Thursday 12 January 2017

What do you do...

...when you're in the artistic doldrums?

I turn to pages in my journals, adding, covering, deleting and generally messing about.  Since this time of the year usually slows down my passion for creating (I'm a sunshine-craving creator), I've been poking about in a journal gifted to me by my friend Meg.  An oblong shape, it appeals to my sense of quirkiness.


 Some of the pages are complete,


 many of them are filled with stolen items (salvaged from greeting cards and found ephemera),


some are in progress,

and some have a looooooong way to go.


This journal spread is looking for a fortune cookie saying that complements the flowers,


 and many of the pages have already found one.


Whatever the stage, they're a great place to play, and play small, which is always an appeal when the Muse is occupied elsewhere.  

What calls you when the creativity slows down?  Is it journals, small paintings, card-making, tags, or something else entirely?  I'd love to hear in your comments, and if you've got a link to it, all the better!

24 comments:

  1. I am sure our doldrums will be lifted by that colourful journal. You know what is helping me with creativity at this time although what I am going to do with 30 more paintings I don't know. Have a great day Win!

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    1. That's always the question, isn't it Val? We paint, play, create, and then where do they all go? Happy play, my friend!

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  2. Fortune cookie sayings what a great idea.
    When I'm in the doldrums I digital collage...layer upon layer, color over color, details, elements, surprises, I can spend hours. I is just pure joy to me to pull together strangeness into a beautiful collage. It is something I have found appealing since I was in High School and pasting together cards, magazine and calendar pictures with song lyrics. With the transparency of digital work I love it even more.
    I like visiting your blog too it is fun to see someone submerged in art rather then just treading water like me. Rock on!

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    1. Fortune cookies cannot be eaten fast enough in this house, Deann - must find an alternate source. :D I love your beautiful digital collages so much, and the way you combine them with poetry/songs/text is fabulous. So much so, that I'm considering teaching myself some Photoshop just so I can play in your world. I must say it looks more like you're creating new oceans and planets than treading water, my friend.

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  3. That looks like a fun art journal to work in. I like to play in my art journal on a regular basis just to keep my creative juices flowing. However, I also love photography, which has served as reference material for my sketches/drawings/paintings in the past, as well as card making. Blessings!

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    1. It's a blast, Arnoldo, and like you, photography has its pull for me as well. My card-making skills are abysmal, so I've got some work to do there, although I feel fortunate that there are so many ways to play with creativity!

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  4. Lovely makes Win, complete and in progress! That peacock napkin looks vaguely familiar LOL! Glad you could use it! Love that collage with the cards!

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    1. Thanks on all counts Zsuzsa...I love it how these shared bits of ephemera, coming from all points of the compass, can turn into some delicious play!

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  5. Gorgeous pages. I find I'm more creative with art in the winter as I'm outside so much in the summer & gardening etc. Cheers xx

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    1. So interesting, isn't it, Shirley...how and when we're creative. When I was presenting a ton of workshops in the winter I found that fueled my creativity hugely, but now that I've slowed that down it's a different story. Therefore, I have to find new ways to ramp it up! xo

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  6. Those pages are wonderful ! I love Summer too and can't wait for it to arrive. I think these pages will lift you out of the doldrums in no time !
    Corrie x

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    1. Thanks, Corrie - just the thought of summer can do it, so at this time of the year, many of my journals are hot, hot, and hotter colour. Why not! :D

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  7. I love seeing what you do Win...awesome colours!!

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    1. Thanks, Roz, and thanks for stopping by to comment!

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  8. I;m with you Win, journaling is where I;m at as well! Thank you for sharing- your posts always make me smile-love your send=se of "quirkiness" heehee xoxo

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    1. It must be that time of year, Jackie - and always a good creative passtime! Big hugs to you, my friend, with both our noses stuck in the journals...xoxox

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  9. Oh what a great treat to see these pages with such amazing designs and bright colors Win. SUPER start to the weekend!! The peacock is exquisite but those bright green leaves just are totally eye candy to me. But even the ones that aren't complete are so inspiring. For me... it's always a canvas. Seems like I am never caught up so I just keep painting away!! HAPPY NEW YEAR dear Win. Hugs. j.

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    1. Many thanks, Joi -I agree that you can hardly match the fun of Gelli printing with leaves, and those are particularly bright and cheerful for such wintry weather. Lovely to see you here, my friend. xo

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  10. If I could put some sunshine in an envelope, I would send it to you, Win! We're in the middle of summer and 30C+ is normal for the next couple of months. Still, revisiting journal pages is a good way to find inspiration. I also find that doing pages 'in the style of' someone else breaks me out of a rut.

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    1. Oh that would be lovely, Tracy - some Australian sunshine and heat would be just perfect right now! That's a great idea about playing with other styles in a journal; I think I'll head back there now and try it!

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  11. I'm happy to see you have opened your journal and are getting back at creating (listen to me - I haven't painted since October - but I have made cards - to keep my hand in). Your journal here is an amazing format and I love your spreads, especially the peacock one!
    You asking "What calls you when the creativity slows down?" prompted me to create a Flickr album of some of my hand made cards:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/22752120@N04/albums/72157675449889174

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    1. Your cards are always fabulous, Alice, and your amazing sense of design comes through no matter what! Love your album of card photos...stunning! xo

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  12. Fantastic pages wow!What a great journal!
    I am very seldom without inspiration or muse - always find inspiraion everywhere and have to steal time to have time for my hobby.
    oxo Susi

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    1. Thanks, Susi - this is a fun journal to play in, and there's something about fortune cookie sayings that really appeals! I can see you're always inspired - your muse speaks to you constantly!

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