Seasons of Creating (Art Creation) - Artist's Life

 It's been a while I know, but if your here I hope you find it worthy of thought!

A seasonal view from my front porch

This post came about after reading an email from spiritual writer I follow and after having sat in my garden wishing it wasn’t too hot to be out gardening:

I use a lot of gardening metaphors here  - no apologies…….well, I’m a gardener....I just am.  I think of creating just about anything in life is reflected in how our beautiful Mother Earth creates on her palette in nature.  It’s so plainly out your door to absorb if you choose.  If you take the time to SLOW down, observe, to look and actually see those miracles.  For me Art/Creating is about beauty, evoking positive emotions or compassion and appreciation of some of the very simple things in life.  No angst or deep struggling artist vibes needed.  But hey if that’s your thing you may take my seasons and add anything to put you in that frame of mind.  

While the seasons are important steps it’s all in the context of Learning and Skill Building.  I don’t believe you can progress through the seasons without this key to unlocking the seasons of creating in your life.  As a self proclaimed introvert I I find most of this comes naturally to me.  But we all have times when we get stuck in the day to day. I hope you find value here and by sharing I hope you have success!

Learning - Working on Skill Building - A Year Long/Life Long Pursuit 

I place it as a prerequisite to creating but usually skill building comes before, after and during all the seasons.  Although not really a season but a Key, Goal or Frame of Mind which helps the Season of Creating become tangible.  

The thing about skill building is, it is really an ongoing process.  I did not call it Skill Attainment because frankly no matter how adept I have become at a media there is always a challenge to be deciphered with a new lighting technique, genre, subject matter or feeling I’m trying to interject into a creation.  Being an artist is usually referred to as a Practice.  No matter how long one pursues it, if you’re not practicing by doing, trying, failing, you’re not practicing.  And boy, have I learned a lot from the failing part!  Another post on those lessons may arise, but failing brings about its own joys also.  Without practicing your skill those very much appreciated “happy accidents” can’t happen.  And if they don’t happen we don’t learn how to adapt them into an on purpose technique or “look” no one else has.

If you’re new to a media, genre or process, skill learning  as a key I could go on about for a very long time (and actually have in other posts here on the blog).  It is the where with all the other seasons stem from, if we are talking success in creating.  My goal here is to allow for success, thus so more of the seasons can happen for you.  As an almost 66 year old woman who continually is learning some new skill or a fascination with a new life’s activity, the one thing I know is that I don’t know so much.

MY 4 SEASONS OF ART CREATION: (Or any creating activity really)

Glimmer 

Gestation

Birth/Bloom

Reflection/Evaluation

  

1. Glimmer  

Take some quiet time to wonder "What’s Next?"  In our loud world noise competes with our attention at every turn.  It can sometimes feel challenging to get quiet and listen for what can we bring forth or offer.  What a beautiful experience we allow ourselves in a time to get quiet, to go within, and reflect on an idea or experience we had or want to have.  A time to dream and envision what we want to create or see come to fruition.  I think of this as a completely magical season.  For me, it’s where all the spiral of creation starts.  While many can get their glimmers from activities, motion or business.  For me and my continued pursuit of creating, I find letting curiosity lead me in exploring my glimmers is key.  Curiosity in life, period, opens your world to glimmers of so much more that creating.  But we are talking art creation and I’ll try to not run away on another topic.  

A cup of tea that sparked an idea.

For me to be curious - I usually need to get quiet and just be.  Slowing down to observe nature, people or objects, usually gets me there.  Sometimes I need my inspiration folder in my desk, my photos app, ideas folder on my Mac or art master’s images (whether in a museum or online).  Sometimes Pinterest or social media can bring ideas if we are careful not to appropriate someone else’s copyright.  I’m not a big social media person any longer, but I do find Pinterest helpful in putting together images to inspire in whatever creating I do.  Recipes, gardening, crochet or making things for the home it can get your juices flowing.  I do have a file on artwork that inspires me so when I’m in a funk I can tickle a curiosity in technique, style or ideas for playing.  Play well now we are in a new season!

2.  Gestation

A time to gather our resources and prepare, remind us that it’s okay for things to take the time they take.  It can feel tempting to rush or push something that is still gestating, which can create a lot of frustration and actually prolong the process.  Percolating on an idea or project for me can start out as straight forwardly as doing.  But it’s way more fun if you take a playful approach.  Play at how it will look in your sketchbook, Play at the background or if one is needed, Play at color options or placement as in composition.  When I adopted the Playful approach at this point creating art regained the “fun” aspect it had when my media was new to me.  It became less about the seriousness that every painting had to be a finished piece of “Fine Art”.  (While although it’s still a goal, it’s not the only goal.)  It can become paralyzing if we get too serious at this stage.  Which I fell victim to once upon a time.  

If we keep in mind that the garden soil holds our flowers in early spring, before we see the growth, gestating the future plants and blooms yet to be.  Allowing for each a time for the seeds to swell and absorb moisture and nutrients.  Using this as a metaphor for ideas to sprout in a nourished way.  Sometimes we’ll see an image, photograph it and hold it in our one day folder until we are actually ready to attempt it.  I speak from experience here.  We lean back into the learning and skill building stage for confidence, trial and error, or just working it out in practice.  Holding this in gestation for the finished creation.   

Gestation can involve obtaining what you will need in thought and technique or the actual gathering of supplies if we are new to a media.  I also find it is making room in our home or studio for the activity of blooming.  Gathering your tools needed physically and mentally to create.

3.  Birth/Bloom

(A Gift for a tea loving friend): "Let's Share A Cuppa", 4 x 6 Colored pencil on Uart Paper

 This piece spawned a series of pieces   

The period of Action.  A powerful opportunity to deepen our capacity to trust in the fact we know how to give ourselves to the Doing!

This is no small feat, after all you get here after 2-3 other stages.  The wonderment of your Glimmer is about to come alive, Gestation was fun yet brought focus to the growing into an actual “thing”.  

But……..Sometimes………… It’s what Can stop you in your tracks.  Books and blogs have been written about it for eons it seems.  Heck, I’ve written about it “fear of the blank page”, fear of failure, failure to actually do Do.  But I think if you take the idea from gestation - Play - and allow it to guide your frame of mind as a child does but yet as the practiced artist you are becoming you can start.  While play won’t get you through the “work” of it, a playful attitude can help you show up.

As a young woman there was no choice to turning back in my 9th month of pregnancy but to give birth.  The work of it doesn’t need to be that painful but effort is needed.  Sometimes the work is actually not talking yourself out of doing it.  It’s just paper, paint, a panel, if it doesn’t work then no one died, you can start again.  

With our tools assembled, our minds ready and with the heart of a child set to play, we can get to work.  Some pieces seem to take more work than others, and on a rare occasion some come about magically.  I say be prepared for the work, let the magic happen, but most of all check that harsh inner critic at the door.  While I work I am always evaluating, judging color, value, line, subtraction or addition, I try to keep that harsh inner critic silent.  

4. Reflection/Evaluation  

I often prop a piece on the mantel to live with it a few days

All gardens have a season where they were more colorful, grew the best, rested longer.  Art creation is the same.  I can tell you what worked and what didn’t in every painting/drawing I have ever done.  So this last season of creation is perhaps the most important in some ways.  It’s fed by the year long pursuit of learning and skill building.  It’s also what feeds us into continuing our efforts, curiosity, and doing.  Having a positive outlook in a garden, in creating and in life is key.

Not all efforts are Museum worthy, but I guarantee you, all efforts are of value to the artist you are becoming.  While not all flower buds make it to blooming, (some are eaten by deer, or whither from no rain) yet all are part of natures journey.  Your efforts will be much of the same, and we always learn something in the end.  I should have watered it more (skill build, practice a bit more).  I should have pruned it better (composed the scene better).  I should have given it more light (well it’s all about light even in painting).  Whatever your evaluations are remember to be kind to yourself, as you would if tasked to evaluate another’s piece.  What did you do right and what needs work?  See it as a goal for next time.  

Often when our own good taste is evolved beyond our skill set we expect perfection in our efforts.  It’s a good thing to have evolved your taste. It takes a while to know why something isn’t working or how to fix it, but we definitely know “something” is wrong.   The more you know the better you become.  So a period of Reflection/evaluating, is very much an important season.  Just as there is no perfect season for everyone there is no Perfection in creating.  Knowing what to look for in regards to what makes a successful piece of art can help you pinpoint what might may be an issue.  But we have to realize in nature there is no such thing as perfection.  Beauty often lays in the uniqueness, the appreciation of the unique calligraphy of a brushstroke, line or style, 4 leaved clover. 

 

In Closing:

My too hot to work in July Garden 

If you have seen a similarity to Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, well yes it was part of my thinking.  But in creating art I find like in gardening I’m always thinking ahead to the next season.  Often gardening with all seasons in mind.  Having more than one project, painting, sketchbook at various stages of the Seasonality going at a time.  Often even before one season is over I’m Glimmering or Gestating another.    

Above all things I have Hope for the next years growing seasons or art lessons and creations to keeps us going forward.  How do you view Art Creation?  I'd love to hear.

As always have a colorfully artful day! 

Gloria

Change - How does it show up at your table? Artist Life goal setting.

Jingle Bells - 8 X 10" Colored Pencil Painting - SOLD

As the New Year approaches and we reflect over the past, which let’s face it the past few years have been something we all want to change.  Change back to life as it was, pre-pandemic, or a new normal with positivity and health.  

Recently I read that "Sometimes Change wants a place at the table.”  And it resonated with me so much today when I sat with my “cuppa" in hand to do my normal prep for New Year thoughts, goals and aspirations.  No resolutions here but real deep thought into my looking forward personally and art wise. I’m a list maker and planner, I can’t help it.  So I’m asking myself how will Change show up in 2022 at my table.  

Change can come in many forms, large or small, scary or just in bits of stretching beyond our norm.  Sometimes we hold off acting to change things up if they seem “frivolous" or “good" for us. But I’m here to tell you that frivolous IS good for us.  It’s the part of life that requires a little commitment to change it up.  I see it as part of an exploratory heartbeat.  

After all many serious minded people consider being an artist a frivolous profession.  I can’t even think of a world without ART or art making! But that’s a topic for another day.

Change:

In your art form, when feeling uninspired, or in a funk.  A new media or technique you haven’t tried yet.  Pushing limits with what you do now or are afraid to try.  I find that if I say I’ll "Play with” a new art technique or media, my inner critic has less expectations of mastery.  Play enables exploration and we often as full time artists forget to incorporate it purposefully.  Scheduling a “Play” session a couple times a month is a big Goal for me in 2022. Mixing some additional media with my dear CP’s on a more frequent basis pushing some limits I’ve held to in my personal practice. 

In your life when your bored with the day to day. A change in your daily schedule adding a new idea or reincorporating a dismissed habit (morning walk, daily sketching restart or gratitude journal up take).  Picking up a book when you are bored with TV or haven’t had a good read in a while.  I’ve read more books this year than I have in the past 10 years because of my year end 2020 goal setting.  And it has been so enriching to my life.  Below are a few 2021 journal entries.  

In your style of travel, I think we have all looked at wanting to get back out there after being confined to home or closer to it.  Making travel a priority again - safely is part of my 2022 change planning.  More to come on this front in 2022.  

In your diet or weekly menu - experimenting with a new recipe or thumbing thru old collections of recipes not yet tried or made in a while.  Nothing stimulates the desire to cook for me than successfully tweaking a recipe to my own taste - or famiy's preferences.  We get into meal ruts and for me it always leads to a cheat in my eating plan if I don’t think “of changing it up".   

In your exercise routine - this is a hard one for me as I’m not fond of exercise for the sake of doing it.  I’m much better with exercise with a purpose, when there is a visual result immediately afterward. Like Cleaning out the garage, daily walking the dog (my studio assistant loves this one!), gardening and the color that inspires me to really look and enjoy my hard work, or journaling when a page is finished or I've captured a quick impression and essence of place.   

In your connections - more interpersonal  quality relationships.  I’ve been absent quite a lot from Facebook and Instagram this past year.  Due to feeling disenchanted with the forums.  Wondering what is better for reaching out to be of service or inspiration to others.  To connect in a more meaningful way.  (If you have suggestions please let me know.) What I do know is that I’m more of an introvert than most public social media platforms promote.  YouTube included, which has been an intriguing possibility but seems so time consuming.  However finding a group of genuine like minded creators and kindred spirits is my most earnest desire.  

And finally - A change in how you look at the ordinary of everyday often means an opening of spirit or your mind to the new and unexplored.  For me this offers real possibilities in 2022.  While I’m not ready to divulge what those changes are, I am forcing myself to make the change from dreaming of the someday plans to stretching out of my comfort zone and starting the ball rolling……….

What does or could “change" look like for you in 2022?   

Best Wishes for you and yours, 

Gloria  

As usual you can comment and be a part of the conversation. No spam please!

Artist Life: Sketch Journaling - My Sojourn and synchronicity.

Pages from My Gratitude Journal

My Sojourn = Sketch Journaling

My definition of Sojourn when it comes to sketch journaling are travels and temporary stays in beautiful places captured on the pages of a journal.  Whether in the form of drawing/painting or words, or a combination of both.  This with the sole purpose of "Letting synchronicity happen!"

I believe Our World was made with the same creative energy as are you.  So in one's journey with keeping a journal, I find the energy placed into a travel journal needs to be of pure heart and intention.  It’s your mark, unlike anyone else’s, it only needs to be personal to you.  Our individual marks will be uniquely our own. Thoughts, impressions and images that can delight your soul.    

I find that journaling for me as a working artist is permission to play, experiment, record impressions as well as my surroundings.  Journaling helps to free my creative energy without thought to it’s being a proper finished painting. As a working artist I find it's important to not make it into a job. Remove what you're doing from the public platform, keeping it a private safe space.  Yes speed does matter when you're out and traveling, but trust me there’s nothing like a slow enjoyable drawing.  I try to keep myself from filling all the pages with those highly finished pages. (Hard to do for a realist artist like myself, I admit.) 

However I keep one promise to myself while journaling.  I measure my journaling efforts not by how great the art is but does it honor my inner child artist, protecting and defending this time for her.  You are doing this for yourself after all .  Keep it tender like that child's heart, where it’s held loving and supportive, to record things without their needing to BE something salable.  Let some play happen, the rhythm of your line is unique to you.  Honor yourself and this time to play, let it fill your creative well,  not drain it.  Let you be yourself, let the process be what delights you and do not let your inner critical judgement to get in your way.   

 Waiting at a dance competition, synchronicity played it's part as I needed practice on drawing hair!

Daily inspirations can come from many sources.  Let synchronicity play it's part in what you sketch.  Sometimes a scene presents it's self "for you", so take that as a sign.  I take that as a sign that today, I needed to pay attention to this subject, to look deeply and find appreciation in it.  I believe the Universe places sketch-able moments in my day whether I feel like it or not.  Often it's just the item or place I need to practice a technique/skill I'm lacking in or one to sit up and take notice of for personal reasons.  

I sketch my dreams, my explorations, my sacred everyday actions -- like savoring a cup of tea or making soup mindfully and with attention, gratitude, and love. Go as simple or complex as you like.  Sketch those bits you find meaningful or special, it's not always meant to be a full page.  Don’t get caught making a page too precious though!  (This is tough for me.) Just jump in to explore whatever suits your mood or subject. Using mixed media, graphite, ink, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, watercolor, collage, stamps, gouache.  Even thinned acrylics work.  

A Pinerest Image, a parking lot tree
 & 
dried flowers.

Try not to overthink or follow a preconceived plan, have fun, and experiment. I find taking deep breathes with my eyes closed helps me calm and settle into the space I’m in flor sketching.  Especially when at first I can find something worthy of a sketch.  Getting quiet with myself, and then listening to nature, allowing a full look around to see and experience the scents and feel the breeze will help me find the image to draw.  

Sometimes you will draw a blank, and nothing seems interesting to draw, it’s for those times I keep a prompt list and also a sketch photo file on my phone.  While I hate to resort to photos, and prefer life drawing for immersing into the scene, let’s face it sometimes a parking lot is not as pretty the 5th or 6th time your stuck waiting in it.  

Your drawing doesn’t have to be linear imagery, puddles of color, roughly sketched with areas of detail or just lightly rendered items work very well.  Words offer so much to my pages, they help to convey mood and feelings. Temperatures, names to places, date, time of day, but most importantly words give you the opportunity to express gratitude for a place in time or the extraordinarily ordinary passing moments of my life.  Words help with the story of the moment and your personal story/experience.  

 

Let synchronicity happen!     

Gloria

   

"Southern Girls Series - Saucer Magnolia Branch", A new series, and the last painting of 2020

Southern Girls - Saucer Magnolia Branch, 6" X 18" Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard, Available For Sale  

Starting a new series is like starting a new year, and I had to get a jump on 2021 by getting this one going during 2020!  Although this was my last painting of 2020 technically, I was looking forward to 2021, Spring and a fresh year, full of possibilities.  We all needed to mourn 2020 and I realize 2021 could be similar but I choose to look on the bright side.  Just like I'm ignoring all the snow, ICE, sleet and more cold temperatures much of us have endured during this beginning of the year.  

Spring will come, IT WILL COME, say it with me: Spring Will Come! I am soooo ready.  My life revolves around my garden most years, ebbing and flowing with the season, embracing what each has to savor.  I think I was savoring the first 2 snowfalls, and even took a moment to appreciate the icy glaze on the branches everywhere the first ice storm we had.  And really cherished the fact we maintained power, unlike many in the area.  But now despite what the ground hog had to declare, I'm calling it over.  

Maybe it's the sunny day we're having, and my bulbs inching their way up slowly and warily.  Or the forecast of warming temps by later this week, yep probably it's this! ;)) I took down my Valentines wreath and flag, up with the St. Patrick's Day decor, and Luck for Spring.  We all need it don't you think! I willing it to happen.

The piece above came about by many different reference photos, 7 to be exact.  Blending shape of the different stages of each individual flower's opening, with the changing shades each had depending on their age.  Kind of like each of us, from the tightest bud (new, inexperienced and young), to exploring adolescents full of color reaching for experience, then middle aged in our wise ability to hold together in the wind and finally on to the slightly fading in color but full and resilient as can be.  

Gratitude Journal page
2018

This page from my gratitude journal back in 2018 shows a saucer magnolia bud in August no less!  My poor (confused at the season) tree prompted this small sketch.  Saucer magnolia's are deciduous trees that usually bloom on nearly bare branches in the Spring before the leaves have a chance to mature or sprout in earnest.  My plant tried blooming all that growing season.  One here and there.  

The quote I wrote is:

And the day came 

when the Risk to Remain Tight in a bud

was more painful than the Risk it took to Blossom!   

by Anais Nin 

I love this quote as it has much meaning to me.  Risk to bloom no matter if it's out of season or not reminds me of my art career.  Later in life I began my art career, much past the age of many.  But just like the quote and the bud in the sketch, I did finally have the courage to bloom.  And I guess that's what I wish for anyone reading this blog post.  It's never too late to try.  

Stay warm, safe and come back to visit with me all new things are on the horizon here and elsewhere. News to come soon!

Gloria