☆ Trust you Hear with Freedom [inspiration avenue prompt]

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Gah. This was a painting that gave me the absolute shits this week!

It began life as a life book lesson, but because I absolutely hated where it was going, I had abandoned the painting.

Being the frugal type, I couldn't bare to throw out the water colour paper, so I decided to throw some paint on it an reuse it.

But even then it wouldn't co-operate. The orange was too bright, the colours wouldn't blend nicely, the collage of papers were the wrong type... nothing was working.

Starting on the girl, which should have been easy, was another exercise in frustration. 

The eyes were lop sided, her mouth was too pouty, what was going on with her nose? 

Who was this girl anyway? I usually have some clue, but she held out to the very end.

Gah.

Mr Mac texted me one afternoon to see how we were getting on, and I never really mention the painting I am doing, it is usually the girls, how good (or not so good) they have been, but on this day I had a long rant about this bloody painting.

But since finishing it (in the wee hours of last night) I have realised three things.

1). Never through out the whole process of this painting did I consider throwing in the towel and throwing it in the bin. (Which would have been my solution a year ago, along with a glass of wine and potato chips to deal with my disappointment!)

2). I could always cover the paper up with another layer of paint, and

3). I absolutely loved (LOVED) the challenge that this girl presented, and in the end I love the result. 

Who would have thought that such a simple prompt like Orange could have challenged me in this way?

So I would love to know have you been challenged in some way lately? Has a particular painting/ drawing/ art piece or even something in life challenged you to try something new?

I have created a album on face book which has all the progress shots if you're interested - click here

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Have you had a chance to check out my 'halloweeny' give away? Click here for free entry into this months draw.

[Linking to Inspiration Avenue]
[Linking to Paint Party Friday]

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☆ Life book [week 8]

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This weeks life book lesson was from the fabulous Mystele.

Simplified, Mystele's lesson was a 'pulled art' collage creation. Pulling the picture from background elements, giving up control, and going with what the painting shows you.

I am not great at giving up control, (yes, everyone, I am a control freak, and proud of it!), so this was a really challenging piece to create.

In fact after I made the background, it sat there, taunting me, telling me there was nothing there, telling me all I had was a pretty background, so I threw it in a cupboard, and left it for a week.

I was determined this week, to conquer the beautiful background and create something!

And eventually this is the figure that emerged.

She started off looking really cranky, then lost and now I think she alternates between annoyed, bewildered and sad. Not surprising, as these were all the emotions I was processing when I created her.

And after all that angst, I love her. She is so different from my other big eyed girls, and yet she is just as powerful to me.

It never fails to surprise me how much emotion creating can pull from me and just when I am running dry, a new flood of creativity washes over me. I loved this style of creating, and I think you will see more of it from me in the future. Especially when the ideas start slowing down.

Have you discovered a new style or tried something new lately? How did it effect you? I would love to know.

Have a great weekend.

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☆ New Challenge for July

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I have been feeling rutted lately.

I am stuck in a rut, and although I am creating, I haven't really stretched myself lately. I have a few projects each week/ month that I plod away at, but I haven't started anything new lately, haven't worked outside my comfort zones, I haven't taken on any projects that scare the bejesus out of me.

I opened up my moleskine yesterday and I haven't sketched in it since december last year. Thats six months of not drawing from life. Six months of ignoring that side of my creativity.

I decided it was time to mix things up a bit.

So for July, my challenge is to sketch every day from life, to take half an hour for me and draw what I see.

That is my challenge for July - what is yours?

☆•*¨*•.¸¸

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☆ My Personal Challenge for September

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I am not usually one for setting monthly challenges, especially ones that I have to do daily. More often than not I end up missing a day which turns into two, then a week, which turns into the rest of the month.  I do this a lot and I know this is something I need to address...someday!

Anyway I decided at the start of September that I would attempt a daily challenge, a simple one, one that only requires five minutes a day at a minimum, and one that uses the materials I already have. So digging out the moleskine journal I bought after reading Danny Gregory's 'Creative Licence' I have started sketching a little each day.

I am only 6 days into my challenge, but so far so good. Here are a few so far taken with my iphone..

The only rule I have is that the sketches are to be done in ink - so no erasing mistakes! It makes for some interesting sketching, probably more honest sketching, and slightly frustrating at times - especially when Bean wants to help Mama draw. ('Bless her!' she says with a grimace) 

So we will see what the month brings - I am determined to continue for the month, but life quiet often has other plans!

What creative challenges have you set for yourself this year?

xx

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