JUST IMAGINE...

Imagination. Seems like we need a lot of it right now in these troubling times. And it is working...in some pretty amazing ways.

Not only are parents and teachers tapping into their imaginations in order to teach and keep young people engaged. Not only are hospitals and staff tapping in to find new and creative ways to handle shortages of supplies and the glut of Covid patients with all that entails.Not only are restaurants and other "essential" businesses quickly imagining new ways to keep employees busy and business going. 

So much more can be attributed to imagination.

As I read through what scientists are achieving right now and the work done to re-fit plants to produce what is needed (but where the heck is the toilet paper?),I am truly amazed. Plants like GM and Ford are re-tooled and manufacturing ventilators. JPL scientists have designed one ventilator now that uses even fewer parts than previously thought required. Samsung has made a wristband that, among other things, buzzes when the wearer comes within six feet of another person. This last is being tested and used in some of the aforementioned plants to help maintain a safe work environment.

And, of course, there is so much more. I am sure many of you are aware of the innovative things that are taking place now. Please share.

We will get through this together...and apart because of these things and more.

Imagination. Ingenuity. Resourcefulness. Resilience. Spirit.

THE PROMISE OF PREP

prep tools

There are times when the preparation is at least half of the fun. It's titillating to think of what the tools could become.

I started today to gather the items I may need for the Round Robin Journal entry for March. Ideas are percolating. We shall see what shows up.

Sometimes there is complete failure of the idea, but experimentation and exploration is part of this process of journaling anyhow, so...what the heck, right?

The play is the thing, for sure!!

IDEAS ABOUND

Faith's entry

The art jounaling fun continues. In fact, I am currently working on two round robin journals and two of my own. It is a wonderful way to try out techniques and/or to just play around.

The two-page spread above done by Faith Fickett is from a previous round robin journal. Isn't it fun?

PAREIDOLIA?... REALLY?

What do you see?

Pareidolia...what a mouthful of a word! It refers to the fact that our brains are always on the alert for possible patterns in the world around us. Logic need not apply.

When you were a kid (and possibly still) did you see images in the clouds? in the wallpaper? in the intricate designs of a carpet? Well, then I guess you are already familiar with pareidolia. 

Daughter Jenna and I are off on another road trip soon and perhaps there will be many opportunities for experiencing pareidolia. I hope so. Meanwhile, with 82 blog posts complete for the year, I hope to figure a way to continue my two a week commitment while on the road. And I'm behind this week as I have been too busy with other things so expect another post probably today. Crazy, right? But goals is goals is goals...

JOYFUL EXHAUSTION

Pretty desperately needing this third mug of coffee this morning. Pretty late night after the Sawdust Art Festival Preview Night Party. A long day of prep was followed by a joyful night of re-entry into the social world of festival time. Lots of old and new faces and great conversations over wonderful music in an engaging and fantastical setting. The artists this year have outdone themselves. When you come you should definitely "Expect the Unexpected," as this year's theme states.

There are just two days remaining to finish off the unfinished, like pricing, replacing what already sold, and more. Guess I'd better drag this tired self back to work. 

See you at the Sawdust Art Festival--June 28 thru September 1, 10 am to 10 pm daily!!

BLESSINGS OF IMAGINATIONS

Imagination is such a rich and wonderful thing. Best of all, we all have it and it need not cost a thing. Something wondrous can be conjured out of nothing.

Imagination can go in all sorts of different directions. It can take us into a world of fancy and fantasy; it can bring the past into the present; it can solve problems, write screenplays and novels and poems; it can paint pictures in remembered or fanciful images...and so much more.

Where do we draw the line? How is it that we often find it difficult to go from that which we can visualize, create, conceive to assuming its truth and expecting it to happen? What is needed to transition from the imagined to the "real"?

Commitment? Action? Probably some of both. Imagine you can. Take steps to make it happen. Then, Providence gets its chance; serendipity comes into play.
Begin. 'Cause why not?

LOVING COLOR

I do LOVE Mineral Blue. Coupled with the light green, some white, and a touch of red...well, this nighttime sky just comes alive for me each time I look at it.

Looking at this piece, i can hear the hoot of an owl in a nearby tree. I can imagine faeries dancing in a nearby clearing even as nighttime critters move about on the carpet of leaves below.

Color brings on so many imaginings.
What do you see/think of when looking here?

FLASH!

I like the thought

The weather folks keep talking about the possibility of flash floods, but, luckily, not any yet.
One of the things we do in Sunday Studio Workshops is create at least one piece that can be sent as mail art to a name drawn of another participant in the workshop. I get one too. It always brings me a smile of pure joy to get these in the mail. And my mail lady likes them too. This one came recently from enthusiastic student, Camillia. What a great reminder to us all!

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING PRECEDE WEEK 2/BLOG 4

Morning after

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. 

These words from Robert Louis Stevenson resonate for me on this stormy morning. So very many magnificent things can emanate from this feeling of happiness.

After a night of fantastic thunder and lightning it was still possible to get in a morning walk before more rain appeared. Glorious!!

And what a way to start each day! It is a discipline, yes, but such a rewarding one. I am hoping that this resolution of mine to do two blogs each week, while yet another discipline, can be at least close to as fulfilling. Fingers crossed and working/playing at it!

I THINK I CAN...I THINK I CAN...

Why not?

Week one, Blog number two. So far so good. 
The mail art card to the left seems to express yet another thought on resolutions. Why not resolve to be creative in the year to come? 
There are so very many ways to do "creative," at least I think so. But, going back to the "Success" post, one of the best things is to just do it (Oh, no, not that Nike quote again!)
Seriously, though, creativity, like flying, starts with doing.
Begin, fail, succeed, do it again, begin again, fail, do it,.........
So why not take a class or workshop?
Watch a YouTube video to learn something new and try it? Pick up pen, pencil, paint brush, even crayon and paper and just begin drawing? 
There are myriad ways to "just do it" so why not begin?

SUM...SUM...SUMMERTIME!

Booth #131--Sawdust Art Festival

It seems just a few days since I announced it was time to get down to it.  Now, because of Fourth of July festivities and excessive heat, it seems a very long time ago. 
As the cool breezes follow the cloud cover in this week I can remember what fun summertime always seems to be no matter how old you are or what activities you are doing. 
So this is your invitation to come to Laguna Beach and join me for good art, good food, good entertainment, and more. Check it all out at www.sawdustartfestival.org for sure.

WHAT MOOD IS THAT?

Spring flowers bloom

What mood is that? Hobbes asks Calvin while discussing creativity and inspiration in a cartoon by the great Bill Watterson. Calvin's reply, Last-minute panic is probably recognizable by many of us who play in creative fields. 
It's not that ideas and possibilities do not abound, but somehow getting to the nitty-gritty often awaits that last minute crush.
Recently, after completing eight collage pieces for a set for Amy Poehler's upcoming production for Netflix of Wine Country, I found myself unable to focus on just one creative area. I was all over the place. Perhaps this was in part a direct effect of the intense pressure to complete the eight pieces. Last-minute panic had been the rule.
So now do I have to wait until another last-minute time? 
Gee! I hope not. 
Plodding on will continue until some brilliance shines through. Maybe I'll even get another film gig.  Wouldn't that be great?

FUN FIGURES WORKSHOP FUN!

It was a real hoot! Playtime reigned, with grownup wine at the end to celebrate our success at just letting go and showing up.

Cherril/Faith

Jackie/Cherril

Katherine

Camellia

What fun we had in this latest workshop. I wish you all could have been part of the giggles and explosive laughter that showed up along with the fun creative energy.

Nadine/Joelle

Look at the way these two keep your eye involved in these pieces.

DECEMBER ART JOURNALS

December entry

This month marks the final entry into the latest of our round robin journals. The year began with 12 of us each making our book and designing the cover. The book was then sent to the next person on the list who had a month to play with their own inside spread. On it went at the end of that month to the next person.
These journals are a fun adventure in creativity, allowing each of us the opportunity to try out new techniques. The end result is, hopefully, a treasure for the original person to keep and learn from as well. It has been fun!

LEMONADE FROM LEMONS

Postcards to business cards

Last year when I ordered postcards for the Sawdust Art Festival to hand out I received 1000 printed with markings and margins...ugh! These were then replaced by the company, but what to do with the ones made in error? I used many as "identifiers" on back of work, but still there were sooooo many remaining. Just sat down with them last night and turned the ends into business cards. Why not? There seems never a reason to toss things if only you turn on your imagination!