My Creative Journey

Happy 4th!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe weekend! I've been keeping up with my doing something creative daily, just haven't kept up with posting pics....I don't have to work tomorrow, and depending on how the anxiety is, I may end up staying home and painting (which really, that's a good day for me!)
So, take care and have fun!
xoxo
Trish

P.S. I forget who's blog I found this link on, but I've been enjoying it ever since!! It's a really cool search engine;)

Wednesday

Not very good sketches today, but that's okay-tomorrow is another day;)

Interview With Cate Prato

I have Cate's book, Mixed Media Self Portraits, and although I've only done 1 self portrait so far, I love the book for all the inspiration you can get out of it-for all kinds of projects and techniques! I was thrilled when she agreed to an interview, and I hope you enjoy reading it too!


1. How did you get your start as an artist, and are you able to do art full time, or do you have a "day" job also?

I wouldn't really call myself an artist--and I'm not being modest! I'm more of a writer who happens to make some art. I desperately wanted to be an artist as a child and took some wonderful courses, but I couldn't take the criticism! Writing just comes naturally to me; it's the thing I do best, and I've been doing it pretty well since I was a kid. I just followed the path of least resistance through school and college. I was a newspaper reporter and feature writer for many years, and five years ago I was lucky enough to do a piece on Pokey Bolton, and she eventually hired me at Quilting Arts/Cloth Paper Scissors. Now I write and edit for CPS, our Embellishments e-Newsletters, and I'm the Editor of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios. I should point out that I believe that I--or anyone--could be an artist if they devoted the time to it. It's just more of a hobby for me right now.

2. What is your favorite media to use?

I have always loved fabric and fibers. Walking into a yarn or fabric store gives me the same frisson of excitement as walking into a fabulous bakery--but without the guilt. OK, less guilt. I like to do embroidery and simple stitching projects, mostly just to handle the fibers and play with putting them together. I love printing making and collage, too, and like to mix them up when I can.

3. I love your book, Mixed Media Self Portraits, it's so full of inspiration! For those who have never attempted a self portrait, can you tell us why you think that creating self portraits are important?

I think self-portraits are important because doing them really gives you insight into yourself. Not just how you look, but how you feel about how you look, and beyond that, how you see yourself. I also don't think you can do one definitive self-portrait. Each one captures you in a moment in time and reveals something about you--and you always have to leave some things out, edit yourself. Even if you never show another soul your self-portraits, they are important for you. Like keeping a journal, but in portrait form.

4.I have read that you should pick one medium and stick to that, but I like so many different mediums (or is it media?), I can't just pick one. What are your thoughts on the subject?

I can't imagine why you would want to limit yourself to one medium, unless your goal was to explore everything to do with that medium (and that's not a bad goal). I'll tell you, one thing I've learned after working with scores of artists and interviewing them over the last five years is that there are no rules. Sure, you should know the rules, especially the principles of design. But the rules serve the artist, not the other way around. So, if you feel like immersing yourself in one medium, do it. If not, jump around or mix them up.

5. How can we go about finding our own creative voice?

By listening for it. It's there, but most people drown it out with shouldn'ts and can'ts and I'm afraid. When you're in your studio, or at your kitchen table, or wherever you make art, and a tiny little thought creeps into your head about which color to use or where to place an image or to scrap the thing you've almost "finished" and take it in a completely new direction, don't slap that thought away--do it! No one's watching. The art police aren't going to show up and arrest you for improper use of imagination. Then, keep doing it. Try things. Some won't work out, but others will. You'll know you've found your voice when what you make is uniquely you and it makes you feel accomplished.

6. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Well, I'm certainly inspired by other artists--their bravery, honesty, and imagination. But I for my own work, I'm usually inspired by the materials--a colorful yarn or a vintage fabric. Nature inspires me as do my two daughters--they are truly originals and aren't afraid to take chances with their imagination and creativity. 

7. Can you describe your creative process?

I'm going to give you my creative process as a writer, because there's more to tell at this point in my life, and I think it can be adapted to art. Let's take a feature article on an artist. Of course, the first thing I do is find out all I can about the person and their art, which is very easy now because of the Internet. I look at their blog, website, any materials they have submitted to us. I try to see trends in their art, changes in direction, and I ask myself what I think our readers would like to know about this person. One thing I almost never do is read other articles written about the person. I don't want to be prejudiced in my approach by another writer's take. I interview the person for about an hour; the best quotes almost always come at the end because by that time the person has let their guard down. Then I type up all the notes and mull it over for a while--days, but sometimes weeks. I have to say I would prefer to write it within a couple of weeks, but sometimes other responsibilities get in the way. I usually have it half to two-thirds done in the first few days though. I start with the opening sentence: what captures this person? You should know within the first 2-3 sentences what the entire thrust of the article is going to be about. Then it's a matter of building sentences and paragraphs that support that first sentence/opening paragraph. I think that may be why I have such a hard time making art that pleases me, because I always want to do the most interesting, eye-catching part first, and fill in the backgrounds later. And in art, it's usually the other way around!

8. What advice would you give to (self-taught) artists just starting out? Plus, for those who have a dream of seeing their art published, but don't know where to start, do you have any suggestions?

For the first question, I would say practice. Build your art muscle by trying things, making things, without judgment. You wouldn't expect to have rock-hard abs after one session at the gym, so don't expect a masterpiece from your first attempts at art. Then, read all you can about the process and techniques of people whose art you like. Not so you can copy their art, but so you can learn some techniques you might want to incorporate in your own art and see that their process is just that--a process; it isn't perfect. Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Arts are great for that. Also, look at tutorials on the web, on blogs, YouTube, etc., our line of DVDs, or take classes. It really helps to see how other people create.

 

As for getting published: blog and send queries to the places you want to be published. We read the blogs, scan Etsy, and hang out on Facebook looking for talent. You can also email us directly at submissions@clothpaperscissors.com. A terrific way to get your art noticed is to enter one of our reader challenges. But what we're looking for is something fresh, different. If you make collages, show us a new way to make a collage; if you mix paint and stitching, show us a different way to do it. If what you make looks just like something we have in the current issue, then we are probably not going to be running anything like that in the near future. But keep trying; if we reject you once, it doesn't mean we'll reject you the next time.

9. Do you have any new books coming in the near future?

No. But I'm thinking about it.

10. One last question, since I promised a short interview! If you were on a desert island and could only have 2 inspirational books with you, what 2 would you choose?

Well, I would not take my book, because I can probably recite that by heart! I would take Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It's about writing, but you can apply the same principles to any creative process. It's honest and funny and true. After that, I would probably take any of Lesley Riley's books, because not only do I love her art, but she is very gentle and encouraging to the reader. She makes you absolutely believe that you are an artist.

 

thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions!!

--My pleasure!

***I have to say though, I very much consider Cate an artist!

Small Sketch

It's not much, but it's something:) Plus, I've been journaling allot these past few days....I bought the books Journal To The Self and Life's Companion:Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest (the one I'm reading now) and trying out the different prompts and techniques. So, that counts as my creative thing too, I just can't show you;)
have a great evening!
xoxo
Trish

New Pics

 

 

 

The canvas at the top is a big canvas, so it's just a little view of what it looks like-the only thing I did this evening was doodle that coffee cup and flowers, but it was something;)

Rethinking the Blog Break

It just hit me (while reading this article) that maybe taking a break form something I enjoy isn't the best thing to do when things aren't going so well. The past few days I haven't even touched my canvas, sketchbook, art journal, anything-and that surely doesn't help. So...instead I'm going to set myself a little challenge to create something (even just a little sketch) every day, no matter what else is going on that day! They say art heals, but not if you don't make something.

I'll be back later with something to post, and I'll get that interview up soon-
have a nice day!

Blog Break

Just wanted to say hi and that I'll be taking a little break. Kind of feeling down, depressed,blah,..... so I'm just going to focus on feeling better for now. I have an interview ready to go, I'll post it as soon as I can!!
Take care
xoxo
Trish

Ipod Question/Ipod Touch

If anyone knows anything about ipods, I was hoping I could get some advice! I have a regular ipod, and yesterday I bought these daily affirmation card things only to realize that it is an application for ipod touch:(
I wonder if there's any way to use it on my ipod, or is there some way to open up the file online somewhere so I can at least read the cards (and maybe make up my own to have). I have a feeling there's not much I can do, except wait until someday if I get an ipod touch..............
Thanks reading, and hope you are having a great day- I'm debating whether to stay in the air conditioning or take my lounge chair out in the sun:)
xoxo
Trish

art journal pages

 

Great Book!

I just finished a "new" (found it on my bookcase, but can't remember ever reading it) book, and I loved it so much I had to blog about it a bit. It was just a big, juicy book! The scenery (pictured in my head) was amazing at the little Maine retreat that stars throughout the book, along with the family that lives there in the summer. It follows them through generations, I think that is part of what appealed to me also, the history of it. I've always had a need to know more about my ancestors and really no way of finding out, so I love stories like this. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, I got so excited, I forgot to tell you what the name of it is! It's called Colony and you can find it on amazon for a penny (used). I've ordered many books from amazon for a penny, you just have to make sure you check the sellers rating.

Here's what it says at amazon about the book, they do a better job at it!
Hope you enjoy it if you try it out-have a great Sunday, I'm off to bed now with another new (to me) book:)

Product Description
An unforgettable story of love, acceptance, and tradition.

When Maude Chambliss first arrives at Retreat, the seasonal home of her husband's aristocratic family, she is a nineteen-year-old bride fresh from South Carolina's Low Country. Among the patrician men and women who reside in the summer colony on the coast of Maine, her gypsy-like beauty and impulsive behavior immediately brand her an outsider. She, as well as everyone else, is certain she will never fit in. And of course, she doesn't...at first.

But over the many summers she spends there, Maude comes to cherish life in the colony, as she does the people who share it with her. There is her husband Peter, consumed with a darkness of spirit; her adored but dangerously fragile children; her domineering mother-in-law, who teaches her that it is the women who posses the strength to keep the colony intact; and Maine native Micah Willis, who is ultimately Maude's truest friend.

This brilliant novel, rich with emotion, is filled with appealing, intense, and indomitable characters. Anne Rivers Siddons paints a portrait of a woman determined to preserve the spirit of past generations--and the future of aplaice where she became who she is...a place called Colony.

"An outstanding multigenerational novel...We are hooked from the moment we meet Maude."
The New York Times