New Painting: Seek Adventure...be authentic

Creative Authenticity has been an overwhelming theme for me lately in my own work.  What does it mean to you to be creatively authentic?  I find sometimes it's really hard to feel genuine and true to myself, my style, my heart in my artworks when I am stretching and learning and growing.  I am so influenced by everything around me, everything I see, admire, get inspired by.  I often wonder what the line is between influence by inspiration and true organic creating?  If I use lots of ink and scrawled words am I being too Sabrina Ward?  If I use bubble wrap to create a layer in one of my backgrounds, is that just being Kelly Rae?  What about if I use type font stamps to create inspirational phrases, is that just Christine Masons thing?  I haven't figured this one out yet, so I am working very hard to create with as much of all the other influences and images as stripped away from my conscious as possible and do things that make me happy.

What didn't shock me in this process was to see a gravitation in my style away from the folk artsy look that I started with last year and a drastic movement into bright, bold, and kind of grungy.  These are the things that I really love and want to surround myself with in my own home, so it makes sense that this would come out of me.  So I am on a mission to understand more about being creatively authentic in my work.  This pic is of one of my latest mixed media paintings, and it is truly a piece from my heart.  This one was created with lots of layers, vintage papers, paint, inks, vintage lace pieces, stamping, and did you notice the use of my handmade artsy tape from my DIY?  It tells me to seek adventure in all things and not be settled with the normal routine for too long.  I love this idea.  If we arent pushing ourselves into new spaces, experiences, growing and moving, then we've lost opportunities for incredible discoveries and immense amounts of joy.  So take a risk today, seek adventure in whatever you are doing.  It doesnt have to be a gigantic step, adventure can be found in little details and small moments of magic.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about creative authenticity and how you are taking an adventure today.

XO, HARMONY

Inside My Art Journal: New pages from a mama's world

I am going to be honest here.  Sometimes art journaling is about having fund with art with no pressure, and sometimes it really and truly is a healing process for my own emotional funk that day.  I've been having one of those pregnancy hormone surge weeks where everything seems to overwhelm me and everything seems to make me cry.  It's a normal thing, and having been through it once before, I know that it will pass soon.  So instead of crying in my palette over a wrong brush stroke or a color choice misstep, I put away the expensive paints and canvases and pulled out my art journal and $2 craft paints.  I played, I sketched, I doodled, I went over images several times.  I wrote words to myself, and to my son (who has also been having a cranky week this week).  I experimented with new techniques and materials I've been wanting to try.  In the end, I got no closer to checking anything off my "To-Do for Craft Shows" List, but I feel a lot better.  Thank Heavens for Art Making!  It is my favorite therapy.  Here's a few of my pages from my week.

There you have it.  A peek into my head this week.  I am definitely enjoying working messier and playing with brighter colors.  Both of those things make me feel authentic when I work, instead of my previous process of working and reworking and obsessing over "perfection."  I think I may be growing creatively :)  Feel free to share links to your art journal pages, or if you dont art journal but want to start, dont wait any longer!  Pick up a regular ol sketchbook with heavier pages, or stop by my Etsy Shop and take a peek at the creativity journals I make for art journaling, stock up on cheap supplies you can play with (sharpies, pencils, cheap paint, collage scraps, stamps, pens, markers, anything goes!), and start creating.  There are no rules!  Let the process free you from whatever worries and stresses you are carrying with you.  Time to play :)  (and that is my soapbox).  Have a wonderful and creative Wednesday!

XO, HARMONY

The Perfect Book for A Love Story

One of the things that I love to do is make creativity journals for people.  Over the years I have amassed a ridiculous amount of random papers, plus I can help myself from picking up tons of vintage papers/books anytime I see the opportunity.  I find using an assortment of interesting papers as a canvas for thoughts, doodles, collages, or photos creates a really great jumping off point for the imagination. Every once in awhile, I get the honor to create a very special book for someone, and collaborate with them to find papers, colors, and textures that reflect their spirit and passions.

I've been working on such a wonderous book this past couple weeks, and it is now zooming away across the states to land in the hands of a very special soon-to-be-wedded couple.  The book will serve as a guest book of sorts at their upcoming fall wedding.  I adored working on it and was over the moon with how beautifully all the ideas came together.  I couldnt be more excited to share with you a few peeks at some of my favorite parts of what I created for them...

 a love story from a vintage children's book

 pages from fashion magazine paired with valentines doily

 personal photos printed on fabric and hand embellished

 vintage wedding wrapping paper

fabric and paint makes such a yummy textured one of a kind cover

 lots of interesting shapes, sizes, and colors paired throughout

 hand embroidered photo of the couple and a love note

woodland creatures from old story book

 recycled ribbons from old saris and hand dyed silk, so rich in color

I can't wait for their friends and family to fill the pages with love and well wishes for the couple's new life together.  What do you think?   

*(If you are looking for a unique book to serve as a journal, photo album, gift, or anything else you can dream up, I'd love to create something special just for you.  Just send me a message that you want a custom journal and I can create a custom listing for you in my shop.  I also have pre-made creativity journals available in my Etsy Shop.) 

Thanks for letting me share my latest creation with you!

XO, HARMONY