Creating

I had a photography instructor who corrected the workshop into rethinking what we do when we click that button on the camera. It’s common language to say you’re “taking” a picture but in the artistic world, Doug Beasley introduced an idea to “create” a picture instead. Now it took me a while to understand this new photography terminology but I used it today for the first time and it not only sounded good (try it, “I created a picture today” or “Can I create your picture”) but it was good to my art soul.

A simple walk to work turned into a moment where I stopped and saw beauty and decided to create a picture. It only took a moment out of my daily auto pilot walk from my car to my office building, a moment that slipped me out of the weekday dull routine, a moment to take time out and create something. And it made my day all the better knowing I used my creativity today,


“Taking” a picture conjures up thoughts of stealing, impolite and rude behaviors, and even possession of the objects in the viewfinder. But when a photographer “creates” a picture, the artist brings something new into this world for others to enjoy. So let the “creating” begin and let it be inspiring.

Something Better to Come

It’s been a gray week where a thunderstorm came on Monday morning during my commute to work. The drive may have been difficult but I had the courage to face it even though I wanted to stay in bed for a few more hours. As hard as some challenges are, something better will come and in the instance of that thunderstorm, I didn’t need to water my flowers that day. But then my request to spend a few more hours in bed came unexpectedly yesterday while a migraine decided to ruin my day.

I might not always recognize it but something better does come along and when I’m faced with a dilemma in my studio, I need to take this possibility into consideration. For example, I have this (cotton) book cloth I’ve been working on and it’s not cooperating with me, it’s not making me happy.


But if I were to halt every project when I’m not happy, then I have a very big problem. I feel the alterations with the paints have obscured the interesting dyed visuals. I feel I’ll need to make some additions specific to the length/width of the cover when the book has been bound.

Here’s another part of the same fabric without paint.


However, halfway through that last sentence, a brainstorm hit and I have a new idea to experiment with on my next project. Something better will come and it was just a matter of writing out the problem. And this is one of the reasons why I have this online journal; sometimes I just need to get a different perspective and a resolution to my block will turn up.

Waiting for the good things to happen

I’m going to share one of my favorite quotes:

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
~Alexander Graham Bell

This quote currently resides in my wallet on a little piece of newspaper I carefully ripped out years ago and it reassures my optimism and confidence in times where I feel nothing good can come in my life. When I registered for a summer conference in February, I was disappointed that I was unable to register for a post-conference workshop with the instructor who taught me surface design. Downhearted and mad at myself that I didn’t register earlier, I changed my plans for that week I had already had vacation time and instead planned on working independently in my studio. A whole week dedicated to the studio! One door closed, one door open.

And then I get an e-mail from the conference saying an opening for the class became available and I snatched that empty spot quickly! So, one door closed but it reopened to my fortunate surprise.