The Queen Of Dreams. . .

"The Queen Of Dreams" for Crazy Amigo's open theme.

For the past few days I've been taking a much needed blogging break.  It was a time for introspection; to re-evaluate reasons and purposes, and now that I've done that, I'm glad to be back!  Forgive me for just spewing it all, but here are some of the thoughts that have occupied my last few days: 

I began blogging at a time when I was hungry to learn every new technique I could lay my eyes on, use every material at my disposal, and to lap up knowledge with vast, sweeping stokes.  There was need for a transition, but from what to what was not quite clear.  One thing I knew for certain was that over the years, I had acquired a lot of separate and seemingly unrelated artistic skills, and I was driven to use them all, and all together.  Until then, I had been working side-by-side-myself, mostly in two very different mediums:  Sumi ink with watercolor, and various fiber arts. 

As I watched the fiber art world shift toward free-motion machine embroidery and quilting as its primary means of expression, and as it detoured away from hand stitching, my enthusiasm for it began to wane.  The look is fine.  Beautiful, even.  But I am one for whom a sewing machine is an industrial tool, and I approach it just as I would a copy machine, or a microwave, and this puts me at a disadvantage.  It can be part of my art, but not primarily.  On the other hand, I love to stitch and weave, crocheting, and tatting, and I have always been easily seduced by both fabric and paper!  I love to see it, touch it, hold it, look at it.  And drawing.  And painting.  And woodcuts.  And printmaking.  What I wanted to do, was to add to these "loves", combine them all in different arrangements, and to collage and assemble with everything that spoke to me.  So I scoured the internet and found the world of beautiful blogs, and I began first by soaking up the beauty, and second by immersing myself in the techniques.

   

The piece of paper above is the result of one of my current favorite techniques, making metallics seem to float inside of hand-made paper.  It was used as the underpinning for my tea drinking fairies HERE, which is a fairly good example of where my journey is at present.  But less than a year ago, I was more concerned with learning things than applying them.  I even described my days then as:  "Like being back in school again".   

Stamping and embossing on both paper and fabrics were familiar to me, but I had no idea how to use the myriad of inks to their advantage.  So I started there...with ink on glossy cardstock, and then I discovered everything in the store!   I loved it all!  Nothing spoke to me--all of it SCREAMED!  So I lapped it up like a thirsty dog and began practicing everything, card size!  And now, finally, even though I could go on forever and ever and ever acquiring everything in sight, the acquisition phase is slowly but surely making a smooth, curving blend into the output phase, and very thankfully, I am finding that my appetite is becoming more refined.  I still love looking at it all, and I still love trying it all out.  I am learning that there are art techniques, much like the sewing machine, that can be done easily, but they're just not for me.  I don't like doing them.  And finally, finally, after much soaking-up, I am able to say "no thank you" to some things, and "more please" to others.  So with all that said, here is something for today's Crazy Amigo's open theme that I did just a little while back, for no theme in particular, just for me. My aim at the time was for sort of an elegant-shabby-chic look.  It's a lot like what I started out to do in the first place, as it combines silk, handmade papers, crystals, pearls, glitter, punchinella, patterned papers, tissue, lace, stitching, stamping, chipboard, glitter, paint, trims, doilies, and tulle.  And in the process, I've learned that while collecting is a form of heaven, so is narrowing it down!  So even if you hadn't noticed that I'd been gone--it was a very short break--I'm back, refreshed, and while I'm headed in the same direction as before, I'm moving in a much smoother line.  Still lapping it all up, but with a slightly better feel for how I want to use it.   

Have a great day, Everyone!   

Comments

[Barbara]

Man if I could talk and write my feelings like you I would be in heaven but then again that wouldn't be me, but you so I will just say you are amazing Barbara. Yes I am ready and anxious to go to AU, looking forward to it and to spending some money. I think you have my cell # so we can meet up there. See ya.

[Sandy]

Wow this is really special.
Fantastic creation.

[Patti]

Wowww... I just LOVE your Queeen of dreams !!!
Patti xx

[Marina]

Thanks for sharing your story with us Barbara and I am very glad that you are back.

Your Queen of dreams looks great, a "royal" art piece.
Compliments.

[Rosie]

You used the heart-shaped punchinella! Fabulous piece, Barbara, I like the separation of the long strip to the right, like creating distance.
I'm getting better at making choices too. I now lust after gel mediums and paints, as opposed to inks, cutters, punches, etc. I think my turning point was starting work at the Scrapstore and seeing the possibilities for recycling...
I love that you share these feelings - you certainly always strike a chord with me! :-]

[Hermine]

Loev it, love all the layers

[faye]

I think your story is one all of us, or at least some of us, can relate to. I'm not to the point you are at. I am still soaking up how-to's. Your piece above is so gorgeous. Maybe I'll get out my paper making stuff today while dh is playing golf. He likes to be away from the mess of paper making.

[Gabrielle Fabian]

The "Queen of Dreams" is beautiful, and your post is so articulate, reflective, and well voiced! I definitely relate to your earlier self, and am getting closer to refinement daily! Thanks for the inspiration...
Gaye

[Char]

What a wonderful free challenge piece of art. Love the colors and composition.

[Alberta]

Barbara,
Your artistic journey has been so much like my own. It was very enlightening to read your story. In March I started painting again after a very long dry spell, at almost the same time I started blogging. Meeting, talking to, and learning from the ideas of other artists has enriched me both spiritually and creatively. I think this magic soup of friendship and inspiration has caused me to grow more as an artist the last 6 months than in any other time in my life. Thank you so much for the award you gave us. Now that our first week at school is almost over, Ava and I can calm down and focus long enough to pass the honor on to three other artrists. Your kind support and enthusiasm for our work has meant so much to us both. It is privilege to receive this award from an artist like you.

Love and hugs,
Alberta and Ava