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be your own superstar
Monday 27 February, 2006
I noticed that around the new year various bloggers were making some interesting resolutions around their creativity. It started when:
Swirlygirl decided to make 500 art creations in 2006.
This made so much sense to me...if you make it about a number, about output...then you won't get hung up on 'perfection' or 'getting it right'. It seems that it will lead to (probably) some terrible art but also lots of experimentation, playfulness and productivity. A wonderful idea.
then Katrina of FeistyScribe resolved this:
"I'm going to take a page out of Swirly's playbook. I set a goal for the number of images I want to take this year: 8,000. I figure I only get a few good images out of the 50 or so I normally take each time. I want to push myself to take more images and to look for more interesting angles and colors. Today I'm resetting the counter on my camera so I can keep track."
Again, a great idea to make it about a number rather than agonising over the results of your efforts. I don't have this problem with photography because I am a snap-happy kinda girl and take way too many - but I applauded Katrina's resolution. And then while these things were cooking away in my brain...
Kate at Self-Taught Girl said this:
"I have resolved to finish a sketchbook, and ... I am prepared to "make some really bad art at first." And inspired by the amazing Swirly and her 500 paintings, I have resolved that I will use up all of my art supplies this year, with the rule that I cannot buy new ones until the old ones have been used up. So many of my supplies are going bad because I haven't used them up. Well, no more. I will paint and collage and use pastels and crayons and markers and pieces of paper until every last supply is gone. I will create some really shitty art. And all of it will be for one purpose: not to be a painter or try to get a show, but to let go of the past a bit."
and I was reading this collage book by Christine Hellmuth and she wrote something like (sorry I've returned it to the library so can't quote accurately) "People always assume that I must have piles and piles of materials around my house, but I don't at all. I find it more inspiring to gather a few, use them all up and then go out to look for fresh materials."
Huzzah! This and what Kate said really resonated with me, because I am terribly guilty of stock-piling both art materials AND craft materials for 'one day' when I 'know how to do that properly' or 'can think of the perfect project' to use the materials for. With collage - I've definitely noticed that I get bored quickly with the images in my stash, so it definitely makes sense to use stuff up and then get fresh images.
SO! No more! I have resolved to start being non-precious and non-perfectionist about this stuff and to 'clear some chi' in Feng Shui terms, by just getting stuck in and making, reconstructing, altering, sewing, decoupaging, printing, taking apart, painting, applique-ing all of the bits of stuff I have in my overflowing art materials cupboard and my totally terrifying craft/fabric cupboard.
I had been thinking I needed to sort them. I don't need to sort them at all. I just need to USE them.
It can be as small as sewing stars on to a silver singlet (above) or as big as finally decoupaging the trunk in my garage with old oriental prints. (I have had this project in mind forever but have been scared of beginning it, lest it ends up looking like arse...see how strangulating the perfectionist thing can be?) I ADORE reconstructed clothing and have a bunch of retro clothes sitting around that I've been planning to alter/reconstruct but again...was waiting for that day when I become the 'perfect seamstress'. Pah! Sucks to that - I'm just going to hack and sew and if it doesn't work - it can get turned into dusters or dress-up box fodder.
Since making this resolution (a week ago) I have:
-unpicked a retro dress and am in the process of making a skirt from the bottom half and a sleeve/shrug thing from the sleeves.
-made lots of progress on an altered book I am making for a friend but had abandoned because it wasn't 'perfect'
-used up some fabric flowers by sewing them on to a bright stripy scarf - it looks wonderful!
-appliqued felt flowers on to a retro velvet winter bag
-learned a couple of new stitches and embroidered some felt heart brooches
-done a really, really bad painting on canvas
-made a big pile of hand-drawn patches
It feels good just to leap in and make, try, experiment. My resolution is less about a number and more like Kate's one of using up a stock-pile.
Wheee! Thanks, wonderful blogging community for the continuing inspirational nutrition! I'll start sharing some photographs of my creations with you soon.
posted by Helen on 27 February, 2006 | 9:02am
COMMENTS
great ideas and inspiration to just get 'stuck in'! I would really love to see some pictures of what you've been making...
Posted by melissa on 27 February, 2006 | 12:01pm
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