Priming the Well of Creativity After 26 Years

I was long overdue for a new art challenge--26 years overdue. The last formal course I took was a night course at FIT right before my daughter Amanda was born. Not that I stopped creating--I constantly draw, paint, collage, make fiber art pieces and mixed media work--but I hadn't done an in-person course in such a long time.

Last weekend I took a course at The Ink Pad--well it was really at the Westbeth building, but sponsored by the Ink Pad. I took a course from Kelly Kilmer and learned how to make an accordion journal from scratch, including using an awl to poke holes and waxed linen thread to hold the book together.

After the book was constructed, we did some journaling. Her collage technique and my new journal really has fanned my creative flame. Well, after 26 years, it's about time I took a course.

I also picked up some Dina Wakley stamps and tried them out on a paper doll. I was really happy with the results. I was in a rut using either my own hand drawn and painted faces, Graphics Fairy vintage images, or old photos.

Here is my finished doll, which uses my own printmaking work, painted newsprint, Graphics Fairy shoes, some hands I found online, washi tape, a painted Dina Wakely head, and a snippet of a photoshop collage.

I am also working in my new journal. Somehow having a journal that isn't "precious", one that I am not afraid to mess up, makes it easier. I have several beautiful journals that are just too pretty to mess up, so they sit empty. Maybe messing them up will be next on my agenda.

Here is my new, handmade journal, with just the first page. I snapped a shot after I finished making it. The cover is an olive rice paper. It is smallish--8.5" x 5.5"--but each of the five signatures have about 10 pages.