All the Beautiful Papers.
Painted papers collaged over a watercolour background…
There are a lot of reasons why I paint or engage in creativity daily. One of the most important reasons which I so easily forget is for my own relaxation and joy. I have never been great at finding calm in meditation or yoga, but something about the freedom and expression that comes with painting, takes me to a place that I cannot achieve in any other way. And with my background being years of healthcare and motivating patients to make small changes to improve their health, I know I would benefit from practicing the very thing I’ve been teaching…. make art for yourself, and for the benefits of the process.
If you follow me on youtube, you will know I don’t edit my videos and also how I like to follow my train of thought even if it jumps around and seems a little scattered. All of those mind maps laying around the house in piles of paper or in my art journals are to blame. My creative side works best if I can avoid a linear, or checklist form plan.
Back to this blog though. I am overwhelmed with beautiful hand painted papers and collected papers from my hesitation to declutter or toss anything out that I may use. My mother has told me that my Grandfather would look in my Grandmothers closet (she loved clothes) and say if that was his closet he would feel confused every morning when it came time to get dressed. My closet is similar… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… And when I look at my large Tupperware bin of all of my beautiful papers, I have come to feel overwhelmed and confused.
Last evening I had the urge to glue papers onto my art journal yet a little voice was telling me that I really needed archival glue and that I “should” use the papers for my works in progress waiting for their collage addition. Why “waste” the papers in an art journal using glue that may not last for years…. I had to check myself and made a change. I grabbed my UHU stic and coil sketch book (bristol paper, which I love for collage), and started using my favourite papers. Not just any papers, but my most favourite that I’d been “saving” for future works.
I completed one beautiful page of colours , textures, memories, and mark-making from these previously stored Tupperware paper piles. I was so relaxed and inspired and it was the best activity for an evening when I want to create but too tired to do anything elaborate. I even took my art upstairs to my bedroom and set it on the dresser to glance at it in darker lighting before bed. This was the best way to fall asleep, and the feeling returned in the morning. Today I hope to share my process on a video… Stay tuned.
VLOG on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpaaPKdEG3A
