Create
I'm not sure why I wanted to share my creative attempts with you. I'm having fun with them, but what possible interest would you have in my attempts?
I'm going to share them anyway because my purpose in spending time doing these projects is about adding color, playing, using my hands, trying new things, and learning. Just as being a writer was never part of my identity growing up, being an artist or even "creative" took me even longer to embrace.
I'm letting go of the inner judge and finding that "making" things is fun.
I set a 100 Creative Projects goal because of a story I've heard several times regarding an art professor. One year he assigned students to one of two groups. One group would have their grade based on their best work. The other group would be graded on how many projects they completed that semester, with the goal being 100 art projects. The professor found that those students who were assigned 100 projects improved more over the period because they kept creating new projects rather than fixating on getting one project perfect. I figure I'll have lots of fun doing lots of different creative projects. Some will impress me and some will have room for me to improve.
There's actually an initiating reason that I'm getting my creative groove on. Steve Parker, my husband, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia several years ago. He's losing his ability to read, write, speak, and understand. For a writer that's a harsh turn of events. One of the things he always wanted to do was paint, so I decided to join him in his creative journey. I figure we will be able to connect through colors, images, and textures even if we no longer have words to share.
So let's create!!
100 Creative Projects
80. Collage Papers
In order to creat the collage collection (#79) I followed the example of one of Catherine's coaches and cut up all my collage paper into 2x2 inch squares.
I hadn't like most of the paper, but loved them when I cut them into squares. Then I separated them into the categories and put them in this box to work with. Loved 💖 the display so much, it's now a piece of art on my desk.
79. Collage
(January Project)
I took a collage course from Catherine Rains and made my projects, than created a minature example of the collage techniques and framed it.
And yes, I have skipped sharing a few projects. I've been busy creating and writing and handling life's to dos.
61. Wall of Frames
I started with the large black frame , planning to make it part of a garden art project. I dripped the paint from the sign post project (#17) and then brightened the gold beading.
My sister wanted it for her wall instead, so the idea for empty frames dripped in color was born. I found two gold frames and a smaller version of the black frame at my local thrift store. I have a few smaller frames I want to "drip paint" and add to the wall.
17. Sign Posts to Our Adventures
Locations from three world travelers. Initially, it was just going to be the location and miles, but I tried my hand at drawing a local image for the adventurer.
16. Painted Tiles
There's a story behind these. 🫠
The clay for these tiles was left over from a previous project. I made a Mexican tile mosaic top for a side table. I needed to finish the edges and had a brilliant idea (😱). I made over a 100 small tiles and I pained each one. 100+ unique tiles created an amazing table. UNTIL... well, you see, I made the tiles out of "air dry" clay and the table was an outdoor table. The tiles melted in the first rain. 🤣 And my amazing table looked more like a piece Salvador Dali might have created. The tiles were dripping from the table and pooling on the ground.
However, I enjoyed painting these new tiles and will use them in another piece — INDOORS!
15. Halloween Luminaria
Steve (husband) and I have enjoyed painting ceramics at our local center for creativity, Steele's Brushes and Ceramics.
14. Stories Do Grow on Trees
Tried another mixed media. I like the strips of pages for the trunks. Still need work on the proportions for the leaves and branches.
Submitted this to my local library art contest.
13. Four Points Watercolor
We came across this idea at an art fair at Chautauqua. The artist drew a design, then transferred the image to a canvas. She rotated the drawing 90 degrees, each time drawing the design again. Then she would pick out in paint a whole design from the parts.
I thought I'd give it a try with just basic shapes to start with.
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12. CHQ Poetry Prompt Week 6 - Music is the mediator
He used to sing
He always knew the words
This nasty PPA has silenced him
He barely talks now
I played his favorite band — Renaissance
He sang along to two albums
The words came easily
Music is the mediator
11. CHQ Poetry Prompt Week 5 - Launch yourself on every wave
Launch yourself on every wave
It’s not about me or my trajectory — its about us and our connection
Launch CONNECTIONS on every wave
Launches require building strong, firm bases to push off and out from
BUILD CONNECTIONS on every wave
It’s not about being on top or on the bottom or even on and on — it’s listening to, dancing to, connecting to, giving to
BUILD CONNECTIONS TO every wave
‘Every’ is overwhelming, it’s too much. What if I’m slow to jump in? Is the wave lifting or receding?
BUILD CONNECTIONS TO LIFTING waves
Waves may not last. They may spread too far to see.
If we look to community and work towards the larger good, we all rise.
BUILD CONNECTIONS TO LIFT EVERYONE
10. Color Meditation
I enjoy trying the numerous color meditation prompts from Lisa Solomon's The Color Meditation Deck. Here's just one I did.
08. Non-Dominate Hand drawing
I combined this exercise of using my non-dominatant hand to draw lines without watching. Then I looked with curiosity to what was there and painted with watercolor to learn more about using that medium.
07. Watercolors
Played with my watercolor set while we were on vacation.
04. Mixed Media
Steve and I tried out a Mixed Media workshop at Artist & Craftsman in Pittsburgh
09. CHQ Poetry Prompt Week 4 - Stories we tell ourselves
We are stories.
Stories we tell ourselves, and
Stories we tell others.
Others are stories
We experience firsthand
Or make up to fit our expectations.
Reaching out, stepping out
From behind the curtains
Allows us to create new stories
Together, we all become stories.
06. Watercolor Poppies
YouTube has some great instructional videos. Tried out these poppies.
05. Snail Color Wheel
Steve traded me his ceramic snail to paint. It took me awhile to come up with the idea of painting the shell as a color wheel. And since I was thinking mosaics, I thought I'd paint it in a mosaic pattern. It took me a long time, but I love it.
01. Stained Glass Sun Catcher
Our first adventure with stained glass from Three Rivers Art Glass in Saxonburg.
03. Watercolor lesson - Pears
Steve and I started a watercolor class from The Virtual Instructor. We've taken a drawing class from this site too.
02. Stained Glass Potted Plant
Another creative adventure with Steve. Our second stained glass project from Three Rivers Art Glass in Saxonburg.
