Sheri Gaynor’s Creative Awakenings

I wrote a review for Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor, and submitted it to Amazon.com and Amazon.ca today.  I’ve never done this before (post a review on someone else’s page), but the book excited me, as does the amazing way Sheri is promoting herself. Self promotion used to have negative connotations for me, but I now believe that you can empower and enrich lives, including your own, by being willing to put yourself out there. It’s theatre, really, along with game playing, artfulness, and humor. LOTS of humor. Those brazen cowboy boots (purple!) of Sheri’s are walking all over the Internet, I daresay, but they are walking alongside people instead of over them!

I’m going to share my review here, as well. It needed to stay under 250 words, which made it tough, because I had a lot more to say, including the fact that Gaynor’s processes closely resemble my own personal methods of artmaking. She also echoes my passion for empowering others to embrace their creative possibilities. The thing is, she does it with such verve! It brings to mind the vintage Carol Burnett shows, where Carol pounds on her chest and emits those exuberant (some might say deafening) Tarzan calls. You must possess a certain confidence to pull off something like that.  Sheri also displays that aplomb, and it beckons like a beacon to like-minded souls.

FEISTY FEMALES KICK UP THEIR HEELS

Creative Awakenings honors the twelve months of Sheri Gaynor’s life when she ran away from home in order to recover her “authentic self.” She wanted a creative awakening, so she both imaginatively and physically embarked on a journey that would encourage personal transformation. Gaynor now offers a map for others to employ as a guide for discovering, or heightening, their own creative powers. The journey starts with a threefold assignment to (1) uncover and EnVision a dream (2) create empowering art to strengthen your intention to follow that dream and (3) reflect on your art to invite a dialogue that elucidates and deepens the dream.

Gaynor invited guest artists to embrace the process she developed, and they are amazingly open and generous in sharing the experiences of their assigned month, including art techniques. The book closes with a vibrant, pullout Transformation Deck to help tweak the subconscious into revelation mode.

I highly recommend this book to those Feisty Females out there who are ready to kick up their heels, shout “Wooo Hoooo,” and stomp all over the “Venomous Toad Committee” that always has pins poised to prick their dream bubbles. Gaynor is right on the trail with us, spurring us on. You cannot miss the shine glancing off her vibrant cowboy boots, or the invitation she is holding out, for a life filled with passion and purpose.

What will YUDU?

I mentioned having thermofax envy a while back, and quite recently I have been getting comments about the YUDU.

Trans-craft-inental is excited about it.

alegnaavlis mentioned it on a Flickr Gocco discusssion group.

Blue Roof Designs is asking if Yudu is the new Gocco. Elissa R. Campbell has some good questions about the product, (and I love her chopstick journals).

It’s no surprise that Everything Cricut is pushing it.

Glenda (aka The Gadget Queen) filmed a demo of  the machine works at a Craft and Hobby Convention.

Weddingbee wonders if this is the next big thing for making wedding invitations (and other fun products).

Lori Shrout is experimenting with her YUDU.

Isabelle has YouTube Demo 1 and Demo 2, which she filmed while enjoying champagne.

Julie Green thinks they should have named the machine heroin.

Also go to the Yudu site 1 or Yudu site 2,  or Provo craft (who also make the Cricut products, for info, videos, and more.) The ads, quite different than most, are actually thought provoking! My favorites, especiallye Unsilence Yourself and I Am Here.

At Craftervidz, you can see another demo. Just be prepared for the theme song (I shall say no more).

Sarah also features a YUDU video on her site and she is so blown away that she says:

I can’t wait to use this in my classrooms and intend fully on having machines (yeah, you read that correctly. . . multiple machines) available for folks to use to give their own ideas a voice.

Enough already. So, what do you think? What will YUDU? (The name just invites puns of this sort, and who am I to resist?)

I am undecided at present (unless I was given one as a present, which I would certainly be HAPPY to accept). However, I will be keeping my eye on this product and waiting for it to come to Canada. Sometimes, I think manufacturers don’t realize that Canada is in North America.

Seriously Twisted Sense of Humor

It’s hard not to take things a little too seriously sometimes. You know what I’m talking about~those dark nights of the soul where you despair of ever being a good enough artist to meet your own exacting standards, or you’re good enough but despair of being noticed, or you are being noticed but despair of having the time to make enough art to pay the mortgage, or you are just practicing getting into despair because, well, they say it’s a necessary ingredient for producing really good art.

Too-too-too-TOO-too-TOO. That is supposed to be a trumpet flourish to announce the one, the only, CHRIS BOLMEIER. The woman paints, sings, and (according to my funny bone) has a seriously twisted sense of humor. That’s the best kind, isn’t it?

Here are a few one liners, plucked randomly from her site:

[My] finest work of art yet to be unveiled was inspired by a kindergarten nosebleed that sent [me] to Emergency.

So I thought I’d share a FREE program I really dig and is an alternative to the upwardly mobile Adobe Photoshop that everyone is in praise of but can be rather expensivo, cha-ching$$.

This is just a quick post about becoming a more better blogger (just some advanced english folks).

Now, don’t be fooled into thinking that Chris is never serious. She has excellent content on her site, as well, like Blog Traffic Building Tips and some very revealing interviews. Barbara J. Carter, who does neo-pointillist landscape art, has a PhD in astrophysics because, though cognizant at age 5 that she wanted to be an artist, chose something “safe” where she could earn a living (sound familiar?). Carter has some strong opinions and helpful insights about the artist’s life, but Chris cannot hold back her comedic instinct, and admits that when she was 5, she wanted to be a nun due to the influence of owning a nun doll. Barbara then concedes that being a horse was also on her list of possible career pursuits at that age. Obviously, what comes out of the mouths of babes is NOT necessarily an accurate predictor of one’s true path. I, for one, think Chris’s humor might have been squelched by putting on a habit, regardless of how creative Twyla Tharp says it might be.

You can hear Chris sing “Good morning Heartache,” or “Help Me.“  (Do you sense the beginning of a theme here?) There are cleaning tips, like how to scrub a floor with high heels (great looking shoes, by the way), or how NOT to get out of the shower (if you don’t fancy hitting  your head on the toilet).

Chris and I are now Facebook friends. She even had a dream about me, for which I offered a semi-professional interpretation, gratis, out of deference to our fledgling relationship. But I do not make any assumptions about how special I am to her. I am just one in a million (the million friends she addresses on every post). On the other hand, she is generous with her impressive array of talents, and has a big heart (I mean, this woman was going to be a NUN). Perhaps there really is room in there for me, and you, and 999, 998 others!

My Color Bookshelf 3

Nita Leland, if her books are any indication, is both a gifted artist and teacher. I have mentioned her several times in previous posts, including Concentrating on Value. I had already thoroughly enjoyed, and learned many techniques from, Creative Collage Techniques and  The New Creative Artist before buying two of her books about color. Both books are a complete course on the subject, replete with examples in glorious (what else?) COLOR!

Exploring Color by Nita Leland

Look for color everywhere–in music, in poetry, in life. You’re the sum of all you see, hear, and experience. Enrich yourself, and the richness of your life will be revealed when you paint.

Confident Color by Nita Leland

From the start, Leland promises that this book “will help you find a winning strategy for using color in your unique way”  (p.10). To that end, she has artwork from more than 50 contributing artists and 85 “Try it” activities, so that you can “develop your awareness of the colors and combinations that resonate with you” (back cover).

I found both books to be comprehensive, clear, and motivational. For instance, Leland recommends using color schemes to “help you break old habits and rise to a new level of creative expression.”

The illustrations in all Leland’s books are superb, and quotations sprinkled throughout give little jolts of energy to those of us who really respond to a well expressed idea. Here is an excellent example, from Hans Hoffman (Confident Color, p. 125):

The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color. Our entire being is nourished by it. This mystic quality of color should likewise find expression in a work of art.

A~B~C~Dream!

I just completed a new paper quilt, and when you look at the colors, you can see that I am longing  for spring. The dimensions are 23.5″ (h) by 17.5″ (w).

A~B~C~Dream

Dreams are a door into a whole different world of sensory (and extrasensory) experience. It seems like pure nonsense if you apply the rules of the waking world. However, if you accept the freedom of the dreamworld, you may even be able to bring some of its magic back with you.

I have used my upload quota!

Guess what I’ll be doing after I get home from work!

See My Articles in FIBRE & STITCH 7, and QUILTING ARTS 39

I have a lighthearted, but informative, article in Fibre & Stitch 7. Sue Bleiweiss and Terri Stegmiller were so easy to work with, and I look forward to future association with these talented and productive women!

The article celebrates a visit with my sister, Barb Pearson, in the summer of 2008. Among many other things,  we each produced a meaningful, but hilarious, gift for each other~using my paper quilting techniques. We had such a fantastic week together, where we immersed ourselves in art, while catching up on each others’ thoughts, dreams, and experiences. It is not a cliché to say that I will always cherish that time with her, and hope to schedule more art dates in the future!

A Small Flock~Carol Angel and Barb Angel

I also wrote an article on paper quilting for Quilting Arts 39, which will hit the stands (or computers for those who opted for digital subscriptions) in July.

I love writing about art almost as much as making it! Fortunately, the two activities dovetail quite nicely!

My Color Bookshelf 2

I have four books by Joen Wolfrom. This woman is nothing short of amazing. When she senses a lack in her knowledge of something, she completely immerses herself in the subject. She goes after information with the tenacity of a bulldog on the hunt for a bone, and then she shares the meal. Her insights provide any number of “aha” moments. Let me give you just a few inspiring quotes from each book:

The Magical Effects of Color by Joen Wolfrom

When creating, give color and all its idiosyncrasies as much latitude as you would a child. Allow time and patience for your color sense to grow: allow color freedom of spirit, so that it may not feel too controlled;have courage to embrace it again, and again . . . even when it doesn’t live up to your expectations or do as you had planned. Color is fluid and spontaneous; it does best under these conditions. If you allow yourself time to form a personal relationship with color, you will be able to create art that floats in your mind and sings in your soul.  (The Magical Effects of Color, p. 9)

The Visual Dance by Joen Wolfrom

Joen advises that if we ignore the importance of design, “we leave the visual success of our work to chance.” The elements and principles of design are sometimes considered “dry and uninteresting.” However, you can think of them another way, as a “family of intriguing personalities.”

Each one performs a unique role. And it, it is your responsibility to determine which element plays the leading role, which one is cast in a supporting position, and which one has only a trivial part in each of your creative endeavors.

To add to the fun, the “roles of these design elements change with each quilt you create.”  (The Visual Dance, p. 11)

Color Play by Joen Wolfrom

I began to see the subtle color changes in shadow and highlights and became aware of how nature uses color in both luminosity and luster. I found myself passionately excited about the fantastic posibilities of creative color play. I became more aware of how emotions, energy, and personality are highly affected by color. (Color Play, p. 9)

Visual Coloring by Joen Wolfrom

It was a profound awakening for me to realize that knowing colors and seeing colors were two different concepts. I was startled to find that my mind had been working in color assumption mode for as long as I could remember. it was then that I decided to seriously train my eyes to really take note of the colors I saw and and to stop making color assumptions that relied on color labeling, which is easy but not very accurate.

Janet Wickell, from About.com, describes Visual Coloring this way:

Empowerment is a strong strong word, but I wholeheartedly believe this book provides it. Following the author’s advice will eliminate your color woes and increase your confidence by leaps and bounds.

So you see that I am not the only one who is indebted to Joen for her phenomenal contribution to artists who really want to understand how they can match what their physical eyes are seeing to the glowing picture they have in their mind’s eye.

Joen Wolfrom’s Life Story

Wolfrom books and reviews

More reviews

My Color Bookshelf 1

Here are some of the the books from my book shelf which focus on color:

Color: a course in mastering the art of mixing colors by Betty Edwards

Remember Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain? The author of this easy-to-follow color theory book is that Betty Edwards.

I bought this book because I had found Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain very helpful for improving my drawing, and reasoned that Color would do the same for my color sense. I also received a high recommendation from my sister, who worked through all the exercises.

Color choices: making color sense out of color theory by Stephen Quilller.

Stephen Quiller talks about being on the quest of becoming a better artist. To do this, he not only keeps his eyes and mind open to the world around him for subject matter, but studies other artists whom he admires.

One of his favorite pastimes is to go to art museums and galleries, and learn from others how he can improve his own painting. At home, he continues to research artists from a large personal collection of art books, and books he borrows from public libraries. As Stephen puts it:

I find it helpful to soak in all I can of each artist; many times it inspires me in my painting. This does not mean copying the masters’ works. it simply means that when I absorb the work of great artists, their painting will help me see my own work better. It will help me see how key lines in my composition can be changed, color combinations improved, or line quality altered to better the statement. In researching these artists, I have found that they all have had one thing in common.They were all students throughout their lives.

I love the way Stephen Quiller uses color, and bought this book so that I could study him. I was also intrigued with his Quiller Color Wheel, which was missing in the library copy I borrowed.

There are other Quiller books available, by the way, and DVDs.

Color Surrounds Us

I have been mixing and painting many little color samples to put on charts, as I work through Judy Coates Perez’s color theory course. The charts are lined up like tiny cardboard quilts. Or small maps leading me to different destinations in the world of color.

Color surrounds us, and we have certain preferences about the colors we see. However, mixing colors in a systematic way has made me more analytical about the way I interact with color. I look at an object, note its color, and immediately begin mixing it in my mind. Intuition can take you far, but being able to analyze and apply knowledge is also a boon. Intuition and analysis do not have to be at odds: they can learn to take turns quite nicely.

Color is a HUGE topic, but probably the uppermost issue becomes that of choosing from a literal universe of color and using it in a personal way in artwork. Are you less than confident about color theory and its application to your art? There is plenty of assistance available. I’ve already mentioned Katherine Tyrell’s excellent Squidoo lens on a previous post.  Kate Smith’s lens delves into the meaning, symbolism and psychology of color. Among the fascinating facts that Smith dispenses are:

Blue is the overwhelming “favorite color.” Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.

Orange, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy.

Whenever I visit someone, I examine their bookshelves. You can tell quite a bit about a person by the books they have on their shelves. On my next post, I will reveal some of the books on my shelf about color, why I picked them, and a few of the favorite gems I have gleaned from their pages.

Part of our color exploration in Judy Coates Perez' course.

The mysteries of color are accessible to the motivated and interested student. In fact, we remain perpetual students in this area. My liaison with color is like the relationships I have with the significant people in my life: they contain a depth I will never plummet. I am not frustrated by this, but exhilarated. Our connections will retain a freshness, because we appreciate that there is always something new to discover about each other.