Unveiling Nature's Emotions Through Encaustic Expression
To all the beautiful mothers out there, I hope you do something that you enjoy doing on Mother’s Day! Sometimes it’s not about what you’re doing but who you’re with! Sometimes it’s about both!! I’m lucky because I’ve been baking today (something I love doing), working with alcohol inks (see photo above) and I get to spend this weekend with both my Moms and 2 out of the 3 kids! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Life is so busy! I’m sure everyone would agree that you always have more to do on a daily basis than you have hours in the day. My to-do list drains my creative mojo! There are so many other things I need to get done, when I sit down to my creative work, sometimes I can’t get started.
I have to admit a deadline helps me. Does a deadline help you? If you are creative, I highly recommend joining an artist association or art guild in your area. I have talked about my artist association here before but I cannot stress enough how important it is to join an association of like minded artists to get you inspired.
The current exhibit at the Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village is our annual tree exhibit. I have to admit, I usually don’t sit down and think I really want to paint a tree today. This exhibit has pushed me into my creative zone to get my mojo back! My work is definitely whimsical, sometimes abstract, and always colorful. Having a deadline to make a tree was an excellent way to get creating! Here’s my piece.
This exhibit will be at the Elk Grove Village Public Library in Illinois until June 2nd. Stop by to see all the amazing local artists doing their thing! All work is for sale. The exhibit is open whenever the library is open and the large meeting room is open. If you door is closed, just ask at the front desk if you could see the artwork. They love to have visitors walking through the exhibit!
Next month our exhibit will be Small Works! If you’re looking for an affordable piece of art done by a local artist, this is your chance! Let me know if there are other exhibit themes you would like to see!
One Inspired Evening is our annual fundraising gala that includes an art auction, silent auction, raffle, and live music. All proceeds from the event go directly to supporting Inspiration Corporation’s mission of helping people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self- sufficiency through the provision of social services, employment training and placement, and housing in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. (visit inspirationcorporation.org for more info)
Last night I was one of the artists accepted into the juried art show as part of a Gala to raise money for this wonderful organization! One Inspired Evening is an annual Gala that was so much fun!! All of the cooks and servers were people who have benefited from employment training so not only did we get to eat their wonderful food, but we also were able to interact with them and hear their story.
We were at Venue West in Chicago and to my naive suburban upbringing, I was a little concerned when we pulled up. But inside was a wonderful Gala like nothing I have ever been to before!
Here I am with some of the other artists from our local Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village plus spouses. Each of us had a piece accepted into the show and were sold to the highest bidder! I was so humbled when my piece went just over the value at the last second before the bidding closed! It was such a beautiful and exciting night! I can’t wait for next year!!
The piece I submitted is on the right and is from my FloraVine series. The medium is encaustics with alcohol inks and shellac. I plan on making more in this series!
The question I get asked most often is, “Do you think I could do that?” And my answer is most definitely, “Yes!”
There are so many ways to enhance your creativity level in your life. I think these examples will surprise you!
We’ll start with the person who doesn’t think they are creative. (My husband, Dan, I’m talking to you!)
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you are creative!
Now that we know you are a creative person, let’s find easy activities to increase your creativity.
According to a blog post on April 26, 2011 from Psychology Today, there are 6 techniques to ignite your inner creativity and passion.
I agree with these techniques 100% but I wanted to go through each one to give you an example of what that might look like for you.
Have you heard of Zentangle? It is an easy, relaxing, drawing technique that brings you into a state of mindfulness. I didn’t understand the term “mindfulness” at first, but after I started drawing zentangles just for fun, I found that it helps calm me, increases my focus, creativity, and self-confidence. Check out zentangle.com to learn more.
What I think is important here is that you are “dabbling”. You can’t start experimenting in any form of art and expect to be a master painter. It takes practice!!
My suggestion is to pick up a fun art supply that interests you and have a go. Just dabble and experiment for 15 minutes, 3 days a week for 2 weeks. If you hit on something you enjoy, go deeper. Take a class on that medium, look up a YouTube video, make something larger, or make a gift for someone.
My favorite way to stay connected to art is through Art Journaling. You get a blank, no lines, book and once a month, do a 2-page spread using whatever art supplies you have. Add words describing something you are grateful for that month. If it takes you a week or a month to get the page done, that’s perfectly fine. Just do it!
I’m going to have some intro videos that give you ideas on different art products and techniques that will help get you started. Stay tuned!
Take a camera or your iphone and go for a walk in a forest preserve or arboretum, or even a zoo. Take pictures of everything that you feel connected to.
Do you go to a place of worship? I love spending time with my church friends whether it’s at a church function, small group at someone’s home, or just getting together for fellowship (usually over food and drinks!) If you don’t have a church home, talk to a friend that you know goes to church and ask them about it. God made us a creative being that likes to be in community with others!
When you get home pick out a favorite, print it out, and include it in your art journal so that you can remember how you felt when you were immersed in nature!
When I’m sitting in church and I hear something that touches my heart, I jot it down so I can add it to my art journal during my next creative time. That art journal just keeps on coming up!!
This refers to getting out in the world and being present and absorbing someone else’s creativity. An example would be going to a concert, theater, art museum, or a poetry reading.
I belong to the Artists’ Association of Elk Grove Village and we have a local artist come to our monthly meetings and provide us with a demo. It always inspires me to create something myself!
The important part here is that you go feeling open to the creative juices that will surround you. Find something that makes you stop and wonder about it, then describe that feeling in your art journal so you can reflect on those feelings later.
Do you see a common thread?
Here we are talking about physical movement that is done purposefully. Yoga, pilates, or dance are all different types of movement that come to mind. Engaging in your physical strength will help to engage in your creative release.
In summary, below are some tangible ideas that you can start today to increase your creativity and lower your stress!
Let me know in the comments, which easy activity to increase your creativity that you are going to try today!
Can you use a paintbrush with alcohol inks? Yes, you can!
Let’s start at the beginning. What are alcohol inks? They are solvent inks that contain alcohol. The alcohol is to the alcohol ink what water is to watercolors. They are very vibrant colors that can mix and blend like nothing else!
Safety: You don’t need a lot of supplies to start with alcohol inks, but you do need to set up your work space safely.
Alcohol releases a vapor especially if used in large areas. Always be in a well-ventilated area and use a respirator if you have asthma or any sensitivities. You will also want gloves to protect your hands from the staining properties of the inks.
Substrates: You will need to use a non-absorbent surface to work on. Examples include ceramic tiles, glass, Yupo paper, Duralar, Mineral paper, or canvas with 3 coats of Kilnz 2 primer.
If you are looking to save money while you start with practice pieces, you can use the glossy side of freezer paper, the back of a “Garage Sale” sign, or pieces of tin.
Start the background with 2 – 3 analogous colors. Analogous colors are colors next to each other on the color wheel. Blend those colors with a little Isopropyl alcohol (I use 91%) using a straw, canned air, or even just tilting your paper back and forth until the alcohol or blending solution evaporates.
Now put a couple of drops of a slightly darker color than your background colors in a clean palette. Let the alcohol evaporate and dry. This is a great way to be able to travel with these inks!
Put either some blending solution (by Ranger) or Claro Extender (by Jacquard) in a small pot. Dip your brush in to pick up just a small amount of the alcohol solution and then dip your brush in the dried ink color in your palette. If you use less alcohol solution on your brush, the more vibrant your color will be.
As you start painting, the background color will be reactivated when you paint in your subject on top of the background. This technique will take practice! You can start adding different colors as you experiment with different strokes.
Tip: if you have too much alcohol or blending solution on your brush, your colors will get away from you! Start small and work your way up.
I’m going to be recording a video on this process so it will be easier to practice. Until then, practice, practice, practice! Sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss any new videos or tips and tricks that I will be sharing in the future!
November 28, 2018Written by ADMINEdit”Starting at the beginning…”
Whenever you decide to embark on something new, the best place to start is at the beginning. So here it is! My first blog post! I know some people think this is the easiest thing in the world, but if you’re not up on blog lingo, (that’s probably the wrong term) you can read the instructions of what to do next and it makes no sense!
If you’re anything like me as soon as you have to sit down to figure out what to do next on your blog, you go find a piece of art that needs tweaking. So much easier!! This is the first step, writing a first blog post. If you’re in the same boat, give me a sign that I’m not in this pool of internet newbies by myself!
I would love to have you follow along on my journey! Just subscribe to my monthly newsletter and we can muddle through this together!