Surrounded by stuff

Pencil on cartridge

I did this last Friday while the boys where being batman - both of them! It's been awhile since I did any drawing and this started out as something very different. I'm thinking of transferring this to a watercolour, but for the moment I'm happy to just sit with it.

I'm trying frantically to push myself to organise and declutter, which is not natural for me. I am literally surrounded by stuff and since my addiction to Stampin' Up began that means more stuff! I also attended a workshop recently and that meant I 'had' to buy some more paper. I think that stuff is taking over my life, but I am trying to control it.

It felt good to draw again and just let the pencil flit across the paper and see what happens. I've felt in a creative rut for quite awhile now, lots of ideas but no motivation to follow through on them, it's been frustrating and I've spent a lot of time looking at other peoples' art, which can be both inspiring and frustrating. On top of this I've been working, which if I had my way I wouldn't, but reality bites! I've been loving the research aspect of my MA, it's been cool finding new information, translating stuff from German, but now the reality of that has sunk in, I must do some actual writing on my thesis. The words sound fantastic in my brain, but not so good when added to paper - if only there was a way of plugging a USB into my brain and downloading my thoughts!

Some things I love

All supplies Stampin' Up except eyelets, which are Making Memories

I love this stamp and this technique. This stamp is from the stamp set Heartfelt Thanks. The techniques is pastel chalks blended using the blender pen. (Thanks Yvonne for showing me this technique!!). It is subtle and delicate, like the flower.

Image from Susan Skarsgard

I also love abstract calligraphy; the ability to manipulate script and to push the boundaries of what is image and what is text (the crux of my Masters thesis!). I am lucky enough to be attending a workshop (ConText: letters/language/meaning - an exploration of calligraphy in the 21st century, as a modern and relevant form) with Susan Skarsgard in early July and I am very excited about what I might learn. Other abstract calligraphers that I love are Brody Neuenschwander and Yves Leterme, both of whom live in Bruges, Belgium.

Why not share what you love with me, I'd love to know.

A good day is one where I get to do calligraphy for two hours, so you know today is going to be a good one. Hope it is good for you too!

Back again

Walnut ink and ruling pen with watercolour on Canson Mi Tientes

Okay so I haven't blogged for quite a while! I've just been out of control, overwhelmed and generally struggling a bit. So, sometimes something has to go, and it this case it was blogging, and art. But I'm starting to get a handle on it again and thought I would post this piece. I scanned it in a while ago and wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but now that I look at it it is quite interesting.

Currently working on a collage of words, paint and found items so will be interesting to see how that works given I haven't done anything like that before. Really what I'm trying to do is combine all of the things that I love and to express how I've been feeling and some of the things that have been floating through my brain.

Also been trying to get up-to-date with my MA thesis, which as of the moment has no words!! Still I have almost finished re-working my plan and hopefully will be cooking with gas from there.

If you have some time today and you're interesting in stamping I recommend that you head over to Jennifer McGuire's blog and check out the videos using Ranger Distress Ink. I found these to be really interesting since I have some of this ink and I've not been sure how to use it effectively. Jennifer is a fantastically creative stamper and card maker and I love checking out here blog on a regular basis. Enjoy!