inspiration

I have to breathe fresh energy into my practice every day. Things that help:

Get Outside

Today, I walked my usual woods walk, but I started from a different point and it changed the experience. I also allowed myself to photograph shadow in the path.

I am hoping that these shadow photos inspire:

• stencils
• drawings, doodles and
• books

Take a Class

This always gets my creative juices flowing. Recently, I took the Make It Move class with Kara Kramer and Carla Sonheim Presents. We played with making simple animations. It was fun and got me excited about playing with colorful paper.

This is one of my short animations:

If you can’t take a class, find a YouTube video and try a new skill or technique. Pick something that you would not normally do.

Clear Your Design Wall

Every so often I take all the art work off my studio wall. It is like a fresh start. Then I can pick new inspiration to pin up.

Then slowly add bits of inspiration or new work.

MORE ways to energize your practice:

1. Make a mess
2. Use old tools in a new way
3. Purge unloved work
4. Play new kind of music
5. Move your workbench

Hope you are happily creating in your studio space!

I am so grateful for the short walks that break up my day at the studio.

Sometimes I just go around the block trying to get a little fresh air and sunshine. Often that is just enough to clear my mind.

Sometimes, I find a rusty treasure. That I use to stain paper and fabric.

Other times, I see shadows and shapes that inspire stencils for printmaking.

I will pick up weeds and twigs to use to make printing plate.

So I highly recommend taking a walk to inspire your printmaking practice.

• Just walk out your studio door and see what happens
• Go to the woods or beach before you even head to the studio
• Go at a comfortable pace without expectation

Enjoy!

 

I watched Mies on Scene and was inspired by the building and story about the Barcelona Pavillon.

I challenge you to use your local library services or your movies services account and check out an art documentary for a a bit of inspiration.

I was particularly drawn to:

• the shadows and reflections
• the depths available in the simplicity
• use of water and stone

I can see how I like to use this things in my own work. That makes me smile.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

Happy printing!