Can you get too much inspiration?

And if so, what do you do about it?

In a previous post I referred to this article by Lain Ehmann.  It has taken a while to process it.  Lain suggests that we can get into a situation where we are overloaded with information and inspiration.  And I have to admit that when I am in avoidance mode (her word) I turn to Pinterest - at the time of writing I have 122 boards and almost 9200 pins!  9184 to be precise!

procrastinate
transitive verb
: to put off intentionally and habitually
intransitive verb
: to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done

I used to have a real problem with procrastination (probably what Lain means by avoidance) but I had some creative life coaching with Robin Norgren and she suggested that I thought of it as hesitation rather than procrastination.

hesitate
verb
: to stop briefly before you do something especially because you are nervous or unsure about what to do
: to be unwilling to do something because of doubt or uncertainty

Can you see there's a big difference between procrastination and hesitation?  So why do I hesitate?  Why do I put off making a page or starting a new project?

• I might spoil the blank page!
• What will I do with it when I've finished it?
• It might not turn out as well as I imagine it in my head
• It won't be perfect!

The whole point about art journaling is that there are no rules so in theory you can't spoil the page and perfection isn't an issue.  So why do I (we) let it bother me (us)?

One of the great things at the weekend with Seth Apter was that we were encouraged not to think.  Carolyn Dube speaks about OOPS - watch one of her videos to find out what she means!

The thing to do is play!  Just PLAY

That shouldn't be difficult, should it?

But play with what?

Lain writes about  Less input  Less information  Less research

Maybe I should add LESS STUFF which includes less products!

My craft space (the dining room) heaves with unused stamps, stencils, paints, crayons, pencils, tools, embossing folders and washi tape.

And if you read yesterday's post you will have seen that I added more to it.

But I promise you I have cut back.  I no longer buy every new Tim Holtz, Dylusions or Stampers Anonymous product.   I am trying to wean myself off buying washi tape.  I'm not winning on the stencil front!

And the other thing I do to avoid doing my own work is signing up for online classes that rarely get finished.  And one started yesterday - Creative + Practice.  But maybe this one will get finished and will be useful.  I must admit I bought it because it was on an amazing offer - a discount of $200.

It's an 8 week course which will take me to the beginning of 2016 when Wanderlust begins.  I have high expectations for Wanderlust.  Not just because it has an amazing line up of teachers but because there is going to be lots of information about how products work and what you can do with them.  Maybe all those things being ignored in my craft room will get an airing during the year.

I think I have come to the conclusion that Lain is right - Less is more.  But how I am going to put that into practice is another thing entirely.   What do you think about Lain's and my comments?

Thanks for stopping by
Bernice

PS You may have noticed there are less photos!  :)

Venice workbook update

During this last week I have been using my Gelli plate.  I have been thinking about my Venice project for a while so I had already bought various tubes of acrylic paint in Venice type colours and purchased the Michelle Ward stencils I told you about.

I watched a couple of Carolyn Dube videos on Gelli Printing (an online class) to get the juices flowing and then launched into playing.  The thing about using this type of monoprinting is that you never know what you are going to end up with.  It is also totally addictive so you may need to set a time limit on your play time.   Here are just a few of the results.  These are the ones I liked best but there is a pile of other prints which I will cut up to put in my sketchbook/workbook.

The scanner decided not to scan the whole page!

 

The scanner decided this was a black & white image although there is some of the peachy colour showing on the original.

This one will probably be printed over again but I wanted to scan the original so I can use it to print out.  I may well print over some of the others shown here.  That's the joy of scanning or photographing your work as you go along.  You can always print out what you've done before.

I don't tend to clean my stencils - I put the painted stencil down onto a piece of paper or in a journal and get the excess off but then leave it.  I really loved the effect on this stencil so took a photograph.  It may well appear in my sketchbook.

During this next week I'll use some of these prints in my sketchbook and show you what I have done next Wednesday.  See you then.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Who has influenced my mixed media art?

Over the last few years I have attended lots of workshops and signed up for so may online classes that I've lost count.   I thought I would share with you some of the shops and people who have helped me and taught me over that time.

Art from the Heart is an excellent bricks & mortar shop with a very stong online presence.  I have attended many workshops there.   My credit card groans whenever I go to Harrogate to a class.  I'm going there next weekend for 3 days of workshops with Seth Apter.

Dyan Reaveley is now well known as a Ranger Signature Designer.  However I met her first at Art from the Heart when I went to my first ever workshop there.   She has a distinctive style.  I interviewed her for my series on Celebrating UK Artists.   You can watch her videos on the Ranger YouTube Channel.

Dina Wakely has been a guest tutor at Art from the Heart and I have loved the workshops I've attended.   Several of the classes have involved making books which I love.  She also introduced me to the idea of having white space on mixed media pages.  This really appeals to me.   You can also find Dina on the Ranger YouTube Channel.

Artist Trading Post started as an online business with workshop space and then moved to a b&m shop and has now returned to its online roots.  I love the variety of products that Jamie stocks.  My credit card used to groan when I visited for workshops there too.

Wanderlust is a new year long venture from Jamie and Kasia Krzyminska (aka czekoczyna).  There will be videos& PDFs on techniques but the thing that got me interested is that "Wanderlust will give you an in-depth knowledge about products, media and tools".  Of course I signed up - won't you join me?

Anneliese Bates introduced me to various mixed media techniques.  She held these workshops in Derbyshire which was great for me because it was so much nearer to my house than Harrogate.  I love Anneliese's style and enjoyed her workshops immensely.  I was really disappointed when she gave up hosting them but I am thrilled that her new venture Fox & Bear is doing so well.

Michelle Ward produces amazing stencils both for StencilGirl and for her own website Green Pepper Press.  I have just invested in a whole lot of her stencils for my Venice project.

Carolyn Dube produces the best teaching videos on the internet (in my opinion).  She is so generous with what she shares for free on her blog and YouTube channel.  She also has fee-based classes that are such value for money.  I particularly liked the Stencil Play class.  You really should check them out if you like mixed media art.

And last but definitely not least, Valerie Sjodin.  Her art blows me away.  Valerie is another tutor who is very generous with the skills and information she shares.  I love her online classes but sadly don't give enough time to practice so my art hardly ever looks like hers.

I've really enjoyed looking back to see what and who has influenced me over the years.  What are your favourite shops, favourite artists or online courses?  Please share them in the comments below.
 
Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice