Empty Vessels

Hi there.

Yes, I'm still alive.

I've still been concentrating on getting rid of unnecessary clutter around my studio.  I emptied out a large dresser and a huge steamer trunk that were both full of art supplies and unfinished projects that I haven't even looked at in years.  I even had things in there from high school art classes from over 20 years ago!  Yikes!  And there were art supplies I haven't touched in who-knows-how-long but hold onto "just in case"  I decide to try that medium again.  Fat chance.

There were paintings in there that I NEVER liked, so why was I still saving them?  Why have I hung onto a 20 year old unfinished painting that I'll never finish?  All it does is make me feel guilty every time I see it.  And funny thing is every time I think "oh, I'll finish it one day", so I toss it back in the trunk and close it up to not be opened for another year!  Why hang onto that guilt and burden? 

Why do we do this?  Why do we hang onto things from the past that we don't even like?  Is it for some sort of validation?  Yes, I was an artist in high school, so what?  I still am now, and I like my current work way better!

So I finally am getting rid of the unloved art supplies and ugly, unfinished paintings.  Maybe someone at Goodwill will like them, or at least buy the canvases to paint over.  I could've done that myself, but it felt better just to get rid of them and move on.

And the steamer trunk/time capsule?  Well, I finally got wise and moved it OUT of my studio after emptying it out.  It'll now be in our entryway to hold odds and ends that need a home.  And let me tell you, it feels good to do this!  I still have a ways to go, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

What do these photos of empty bottles (taken at Anthropologie a while back) have to do with this post?   They remind me of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it...so I can make room for the new and the good that is to come.

Organizing My Studio

I was getting a bit bummed out lately, because I was trying to figure out what was getting done in my "free time".  I didn't seem to be producing much art.  I'm in this Artistic Mothers group to help me concentrate on doing something creative everyday, but I was doing less...or so I thought....

What have I been up to lately, besides chasing a toddler around?  

I've been organizing my studio.  I realized this is part of my creative process.  I need to get organized, so when I do work on my art, I can find things more easily, and not get so frustrated.  It's taking me forever because...well... I have tons of stuff!!  I have paints, papers, stamps, found objects, jewelry making supplies and tools, etc... Lately I've been concentrating on organizing the collage and mixed-media supplies and I think I figured out what mixed-media really means...lots of stuff! 

 So I bought these cool boxes from Ikea, but I didn't like that I can't see through them, even though they have labels.  I'm a very visual person, so I want to see the contents, not just a word label.  I came up with a solution that I love.  Actually I think it's inspired by something I saw a while back, but I'm not sure where.

                                                                    

I'm making little mini collages on tags with samples of the contents inside, so I can just glance over and know exactly what's in there.

And who says I haven't been making art?  Oh yeah, it was me...oops.  But look how fun the tags are!
 I still have a long way to go as far as organizing, but at least I get to make some more art tags in the process!