"Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up." Pablo Picasso
This week I silenced the inner voices that told me I wasn't creative enough to come up with a design idea and follow it through to completion. I pushed aside the "I can't write, draw or arrange ideas on paper" whinings in my head...
I determined to have a go.
If truth be told, I had recently discovered that I was a closet perfectionist when it came to design. It shook me up. I was appalled at myself. It stopped me enjoying the process of play and discovery. In fact, it paralysed me. It made me stressed and I don't do stress, I reckon I'm pretty easy going really; hence the "Wake up call"!
I had seen a phrase written on a block mount in a shop. I loved it! I examined it. Memories of a recent holiday came into sharp focus. I nearly bought it, but then I stopped. It looked a little rough around the ages. Could I make something similer, which spoke more of my experience? I photographed it......and I went home, pondering.
The answer for me, lay in taking my idea a step at a time and allowing the next thought to come along.
So I began with a blank canvas, literally.
I knew I wanted the background to look like sand; we just happened to have a yellow unopened tester pot which had been in a cupboard for umpteen years (which I almost cleared out with my last decluttering episode...) Sorted.
The shells had been collected on that recent holiday during a beachcombing afternoon. The starfish purchased at a shop on the beach, originally intended for a shelf in our sea themed downstairs loo!
The writing was the scary bit. Lightly drawn in pencil with style ideas taken from the phrase block in the shop....and lots of rubbing out followed!
Then, about as terrifying (okay, slightly exaggerated) the attempt to write over the top of the pencil with a pen, so scared I may jog the writing, muck it all up at this stage etc etc, all the negatives from all directions....
Then the glue, ignoring the" but what ifs" playing a pessimistic tune in my head! Stay steady, take it slow....but not too slow, the glue was hardening before my eyes....
Result!
Such a brilliant feeling of accomplishment and discovery! New ideas being explored as the days progressed and a design taking shape over time,
A process which needs repeating until I silence those voices for good!
This week I silenced the inner voices that told me I wasn't creative enough to come up with a design idea and follow it through to completion. I pushed aside the "I can't write, draw or arrange ideas on paper" whinings in my head...
I determined to have a go.
If truth be told, I had recently discovered that I was a closet perfectionist when it came to design. It shook me up. I was appalled at myself. It stopped me enjoying the process of play and discovery. In fact, it paralysed me. It made me stressed and I don't do stress, I reckon I'm pretty easy going really; hence the "Wake up call"!
I had seen a phrase written on a block mount in a shop. I loved it! I examined it. Memories of a recent holiday came into sharp focus. I nearly bought it, but then I stopped. It looked a little rough around the ages. Could I make something similer, which spoke more of my experience? I photographed it......and I went home, pondering.
The answer for me, lay in taking my idea a step at a time and allowing the next thought to come along.
So I began with a blank canvas, literally.
I knew I wanted the background to look like sand; we just happened to have a yellow unopened tester pot which had been in a cupboard for umpteen years (which I almost cleared out with my last decluttering episode...) Sorted.
The shells had been collected on that recent holiday during a beachcombing afternoon. The starfish purchased at a shop on the beach, originally intended for a shelf in our sea themed downstairs loo!
The writing was the scary bit. Lightly drawn in pencil with style ideas taken from the phrase block in the shop....and lots of rubbing out followed!
Then, about as terrifying (okay, slightly exaggerated) the attempt to write over the top of the pencil with a pen, so scared I may jog the writing, muck it all up at this stage etc etc, all the negatives from all directions....
Then the glue, ignoring the" but what ifs" playing a pessimistic tune in my head! Stay steady, take it slow....but not too slow, the glue was hardening before my eyes....
Result!
Such a brilliant feeling of accomplishment and discovery! New ideas being explored as the days progressed and a design taking shape over time,
A process which needs repeating until I silence those voices for good!
