Let's Make Art!

I've been practicing abstract art in my abstract practice journal this past week. The funny thing is though, that I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I mean, I've never been taught abstract art. I've actually not even started really appreciating this genre until about a year and a half ago. It was only when I really began to study the artworks of some incredible abstract artists on Pinterest, that I started being drawn into the beauty that is abstract art.

But am I doing it right? Are you doing it right? Are we all as artists doing it 'right'? 

The answer to all of this is YES!

I love this quote, 

"Just because it's not in a museum does not mean it's not art!"

I know I've fallen into the trap of thinking that because I've not studied art after high school, or sold many pieces, or don't have a huge social media platform, or have received comments like, "aaahhh, what is it?", that my art is unqualified, pointless and worthless.

This is such a lie!

"To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong".

So I say to myself, I will make art. I will say to myself, my art has value and worth; my art makes me me. I say the same to all of you! Your art is different to mine, mine is different to yours; but it's all valid. It's all beautiful.

Henry Matisse reminds us that 

'creativity takes courage'.

How courageous will you be? How courageous will I be?

Forget everything negative and just make art! 

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. 

So do it!"

Be courageous with me, let yourself be free to create. Share it with others, be confident in the art you create.

Ann Voskamp says it perfectly,

"when we stop fearing failure, 

we start being artists."

Let's be artists!

Mixed Media Art Journaling

The way of the artist makes room for rest, for inspiration, for freedom of expression. It's a reflection of the inner person, a chance to breathe, to connect, to focus. 

Art is an addiction, and today I was able to feed that addiction just a little. And gee was it nice. Just to stop. To relax, to get messy fingers. To free designs, colours and images that have been swirling around on the canvas of my mind.

I attended a local mixed media journal class, and while mixed media journaling isn't new to me, it has been a good few months since I've had the pleasure of enjoying it's creative freedoms.

Today Gelato's and spray ink held my attention, and I found myself delighted with their ease of use, their colour vibrancy and their forgiving nature when I made mistakes! It's safe to say that mixed media journaling is something I'm definitely going to continue with!

Words are an important part of the mixed media journaling process for me, and I'm always needing to include something that is deep and holds a lot of personal meaning. I feel my work isn't complete until the right words are woven into each piece. 

After completing my artwork today, I realized that I'm actually not going to add it to my journal, but frame it instead. I don't think I could bare cutting it in half to stick it in my journal! 

I'm looking forward to next Friday (I hope I can wait that long!) for the next journal class ...

I wonder what we'll create?!