Well, it seems it’s time for me to come back – slowly but surely. I think it will help with healing my creative energy to be in touch once again with my creative community.
Do you find this photo incredible? I do too. I bought a couple of Iceland Poppy plants and kept them on my drawing table for a few days . . . watching them change- identifying with the struggle to emerge (in my case, re-emerge).
I think the fuzziness is so interesting, but such a challenge to draw. I did it anyway, and made a journal page which I will share in another post.
But right now, I want to mention a few important changes, as this blog blossoms again.
______________
This will be my only active blog from now on.
Whatever . . . Whenever was a wonderful blog and the archives will remain where they are, but Art-Full Life is hosted on my jessicawesolek.com site and I want to simplify and consolidate.
All my blog subscribers from both blogs have been combined into one email list so that no one will miss anything.
If you are not subscribed and want to be, click Subscribe in the side panel or right here.
______________
Sadly, all retreats are cancelled for this year. I realized that even if I manage to get back to normal soon, the amount of catch-up at the gallery and in the studio will not allow me the big energy to run the retreats.
And I will no longer overload. It’s not a good thing.
Because I have not been able to come up with much in the way of new ideas, I have spent my time revising older workshops. Updating video quality and hosting, and re-editing lessons, so popular workshops can be offered again. All that will be coming along soon.
I also thought I would take some of my own advice.
I have always suggested exposure to other people’s creativity as a help for getting out of a creative rut.
And, I am in a purging mood.
So I have spent lots of time getting rid of stacks of art and craft magazines.
Much of that was not inspiring, as so much has become the same old, same old, over the years.
And it made me sad that in the field of ART publications, there has been no variety. Art is all about variety. The magazines should be too.
There are thousands of artists out here who do not do mixed media collage, and who are not hobbyists, so why doesn’t any publisher address that?
I got an email from Interweave, the publishers of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, about a change in their Studios publication.
I actually liked Studios better than the Stampington version on the same theme, because Studios featured some artists working in VARIED media, and you learned a little more about the artist – not just the art space.
Well, this announcement was that Studios would now become Artists & Makers, and feature more about working artists than just what their studios looked like.
I bought the first issue in digital format and read it cover-to-cover on my iPad.
I LOVED IT!
At last, a magazine full of new and different ideas.
I am thoroughly entertained by reading how other artists think and this pub is full of that. And much more – including business tips and useful products.
I left a glowing review on the Interweave website, and bought the second issue in print at a Barnes & Noble as soon as I saw it.
And then I bought it again in the digital version. I really recommend reading it on your iPad because you can zoom in on any areas with small type, and see details up close.
I worry that this magazine will not be as readily accepted by the huge mixed media audience because it’s different, and I hope they give it a chance to catch on. We need publications like this.
So, I urge you all to take a look – and to buy a copy if it appeals to you.
The digital version of the first issue is currently on sale for $2.99 and the regular price is only $9.99
If you like it, leave a good review there on the site.
Here’s the link:
http://www.interweavestore.com/artists-and-makers-winter-2015
Blossom Photo Copyright 2015 Jessica Wesolek
So glad to hear from you and to know that you are healing, spiritually, creatively, and physically.
Thank you, Christine. It is a long road but I can see the end of it coming soon.
Good to see you back to work. I’ll have to check out the magazine.
Happy to hear you are coming out of your cocoon, and will be blogging again. You are very wise to prioritize as you continue to heal, but I will be delighted when you begin teaching again. I try to draw and paint at least 20 minutes a day, and am gradually getting better. Right now I am totally delighted that spring has finally arrived and I can play in the dirt. So much promise this time of the year.
I’m so happy to hear you are on the mend.
I am drawing most every day and making excellent progress thanks in part to you and your teaching.
Bernie and I went to Tubac and spent two days just inhaling both the spirit of the place and the art. It was wonderful.
Happy to see you back in my in box! Glad you are getting better and thanks for the heads up on the magazine…looks good, I’ll check it out!
You were missed. Glad to see your wonderful photography and to know it is because your healing journey is getting toward the end.
It is good to see you back blogging. . . and good to hear you are on the mend. I will certainly try the magazine you suggested. Do post some pics of your garden. I know it must be beautiful. Hugs.
The photograph is a meditation. So interesting, beautiful and perfect metaphor for your progress. Keep up the good work and welcome back, sloowwly.
The photo is simply gorgeous….it’s the perfect example of the wondrous changes that only time can bring….look at the brightness, the power…hmmm….remind you of anyone? Welcome back Jessica.. we’ve all missed you. XO
It’s good to set our priorities and nothing like a calamity to clarify what they are! I’m sure many are disappointed in no retreats but everyone will understand. I quit buying magazines years ago. I quit buying all kinds of them but my son insists on buying me Vegetarian Times so I do have that. I found they ALL repeated pretty much the same stuff over and over. Besides the repeating, they started using the newest “thing” whatever it was, to build up a magazine and if you didn’t want to buy that new “thing” the issue wasn’t of much use to you. After buying this and that I got sick of it all. I want to create more with minimal supplies or I get overwhelmed so pretty much I just keep trying to learn better how to draw and paint. I would like to learn how to digitally keep a journal so if you ever decide to, that would be a great class online.
I can’t wait to see how you treated the fuzziness of this poppy! I’ve done wispiness of a few such as a dandelion flower but hairiness seems a bit harder!
Good luck on getting sorted out, healed and expressing your creativity again!
Glad you are improving and making life a bit easier for yourself. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the magazines available to artists. i have downloaded the issue of Artists and Makers. I think it will be too business oriented for me. However I will give it a try. I think classes and workshops will be money better spent for me. So good to see you posting again.
Thanks for the heads up on the new magazine. I gave up on pretty well all the others years ago as they are so repetitive, oriented to product placement and sales, and to the “quick and easy” mentality. I like “real” magazines so will check the local stores and try to pick up a copy. It sounds promising!
I’m so glad to hear from you again. Because of the time of the year, I immediately thought of the daffodil. Isn’t that one of the first to flower in the spring, often pushing itself through the snow? An apt analogy, I think. 😀 Welcome back. You have been missed….