revelation: fragrance of nature

Can there be anything more inspiring than the change of Seasons? In Michigan we enjoy beautiful Spring flowers. The trees are budding, the flowers are up, the birds are singing, the days are getting longer, and beauty is all around us! We have lily of the valley by our back door. You can smell it as you go in and out. It's a real treat this time of year. We have lilacs by the back door, and later we will have lavender by the front door. I really love to have fragrant flowers near the entrances. I love the reminder to slow down and notice the changing flowers as I come and go throughout the day. I enjoy painting flowers, some of the joy of flowers is the smell. It's hard to look at a photo or painting and not be reminded of the beautiful smell. It's important to enjoy the world with all of our senses, and to bring that to our artwork.

tip #7- surround yourself with like-minded, positive people

If you want to be a creator of art it helps a lot if you are around other people who are creating. Choose people that inspire and encourage you. You will grow as an artist much faster when you allow yourself to be nurtured by positive, creative, productive people. It's easy to think that artists need to isolate themselves and spend endless hours working alone in their studios. There are times when I need to paint alone, but I have found that I actually get more done when I meet on a regular basis with other artists. I love seeing what they are making, and hearing about their work. Hearing others' ideas can really rev up my production. I really enjoy my artist friends, and look forward to the times when we can work together. I wish I could work in a group several times a week, I think I work best that way. I can only manage once a week, and for now, that will have to do...
This is photo is of a small section of a painting I worked on tonight- Tuesday nights I meet with my friend Mary.

I suggest you find a local art group that you can join. In Jackson we have the Jackson Civic Art Association, I just joined this year. They have a lot to offer. They organize workshops, critiques, and exhibits. There are also groups for specific media in many areas. Google your media such as pastels, watercolors, photography, etc. and your town; you just might find a great group that you can meet with!

Wonderment: smelling your art

After thinking about the need to color, I wanted to make a conscious effort today to notice what other very basic things my students choose to do.  I've been telling my family lately about a little 5 year old in one of my classes that likes to sit right right by my legs during group time.  He gets his little nose right up to my knees so he can smell them :)  He likes the smell of my lotion.  What can I say?  He is working on backing up a little... Kindergarteners don't really know their social bounderies yet!
He got me noticing how important smell must be to my art students.  Today there was a small group of 1st graders rummaging through our crayon cakes together to see which one they liked the smell of the best. (I don't think they smell at all.)  I saw 5th graders going through the magazines looking for the perfume ads to rub the smell on their project- now, I thought that was a pretty cool idea!  My students pretty much put everything up to their nose and take a whiff.  Many of them aquire marker or chalk marks on the ends of their noses at some point during class.  Mr. Sketchy markers are made with fruity smells.  I used to have a lot of them, but I got rid of them because I was constantly telling children to go wash their nose.  I do love those markers however!  I don't blame them for wanting to smell them, they smell wonderful!
Art and wonderful smells just go together.  I used oil paint when I was in college, and the smell is such a great memory for me.  Someday I'm sure I will go back to oils.  In elementary school we used to use paste, don't some of you from my generation just love that smell!  and, of course there is that kid in every class who doesn't just smell it, they have to eat it!  Gross! (but I bet you have all snuck a taste of some kind of glue or paint :) Taste is a whole 'nother topic...

Tip #3- Just do it!

Here are a duo of huge canvas' painted orange, ready for whatever is next!

Sometimes it's just hard to get started. So many people want to be creative, and they wish they could draw or make artwork. I can't tell you how many people tell me they wish they could draw, or they used to paint and they wish they still did... I am here to say, just do it! It really is like exercise. You have to just do it. You don't have to wait to be good, or to have the right equipment, and there is no reason to be afraid of failure. If you want to make something, just make it! The more often you do it, the better you get, the more you understand, the more confident you get. As with exercise, start simple and easy. Begin with scribbles and doodles, or simple shapes, or cut and paste some fun pictures together. Enjoy yourself! Don't think that everything you make has to be a masterpiece. You don't have to frame everything you make, and it doesn't have to be a gift to anyone. If you want to throw your work away, who's stopping you? Don't let anything get in the way of having fun, and enjoying the process of what you are making. Unlike exercise, you don't need a Dr.'s permission to start, no matter how out of shape you are :) Let me know if you get creating. I'd love to see your progress.

Tip #2- Listen

In developing your artscape it's so important to listen to your heart. Follow your instincts, let your real self guide you. It's so easy to get distracted. You see someone else's creation that you love, and it's tempting to try to fit yourself into that mold. There's nothing wrong with trying your hand at other artists styles and materials, but it is necessary to come back to yourself. You can never find your own true voice if you are always swayed by others. Don't be afraid to be unique, to be yourself in your artwork. Take risks. Be prepared to fail. What's the worst that can happen? You waste some paper, paint, etc. ? Messing up is part of the process. It's ok to make something that doesn't turn out that great, you always learn something about yourself as an artist whether or not your piece was successful. I like to think of my whole body of work as an artwork in itself. It's all a part of a continuum telling a story about myself. The compilation of my work speaks my heart. Think about what you truly love, listen to yourself, and create something that describes this love.