Being Creative #1 - Let's talk about space

Hi there! I had been thinking of writing this series for a while. But kept thinking I am not a famous artist, so who am I to write such a series? I work full time and feed my creative soul every chance I get. And I suspect that there are more people like me out there. I am hoping that such people and all kinds of people chime in. Talk about our innermost deep dark secrets of being creative. Did I scare you already? Well I am too but shhhhhh! Let's slay those dragons.

I am going to blab about my secrets and fears and joys for 10 weeks. I'll also mention next week's topic as well so if you want to write a blog post too you are absolutely welcome! Add your link here and let's have a party. Even if you don't want to write, share your creations - it can be anything a painting, photographs, food (well, you can't really share the food :-) but a picture would be great) , music. Share your link to anything you created.

So shall we get started? 

Why do we create? I can't speak for anyone else except myself, my answer is "because it makes me happy"! Although talk to me when some creation went awry - that day I will tell you that I wished I had watched TV instead.

Ahem, back to topic - so about space. You know almost all creative books will talk about reserving a space in your house and some will even go as far as to suggest lighting conditions - sit near a nothern window etc etc. Now I don't know about you but I don't have a northern facing window. And I live in a small apartment. So what's a girl to do? Simple, I just ignored that advice. Bah, humbug - I thought. I am motivated enough to pack and unpack my art box every day.

Guess what? I am really not that motivated! Having to pack and unpack your art material is a huge buzz kill.

I come home, I make dinner, we eat dinner, I park myself on the sofa to watch TV and just the thought of unpacking puts me off. "Tomorrow I will create", I tell myself, "after all what's the big deal? All I have to do is unpack a box?". And I didn't create, at all! Because if it wasn't the inertia about unpacking it was the thought of packing. I can't really explain it. But the odds of me creating something went up tremendously after I made myself a spot. So much for my Bah Humbug! I do recommend having a spot.

Do you want to see my spot? It's not pretty, but it's mine. I can sit and make a happy mess all I want. And I sit on the floor while I work.

Another thing that works for me is to leave the material for my project out. Papers, embellishments, trinkets - I leave them out in sight. Because really "out of sight is out of mind" in my case.

So now will you share your space or something you created? Go ahead and add your link in the Inlinkz gadget below, you can add links up to Tuesday morning.

And before I forget, here are the instructions to the box.

Ingredients:

Wooden box

Text paper or music notes or any paper of your choice

Matte Medium

Pigment or Stayzon black ink

Rubber Stamps

Transparent acrylic colors, I like using fluid acrylics from Golden

Paint brushes

 

Instructions:

1. Tear up the paper into pieces and glue on the box with Matte medium. Apply this medium with a paint brush (and don't plan to ever use that brush for anything else except for gluing).

2. Let this dry, I generally leave it overnight to dry.

3. Now stamp with black ink and let this dry.

4. Glaze with acrylic paint. Glazing means painting with transparent colors, this way your stamped images will show through.

That's it!

 

 

Next's week topic is about learning, where to begin learning something that you are interested in. Please join in again next Sunday!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Joyce]

Hi Anisha-
Great idea. One of these days we need to get together. I would love to make one of those boxes. Beautiful!

[Christine]

This is beautiful! You are very creative....Christien

[Amanda Bachelder]

Hi there! Thank you so much for your visit to One Girl in Pink and the invitation to join your link party! I had to laugh at your post...I could so relate with many of the things you discussed. I especially understand the "out of sight out of mind" comment. Which is why my dining room table is cluttered with half done projects. Don't worry, we have a table in the breakfast nook that we actually use to eat on! I think I'll share an old post with your party about a cabinet that I turned into a crafting station. Your spot on the floor looks comfy, but I have a 2 year old and the thought of all the glues and paints within his reach makes me cringe...I have to at least put my things out of his sight. Keep in mind that I took the pictures for my post after I'd first set up the cabinet and put everything away...now imagine I've been taking things out and throwing them back in for several months...it's not so neat anymore!
Thanks again for the invite! Happy Creating!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

[Moriah]

Hi Amisha! I linked up my most favorite project, but I also invited all my readers to link up to this party on my post today. :)

http://fuzzyslippersdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/creative-questions.html

[karenharveycox]

Amisha,

Thank you for stopping by and reminding me about your creative idea. Funny you should be also including spaces, because I am in the middle of organizing my art room for the last few days. It's taking long, but bit by bit I am making progress. Now I know what to write about for tomorrow. So, I will be joining you, and writing a post for tomorrow on what you are up to.

Have a beautiful Sunday. I am off to go food shopping...and then back to tidying and organizing my stuff. Now I have a reason to get motivated.

Karen

[rosa]

that is so pretty Anisha!!!
lovely blog!
!
happy sunday!
Rosa

[LaVoice]

You are of full a great creative ideas. At least, you reminded us that we all have some. Just need to use them.

[Queen of Dreamsz]

Hi Amisha,

It's so nice to meet you and thanks so much
for visiting with me. The Creative Soul...it's
a deep subject. :-)

When you don't have a studio to work in it really
helps so much if you can take even a small table
and corner to "be your creative space". Off limits
to everyone. hee hee This way you don't have to
think about pulling out everything..that truly does
cramp the whole creative process to think about all
you have to do before you can start.

I'll do my best to chime in next week too with a photo
of something I've made and about how I learn.

I've got a new post up for today {Sunday} of one of the
prettiest rosettes I've seen..there is a tutorial link
for it.

Happy Pink,
Hugs,
Stephanie ♥

[Kim]

Amisha,

Loved your post. I have more than one work area in my house, how is that for crazy? I do sometimes leave my materials out where I can see them as I go about life. It is sort of like they become part of my life for awhile. But, I work better if I take them to a clean spot to put things together.

Thanks for inviting me to share!
Kim

[Angela]

I think your art space is cool - very edgy to keep your stuff on the floor.

[Sares @ Loveleigh Treasures]

I too have found that when the creative "stuff" is out of sight, it's out of mind and it's easier to watch TV. I don't have room to keep everything out either but it makes things so much easier and more pleasant when I can.
Who wants to spend 20 minutes pulling things out and putting them away again! I love to create though, so I take what I can get, it feeds the soul!

[Tina @ Enchanted Rose Studio]

Hi Amisha, Thanks so much for the invite! And thanks so much for visiting!

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Cheers!
Tina

[Dawn... The Bohemian]

Hi Amisha, thank you so much for your sweet comments to my Rosary Sunday Blog... and for the invitation to join your Creative Blog Party, how fun!

Though I almost never make Rosaries anymore I am presently immersed in fabric Art and when I can find the time... and these old hands cooperate... I enjoy making Bohemian Treasures with Vintage and Antique fabrics and trims. Your invitation actually inspired me to finish a final piece of a promised set that I had put off for far too long. I had completed the other three pieces and delivered them... but this last piece just languished far too long... while the recipient patiently waited upon it. So thank you for the much needed inspiration to get it done, photograph it for my contribution to your Party... and be able to FINALLY deliver it to my Friend who has had to wait upon it for far too long.

I have a Studio, but alas, when the economy took a dive our youngest adult child, a Son, had to move back Home and into my Cottage Studio... so now my creative space is where ever I can spread stuff out and try to retreat in order not to be disturbed. *le sigh* I have found that having an actual Art Studio made me a more prolific and inspired Artist so I Hope one day to reclaim that precious personal space designated for my Art and Work. I thought perhaps that leaving it "As Is" would be offputting to my Son and his Pals since it is a decidedly Feminine Gypsy Bohemian lair *LOL*... but it backfired... and he and the guys say it's a Babe Magnet because all the young Women think it's fabulous that he lives in such a delightfully decorated space *winks and le sigh*... ah, well, such is life... Dawn... The Bohemian

[Margot Madison]

Aha! Is that why I keep all my creative stuff out all the time? I thought I was just being messy! :o)

My space is a glorious cement walled room in my basement. It has a door to close out the nosey wee ones and lots of drawers and bins. Works okay, but needs a spring cleaning.

Looking forward to the links! xom