This tale is about the “right way” and the “wrong way” to be creative…at least this is how it went for me this weekend.
Saturday in an attempt to kill some time while waiting for some laundry to finish, I decided to challenge myself again to create for the Art Journal Journey theme of Collage~no wings, no leaves, no faces. To begin, I tore a page from a vintage basic electric manual figuring it had some good background to it already. In addition I snagged a couple of random scraps from my worktable and took the works to the sewing machine.
I then did a bit of journalling along the edge of one of the scraps. Ok…still feeling it…the creative spark was there but dim.
I added some color…still good. Then I sprayed some black mist through my circle stencil. It was as if the mist put out the spark. Instead doing the smart thing and walking away at that point to regroup…I was still waiting for the stupid laundry cycle to complete so I just kept throwing more crap at the page.
I’m still not excited about this one but that’s ok. Challenges are just that…a challenge. Otherwise it would be called super happy fun time.
On Sunday while cleaning up my workspace I felt that creative spark again. This time I made a deal with myself not to push through if I wasn’t feeling it. I noticed a freebie art paper I had pulled from an old issue of Somerset Studio. So I had a great starting point…maybe an easy way to redeem myself.
Given the fact that this page has an eye on it it wouldn’t count for the challenge away.
I didn’t do a tom to the background…I used gelatos to intensify the colors in certain places, some outlining in white gel pen, lots of stamping, gesso through a stencil and heat embossing…but all in a very subtle way. After deciding on some layers of goodies including ink stained babywipes I adding stitching over my layers and around the page in a random fashion.
Some black paint splatters and added “eyeliner” were my final touch before looking for words. see possibility everywhere was just perfect.
So my lesson to myself was to know enough when to walk away. You can’t force it. I suppose it’s something like writers block…you can stare at a page but you can’t will the words or art to flow.
Love your pages, they are both fun. And an eye is okay – an eye is not a face! Thanks for joining us again at AJJ, hug, Valerie
these are both wonderful collage pages Halle!
Oh – both pages are just beautiful – I love all the great details! Just perfect !
Thank you for joining us with two more such wonderful pieces! It’s o.k. with the eye..
one eye doesn’t make a face…lol!
oxo Susi
I actually prefer the first one. I think it feels less disconnected. What can I say? I’m the odd man out most of the time, anyway.
Wow- you are on a roll. I think you have been inspired. Both collages came out fantastic.
OMGosh! I’m laughing hysterically…..yes it would be called something besides a challenge!
I adore the page with the all seeing eye, how perfect the sentiment is for that page.
Love both of them, great collages. Love all the colours and textures. You are right, it’s a challenge.