Thursday, August 25, 2011

Art.....Life.....Intermittent Internet

I have been in one of those typical artist slumps. It is a normal thing and the odd things it takes to get OUT of one, well, are unique to each artist.
Too much stress, feeling like my creativity was being pulled in too many directions without any particular benefit to me, the artist.....time for change. Had to make more than one hard decision just for me. And after the first, things started to flow.
Something absolutely silly to get the  art-cells awake.....


Yup.....an ATC that is half Sweet Pea and half, well....YOU KNOW. It just came out of the clumps and crevices of grey matter. And that's okay too. I like it!
Then I moved on to a 6"x6" canvas which gave me FITS. I had the central element in it but it was fighting me tooth and nail so I left it in the dark cellar and stewed.
Finally, it all sort of blew through the brain at once and I worked quickly.


Lolo, those eyes were inspired by your photo on your blog.......and I am hoping you take this as a compliment! LOL! Of course if you hate it, don't tell me...haha!
I used mica gels and iridescent paint on this and little shows unless you have the piece in your hand and gently move it back and forth in the light. Things appear, glitter, and disappear again. Yes, those are tiny watch parts punched through the canvas. I also used a crackle medium, which turned out so-so. I am perpetually in search of a really GOOD one. You can see bits of it, but not what is visible on the actual piece. None the less, the whole makes me happy and I think the meaning is pretty clear~~my heart, my key.


While in search of the elusive mojo, there were a few moments of utter lunacy and hilarity.....I have no qualms with making an ass of myself for the sake of a good laugh. (had a heck of a time finding that knife of DH's that is firmly gripped between the teeth)
And then there are my friends that *know* me and send things totally appropriate for my studio work.....




At my age, I need BOTH types! LOL!!!!
As I ramble through this post, I might also mention the internet has been down, up, half up and in other stages of non-use. I have been indulging in a book from Silke when I am off-line, and I think I could spend MORE time off-line~~it is a good thing.
And now to finish this off, back to my sewing. What I have been cutting.....


I generally am a pretty hardy soul about fabrics, but the one in the background? It had me terrified. Yesterday I put the scissors to it and feel 1000% better. Two stole pieces cut and ready for the sewing when the hand work is completed. Bead decisions....visualizing....letting myself soak into this one as it requires a different approach and must be PERFECT, and I want it to tell a story.
I also have on the sideline, brewing, a commission for three altar cloths and matching pulpit hangings, so there is work-work-work through the winter. Feast or famine. It's all good.
I will be in and out of here sporadically.....I think it is pretty obvious *where* I'll be and what I'll be doing.
When I'm not out Swashbuckling.
You have to have a little fun!  ;-)




Pax....

44 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yar, ye make a handsome piratical wench!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Heehee!
Heavy on the WENCH part...LOL! It was quite fun!

XXOO~~
Anne

Gaby Bee said...

I always blog cruise to kill off the evil slump. I'm buzzing at the moment with so many ideas. I think I need to slow it all down or I'll never achieve anything, LOL! I hope you get out of your slump soon!
Your new creations are gorgeous. Love especially your "El Corazon"

Hope your day is going great!
Gaby xo

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Gaby,

It hasn't just been art slump but other IRL issues too, and they all hit at once. I feel like the flow is coming back and am in the process of figuring out days/times to do things.
Thanks on El Corazon....boy was it a stinker to get made! LOL!

XXOO~~
Anne

Talking Horses Arts said...

Welcome back Anne. missed your posts!Looks like your back up and running in many ways, please promise me you take it easy tho?
We want you around for a long long loooong time lol.
Love the works.. yahoo Anne is back!
BIG HUG,
Andrea.

Rebeca Trevino said...

"El Corazon" is terrific!
ps: the best advice i ever got about how to deal with "slumps" came to me from an artist friend whose work i really admire, he said "you gotta keep going back to the studio, no matter what, keep going back" and you know what? it works for me, even though some days all i do is straighten out the studio, or sit and read through art blogs, eventually the 'mojo is back'
pss: love the apron!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Andrea,

Oh yes, I am on the run again....LOL! A bit slower, but running none the less. And ENJOYING what I am doing.
I'll try and be careful with the knife in the teeth...promise! ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Rebeca,

You know, I've been in the studio daily, but there were some other things *outside* the studio that just overflowed right in.....usually this is my Sanctum Sanctorium, and I can forget everything, but not this summer.
I had a friend I mentor mention the book the Artists Way (which I have walked by ALL SUMMER), started rereading it and WHAM.
Art.
Mental blocks are a big nuisance....

XXOO~~
Anne

Nancy said...

Enjoyed this post... I feel at loose ends at the moment, too. Just waiting, waiting. Lots to do but nothing much happening. It will. Look forward to seeing your next stole!

Alexandra MacVean said...

Hee Hee You made me chuckle with the "channeling Cap'n Jack" :D Sometimes we have to go to some extreme lengths to find our inner creative soul, don't we? (wink)
Love you! xo

Karen S said...

Well, when you come back, you come back with a bang! I love the chickie and El Corazon --and now I know why I've needed glasses my whole life. 8^)

I don't have trouble coming up with projects to do, but I do have trouble hying my hiney to the studio sometimes. A lot lately, in fact. But I'm blaming it on my kids being home all summer. It's true -- just going down there and closing the metaphorical door (because I don't have a real one) gets me motivated. Just gotta get off the computer, finish those never-ending errands, and get to the real work...

Lori ann said...

so much going on here, you are having too much fun! and a prettier pirate was never found! beautiful art anne, enjoy your 'off' time!

Lori ann said...

oh and doesn't laurel have beautiful eyes?

Cameron said...

This was so fun to read ;D
I love playing dress up...but only seem to do it when I have a "reason"...Ren Faire, Halloween, etc....you've inspired me....I should keep out some of my favorite pieces to put on while I putter in my studio. Jingling around in my hip scarf and dangly gypsy earrings sounds a lot more exciting than normal!

I'm loving those new paintings! Chick with Joe....adorable :)
Always a pleasure to visit you, Anne...even if (and I apologize)I sometimes just pop in without leaving a note...I'm still smiling :)

Take care,
Cam

marianne said...

hi anne! love the heart and looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labor on the stole and other pieces. dogs days are nearly over- hopefully we ALL get our mojo back here soon!

Jo Murray said...

You are a one!!!! What a hoot... love that pirate get-up. Your friend obviously knows you well. Keep'em coming Anne.

yoborobo said...

Arrrrrgh! That's the way, me matey! Keep the buggers away with your sword while yer working! We are all muy loco, you know that? lol! But that's the only way to go, I think. And I LOOOOOOOOOVE your new piece. Anne, you are so dang talented. xox

Jan said...

I love the slippered budgieanne! That is as cute as the Dickens! Your El Corazon tells me that your creativity is coming back strong! That is a good thing, for you and for us, your blog readers. I love seeing what you have been up to, when you aren't out pillaging as Pirate Queen Punk Anne.

Emma said...

Love the collage & what a fabulous bustier you're wearing! Not sure I'd have the courage to put that knife between MY teeth! Just keep going!(But enjoy it while you do it ;)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Nancy,
I think we've all been that way this Summer. I can't recall a more stressful few months and little to show for it. I have to kick into gear now with the stole and altar cloths~~found out Advent starts a week early this year.....omg.....NO STRESS!!! LOL!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Sophia,

I think my creative center took a powder! Man......
WHATEVER IT TAKES! (as long as you're not arrested!)


XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Karen,


I go through spells of sitting here like a bump on a log. It just happens. Then all of a sudden, there's paying work, other work, creative ideas, you name it. It's like you get hit with an Art Bomb while not looking.

Can't complain though....it was a drought for too long!


XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Lori,


YES SHE DOES! When I went to color the eyes, I changed the shape from the stamp image to look more like Lo's. It just seemed *right*~~perfect for that corner--so intense. A nice balance.

Now I have to go back to the plundering and pillaging for a while...*sigh*....


XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Cameron,

Around this house, every day has the possibility of being Halloween, depending upon my humor! LOL! (in fact, my normal clothes are fairly entertaining...) Life it too short for beige!
Don't apologize---I have been lousy at getting around to blogs due to lack of time. That's just how it is!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,

I think our mojo's took a vacation en masse and forgot to TELL US! Ah well, it's coming back....I can feel it. And this time I'll super-glue it to me so it can't escape again! LOL!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jo,


I think I lost my mind this year, and it's not coming back. The Pirate Wench may be running the studio now....who knows? LOL!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Come on Pammy!

Let's go swash our buckles!!! :-D
Or whatever...LOL!!! I need to post more often and get this nutty stuff out of me....wonder why DH won't let me have a sword in the house....hmmmmmm???
Art that was worth waiting for. Yep. It's good.

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

QPA thanks you and shall swash a buckle in your honor, Madd Janne. ;-D
BudgieAnne thanks you too.
*We* have a lot of people living here...right? In a small space??? haha!
Oh, I have so much to do~~enjoy the entertainment NOW.

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Emma,

I have to wear corsets by spells for a bad back, and figure they ought to be fashionable as well as useful! But that one had *Pirate* all over it...hahaha! Thought I'd break a tooth off holding that thing; it was heavy!
Now off to the sewing table...

XXOO~~
Anne

Anonymous said...

The twinkle has returned to your eyes, so good. Canvas is great fun, love the big rock salt glitter and that heart just gets mine pumping. I have been feeling a bit in the creative slump myself. Your sweet pea brough a chuckle with her bunny slippers. xox Corrine

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Corrine,

Bunny Slippers are a MUST at this house! (and coffee too...lots of coffee....)
I think everyone is feeling a taste of Fall on the horizon, and things are starting to move again. I've got a lot of sewing to do, and need to get off the computer~~that's what I get to treating myself to a day out! :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Teri said...

Such fun and happy post. Love that ATC, so darn cute. Happy to see you out of your slump.

Elena said...

Love Love Love it all. Oh Sweet Pea in slippers is too darned cool. Still thrilled you liked the apron. Whew! Welcome back dear Anne.

Unknown said...

Yes a slump is a b---- but I hate to have a great idea hit in the middle of the night and be too tired to even get up and write it do. Go Captain Lady Jack.
QMM

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Teri,

Me happy too! The lights in the brain are slowly fritzing back on.....there is hope!
I just need my tin-foil hat to get more energy! LOL!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Watch out Elena....

You don't know what has been unleashed, other than a woman who has a lot of work to get done with a week less to DO it....ACK!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Peggy,

When I finally hit the sack and sleep happens, I never am coherent enough to be inspired! You're lucky though that the ideas come, no matter when. Although, they could be more considerate about their timing... ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Robin said...

Hi Anne! I must have been spending too much time at the de Young Picasso exhibit because your ensemble is very *Pablo* to me!

Love both the new pieces.....and the beginnings of the stoles..... WOW!

It looks to me like your Muse is working again!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

p.s. You did a great job capturing Lo's eyes!!!!

Georgina said...

Holy crap, my clothes went out of style in the time it took to scroll down to leave a comment..sheesh!!! Hey, lady, love the new work...especially that Sweet Pea...ya know me and birds and I love that one...not much meat on her anyway...not even enough for a small rolled taco!! LOLOLOL!!!

Still here and heading to my mother's to check up on her...my brother is worried because she's not answering her phone...told him she told me yesterday, she's sleeping in. Trying to get a lady to stay with her...the first interview was a bust and immediately cut short..she's illegal...asked us if we had a problem with that...uhhh, yea!! The second was a no-show...oh well, onward and upward and the next stop is the looney bin. Have a good one and glad to see those juices are flowing.

Loves ya,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robin,

Pablo, Cap'n Jack....they had a lot in common!!! Wild men, love women.....LOL!
I have the muse in a cage in the cellar...threw away the key! (well, at least till the stole is done!)

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Okay Georgina....

NO EATING THE BIRD!
NO!
NO-NO-NO!!!!
BAD GEORGINA!!!! LOL...... ;-)
Hope things settle with your mama; take care.

XXOO~~
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

My goodness - not only is your creative mojo coming back, but the comments are back in full force too...glad to see it! Love your latest 'arts', especially Sweet Pea.

Bunny said...

Hi Anne Love your glasses I need those too. LOL Love your latest art. I have not been blogging much too busy getting ready for surgery Friday. (Rotator cuff) so I will not be creative for a while too.
Hugs

Suz said...

Hello Anne, I'm Suz from the Artist's Way
Elena will be task master
But I can see, you don't need any prompting to create I have seen your posts on her bolog for quite a while...glad to finally meet you
Love your photographs....the eye of an artist...light and dark...wonderful
I will be a lurker like Uta....but I read every post....only sometimes moved to comment...
maybe I'll even do morning pages faithfully
your birdie is so adorable

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