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!  :)

What inspires you?

If you are an artist of any kind what things do you use for inspiration?

I take lots of photographs of things I see that I believe will inspire my art.  But it rarely impacts my art because the photos sit on my computer or on an external hard drive and I don't look at them again.  Maybe the images sit in the back of my mind and appear in artwork without my realising it.  I remember a tutor once who said something like if we don't fill our eyes with inspiration, nothing will come out of our hands.  She said it better than that so I hope you know what I mean.

Here are some of the photos I took in Australia that I feel should influence me somewhere along the line.

A metal sculpture

Machinery

Cliffs

Rocks on the sea shore

The bark of a tree

Sandstone blocks in the park that from a distance look like blocks of wood

 

 A block of sandstone that looks like rusted metal

The Sydney Harbour bridge

Rocks in the mountain

Underground

A dead tree 

More mountain rocks

I'm sure you've noticed that most of these photos have a real textural quality to them.  I fee that they lend themselves to inspiring textile art.

What would you be inspired to do with these photographs?

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

PS: After I had written this post I came across this blog post by Lain Ehmann which I need to reread and inwardly digest.   I plan to come back and write about it.