Colors,Lines, and Shapes Oh My.....

Sometimes, as part of my own creative self-exploration.....I try to figure out "my style" of art. Or, I try to figure out what it is I want to say with my art. Who am I? What am I passionate about? What is it I am trying to communicate through my art? So.....tapping my foot....I think very hard..... I say to myself, "self, what are you all about?"

In my mind I start listing what turns me on creatively....not particularly in this order:

Color and more color-bright-high saturation-orange-reds,lime greens, golden yellow-bright and cheery reds, lovely cobalt blues (high color-no pastels for me)
Geometric lines and shapes and simple drawings always catch my eye
Texture-I love to look at art that has texture and layers of interest.
Ideas of a Whimsical nature- animals, funny things, play.....
Femininity-I love how God made the female body so very beautiful and the female mind and soul so complex.
Food-I love to eat good food. Though I can easily turn down the desert menu, I find it very hard to eat on the "light menu". Love Italian and Mexican foods. Bread, bread, bread, bring it on!!!
Wine! Oh how I love Chardonnay, maybe too much. I love wine. I don't like red or pink or anything other than Chardonnay.
Family Fun-I love being with my family and the older I get the more I appreciate my precious family.
Friends-Girlfriend time in particular is very important to me now. Even today I look forward to a limousine ride with 9 0ther girlfriends to view Christmas lights Thursday night. Wine will be involved. Yay! Bling will be involved. Yay!
Pet-my puppy, I have never been a real dog person until Sebastian came into my life. Now, I can't imagine my life without him.

So, doing exercises like this are important to help you figure out who you are. In doing this. I can think about themes and ideas for my future art. If you look at your art from the past, you will be able to see themes. I think that when we start trying to be authentic and communicate our true selves through our art.....our art will shine.....I'm just sayin'......

Paper Flowers and Fabric Flowers

Well, I'm kind of in a creative funk again. I hate it when this happens! I'm so glad that next weekend I am going to Fredricksberg, TX again to the trade days. I know it will inspire me in all kinds of directions. Meanwhile, while I am trying to get my groove back........I have been making a lot of little short term projects in the paper department. I made this little posey pin from faux vintage post/letters etc papers from the scrapbooking department. I actually wore it yesterday on my jacket. Then I spotted this book on Fabric Flowers by Elizabeth Helene Searle at the fabric store and I had to get it. I used her instructions to make this first fabric flower. I want to try several of her other flowers instructions. Now, what will I do with them? Who knows? Does it really matter if I am enjoying myself? Probably everyone will get fabric or paper flowers for Christmas! Heehee Have a great day.

Dumpster Diving Diva

Dumpster Diving Diva Yes, I have to say, I probably looked something like this yesterday. I'm hoping that my bo - hiney did not look so much like this one though. OK, are you ready for this Lucy Ricardo story? It was Monday and I was working. I parked in the hospital parking lot and was going to go in and market to all the social workers. I spotted a trash dumpster and decided I should take advantage of that and clean the trash out of my car. (When you work out of your car...you are constantly cleaning trash out). So, I gathered up all trash and proudly walked over to the dumpster that I was parked so close to. I'm always so proud of myself for making do on the run. I proudly released my trash into the dumpster and before it hit the bottom I realized I also released my car keys! DANG IT! I could see them but for the life of me, I could not reach them. First, I looked all around for witnesses (none) so I dipped in slightly with my arm reaching as far as it could.....no go. Not

NO WATER REQUIRED FABRIC FLOWERS

I finished these fabric flowers yesterday. I loved the polkadot material. I just used fabric stiffener and I baked them some to make the fabric hard. I hot glued the stems and tied pretty ribbon. These are my kinda flowers......I can't kill these. Just dust and go. LOL Then after thinking about it a bit, I decided to make some round ones....kinda like pansies. That was not enough though.....I wanted them to be sort of primitive so I tea dyed them and baked them to stiffen. I also added polyurthane.....which by the way, I don't like as it seems to have a very mild stickiness even after they dried. So we live and learn....anyway....here they are. Then I decided to so something else with fabric....something different and unique. Oh my goodness, sometimes I can't leave well enough alone. I do not like this creation but I like the concept so I might have to play with the idea some more. I wanted to make a fabric sculpture piece of art that you could hang on the wall. This is

Deb said…

Like your painting very much...think it's the Gemini in me that relates! I understand and appreciate the desire to 'find your voice' in art. I like to do many different types of creative expression. Haven't yet found that one thing that makes me sing, 'me, me, me'!

8:25 PM

Poetic Artist said…

The color is wonderful. I like how you try to figure things out.
Maybe I need to try this..I am still trying to figure out my style.
Which of lately is crap...LOL

8:52 PM

Unknown said…

I know just what you mean...well said sister!! btw, your blog is awesome and it speaks YOU.
I'm so sorry about your dad. I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose a parent.
Have a wonderful Christmas!!
Micah

7:14 AM

Susan said…

I love this art. You have such a neat style. Interesting list. I've been in an artistic slump lately, maybe I need to do a mental list. Take care, Susan.

9:20 AM

Kim Mailhot said…

I think this is a good exercise for life, not only for art making, Lesley. Doing that inventory of what makes your soul really tick helps to keep you on track with how you live your life too. If you are doing stuff that doesn't work with the list of what is most important to you, it makes you think how you can change that ! You are a wise woman ! ;)
I hope you have a day filled with puppy love and many other wonderful things from your life list !
Big hugs !

7:47 AM

FAQ said…

I love all you girls and your wise and warm comments. Merry Christmas.

8:10 AM

Apple said…

Very cool! I love the colors! :)

1:30 PM