Thursday, July 31, 2014

Around the World Artsy Blog Hop

A couple of weeks ago, Denise in Australia invited participation in an 'Around the World Artsy Blog Hop,' about our creativity ... & I decided to play along .... then was off at the coast on a camping trip, and .... and ... time to write!! 

These are the 4 questions:
1. How does my creative process work?
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
3. What am I working on now?
4. Why do I create what I do?


1. How does my creative process work? 

"Presence" Mama Lois & She Who Watches
I've always thought of myself as 'Artsy-crafty' .... my mom Lois knit, crocheted, & took craft classes including basket weaving. She always had a great eye for colour, & I followed her lead, taking 4-H sewing, & drafting some of my own patterns, learning various arts & She also mentions  and creativity are ... I took art in HS, and a live drawing class in college, and 'always' sketched & did crafts in fits & spurts. I garden & keep garden note books, ... 
I made dolls & paper dolls, I took up spinning ....
I dance (from Ballet to Square Dance!) &  sketched kids at the ballet studio during my daughter's class, now sketch my grandkids ...Jewelry making, pine needle baskets, I tend to accumulate supplies, which tend to be beautiful all on their own! Over the last decade, I've taken classes from local artists - beeswax collage, slab pottery, & played with Soul Collage...

My mother-in law Dorothy Fender (now 98!) loved having a full collection of various art materials, & in the 70s & 80s, would often 'share' with me - when we were 'into' embroidery, she bought us EACH a full set of DMC embroidery cotton (!) later, Prismacolor coloured pencils.... she has some lovely pastel paintings she did in her earlier years, at this point, she no longer creates, but still appreciates what I bring over to show her!  

In February, I took a 'Muse Encounter' workshop with my friend artist Elisabeth Friese-Mick, who has been studying "Intentional Creativity"with Shiloh Sophia McCloud, so painting has taken the forefont!  Chocolate is an important part of the process, keeping the Muse happy while we paint! In later Spring & Summer, I've taken on-line & virtual courses with Shiloh & with another of her students, artist Flora Aube.
When I go to an art fair, or into a gallery, I often think "I could do that!"  So my creative process is stimulated by other artists, by nature, by imagination.

I'm lucky (or unlucky!) to have an Art Supply right in town, so when I want to try new materials, they're very handy! If I'm inspired, I may begin painting in the evening, with a candle lit & some music on, & paint into the wee hours! I often have a couple of pieces going .... & revisit older canvases, as the muse whispers. 
I'm a Virgo, so love tiny things - have done water-colors on 1 1/2" squares of paper!! & have made wee rugs for doll houses, so it's been a bit of a surprise to find myself working on canvases that are 2' x 3'!!

Yarrow Rose, Healer
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I love reality & fantasy .... my faces tend to be 'sweet' & people seem to find my paintings uplifting (which I strive for!) .... 
I find myself loving being part of the Intentional Creativity movement, putting intention into the canvas, writing words, saying a little prayer, before applying paint .... As a Reiki Master, I have had a number of artists study with me over the years, who also seek to infuse their art with healing & inspiration.   
Flames, eyes that speak volumes, loving kindness  spirals, art as healing icons .... 
Several of my pieces seem to 'ask' to be part of a story , that may be next! 

 3. What am I working on now? 
Zander helping Journal
I just began a little canvas (square: 13") and an art journal that has words, collage, drawing/painting. Last weekend my daughter's family & I joined a number of folks from our church for a camp out at the coast, & my youngest grandkids (3 & 3 1/2) LOVED helping paste & draw Grammie's art journal (& mom & dad were grateful for keeping them happily occupied for awhile!)
 
Green lady








4. Why do I create what I do?
Gosh! Doesn't everyone who is creative 'have to' create in some fashion or another?!! I think it's the nature of the beast ... As Denise says "When I’m creating I’m in a different world where time does not exist." YES!! She also mentions art as a good way for processing emotions beyond words ... I find that true as well. Art, any art, is therapeutic! 

If others enjoy my offerings as well, all the better!!

Blessings to all who visit & find inspiration in these words!

I'm linking to Paint Party Friday, & to that Artsy Blog Hop!!

9 comments:

denthe said...

So nice to get to know you a little better through your answers to these questions! I had to laugh when I read all the things that you did and do :-) I sometimes wonder whether I'm interested in too many things, having too little time as it is, but you seem to do even more ... I like that thought "infusing your art with healing and inspiration". That's what I tend to do too. And it's also visible in your art. Thanks so much for playing with me in this bloghop! I'll link to your blog in my post today :-)

denthe said...

Hi Dia, linked to you in this post here http://denthe.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/featured-artist-in-gallery.html

Nadya said...

Thanks, Denise!
Yes, I wonder about my scattered interests ... we called my mo-in law Dorty a Renaissance Woman, as she was SO well read, knew a number of languages (learned Spanish in her 60s, to read Carlos Fuentes in the original Spanish! Already knew German, French, Greek & Latin, & could read her name & some scientific papers in Russian!!) She was a biologist, and another in her field would periodically 'kill her off' (He's long dead, & she's now 98) or grumble at her having so many other interests, raising 4 children, raising sheep for awhile (they made more $$ selling the sheep ticks to a scientific supply company than they did selling the fleeces!) ... the art (mostly pastels, but later the needle arts) the reading ...
She could carry on 4 conversations at once, & you could ask her practically ANYTHING, if she didn't know the answer, she'd look it up!
..... yes, I see the infusion of inspriration in your work as well, Denise!
Blessings!

Faye said...

Dia, I so much enjoyed your write up. In many ways I have some of the same tendencies. It was fun to get to know you.

Beth Niquette said...

I enjoyed reading your thoughts and answers to the questions. Your artwork is just exquisite. Such a lovely artistic style you have.

GlorV1 said...

Loved your work and your life sounds very interesting.:)

bellefrogworks said...

Loved "meeting" with you and hearing about your artistic journey. I participated in this blog tour earlier in the summer and it is really taking off. Your art is beautiful and yes, I would say uplifting.

DVArtist said...

oohhh I so enjoyed your answers. I will be posting mine tomorrow. It is such a nice way to get to know people a bit more. Your are it always inspiring and very lovely.
Have a nice Sunday
Nicole/Beadwright

Tracey FK said...

I really enjoyed reading your answers and learning more about how you work... fabulous post...xx