Creating Art

a way into the work

When I first wrote about developing ideas for an art series, I thought I’d make it into a class.

I never did.

I get so many ideas that I could not possibly ever follow up on all of them! Also, many ideas change along the way. Today the idea of developing a new body of work as a class has changed into sending it as an article. This seems to be a better way.

If you need a way into a new project here you go!

• Brainstorm a list of feeling and action words, push past your initial stopping point and try for ten more feelings and action words. Keep asking: What else? Why? What about that last word leads me to ____ (the next word). What do I want others to see, feel, know, understand? Ask the same of yourself. Get curious.

• Be 100% OK with the first dozen or more paintings (drawings/lines in a poem) for the series to be on paper, exploratory, possibly in sketch/drawing form. Be 100% OK with knowing that the beginning output of a series (or a poem or a song) are going to feel awkward even with prep-work and focus.

Happy Scrappy #7, 2024, Felt & Sashiko Thread on Handcrafted Paper. 6 inches round.

Side note: I use my own advice. I have been stitching felt lately. Then stitching the designs to paper. 100% exploratory and satisfying too! I am calling this series my Happy Scrappy art!

Continue reading the “way into the work” list: