Creativity – Page 9

September 13, 2011September 19, 2011

Tuesday In the Studio…”Spinning Wheels, Going @”

In the studio, as in life, many times I feel I am spinning my wheels without making much movement forward…even though I have been busy working on many tasks. Why is it difficult to understand that these smaller tasks, or micromovements as SARK in her book, Make Your Creative Dreams Real, A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day (2004) calls them, are very important in reaching the end goals. Perhaps my long-term goals, while important, overshadow the now and add unnecessary pressure, instead of guiding my process and outcomes. I lose the joy of being creative and the sense of play, improvising, and experimenting.

So what have I accomplished today? Well, the top of my desk is organized! Also, the Art Portfolio on my website needed revising so it now has a new look and organization. [Be sure to check it out!] It helps to see my current body of work and gives me ideas of where to head next! So perhaps this is, after all, an important stage in the creative process–a time to organize, generate new ideas, and think of future goals–

The conclusion? Even though some days it feels like spinning wheels, going @…maybe there really are micromovements forward!

*What micromovements did you make today?*

Motivation [www.jonibeach.com]
Planet SARK {www.planetSARK.com]

September 2, 2011January 25, 2012

First Glimpse of Fall Colors…

The first day I notice a flash of red or yellow among the tones of green in the woods, it is always a surprise to realize that summer’s end is drawing near.

Soon the tawny colors of Autumn will paint the landscape…Nature will get our attention with a visual reminder that life will always include changes–transitions from one season to another.

This seasonal transition has also served as inspiration for many artists over the years. In a past fall season, after collecting some of the first colorful fall leaves, I traced and used their shapes to design these wall-hangings.

The same leaves were used in both but experimenting with different types of prints, color, and quilting lines resulted in two variations on the same theme.

First Colors of Autumn, #2. — First Colors of Autumn, #1. Fused appliqué, free-motion quilting on cotton, 22 x 20 1/4". © 2009 Joni Beach.

First Colors of Autumn, #2. © 2009 Joni Beach. — First Colors of Autumn, #2. Fused appliqué, free-motion quilting on cotton, 17 1/4×17″. © 2009 Joni Beach.

So in the coming days, I will continue to observe the change of colors in the fall landscape, marvel at the brilliant variety of colors…

along with the many transitions in life.

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*I realize not everyone experiences a fall season in the climate in which they live…I’d love to hear about which season or type of climate inspires you!?*

Above Dark Clouds… (jonibeach.com)
Thursday In the Studio…”Simple Gifts” (jonibeach.com)

July 19, 2011July 29, 2011

Tuesday…In the Studio

At the first of the week I wrote about a new beginning for the new week…part of the plan was to begin new artwork in the studio. And on Monday I did! This photo of the bottom side of a flower that I photographed in a garden a few weeks ago has intrigued me–the vibrant yellow, red, and green colors, as well as its line and shape.

In a college art class I experimented with Photoshop, editing a photo and making a resulting sketch from it, but I have not taken the time to do the same in making an art quilt. I have decided this is a perfect technique for a wall hanging using this photo as inspiration.

Since I do not have Photoshop on my computer, I tried its more simple Paint feature. After downloading the photo, the brush was used to outline the main lines in black.

Dotted lines were used to remind me of shadows, variations, and underlying petals.

This image was then printed out onto several sheets of paper as large as I could get it using this software…

Hopefully, I will be able to get a bigger image with the poster setting on my printer. While this is not a new technique, it is not one I have used with my equipment. As with any creative process and new art project, experimenting and improvising is necessary–of course this is also the fun part!

Laying out the sheets of paper, trimming, and taping them together will give me a pattern from which to copy pieces, cut out fabrics, and construct the wall hanging. That will be phase 2 of this project!