The Art of Creating

I've been reading a book "Fearless Creating" by Eric Maisel and in it was this quote ....

"Between each fruitful phase are long periods of exploration, faltering, learning, and working things out." (Kenneth Noland)

People often misjudge a finished artwork... "thats easy, my kid could do that".  But they don't see the journey that lead the artist to that point, they don't see where the artist's mind was when they made the artwork, what the message or idea behind it is.

Being an artist isn't easy.  Both creating and not creating creates a state of anxiety in me, but I will always choose the anxiety of creating!

Stab Binding Books

I've found yet another way to use my monotypes - japanese style stab binding booklets.

They were great fun to make and involved using the Dremel to drill holes for the binding - using a power tool adds another dimension to the making of an object, even though a Dremel is only a 'baby' tool!

I also had to scrounge through my bead collection to find just the right beads to decorate the covers.

Ceramic Creations

Today I finished 4 mornings of ceramics at Brisbane Institute of Art.  I worked on handbuilding various objects out of Raku clay.

I had some very definite ideas about what I wanted to create - objects that I could incorporate in both my fibre weaving and in my book making.

I was very prolific and produced many objects, both large and small.   It was great to let my design ideas flow then transform them with clay - this is a medium I have not worked with before (well, maybe at school!).  It was also interesting to work solely in 3D, and having to take into consideration the limitations and possibilities of the clay.  I also discovered that fingernails are not good in ceramics!

The objects now will go for firing, then I will get to glaze them in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait!!!  I'm the sort of person that likes instant gratification so having to wait to take home my finished works is TORTURE!

Stay tuned for some photos of the finished works.  Fingers crossed they survive the kiln.....

Monotype Workshop @ Spinners & Weavers

Yesterday I facilitated my first monotype workshop and it was a success!  It was held as part of the 4-day annual get-together of the paper 'obsessed' members of Qld Spinners & Weavers.  There was a lengthy queue for use of my travelling printing press 'Thumper' who did a fine job under pressure (pun intended!).

I think that most were happy with what they produced with limited time and instruction, and I witnessed some amazing creativity which always comes out of a monoprinting session.

It is now my intention to look into running another Monotype workshop later in 2010, I'm sure I'll get some repeat customers!

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos, I was too busy enjoying the buzz of creativity.....  :-)

Cyanotypes

Today I played with cyanotypes - a photographic printing process that uses the sun to create an image from objects placed on a surface treated with chemicals.  For my artworks (pictured) I used a string of beads and a piece of lace.  Very interesting and lots of fun!  (thanks heaps Wendy for sharing this process with us at Qld Spinners & Weavers).

2 days of heavenly printmaking

Cathy & I have just spent 2 days in the Impress Printmakers Studio, cooking up a storm!

With a press each, we worked solidly on prints for the upcoming Pineapple Exhibition.  And we are pleased with our results.

I did a series of monotypes using pineapple stencils, some are pictured here.

The selected works will be exhibited at Franklin, Tasmania in February and in Brisbane in March.

2010 - happy CREATIVE new year

Welcome to the start of another new year, 2010 ! Time flies by so quickly, and once again I am dreaming of all the wonderful art I will create in the coming 12 months.

I've got plenty on the go already - at the moment I am preparing for a group printmaking exhibition organised by the Impress Printmakers as a collaboration with a group of Tasmanian printmakers. Cathy Money & I have booked the Impress studio for this coming Monday and Tuesday for a blissful 2 days of printmaking. I plan to absorb myself in producing monotypes, on the theme of pineapples for this exhibition. I have been busy collecting some very special plants to include in my artworks, as well as some pineapple stencils. I have also got 2 pineapple tops which I will cook up and make into paper to incorporate in the artworks.

Fingers crossed that my application for Artist in Residence at Mt Coot-tha is successful - I won't hear until late January. I am really looking forward to a very creative 2010!