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February 2004 Newsletter
"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." — Joseph
Chilton Pearce
IN THIS ISSUE
- February 2004 Journal
- What's New @ the CP
- Spotlight: Found Art Global Art Project
FEBRUARY 2004 JOURNAL
Developmental Stages
I think that too often we look at accomplished artists and writers and
only see the end result of years of hard work. Years of growing and making
mistakes. Years of learning and developing their skills. Some of us might get
discouraged because these accomplished artists seem so put together, so professional,
so perfect. But what we don't get to see is a glimpse into the journey that
brought them to that ultimate place of acclaim.
I know that many of you involve yourselves in creative activities for personal,
soulful reasons. I for one have recently developed an interest in painting
and collage and my kitchen table is literally *my art studio* for all things
creative.
Am I good at art? Depends on who you ask, but presently that's not the most
important thing to me. What matters to me is that I’m indulging my artistic
side and allowing a free flow of creativity to guide me. It’s refreshing and
fun. I need this time to experiment and explore. One day I hope my hard work
will pay off and my skills will shine.
The journey "there" is the challenging part for most of us. But it is a necessary
part of the learning process. We can't give up if we want to reach that point
of inner contentment and artistic fulfillment, no matter what our passion is.
Is there anyone out there who feels the same way? If so, I’d like to hear
from you.
Found Art Fun
Speaking of gifts (were we?), I spent a few weeks involving myself in
the Found Art project featured in this month’s spotlight. I had so much fun
creating experimental art that would be left behind as gifts for others.
Read about
my Found Art fun below.
Have a fabulous February!
Chris
P.S. Informal poll: Do you say FebRUary, or FebrUary?
WHAT'S NEW @ THE CP
Taking
Risks
risk n : exposure to possible loss or injury.
I recently learned a valuable lesson in risk taking. No, it didn't involve
investing money or losing anything of physical value. Rather, it was a risk
in either being embraced or rejected by revealing a personal part of myself
amongst a virtual room of strangers.
My
Found Art Experience
There’s a first time for everything, right? Well, this
is the entertaining and detailed account of my first
Found Art experience. I share what motivated me to
participate, images of the art I created, and the
entertaining story of how I "lost" all of my pieces on
the shelves at a local library without being "booked"
for littering.
How
to Make a Dream Journal
The Painted Dream Journal is a fun item to create and an artful gift for someone
else. I made mine into Found Art! Simply start with a blank book, add some
paint and polymer clay accents to the cover and the journal becomes an inspirational
outlet for artistic expression, aspirations, dreams, writing, and collage.
What
I Learned by Painting My First Earthscape
I'm determined to teach myself the fundamentals offine art. No,
not just teach, but really learn. Apply. Become skilled at. Become
comfortable with.
Like Claude Monet. And Paul Klee. And Wassily Kandinsky. Maybe Georges Seurat,
too. I choose these people to align myself with because their work resonates
with me. It speaks to me on a familiar level. A simplistic level — one that leaves
the nitty-gritty details to the left-brained artists.
SPOTLIGHT
Found
Art Global Art Project
Aligning itself with the simple principle of "Random acts of kindness," Found
Art! is a global art project that "strives to make the world a better place
right now by empowering people across to globe to share on a soul level."
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