Creative Juice Issue 1

In this issue you'll find, some reflections on the New Year, reconnecting to art, a few art inspiration tips and a color palette.

Alright, alright, alright. I’m back to the newsletter. I like having the newsletter to share bits and bobs of creative inspiration, but I will admit to feeling some guilt about not sending out something every single month like clockwork. I’ve decided that this year, I want to continue making the newsletter as I originally envisioned, but I want to send it out when I am feeling inspired and motivated to share something. It doesn’t make sense to me to be offering inspiration when I don’t feel motivated to inspire. I’m also updating the titles to issue numbers so that it removes the pressure to have something out each month and hopefully makes things more streamlined. So, going forward, this will just come out when it feels right, but never more than once a month because nobody wants a bunch of spam either.

Reconnecting to Art and “Goals”

I’ve been a bit distant from my art for the past year, but I with the new year I am ready to reengage and I’m feeling truly inspired to create for the first time in a while. Previously, the feeling was like I wanted it to be time to get back into the groove, but in reality this wasn’t lining up. A bit like a mind body disconnect, but with my art. I didn’t realize this was the case until I started to be inspired again and found that making art was becoming less like hard work and more like fun again. Over the past year, I was definitely working hard to make things and when I look back at that work, it feels painful even though it might not be clear outside my own head.

This brings me into the idea of January and goals. I dislike goals. Something about writing them down and checking in on progress and reflecting, this isn’t me so I’ve always struggled with how to feel at the start of a new year. It tends to be a lot of avoidance and feeling inadequate that I don’t have a list of amazing goals I’m going to shoot for over the course of the year. But for me, I don’t want to stress myself out more than necessary and the need for a list of all the things I’ll achieve is too much. Mostly, what I want is the same as what I want every year, feel content and essentially, just live another year. I think this must be enough. And basically, I’ve written this to say that if you’re feeling some kind of start of the year panic because you didn’t choose a word of the year or a yearly affirmation or set goals with checkpoints for all the things you’re supposed to want to do, that’s okay. Join me in just existing. This is also okay!

So onwards towards inspiration.

A Few Inspiration Starters

Connecting to Real: What has turned the fire on for my art again is connecting to “real” things. I showed a friend a piece I did and she was like, I love this, it feels real. This is what I’ve been trying to tap into. I don’t always manage it, but I want to capture more of the realness and magic of the everyday. Holiday time helped push this goal since for many it’s this time of togetherness and family, but also with that little spark of magic. I’ve been wondering what that will look like after the holiday season. I completed one last holiday piece and I’ve not really moved onto anything else major yet, but I have ideas.

Mining Old Ideas: The idea I want to explore also comes from mining some of my old work. I was told that my portfolio could use more animal pieces. A few years ago, I had created a few animal characters who ran a breakfast spot and really enjoyed that since I LOVE breakfast foods. I abandoned them when I didn’t really feel like their style was bringing me somewhere, but I think going back to them and pulling some ideas, but also updating their looks and designs along with making them more posable and moveable, this might really be something and if not, it’s a fun place to play until the next idea comes.

Style Play: The next area for pulling inspiration is playing with style. When I wrapped up my last holiday work, I had this inner feeling of, “I’m a bit bored, what’s next?” I’ve made a lot of work that has a similar vibe. I want to change that up a little and also play with some other looks. I do tend to get frustrated in this area because I’ll want to push, but I find myself kind of ending back where I started. I think the key is that it’s okay if it does. Sometimes, it’s just finding one new brush I enjoy. I don’t know if it needs to be a full overhaul of what I’m already doing because I also like what I’m doing, so I don’t want to trash that completely.

I can’t say any of these ideas are new or revolutionary, but it’s kind of where I am at right now and I think with the newsletter, I want to reach people who kind of feel that same feeling and are looking for some low stakes, low pressure play as part of their art practice instead of that grind feeling.

The One with the Color Palette

And lastly, I love to leave a color palette or two. This one has been a lot of fun for me recently. I challenge you to try to do some different pieces using it. I’ve found doing woodland outdoor scenes with it to be challenging, but it also adds some fun to the way I’d typically do an outdoor color palette. So, there is a starting off point, but you have full range to do whatever you like with it! Have fun and if you do end up using it, let me know! It’s nice to know someone has tried something out and to connect in that way.

Until next time!