It's no secret that I love texture, and lots of it... combining scraps of every conceivable tissue, corrugated, patterned and printed paper with media, fabric, metal and other bits that are within arm's reach, then diving into color...
I can do this all day and it never feels repetitive, each piece a fresh blank board waiting to be transformed.




















Sometimes I end up with a great beginning. And, since I don't usually have a finished image in mind when I start, I wind up staring at the background with no clue what to do next. I've gotten through this as many times as I've finished art that I mostly love, but this bridge place, the water rushing beneath, the sky - and path - dense with fog that filters through my brain is very frustrating. Yes, I need an image, found objects, a theme or emotion to express...



 
Like most mixed-media artists, I've read my share of books on process, the muse, letting creativity flow, blah, blah and blah. Yes, they are good, often great books, very inspiring and chock full of fabulous art... but do they help? Not always. What works for others is often alien to me - I believe the creative process is as individual as dentures. Or glasses. Or a prosthetic. I enjoy workshops and projects based on other artist's work but what I really want is to create in my own, albeit faltering voice.

 So what happens when a dead-end is perceived, if not reached? Does this ever happen to you? Everyone? If I didn't know better, this is the place where I'd stop, give up, call it quits. Who ever feels like that?! A fake it till you make it, stubborn, mind-blocked pout that doesn't make anyone happy. Trust me. If this rings any bells I'd love to hear about your way of coping with the blind curves, blank spots, other ways of dealing with the madness of getting stuck in one's own mind. Until I figure it all out, I'll just say I have a work in progress. Or blurred vision.


Comments

Patty you are on a magical journey with the textures....when you change any of the elements... you create a new path of discovery. So much fun happening on your work table. Have a great weekend. Peace, Mary helen Fernandez Stewart
Lynn Cohen said…
I love texture too! Looks yummy all of this!
Thank you for visiting my post yesterday...you are right...being with mothers...daughters ...and grand daughters is a real way to embrace the cycle of life. Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
Bluefinch said…
OMG! The colors! The textures! This beautiful "background" is a piece of art by itself! You, my dear, are not creating with a "faltering voice" but with a passionate and confident roar! I don't think you are in a dead-end at all. I think you are just feeling resistance, and you know what you have to do...get busy and continue doing the work!
Can't wait to see the next creation!
Rachel
Gaby Bee said…
I'm totally in love with the grungy texture of this piece:))

Hope you are doing well and having fun creating.
Hugs,
Gaby
Gena Lumbroso said…
It's gorgeous Patti... sometimes just putting it away for a spell; it will come out by itself when the time is right. Being in the flow is magical. And if you no longer feel the flow, go somewhere else and let this one sit and feed your muse... It could also be about working through resistance as bluefinch pointed out... BUT I feel our society we push too much... let it come and see what happens ;) Sounds all very familiar to me ;)

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