Music to Inspire

Sometimes music can inspire but most of the time it helps me find the words to say what can't always come out of my mouth.  Knowing this I decided to put together a 'Creative Path Soundtrack'.  Music that helps me see clearly who I am and what I'm worth.  Music that makes me believe anything is possible.  Music to listen to when I can't remember why I'm doing this art journey to begin with. Music to feel by and dance to...music to live.

Sadly, I didn't do a step by step show of how I made the art journal page because I wasn't sure what I where I was going with it until it was done. But here is the final product:

I did the art journal page first using (very watery) acrylic paint then added salt to give it texture.  I spattered black paint with a mask over the main area.  Using a roller I added gold paint over the whole.  I used a credit card to add even more black paint around the main area so it could *pop*.

With a butterfly stencil I painted in the black butterfly at the top then used more of the diluted acrylic paint in the main area to make a brighter/darker butterfly.  I scanned that image into my computer.  Using it as a template I added the text and the veins on the butterflies.

I then used photo editing software (Microsoft Office Picture Manager and Windows Paint) to create the front and back of the music CD.  I added the song tracks and titles then printed them out.  I burned the music on a CD and the final product goes into the binder with everything else.

CD Front

CD Back

Right Here

This was fun to do.  Funny cut out flowers on a chalked background and the kind of inspirational quote that reminds me it doesn't have to hard work to journey 'out there somewhere.'

Inspired

I bought Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts some time back and have been reading it like a novel – all words but no action.  After the funky week I had and the challenges of Art Every Day, I realised I not only needed some direction but also some inspiration.

This is the outcome of some mixed media and mixed source inspiration.  I did the background out of cloth on paper like I have seen on some altered books then added the painting in acrylic over it.  In keeping with the idea I stencilled in the word INSPIRED and voila.

I’m back on the learning curve.

Be...

Stop.  Take a breather.  Be.  That is the advice I am giving to me.

I wonder what I am when I stop to just be.

Why Not?

WHY?

Why am I doing this?
Why does it matter?
Why should I spend my time and effort and resources to make art?
Why do I care about how it turns out?
Why do my efforts suck?
Why do I ask why?

What am I trying to prove?

The only answer I can come up with is because I’m a sucker for punishment and an eternal optimist.  I never thought I would ever do anything special with my desire to create but I have found a small way to express myself.  I’m not where I want to be yet but I think it’s worth it.  Because something is telling me this is the way to go.

 

NOT

Not what I wanted it to be.
Not getting any better.
Not making the progress I wanted.

Not useless.
Not a waste of time.
Not impossible.

Just enough for me right now.

Giving myself permission to suck is a new unusual feeling.  It’s a lot like saying I don’t have to try but at the same time saying that it’s okay if I try and things don’t turn out right.  It’s about daring and sometimes falling flat on my face but other times it might be about trying and learning how to fly.

‘Why’ and ‘not’ are two words that on their own can be reason enough not to start.  About having no good reason to put myself out there...and no good reason to fight against my fears and make a dent in the world.  Together, they are about creative audacity; courage and listening to that inner voice that says to me, “You can do it!”

So I could listen to the dissenting voice that tells me I can’t or shouldn’t but I won’t.  I will create.  And if anyone should ever ask me why I’ll have to tell them ‘Why not!”