Friday 25 January 2013

Focusing on life–week 4–create art!

I thought I had this one in the bag right off the bat.  When Sally Russick’s prompt arrived last Saturday I had to smile at the picture she used since it was so close, in theme, to ones I had been taking just hours before.  What serendipidy!  Immediately I had a plan.  You see the prompt was to go and create some art – any art.   That morning I had tried to capture some pictures of Averleigh painting, which is a new medium for her.  I like this one where she is swapping the brush from her left to right hand.  I don’t think she has decided yet (see paint on both sides) but there seems to be a left preference.

create art
I thought, great  I’ll grab the white crayon that I usually hide since it “doesn’t work” and frustrates the hell out of her.  I’ll show her how you can use it as a resist.  I tried the next three days running to sit with her and paint and she was not interested in sharing her space with me in this way.  No way, no how.

artist at work

I can respect that.  I let the artist have her space.  So far every painting has started in the same shade of blue, girl after my own heart she is.  I could have created my own watercolour but I didn’t want to use her paints without her as surely she would know.

Thankfully, mid week I was inspired to try some polymer headpin making again.  Not what I had in mind to share for this project today, but I did get in the groove and move to making these not-sure-what-to-call-them-yet beads.  Do you feel that shift creating?  That switch in the tracks, moving from left-brained planning to just right-brained making, do you know the one I mean?  I can’t always feel it switch over but sometimes I’ll look up and realize I’m far from where I began and I’m not sure quite how I got there.  [side effect – I never write down a colour recipe or steps of a made-up technique]

focus on life week 4

Join me in heading over to Sally’s blog to see the art that everyone has been creating.

34 comments:

  1. You write the best blog posts, and she is absolutley adorable! In reading your post, I realized how oftentimes my jewelry designs NEVER end the way they started either! polymer heapins!!! Those are awesome...never seen them! Great idea and I love the colors!

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  2. Oh how pretty...I Love the description of the white crayon that doesn't work...I'd forgotten that I felt the same way when young...the energy in creating is always changing...don't you love riding the wave from crest to crest? Wonderful post...and beautiful headpins!

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  3. Awww, Averleigh looks so adorable and focused on her art. Kind of funny that she wouldn't share her space with you. An artist creates in solitude? And those headpins and beads are so cool so it's just as well you had to do your own thing!

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  4. I love the photos of your daughter painting. I did something similar with my kiddo thus week. Your headpins are just beautiful. At first, I thought they were small flowers. I had to look almost three times to believe they were clay!

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  5. Oh, Emma, such a beautiful post! Your daughter is adorable - and I love that you respected her space and her will, I know many artsy parents who will try to "show them how it's done", when the beauty is to let them experiment!
    The clay pins are such a gorgeous idea! I saw them made with glass - and it shouldn't have surprised me to see them in polymer clay too, but it did :) Yours are gorgeous, absolutely stunning.

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  6. Well maybe it's a good thing your daughter didn't share. At least you got back to making headpins. They are gorgeous and so is Averleigh!

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  7. love the photos of your daughter painting - and why should she share her space??
    love your headpins - however we express our creativity, we're making art :)
    have a great week :)
    [no 19 - i overslept!]

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  8. so lovely and organic- great colors!

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  9. I love the purple and gold. Very pretty as is your daughter!

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  10. Your head pins are great. Your description of switching from left brain to right brain is so right own. And what a gorgeous picture of your daughter you posted.

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  11. Your daughter is beautiful! I love her concentration! Don't you love it when inspiration strikes! Your polymer is wonderful.

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  12. Oh, the definition of things not turning out as you planned is doing art with children. I miss that now that my kids are grown. As a matter of fact, in doing his challenge, my daughter was schooling me about using water colors! And your head pins! Gorgeous, can't wait to see what you make from them!

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  13. oh how sweet! My youngest is like that ... needs her space to create. Loving the headpins - those are fantastic!

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  14. Ahh childern and their creative spaces. This takes me back to when my Son was a young boy discovering his creative talents. I love the headpins they turned out beautifully.
    Therese

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  15. What a lovely post! It's so much fun to see children discovering new things isn't it? My kids are are mostly grown, but I have one teenager who was always my "artist" when he was little and he still is! :-)

    (I'm #41 this week)

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  16. I love reading your blog, it's so real and fun! Your little artist is too cute for words and I'd start w/blue, too - just saying! Being ambitextrous I can say when using my left hand, I'm in my right mind; but that doesn't mean I have to choose one and stick with it - adaptability is key and an artform all it's own! LOL!!

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  17. Such sweet photos of Averleigh painting! She seems to be immersed in paint. I loved watching my children create and wish I had taken more photos of them in action.

    Your polymer headpins are lovely. And yes, I sometimes feel that shift, the on that says 'hey, your're on the wrong track so let's make a switch'. Usually it comes from a frustrating time at the bead table and after I've stepped away from it all.

    Beautiful post!

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  18. What a good mom you are to let her have her own space and do her own thing! Such sweet pictures.
    The headpins are so cool and such a gorgeous color!

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  19. LOL Emma, we both had the same thought when Sally gave us this weeks challenge phrase. Love those pins.

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  20. Love the picture of your daughter painting! Those headpins are awesome and love the colors you used!

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  21. What a sweet sweet picture of your daughter painting! I love to see kids totally focused on creating! Your head pins are gorgeous-the purple is fabulous:)

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  22. Your photography of your daughter at work truly captures that sense of wonder and exploration. She will treasure them as she gets older.

    Glad you found your own artistic expression this week - the headpins are so cool. But here comes the question. I don't use headpins in my work at all, so how do you use these fancy headpins? I'm really, truly curious.

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  23. I love how your beautiful daughter is already claiming her personal creative space!!! I love the headpins and beads you created ... fantastic color!

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  24. Oooh, gorgeous! I'm somewhat amused to see how many of us are all in a "purple mood" for this week...perhaps it has something to do with the colour of the shadows at this time of year? In any case, it has brought out the best in you! Love the pictures of your daughter as well. Sons are just NOT as much fun! :-)

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  25. What a precious angel you have there! Kudos for nurturing her artist desires. :)

    I know exactly what you mean by 'the shift', and I think I much prefer that moniker over ADD. LOL

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  26. Isn't it wonderful to pass things on to little ones? I can't think of anything that pleases me more. You should have shown one of Averleigh's paintings too. I like your headpins very much. This is something I have on my "I need to try list."

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  27. Love the story about your daughter! The white crayon "not working" is really cute. I also got a laugh out of her not wanting to share her creative space. I do love the art that you ended up creating-those headpins are gorgeous. Can't wait to see the art that you create with them!

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  28. It is so refreshing to see art through a younger set of eyes and through the innocence, "the white crayon doesn't work" priceless! I can relate to not ending up where you started and also knowing when someone has messed with my art supplies! :) I love the finished beads you ended with.

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  29. Great images of your daughter. And those polymer headpins are to die for!

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  30. Love the photographs and the clay is awesome.

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  31. I love the new headpins.

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  32. Wow, my photo from the prompt and your photo really are sooo similar! I love capturing little moments of my son's life when he is engrossed in something and doesn't know i'm snapping away! They do need their space! HA!! I love when I color with him and you have no chance of choosing a color. I usually hear "Mommy use that color!" Your little artist is adorable!
    Your headpins are so cool!!! I'm glad you listened when your mind flipped the switch!

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  33. Averleigh is my favorite kid. Thassall :)

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  34. Great pic of your daughter creating...love the head pins!

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I'd love to hear what you think, thanks for taking the time to join in the conversation