.........

Insteading of wrapping the doll I set her in a plastic bucket padded at the bottom and lined in a garbage bag then surrounded her and covered her with a towel. When it came time for June to "open it" I had her close her eyes while I took it out to place her on the table. As I was placing it on the table everyone was gathered around and let out a sort of gasp sound (to my delight) which sort of freaked out June as to what the heck I was doing.  I then had her open her eyes.....she saw it,  started to cry and then grabbed me in a hug. (luckily BohoHandyman thought to grab the camera) 

(just the reaction I'd hoped for)

Here is the backstory of the gift......(before I show you)..... June is a very talented artist who in 2010 decided to do some art with more whimsy to it thus she did some watercolors of various characters. From those characters she began writing a story that has since become an entire book she is hoping to get published. I've read it and it's REALLY good....one of those characters became her favorite and THAT was what I decided to base my gift on. I studied her illustration and she began to come to life. Keep in mind even though I knew I wanted to make this for awhile I didn't start until the morning of December 20th - (talk about putting pressure on yourself and having to work on it truly 10 hours a day) But it was a labor of love. I am always tweaking and touching up and reworking so it could have even been better had I given myself more time...but she is sweet nonetheless and she giggled as she came to life (always a good sign).

click images to enlarge.

This is a closeup of her original illustration of Mathilda Wickcliff

Here is Mathilda come to life in the form of the "art doll" I created for her

This is the full illustration (I only did Mathilda)

This is the full piece.  The various elements around her represent elements/characters in the story. In her right hand she is holding up an actual leather bound book I made with the title of the actual book on the cover. The character likes to have tea parties so I have her holding a cup of tea and she LOVES her music CD's so I incorporated that too.  The stump she sits on is from our orange tree which represents the Grandfather tree in her story and the key represents a major element in the story as well. I need to have June measure the height of the entire piece (I forgot to do that) but it's definitely over a foot tall.

This is Mathilda from the back, again the items you see are representations of other characters in her book. Too long to explain each one. The back of her t-shirt says "The Musky Deers" which also comes from the story.

This is her from one side.

This element represents a part of the story where the 3 children go through a "Gateway" that is surrounded by a gel-like water. I put an LED tealight behind it for the glow - she can turn it off and on.

 The surprising (or maybe not so surprising part, is that except for one thing I had everything else in my studio stash)  It has really helped to start up the mojo again and now I plan to bring to life some of my own illustrations and perhaps for others who may want to special order a 3D image of one of their own illustrations ......... Email me if you are interested!!

After all of this we all sat and played a game I'd not heard of before - it was fun AND frustrating...... it's called What's Yours Like?....... click here and watch the video on how it's played....you may want it for your next gathering.

Well my friends this has been a LOOOONNNNNNGGGG post. I hope you are all relaxing from all the food, drink and festivities! I'm off to think about my next 3D Illustration Doll while having a slice of Mediterranean quiche.

I wish you all peace and I thank you if you read this entire post - always appreciated!

Love,

When the Line Between Inspiration and Immitation is blurred..

Many *artists are affected with a whirling vortex of an idea or ideas cramming their cranium – an idea or ideas so intense they spend hours finding ways of creating new techniques to bring that whirl to a manageable hum and create their vision. During trial and error…….mistakes and do-overs…….sleepless nights and long days they put their very heart and soul in to bringing it all to life. Bringing that image, that seed that grew to a large tangled root in to the light with a sense of self satisfaction, pride and yes, euphoria.   What can happen with this idea is that it can take on a life beyond the artist’s original whirl… a life with more stories to be told, more scenarios to unfold, more moods, more colors. The artist begins to show their work and people who see it respond to it because not only are the techniques they devised so completely original but the work speaks to an array of people on various levels of emotion. People want to own a piece,…..it soon becomes an  identifiable signature for this artist that is easily recognized as such no matter where it’s viewed.  In the blogging world this artist may not even sell the art they show but since it’s a vast open medium many people eventually find it and react….or the artist is VERY prolific not only in selling their work but in publications, teaching classes, offering tutorials or workshops outside of their blog. Whatever the circumstances are, they and their work are visible.

As artists we strive to have our own individual and authentic voice. We strive to be unique unto ourselves and those around us, to create things in such a way that puts a mark on our work making it our own identifiable signature. Every artist is inspired by something.....we search, we see, we absorb, we jot down a note, we marinate in it, we look up, we look down, we look all around. It can come from a movie, a piece of music, a lyric, a poem, a feeling….an emotion……a look back at childhood, architecture, nature….on and on. Inspiration can come from so many sources.

 Sometimes inspiration comes from another artist or artists. Someone may be inspired by the work they saw on a blog, in a gallery, in a magazine and so on. One artist may take another artists workshop, class or tutorial…..they may see them describe a certain technique in a publication or on line that inspires them.  One definition for inspiration is: “stimulation for the human mind to creative thought or to the making of art”. We all find ourselves at one time or another inspired by anothers work but inspirtaion does not give anyone license to immitate.

Art should be created with your own authentic voice, artistic passion and original thought that comes together to form a piece of art. It could be "inspired by"what they've seen others do BUT.... the end result should be from their own innate ability to bring together various elements to form a finished piece of their own.  Even learned technique should have a completely new spin put on it to make it solely their own. 

Then there is the artist who may have the ability to be original but they don't know how to use it. Because they so love what someone else has done it's all they see in their minds eye.  They may look around for inspiration, yes, but it is at the expense of another’s work. If available they may even take classes, workshops, tutorials with this admired artist. SADLY over time they begin to cross the line between inspiration and immitation adopting not only the technique but the artist’s entire style. It may be consciously or unconsciously done but the result is a reasonable facsimile of that artists original work.  To wit, they copy!   Oh it may have a change of color in some places or some new material BUT the overall.....full on......composed and devised work...is clearly anothers.  When this artist begins to showcase their unoriginal work and further begins to sell it this, to me, becomes a complete breach of artisitic ethics.  

This is why it is essential, imperative, important and crucial that everyone digs deep within themselves for that authentic artistic voice - that we all pay attention to what is inspiring us - is it our own voice we hear or someone elses? It's not the subject matter I am speaking of or even the elements used to create a piece of art....it's making sure that in the final analysis our work is the true and original OVERALL vision that came from inside.  Don't worry about the person next to you (so to speak) and what they are doing.....don't contrast and compare yourself to anyone.....don't measure your success or wanting of success by anothers. It's inside you.....it's inside all of us.  Everyone wants to learn.....we continue to learn all our lives....but you wouldn't take a poetry class and then completely rewrite a poem used as example and call it yours. Would you?

Pay close attention to that line my friends because in an instant that line between inspiration and immitation can be blurred and when it is there is no such thing as "original" thought anymore.  Don't let your zealous quest in seeking authenticity find you lip syncing to anothers original voice.

I know I am on my soapbox here but this all correlates to what I thought about when forming next years event Our World Our Art.  I don't profess to be an expert or some know-it-all mouthpiece...I just believe in keeping it real and from the heart.

Love,

Lisa

XOXO

*P. S. Please don't get hung up on the word "artist".....it's a label that covers a broad spectrum of skills that allows one to create in many different fields and with many different mediums. 

Desperately Seeking Lisa

We need to go inward instead of outward, and learn to trust our own inner guide, preserving our identity and finding the answers from within.  - Jane Fulton Alt

 
No one else but you can make your marks. Listen to your bones. Speak with your spirit. Edit with your head. Live with your heart. - Susan Holland

Sometimes I just need to

think....

mull over....

contemplate.....

regroup.....

sort out....

reprioritize......

reflect.......

ponder.....

ruminate....

meditate.....

Regarding the lull in my artistic life

right now I feel a sense of vacuity.....

NO color

NO substance

NO imagination

NO nothing.

I am an artist whose mojo has been on the fritz for a while

and right now I am seeking inspiration to get it back on track.

No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation. (Walter Bagehot)

Love,

Lisa

XOXOXO

Free Thinking Friday...... Opening up your ART

Last week I posted about not letting blogging comments define your self worth. I am not done with blogging subject …..in a manner of speaking. I’ve thought about this for awhile now…… being an artist blogger.  By simple definition an artist is a person who creates art but certainly there are various more complicated or at least more meanings than that depending on the dictionary or person who is defining it. 

Some may argue that unless you are a painter and paint like the masters you aren’t really an artist. Some may argue that any creative endeavor, regardless of medium, makes a person an artist. Some may argue unless you’re “exposure is vast” you can’t call yourself an artist.

 Have you ever met someone and they ask that inevitable question? (You know, the one ALL Americans feel necessary to ask) “So, what do you do?” Hmm. What do I do? For me it took a really long time to answer with conviction, “I am an artist”. This is usually followed by a barrage of questions “So what kind of art do you do? Are you in any galleries? Do you sell your work? Do you have a website? And so on. 

I would admittedly stand stupefied for a moment………in my head I’m thinking I don’t have any work in a gallery…….at that time I didn’t have an online shop and early on no blog, thus no website of any kind. It would give me pause and a bit of trepidation to continue the conversation because clearly WHY was I saying I was an artist?

WHY was I allowing this stranger to give me a nanosecond pause? I truly don’t care because my lot in life is not to convince other people what my passion is. I KNOW what my hearts delight is and so should you!

 

The thing is we(humans) tend to get our self esteem through the mirror of another persons eyes.  We sometimes wait for a certain reaction that will either put a bounce in our step or cause us to recoil in defeat.   And that brings me to blogging………. we blog hop now…….we see another blogger mentioned on a site, we click………we look…….we compare.  We look at artists people list on their blog rolls as artists…..we click, we look, we compare.  Now admit it………you’ve done this haven’t you?  Maybe not all the time but you find yourself thinking “dang, that person is amazing” and you go back to something you were working on and wonder “eeww, this doesn’t come close to what that person did”.    AND oftentimes the comparison is made more acute because that person has been in magazines and/or wrote a book and/or taught a workshop or class.   So of course since you haven’t done any of those things you make yourself feel inferior.  Why?   

Do you know how many undiscovered artists are out there? Some who could easily knock the socks off anyone who sees their work……yet they are obscure, hidden almost and no one sees their beauty. THIS can come from someone comparing their work to others and immediately feeling ye old inferiority show its ugly head so they stay in the shadows. Not all of course, but you get what I’m saying.

 This contrast and compare thing is not healthy in any aspect of our lives.  There are times it may make a person work harder, it may spur them on to achieve more and get out there…..but that is actually what we all should be doing.   Don’t let yourself look at another’s work and STOP what you’re doing because YOU don’t think you will ever be good enough to achieve something. Again, WHO SAYS?  Ok, maybe it doesn’t happen for everyone. Not everyone gets notoriety and exposure….not everyone’s work will be that of awe and wonder. But to let it stop you from doing something you TRULY love is a crime. Art has so many forms….and MANY people are out there doing it and further they are doing it because oh how they love it.  The bonus comes in the form of someone actually wanting to buy that work or showcase that work.

When you are working in your art space….be it an entire studio or a corner of the kitchen and you are in bliss as your hands create whatever your medium is…….do you sit and think to yourself “I am so loving this” or “I am so proud of this”? OR do you wonder “will this sell?”   You know history is littered with great artists who never sold a thing until either much later in their lives or after they left this earth.  Of course I am not advocating that what you do won’t have worth until you’re gone……certainly not. What I am saying here is DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT first and foremost. Don’t let yourself create to the masses….don’t do what you think others may want….it’s imperative your voice is loud and clear in whatever it is you’re doing. Work with and through your authentic artistic voice and vision.

It’s sad to think how many truly talented people there are in the blog world who don’t even realize it.  And they don’t because they are too busy looking over the shoulders of other bloggers thinking “I’ll never be that good”.

WHO SAYS?

Don’t worry what the other person is doing……keep your eyes on your own paper if it's going to make you feel anything but inspired!  Inspiration is a good thing.........envy, the green eyed monster, self doubt is not.

 

The basis for this discourse today is again, all about self worth and self esteem as an artist blogger. I know there are plenty of self help books out there where people have written about this I’m sure. It’s not a new subject. BUT again, with the advent of blogging……….more prolific art publications…….more and more workshop venues…………and other means of exposure…. it’s hard not to know what others are doing and accomplishing and not want it for yourself. Want it but don't base your entire artistic life on it either. Don't sabotage yourself my wonderful, artistic, talented and beloved friends....let your creative light shine....bright!

 

There is one more thing…..I know this is long and if you’re hanging in there with me I am so grateful.  OFTEN times you may be in your work space with ideas swirling in your head…….you may make prelim sketches and work out the details. Perhaps the subject is a circus act you’re either going to paint or maybe do an art doll.  

THEN you see it…..on another’s blog someone is showing a circus act! You think to yourself “well there goes that, they already did it?” and you scrap what you felt was going to be fantastic. WHY????????  Do you know how many subject matters there are in this world of imagination? And further do you know how many people may be interested or fascinated by the same subject?  That person doesn’t OWN the circus act theme, right?  YOU can put your own spin, your own vision, your own style on it and at the end of the day you both may have used the subject but the outcomes are entirely different. (think birds, nests, crowns, pointed hats, vintage photos, castles, gypsies) I hear about this all the time. The list is endless of how many people gravitate to the same theme. So what?

Subject matter is one thing.........trying to recreate another's vision is something else.  Go for whatever you want my friends..........just be YOU at the end of the day!

 

In conclusion my message is to let you know not to talk down your own visions...... create from the heart, the passion of it and do not compare yourself or your work to anyone!!!  Make your artistic statements genuine to YOU.  Don’t take a class off line or on line and think you have to produce the exact same thing. Actually it’s better that you don’t. Learn new technique, learn working with other mediums but in the end make it YOU!  Don’t fear that your subject matter has been done before…….it hasn’t been done by YOU before so it’s different right there.  And ABOVE ALL ELSE…….don’t let what others do or show on their blogs inhibit your creative expression……please, please, please.  Individual creative expression is essential to being an artist………who wants to be a clone?. Nurture yourself, let yourself grow as you let the seeds in your artistic heart flourish in to something fantastic!

I am no philosopher, psychologist or know-it-all.......I merely am thinking out loud here and hopefully in doing so maybe one person will feel better or different.

 

Now go out and create something supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – something that is uniquely…..YOU!

Much Love,

Lisa

XOXOXOXO

Have a spectacular weekend!!!

P.S. If YOU have something on your mind....if you agree or disagree....I'd love to hear it! We all have the right to free thinking!

Dangling a new idea.......

Have you ever just been sitting around and suddenly out of no where an idea hits?

Well that's what happened to me the other day.  I was mindlessly holding something I was about to recylce when suddenly I started to see it as something else. The next morning I began and that night G looked around to see if we had more of that "thing" I was looking at. We ended up (amazingly) finding enough for the bracelets below and 2 more not done yet.  G is now helping me find even more.
In fact the more I get the more I can experiment with various other mediums, colors and designs.
Hmmm, what are they? Not sayin'( don't you just hate when people do that?)..... a girl has to have some secrets. Right?
They're going to be in my ETSY SHOP!
(click images to enlarge)

Apricot colored velvet that I embossed. The adornment is a piece of old lace and sheer embroidered fabric and a part of some old jewelry....oh and a strip of gross grain ribbon inside.





Blue velvet I embossed, white lace edging,  blue velveteen ribbon(inside), and pieces of old jewelry.





Very wide black and white gross grain ribbon (beautiful stuff), wrapped and wrapped and sewn, The top is folded and gathered of the same. Trimmed in turquoise velveteen ribbon and adorned with a multi colored button.



Pink and green cotton batik fabric with an overlay of pink dyed lace. 8 heart shaped bone-like buttons sewn around the perimeter.

I have a 7" wrist (measuring against my wrist, not loose) and the inside circumfrance of the bracelet is approx. 9".  The width of the bracelets are 1" to 1-1/8". The opening diameter is just around 3" wide.  I do like bracelets to be loose (which these are) but those with much smaller wrists and hands........well it may be too big. I am working on that next...making it a bit smaller around.
The good thing is they aren't heavy at all....in fact they're quite light.

I am adding these and a couple more to my ETSY SHOP on Friday. "Cheap(meaning inexpensive) and Cheerful" that will add a bit of fun,color and pizazz to your outfit.


Slip on a sundress, some flip flops and a fun bangle this summer.





You know, speaking of flip flops. Did I ever tell you that I adorned the straps of flip flops like the one pictured above and sold them for 2 years? I still have blank ones packed away in various sizes that I've thought about getting out and doing some up for the shop.... as summer is fast approaching. I used to paint designs on the sides, add fabric and bead trim to the straps, sometimes adding a silk flower, charms AND sometimes hand beading the entire straps(not really cost effective). I'm looking for my pictures to show you in a later post.  They ARE the most comfortable flip flops, they aren't a high wedge and those straps are so soft on the foot. I don't know, I'll have to get a pair out and see what I come up with this time around . MAYBE. I don't want to overwhelm myself......
I told you I liked to do various things........I think it keeps the mind fresh, don't you?
Either that or perhaps it's just Artist ADD!

Oh and before I go.........look what I see out of the studio window.........

Could it be? Could it be BLUE sky and some sun?

Love,
Lisa
XOXOXO

I can't help but wonder.......................

What inspires you to take flight on your creative journey?

Do ideas crash in to you when you least expect it and nearly knock you over?

Are you completely open to your surroundings body and soul?

Do you ever find yourself drifting, looking for a moment of artistic clarity?

Do you let yourself feel free to think outside your comfort zone?

Are you inspired by subtle, muted tones?


Or are vivid colors more your melody?

Does your inspiration come from Mother Nature and her spiritual places?

Are you inspired by others? Their art and/or their general wisdom and love.


Are you at your most receptive to inspiration in the evening?

Or does it reveal itself on a blue sky day?

Do you believe there is a separate entity that comes to you with inspiration?
If so, do you always know when it comes and goes?

Are you ever inspired by a dream?

Do you derive inspiration from other sources?

Do you carry a notebook/journal to capture thoughts, ideas, certain words or images you want to recreate in your art?

Do you always have a camera on hand?

The questions are endless................but it's all food for thought.  I always wonder where other artists begin their process..........where their ideas generate from..........are they spontaneous or introspective?  Do they prefer silence or music?
Sometimes I go in to my studio and there is everything I need around me to do whatever I feel like working on and yet I may as well be standing in an empty room.  Do you ever feel like that?
My "muse", my "entity", my "internal inspirational guide" seem to be dormant and if I push it, try working against the tide, nothing I produce is fit for viewing. I've learned to watch and listen and most importantly be patient and open until the moment "they" come to me and  through me and I can begin anew. You can't fight the muses! BUT sometimes you NEED a bit of inspiration to get the flow back.
And that's when I wonder........hmmm, so just where do I get my inspiration? I'm working on my own answers.............but would love to know yours.

Do you ever look through very old antiquarian books and wonder where was the author when this was written? Were they in a shabby garret some where writing in long hand? In a small cottage by the sea? A rented room in a boarding house? A castle? Were they given to fits of artistic constipation? Or did they write feverishly day and night?
Have you ever stood in front of a painting, something painted oh so many years ago by a famous artist (or maybe someone not so famous)....can you see the brush strokes? Can you feel the energy of the artist? Imagine jumping in to that painting, or through that sculpture, or in to those drawings, or through that glass bowl or in to the pages of that book going back years, centuries..... and just standing by unseen, unheard?   Watching their process...see that subject matter, that theme, that shape, that medium they work with and work on. See them writing those pages of a book or poetry. I think often times they worked from life........where they were within the confines of their own existence. Good, bad or indifferent. Some were driven by complete happiness and some via torment.
In the end if you could see this first hand..........would you want to? Do you think it would make a difference in how YOU work now?
I can't help but wonder.


But then I wonder about a lot of things.

Love,
Lisa
XOXO


**All but the last 4 images were photographed by me and are not to be reproduced without my permission. Thank you!