Creativity and Panic

”You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last minute panic.” - Bill Watterson

Doesn't Bill Watterson's quote hit the nail on the head! Deadlines are powerful motivators. ClaySpace's opening (tonight, tomorrow and Sunday) created a motivation for me to finish some work so I could be part of ClaySpace Gallery. The first piece was a mask that grew out of the bird pieces I was doing. The fiber is recycled sari silk. There are bone skull beads and other glass beads tied into the string that I dyed. I'm calling it "The Devil is in the Details."

The other mask, "Grief" is one of the first masks I made and one that my youngest son does not like at all. His reaction is quite strong. Passion is a good thing and I find his reaction interesting. I don't take it personally. I know my work is not for everyone.

I glued a piece of black wool felt to the back so the eyes, noses and mouth had more definition. I also added some teardrop metal beads. I am happier with it even if it is not one of my favorite masks. And I am in the gallery!  Overcame that fear and have even gotten compliments on my pieces. The real test will be if they sell.I am going to dwell in the possibility.

Day of the Dead Mask Has New Home

John loved his new mask! This means a lot to me because he is a skilled potter and artist.  Isn't it great that his nose fit perfectly. I also had the opportunity to educate people on the Mexican holiday. Life is good!

Is Limited Thinking Holding You Back?

I love serendipity. I have begun making some of my fiber masks into clay when Tom asked if I wanted to join him in the Clay Space gallery in September. Tom is a photographer who specializes in photographs of Civil War reenactments. His thinking was he would share his pottery and photographs and I could share my quilts and pottery. Perfect! Plus I had time to create pieces that I would be proud to display.

One of my frustrations with clay has been the unpredictable and somewhat limiting nature of the glazes. I went looking for other things that I could use and came across Baroque Art's Gilders Paste which reminds me of shoe polish. (It says it can be used on fabric too!) I had not finished the female Buddha mask when I went to class (ran out of time) so I brought her along and the three paste colors I had purchased. I was surprised that the veteran hand builder did not know about the paste. I was not surprised that none of the students in my class had any interest. So yesterday when I was working on the mask and still feeling that she needed something, I realized that my limited thinking was holding me back. I do not need to stick with glazes and I can certainly use my arsenal of supplies to alter my pieces anyway that I can! I glued the bead and fiber jewel to her forehead and used dimensional paint below her eyes. I was so much happier. I am not going to let my limited thinking ever happen again. I want to explore and push the limits. I want to be fearless!

Details: This is my interpretation of the female Buddha which I learned about while in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan use to be a predominately Buddhist country before the Soviets took over. Now it is predominately Muslim, but the woman who taught me was an atheist. Isn't life interesting? Anyway, the fiber mask is 8" w x 12" h and the clay mask is 7.5" w x 11.5" h.

When have you overcome limited thinking?

I have decided to make this my Off the Wall Fridays post. Thanks Nina-Marie for the option to choose any of our posts for the week!