Thursday, October 8, 2009

Fall challenge, artist's block and more

I may have mentioned to several friends that I am experiencing a creative block right now, so perhaps just posting some pictures and participating in a challenge will release some hidden ideas. My friend Lesley, @ the Funky Art Queen, is suggesting a fall photo challenge. I don't really have many decorations out, but I did wire together a little wreath in the traditional fall colors.

I know the silk flowers that I used aren't actual fall flowers, but the colors seemed to work.

It seems that I have done so much sewing and doll making and polymer clay creating, and jewelry making and, and, and... just so much art this spring and summer that I am just about out of steam. Perhaps I will try to post more photographs this fall while I wait for my brain to fill back up. One of my favorite blogs to visit daily is Countryfolk Keepsakes. Peanut always has art and photographs to inspire and sometimes make us giggle. Even though she is much younger than I am, I really love her and seem to have quite a bit in common with her.

In an attempt to create something, I pulled out the Clay Craft by Deco. It's the air dry clay that I make flowers out of. (See this previous post) I wanted to make something other than flowers, but while this clay is perfect for flowers, it is really just not sturdy enough to do much sculpting from, so this is what I came up with.

Yikes...yes, this is what I ended up with. I just wanted to do something a bit different. I don't get bored, ever, but I do sometimes want to do something different. In fact in my quest to do something "different" over the years I have dabbled in the following.

Macrame, flower arranging, cake decorating and cooking, belly dancing, ball room dancing and disco, altered art, collage, all kinds of jewelry techniques, including bead weaving, stringing, wire working, chaine maille, lampwork beads (making beads with a torch), pmc (precious metal clay), ceramics, pottery lessons, drawing, painting, mosiacs, melt art (includes hot glue art, melting wax and crayons for pictures),rubber stamping, craft foil embossing, wood burning, knitting, crocheting, sewing, doll making, doll altering, paper arts, including quilling, cutting and paper folding, throw in finger counting, speed writing, key punch and learning computer stuff and this is just what I can remember right now. The scary part of all of this, is that I still have the supplies and the books for all of the above mentioned crafts.

Is there anything that I haven't tried yet? I have also read thousands of books, fiction and non fiction. I have spent hours and hours watching the telly and listening to music. There must be something else. I've always wanted to do something musical, but try as I may, I have had no success with piano, recorder, spoons or tambourine. I used to want to be a singer, but when I wanted to take voice lessons at the ripe old age of 10, the local teacher said I was too young. I wanted to take ballet and tap, but never got to. I tried to teach myself to roller skate, but fell and couldn't get back up and was too embarrassed to know what to do or to ask for help. Oh, wait, I'm regressing way too much here.

I always wanted to write a book and I love to take photographs and have even helped with weddings. I helped DH with his tv show and have thought about doing youtube videos of my own, but since I got so chubby, I'm hesitant to do that.

So, sorry about the long post, but this is what you get when I'm not at the art table. Unless you want more of these rambling thoughts, you had better come up with something new for me to do. Put the old thinking caps on kids and let me know. What is your favorite thing to do and have you done many of the same things that I listed. I really would love to know.

One other thing, if you go to my other blog, you can read about my pet peeve of the day. Be warned, it's not pretty.

That's it for today. Take care and have fun.

7 comments:

Sea Gypsy said...

I went to your other blog and yes I have seen it and it bugs me to.
I have one- the weather is getting cooler and still wearing summer clothing(shorts up to their underwear and tank top) and have no sweater and acting like they are freezing to death. Put some cloths on!
Back to your block- How about doodling and then doing something in clay with the doodles. Just a thought!

Artgalcrafts said...

Hi Susan
if nothing else your blog writing is so entertaining that while you are waiting for the next big wave of creativity to kick in you can become an entertainer, not that you arent already,too chubby for videos.!!!
Look at some of them gal, you'd do ok.
Hope to see you on You tube some day.
Thanks for the outrageous hat, will have fun wearing it.
will get a pic as soon as I can.
lots of love
Elizabeth.

Tricia said...

the cure for your creative block: meeting a friend for tea! ;) i will have a chemo-free week here soon. i will email and if you are free, we could do an artsy something or tea.
also a trip to the taubman would be good for filling the creative well.
or...you and hubby could take a day trip to floyd...i hear there are some cool art galleries there...i have been wanting to take a class at the art center.
and there is the ghost walk going on there weekend evenings.

hugs,

Tricia said...

ohhhh and i meant to add...you would be great in videos...you definitely are not too chubby. you are beautiful! and you have so much art knowledge to share. i still think about the great polymer clay tutorial you did at the library!

Unknown said...

When I have a block going to visit some of my favorite books on fine artist help. I love Paul Klee!!

Countryfolk Keepsakes said...

Susan, I am so touched and honored by your sweet comment!! Thank you!! And yes, I do believe our brains are on the same wave length. Not sure if that's good or bad though. (hee-hee...)
I love all your new creations especially the lil' yellow dude.
I do believe you should follow your heart. Whether its photography, writin' a book or doin' a YouTube video, jump in head first! Whatever it is, I know it will be fantastic!
Now I'm off to read about your pet peeves...
~Peanut
P.S. For the record, I'm not that much younger and I have always wanted to try belly dancin'. But I know my belly and it definitely won't do that. :> )

June said...

Y'know, Susan . . . just reading about all your artistic endeavors exhausts me. I am in awe!