I have a tendency to go all in when I'm passionate about something. It's all or nothing thinking. But this time it was for something positive in my life.
I began attending lots of Zentangle® events and soon began networking with other creatives. I then spread by wings and began attending online events and other types of art events.
Soon, I was creating journals, and collages. I experimented with acrylics, and watercolors. Then I discovered oil pastels, and paint markers. And the list goes on.
It took me a few years to call myself an artist but now I fully embrace that title. My artworks come from a very intuitive and soulful place. When I'm creating, I'm not in my head, I tend to go into the mystic, or into my artist soul. It's such a wonderful place to be.
I have learned so much about myself through my art.
I now exhibit, and sell my art. I also teach classes online and in person. I cater to women who are willing to jump forward and use expressive arts to discover what's next and to have fun.
Creative play is the greatest thing you can do for your soul.
I believe everyone is creative, in some way.
To the perfectionist out there, I like to say, "it's just paint and paper".
In my next few posts, I will be looking back and sharing my artwork.
And one day at a time it was. The biggest challenge I had was filling in the space of time that came from retiring. Yes, I now know it would have been nice to explore this before I retired.
One of the things I did do after I retired was substitute teach in the art department in the school where I was an assistant principal, before I retired. Oh my, I was amazed at all the teachers and how they were able to engage all students into their creativity. I saw students, that I knew who struggled in more academic classes, thrive in these art classes. I began to watch them closely, and oftentimes I would sit down next to a student and ask them to show me how they did a technique or why they used a certain color. I then began to do art with them. That was the beginning of finding a new joy in my life.
Soon after, I went into a Michael's store and picked up a book on the art method, Zentangle®. I browsed through it and thought, hmmm maybe I'll try this. I took it home and began playing around with tangling and before I knew it, I was hooked. From there I became a Certified Zentangle® Teacher and started doing what I know how to do-teach. And teach I did.
The final part of this series will be tomorrow. Thanks for reading.
My journey to my artist soul is a 3-part series. This is part 1. Thanks for reading and I read all comments.
Read more...
Click on the link below. It will take you to a blog post that I wrote several years ago that I think still applies.
Forgotten Places
Credit goes to Deb Prewitt of Blue Twig Studio for this art method called “Forgotten Places”.
I took this art class and Deb was the teacher. I fell in love with this method of art because it is very intuitive and I was able to incorporate tangling within my pieces.
Once the water color has dried, then it is time to find those forgotten places within the colors. Maybe you see a fish, or a mountain, whatever you find is your place.
Since this is very intuitive and abstract, the places you may go are endless and a journey to be discovered. Aren’t we all on a journey? I think we are and where you go is your choice.
This shows a piece with just watercolor and a few drops of alcohol ink. It is masked off to create a border; however, this is not a requirement. It is a piece in progress.
In progress. Used watercolor, watercolor pencils, and micron pen to begin outlining those forgotten places.
This is very close to being complete. Used brusho, (which is an intense water color powder
