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| A rare opportunity to have a full day printmaking at home |
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| Quick studies - A few minutes a day experimenting with hand embroidery |
1. Little and often
Whatever you do, make it part of your daily routine, or something you can do in short bursts. It's really tempting to just want to spend a whole day being creative - I love doing this, but in the reality of life it just doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Can you find 5 or 10 or 15 minutes to do something creative. Carry a pen/ pencil and sketch on your bus/ train commute. Knit or Crochet while waiting for the kettle to boil or the spuds to cook. 10 minutes at the sewing machine as soon as you get in? A few photographs taken on a walk during lunch break or while walking the dog?
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| Experiments in texture - the bag the oranges came in and a bit of ink |
I used to worry that my art was not commercial enough. In fact I changed my style a lot to try to make it appeal to others. While I Like doing a bit of observational painting/ drawing now and again - I get bored of it very quickly. When I make art to please others, when I blog to please others, when I try to fit in the things I make with those things that are 'on trend' on other blogs, websites I find I lose myself a little. In honesty I'm always happiest with my work when I don't care what others think. when it doesn't need to be good, when it's just me trying something out, when I mix and match ideas to suit my own tastes - in other words when I stop trying to be something I'm not!
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| Gelli Plate prints - first attempt - not quite sure what was going to happen |
Always be willing to try something new. Learn a new skill, read a book or watch a video about a technique that you've never used. Try a new idea. This could be as simple as changing the surface you draw on, or what you draw with. It could be a whole new medium or technique. It could be drafting your own sewing patterns, trying to write a poem in a different form, using a different sized needle to hand stitch a design. If you feel the need go on a course it could open up a whole new world!
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| Learning how to make 3D wet felted forms |
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| Crafternoon - Craft & Chat - a great way to make friends |
Work with other people. Making things together is often one of the most creative outlets. Sometimes just seeing how someone else tackles a technique or skill and open up a whole new way of doing something. Its a way of learning and sharing. Join a craft group or art class. Could you teach someone how to do something? Could you make something together for a community group, school, church etc.
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| Demonstrating a skill to others |
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| A selection of prints from my full day printing day a few weeks ago. |
I'm not talking about money here. Value the time it gives you. Personally time creating functions in many ways for me. I know that it helps me unwind from the work day and helps my well being. It gives me a sense of purpose and self esteem. I am more confident than I was before. My creativity is an expression of my faith and world view. some people use it as a meditative practice, for me it helps me pray and reflect on God's provision for my life.
So as we start 2018 I won't be creating a Resewlution list, or a #Makenine2018. Hey I hope I'll make more than 9. I won't promise to blog often but i will continue to create - It might not be very regular, I might not create any finished works or items of clothing worthy of recognition. but I will make and I will be creative - it's a part of who I am, who God has made me and that's the way I like it!
If you'd like to keep more up to date with what I do, join me on instagram.
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