“The Birth Of A New Idea”

  

#1 post:  For years I have given single rocks away as gifts but selling them and adding them to canvas and sculpture is a new adventure for me.  Since 1980 I have been actively engaged in producing realistic figurative sculptures. Thankfully, I am finding a lot of my former art experience is useful as I meet the challenges of a new business. 

I recently took an Internet conference (www.smartist.com) that was centered on the business aspects of being an artist. I listened to lectures by successful art professionals on a wide variety of topics. Some of them I totally understood and already practiced; some were completely new ideas to me. 

During some of the lectures I kept picking up the word “branding.” Since my husband supports us financially I have always had to luxury of creating any sort of artwork that I liked, and thus, my artwork has been full of variety. My figurative sculpting was definitely varied and I found I was again making a wide variety of products with my new Touch Stone Artwork business. 

Where others lack for creative ideas … I find I have TOO MANY ideas. My brain is overflowing with options. Take a look at my portfolio and you will find a wide variety of rock art products. They all have a rock theme running through them, of course, but “branding” means that if you spread my work out between other artwork in a room mine should be easily recognized. I don’t think that would be the case with the variety of rock artwork I have created up to this point. 

After pondering the information I gathered during my Smartist lectures I came to the conclusion I need to focus my creativity.  One of the speakers asked a question that got me thinking. He asked us to pick the two kinds of artwork that we liked doing the most if we did more than two styles.  I immediately chose my canvas paintings with embedded rocks and my ceramic Keepers. 

As soon as I made that mental choice I saw in my mind a painting. It was a combination of the two kinds of rock art I love the best. A NEW CREATIVE IDEA WAS BORN! Creative ideas are easy for me.  Sometimes I have to think about putting things together to make something new and sometimes the ideas just spring into my mind.  I call those times “inspiration.”  I am not sure where they come from.  I usually think they come from some sort of higher power who is just handing me a gift.  At times when I work hard at putting things together I imagine two electrical impulses speeding down a line and when they intersect a little light flash occurs and a new idea is born.  The new art idea that I had was ”inspiration.”  It just happened in my mind with very little work on my part.  I figure it is a gift and I need to act on the idea.  

I am now engaged in making my idea a reality. Tag along if you like and follow me as I start creating artwork that combines rocks from all over the world, with simplified figures, a bird, and a healing rock called Copal.  I will also be making ceramic sculptures in the same style ’cause I LOVE sculpting!    

 

“Budapest Sky” is the first painting in my new inspired style.  It is not finished yet but you can see how I am working on it in stages. The figure and bird are added to the canvas with a mache product.  The rocks in her hand are from Budapest. They were picked up by a  sweet Dutch friend of mine on one of her vacations recently. Thanks Marleen!!!! 

#2   Post: 

 

Today I finished sculpting two new ceramic Keepers in my new style. I made them much larger than the Keepers I had sculpted before. They will require larger rocks to go in their cozy holes. On one keeper I used a fork to texturize the clay. She is older looking and just a bit sad I think. The little bird on her shoulder helps to keep her friendlier I think. 

 

The second Keep I sculpted looks like a child. He/she has three little birds dancing around his head and shoulders. The one on its head is larger … baby birds are below. The texture on this Keeper was made by pressing a rubber mold into the clay. I like all the pattern in the texture. 

I am enjoying working with these new ideas. They seem very uplifting and please my soul. 

I also worked a bit on my Budapest Sky painting. I added some swirls in the sky, and some highlights. 

 

I also found faces on the rocks from Budapest that she will hold and outlined them with a permanent pen … now the rocks she will hold are drying. I should be able to glue them in tonight so I can seal the painting tomorrow. At least that is the plan! 

#3 Post: 

Today I finished my Budapest Sky painting. I cut the canvas and glued in the rocks in her hands. I also added some light colored copal stones on her dress. Copal stones are petrified tree pitch that are slightly younger than Amber stones. American Indians use them as healing stones. I like the idea of including them in my paintings. I am planning on using at least one copal stone in each one. It gives each painting another spiritual connection I think.  

 

I also sealed the acrylic on the painting with a matt varnish and added some clear crystal sparkles on the dress. They sparkle only when light hits them so they are not very noticeable. They are my quiet “Thank you” for the first stone I cracked open when I was 8-ish that had a crystal cave inside. That is when I fell in love with rocks. 

I also started a new smaller canvas of an angel this afternoon. It is only
9 X 12″.  

 

#4 Post: 

My new little angel has his own sort of charm. He definitely looks like a man not a woman. The rock he holds comes from Pleasanton, CA (which is east of San Francisco). The light yellow rocks are copal; American Indian healing stones. I would be happier I think if the bird was more abstract. I sculpted it quickly but it came out looking like a cute bird. It even has what looks like an eye which I didn’t put in. Next time I guess I will have to close my eyes when I add a bird! This one looks too normal to me!  This angel has his own masculine attitude. I like the way his expression came out … I wonder what he is thinking? Whatever he’s thinking I’m sure it might be interesting coming from a male angel dressed in brown who seems to like cute bluebirds and rocks. And I wonder … is he dancing or is he swaying in a breeze? He certainly is an entertaining little fellow!