So as I had mentioned before I have finished chapter 2... which is namely about identifying and facing your fears. My issue?? I'm not really afraid of completion or creation. If anything at times I tend to be overconfident and believe that I can create/re-create most art I see....
I understand that there are a lot of reasons to have fears in the creation and the path of art. There are the fears of failure, persistence and rebuttal. But I have never truly feared any of these items. Instead my issues tend to consist of a lack of funding and what I like to call the Chorus of Idiots.
The chorus of idiots is that nagging discussion in the back of your head that seems to enjoy stating the most negative sentiments you can think of. Often they are along the lines of "why bother" and "what's the point" but I have managed to smack and beat the chorus down to a not so subtle mutter most the time. My chorus seldom seems to reflect my commitment or creation of art. Instead it they tend to be more centered around large sentiments that I know I am unable to do anything about.
So I'll keep beating back my chorus, and try to budget my funding within my desires to create. I still need to get my space together. It's just a matter of time... but patience is a virtue... right??
So I will keep reading on and trying to find time between work, family and my 16 month old to get my art space together. When it finally is successful you will be one of the first to see it. :)
Until next time...
Angie
Monday, July 2, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Inspiration
I have finished reading the second chapter in the book and it's about discovering and acknowledging your fears. This will take a little soul searching so I'm not quite ready to discuss that yet. I have, however, decided that I need to set myself a few goals so that I can actually accomplish my journey of self.
1) I need to finally hunker down and set up my art space. In my new house (we rent) I have an amazing loft that I plan on turning into my creative hub... and I actually have to do it. This will take a little time in finding a computer desk, drafting table, and other things that I feel would be helpful in the space, but this in a goal that is necessary to start.
2) START .... I know it sounds funny, but my goal is to START! To start doing SOMETHING. Anything that requires a creative outlet.
3) Find inspiration. There are so many different loves in my life that I need to finally find that spark. In order to do this I've been trying to expose myself to creativity in my own area as well as through other means. I attend a knit and chat night at All Strung Out in Guelph when I can, and I've been trying to expose myself to other creative things in the city.
Last night there was this very interesting city gathering at the new Interactive Fountain in front of City Hall. They started with a band, followed by some spoken word performer and finished with a dance troupe in the fountain.
The band and the spoken word were neat but the most interesting part of it had to be the fountain. They started with 5 dancers who in dance seemed to turn on the fountain and express "joy". The part that I loved the most was once the fountain was turned on they were joined by more and more choreographed dancers of all ages and skill levels. As the water increased so did the number of dancers in the fountain. They ended the night by including spectators in the dance slowly pulling more people till it was just a community dance in the fountain.
Towards the end I decided to try and take a panorama picture with my cell phone. I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality of the picture.
This made a few of the audience "well up" but the experience was certainly worth going. I'm looking forward to going to more of these types of events in the future and hopefully bringing the family to more of them too.
May inspiration find you, wherever you may be.
Until next time.
Angie
1) I need to finally hunker down and set up my art space. In my new house (we rent) I have an amazing loft that I plan on turning into my creative hub... and I actually have to do it. This will take a little time in finding a computer desk, drafting table, and other things that I feel would be helpful in the space, but this in a goal that is necessary to start.
2) START .... I know it sounds funny, but my goal is to START! To start doing SOMETHING. Anything that requires a creative outlet.
3) Find inspiration. There are so many different loves in my life that I need to finally find that spark. In order to do this I've been trying to expose myself to creativity in my own area as well as through other means. I attend a knit and chat night at All Strung Out in Guelph when I can, and I've been trying to expose myself to other creative things in the city.
Last night there was this very interesting city gathering at the new Interactive Fountain in front of City Hall. They started with a band, followed by some spoken word performer and finished with a dance troupe in the fountain.
The band and the spoken word were neat but the most interesting part of it had to be the fountain. They started with 5 dancers who in dance seemed to turn on the fountain and express "joy". The part that I loved the most was once the fountain was turned on they were joined by more and more choreographed dancers of all ages and skill levels. As the water increased so did the number of dancers in the fountain. They ended the night by including spectators in the dance slowly pulling more people till it was just a community dance in the fountain.
Towards the end I decided to try and take a panorama picture with my cell phone. I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality of the picture.
 |
| Dancing in the Water. |
May inspiration find you, wherever you may be.
Until next time.
Angie
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Unearthing
So I've completed chapter one. At this point I am not doing any of the actual art activities being I'm still lacking in space and time and money and mostly motivation (I won't lie). But this chapter did do it's job in unearthing a lot of thoughts.
The main goal in chapter one was a discussion of looking within... accepting that there are dreams and whispers within your soul/heart/life that may need a little bit of attention, or even a leap into the unknown. And it got me thinking...
I have come to the realization that I have two very conflicting likes and interests... heck most of my interests seem to go to the extremes (and I don't mean bungee-jumping). I have a love and fascination with all things math, this is a surprise to some but not to my closest friends... my usual explanation is that I'm the only person I know to apply to Aerospace Engineering and Studio Arts for University. As you all know I have completed a Studio Arts degree but a part of me has always liked the reliability of math. The concept that you have a right answer and a wrong answer and that the subjective quality of art is not there.
What I have realized that through all of my life I have been trying to keep these two contrasting interests separate. I want the frivolity of art (I think it's the idea more than the practice), but some part of me has always wanted to be a high end business person. A major part of this need is the feeling that I am better than what I do. I look at something (business, art, etc) and always say "I can do that!". Over the past 6 or so years I keep debating on going back to school to get an MBA (yeah I know, WAY different than art), I just haven't figured out the logistics, and the money issues involved (I soooo don't want more debt).
Other things that have been hounding me is my feeling of inability.... That there are so many better artists that I have ever been. That I haven't been top of my class in most things since high school. I know this is what some of my friends call "the chorus of idiots" talking to me, but acknowledging that they are there is a big step is starting to figure out what is it I want to do with myself....
So... from this looking into myself I've discovered the above and more:
1) I love math/business/physics and a variety of un-art-related activities
2) I am an artist and like being a creative person. I mostly love collage and photography but have done portraiture, chalk, drawing, and my fair share of comic characters.
3) I am a lover of nerdy things... I truly enjoy Geek and Sundry , I have a "slight" fascination with everything Wil Wheaton , and have even played my fair share of table top games, Vampire the Masquerade, D&D and LARP (If you don't know what that means... fear the geek! LOL). I am also an avid comic and action movie lover. I used to own quite a few X-Men and have tried to keep up with my Marvel lore over the years.
4) I miss doing sports, mostly some form of martial arts. I have a black belt in TaeKwonDo but haven't practiced in years. I've been really debating on taking kick boxing (Something different enough that I won't feel like I'm looking down on or trying to correct other people).
So I've come to acknowledge that I have two very contrasting groups of interests, but I think I'm compartmentalizing. I also need to acknowledge that all these interests are part of me, one single being, and that maybe they are not as contrasting as I think.
So my goal.... to find/create something that can encompass all of me. What that will be, who knows... that's part of the excitement of the journey.
Until next time.
Angie
The main goal in chapter one was a discussion of looking within... accepting that there are dreams and whispers within your soul/heart/life that may need a little bit of attention, or even a leap into the unknown. And it got me thinking...
I have come to the realization that I have two very conflicting likes and interests... heck most of my interests seem to go to the extremes (and I don't mean bungee-jumping). I have a love and fascination with all things math, this is a surprise to some but not to my closest friends... my usual explanation is that I'm the only person I know to apply to Aerospace Engineering and Studio Arts for University. As you all know I have completed a Studio Arts degree but a part of me has always liked the reliability of math. The concept that you have a right answer and a wrong answer and that the subjective quality of art is not there.
What I have realized that through all of my life I have been trying to keep these two contrasting interests separate. I want the frivolity of art (I think it's the idea more than the practice), but some part of me has always wanted to be a high end business person. A major part of this need is the feeling that I am better than what I do. I look at something (business, art, etc) and always say "I can do that!". Over the past 6 or so years I keep debating on going back to school to get an MBA (yeah I know, WAY different than art), I just haven't figured out the logistics, and the money issues involved (I soooo don't want more debt).
Other things that have been hounding me is my feeling of inability.... That there are so many better artists that I have ever been. That I haven't been top of my class in most things since high school. I know this is what some of my friends call "the chorus of idiots" talking to me, but acknowledging that they are there is a big step is starting to figure out what is it I want to do with myself....
So... from this looking into myself I've discovered the above and more:
1) I love math/business/physics and a variety of un-art-related activities
2) I am an artist and like being a creative person. I mostly love collage and photography but have done portraiture, chalk, drawing, and my fair share of comic characters.
3) I am a lover of nerdy things... I truly enjoy Geek and Sundry , I have a "slight" fascination with everything Wil Wheaton , and have even played my fair share of table top games, Vampire the Masquerade, D&D and LARP (If you don't know what that means... fear the geek! LOL). I am also an avid comic and action movie lover. I used to own quite a few X-Men and have tried to keep up with my Marvel lore over the years.
4) I miss doing sports, mostly some form of martial arts. I have a black belt in TaeKwonDo but haven't practiced in years. I've been really debating on taking kick boxing (Something different enough that I won't feel like I'm looking down on or trying to correct other people).
So I've come to acknowledge that I have two very contrasting groups of interests, but I think I'm compartmentalizing. I also need to acknowledge that all these interests are part of me, one single being, and that maybe they are not as contrasting as I think.
So my goal.... to find/create something that can encompass all of me. What that will be, who knows... that's part of the excitement of the journey.
Until next time.
Angie
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Creative??
Well, I have to start off with apologizing for being offline for so long. I could lie to you and tell you it has to do with some great and amazing thing... but it doesn't. It has to do with life.
With having a daughter who was almost one and going back to work, life had just taken over my ambition and will to be creative in any means. It's funny how tiring life can be when you aren't accomplishing anything extracurricular. You just deal and survive day to day. You enjoy your family and your friends, your new job (or old) and deal. You feel content. But there is always a slight nagging, a slight something in the back of your head poking your brain saying... "Hey!... I'm here when you need me!"
I think I need it...
I need to take the time to re-discover who I am, what I am and how my many conflicting interests can turn into one thing... So I bought a book.
Yeah, I know. You're groaning on the other end saying "Oh, No... Not another one of those self help things". Well, it's not... really.
It's this book:
So now that I've got the book... I started reading it. I'm only about 14 pages into the book and she has mentioned a few times about creating a whisper journal. What is a Whisper Journal?? It's a book where you can write down, store, paste or sort the ideas, thoughts, things, that are nagging you in the back of your brain. Those things that you keep pushing down and ignoring. Those things that keep bothering or nagging at you and you try to pretend they don't exist.
Being I am who I am, I have come to realize that I "SUCK" at journaling. I always have these grand dreams, thoughts, expectations, that I will start a journal and fill it with my thoughts and dreams and everything else in my life. And then I get about 3 days in and stop or forget or give myself an excuse why I can't find the 5 seconds to write anything down... and so I stop. I tell myself that this was another failed attempt and I pretend it doesn't exist.
I feel in someway I did that with this website. I had these grand ideas of creating a website that would be unique. That would help express my belief that art isn't limited to a few while still being an outlet for my need for a certain amount of academics within the site. When I hit a bit of a brain freeze, combined with my daughter getting to the age that she was getting into anything I left out, I stopped being able to find the time to be creative. And so started the spiral that ended with me only managing to get pictures I took posted and a few treasuries from Etsy. I so wasn't planning on creating a mom blog, I wanted an art blog and I was failing. I kept focusing on putting out content, I felt a need to expand my viewer base and focused too much ondoing what other sites wanted. I joined blog hops, I joined feeds, I re-configured thing into designs that others said would work. I started feeling frustrated about the whole thing. Then Christmas came and it gave me my excuse to stop.
So I've changed my mind about this site. Instead of being a site that tries to teach art, to teach accessibility and to teach how it all relates I'm am starting fresh. All the old posts will remain but from this point on we are starting new, with new ideas.
What I'm hoping to do is use this site to help me go through my creative journey. This will be my visible "Whisper Journal" as Ms. Roberts calls it. I warn you that this will be an up and down process, I may not even talk about art sometimes and that's okay. Instead of Artsy You being about me trying to show you how to be artsy... it will be more about me trying to figure out how I can re-discover creativity and maybe we will all end up artsy together.
I will be using this site in conjunction with a new board I just started on Pinterest and possibly Twitter a bit. (If the links don't work please let me know and I'll fix them).
So I hope you join me on this journey, wherever it may lead us.
Until next time.
Angie
With having a daughter who was almost one and going back to work, life had just taken over my ambition and will to be creative in any means. It's funny how tiring life can be when you aren't accomplishing anything extracurricular. You just deal and survive day to day. You enjoy your family and your friends, your new job (or old) and deal. You feel content. But there is always a slight nagging, a slight something in the back of your head poking your brain saying... "Hey!... I'm here when you need me!"
I think I need it...
I need to take the time to re-discover who I am, what I am and how my many conflicting interests can turn into one thing... So I bought a book.
Yeah, I know. You're groaning on the other end saying "Oh, No... Not another one of those self help things". Well, it's not... really.
It's this book:
 |
| Find the awesome blog by Kelly Rae Roberts HERE! |
So now that I've got the book... I started reading it. I'm only about 14 pages into the book and she has mentioned a few times about creating a whisper journal. What is a Whisper Journal?? It's a book where you can write down, store, paste or sort the ideas, thoughts, things, that are nagging you in the back of your brain. Those things that you keep pushing down and ignoring. Those things that keep bothering or nagging at you and you try to pretend they don't exist.
Being I am who I am, I have come to realize that I "SUCK" at journaling. I always have these grand dreams, thoughts, expectations, that I will start a journal and fill it with my thoughts and dreams and everything else in my life. And then I get about 3 days in and stop or forget or give myself an excuse why I can't find the 5 seconds to write anything down... and so I stop. I tell myself that this was another failed attempt and I pretend it doesn't exist.
I feel in someway I did that with this website. I had these grand ideas of creating a website that would be unique. That would help express my belief that art isn't limited to a few while still being an outlet for my need for a certain amount of academics within the site. When I hit a bit of a brain freeze, combined with my daughter getting to the age that she was getting into anything I left out, I stopped being able to find the time to be creative. And so started the spiral that ended with me only managing to get pictures I took posted and a few treasuries from Etsy. I so wasn't planning on creating a mom blog, I wanted an art blog and I was failing. I kept focusing on putting out content, I felt a need to expand my viewer base and focused too much ondoing what other sites wanted. I joined blog hops, I joined feeds, I re-configured thing into designs that others said would work. I started feeling frustrated about the whole thing. Then Christmas came and it gave me my excuse to stop.
So I've changed my mind about this site. Instead of being a site that tries to teach art, to teach accessibility and to teach how it all relates I'm am starting fresh. All the old posts will remain but from this point on we are starting new, with new ideas.
What I'm hoping to do is use this site to help me go through my creative journey. This will be my visible "Whisper Journal" as Ms. Roberts calls it. I warn you that this will be an up and down process, I may not even talk about art sometimes and that's okay. Instead of Artsy You being about me trying to show you how to be artsy... it will be more about me trying to figure out how I can re-discover creativity and maybe we will all end up artsy together.
I will be using this site in conjunction with a new board I just started on Pinterest and possibly Twitter a bit. (If the links don't work please let me know and I'll fix them).
So I hope you join me on this journey, wherever it may lead us.
Until next time.
Angie
Sunday, December 11, 2011
YAY!!! BACK UP!!!
OMG it's been a while since I've been able to post on here. Between my computer being in the shop and my daughter teething I haven't managed to actually get onto the computer in almost a month and a half. I'm a bad blogger.. bad bad blogger :).
So I am back. With my daughter getting more active I will be having a harder time posting regularly. I am aiming at once a week minimum!!! So if I haven't posted in a while you better email me and tell me I'm slacking.
I am planning some art activities and some little lessons in the next little bit. Hopefully they will be posted here once I'm done. For now here are a few pics I've done of my daughter recently. Would you believe she's nine months already! WOW how time flies!!!!
As usual I'm using a NIKON D40 and an attached flash pointed to the ceiling. I really love the contrast this gives me and she's been such an awesome model :).
Until later!
Keep Creating
Angie :)
So I am back. With my daughter getting more active I will be having a harder time posting regularly. I am aiming at once a week minimum!!! So if I haven't posted in a while you better email me and tell me I'm slacking.
I am planning some art activities and some little lessons in the next little bit. Hopefully they will be posted here once I'm done. For now here are a few pics I've done of my daughter recently. Would you believe she's nine months already! WOW how time flies!!!!
Until later!
Keep Creating
Angie :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Wow.... computer come on!
Would you believe I'm STILL waiting for my computer to get back from the shop! It's a little ridiculous.
In the mean time I've started a fall painting in oils so hopefully I'll get that finished within the next week so that I can post it here. I'm also planning a few history-ish discussions, so hopefully I'll have all those together so that we can get back into the swing of things once my computer comes back.
In the mean time I've been still taking pictures... mostly of my daughter. Would you believe she's now 8 months old!!! Wow time flies.
Here's a crazy cute picture of her and my dog! We just took this tonight... it really made me laugh.
So until next time!
Keep Creating.
Angie
In the mean time I've started a fall painting in oils so hopefully I'll get that finished within the next week so that I can post it here. I'm also planning a few history-ish discussions, so hopefully I'll have all those together so that we can get back into the swing of things once my computer comes back.
In the mean time I've been still taking pictures... mostly of my daughter. Would you believe she's now 8 months old!!! Wow time flies.
 |
| Best Friends! |
So until next time!
Keep Creating.
Angie
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
GAH!
Oky... with all the Halloween fun going on... and my computer STILL out on repairs *shakes fists at the computer repair people who said it was only going to be a week or two*, I have totally been fail at getting ANY posts done.
Halloween was full of Awesomeness!!! I wish I had actually taken my camera with me so I could show you all the awesomeness of the costumes. I will try to find some pics from friends over the next week so you can see.
IT"S NOVEMBER.... yup ALREADY! It kinda snuck up on me, and that being said I SO NEED TO start on the getting ready for Christmas. I know... I said the evil C word.... CHRISTMAS... gah! So hopefully once I FINALLY get my computer back I will be able to actually get a bunch of tutorials and lessons up for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this can manifest in reality.
So until then... I would LOVE to hear about your Halloween... or Christmas *shiver* gift plans.
Until Next Time.
Keep Creating
Angie
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| I found this awesome mouse pad... I only wish it was true LOL. |
 |
| Muwahahahahahahahaha |
So until then... I would LOVE to hear about your Halloween... or Christmas *shiver* gift plans.
Until Next Time.
Keep Creating
Angie
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