If you are writing a novel or a memoir, you probably get fatigued after long hours of work. When I put in hours on my novel, my brain actually gets tired. I find visual art refreshing. In particular, collage. Collage takes way less focus and fewer supplies than painting or drawing. And when the editing has me seeing cross-eyed, a mindless activity like collage will clear my head.
When I say mindless...I really mean mindful. Mindful in a meditative way. As I flip through magazines looking for photos that I feel good about, I feel myself settling down. Soon, pleasant stirrings energize me, the same happy feelings I get when I'm in the final stages of a painting.
I believe I'm giving voice to another part of myself, my inner artist, which some people say is also the inner child. Once I've picked out a number of images, I lay them out on mat board. This process is equally pleasant. The composition comes together on its own as I fiddle with placement. Usually it is surprising to me, how different the energy in the imagery is from my writing.
On New Year's Day, I made the above collage. I was tired that morning, but not unhappy. More thoughtful than anything. Then this bright colored collage turns up. The delightfully playful quality of the images surprised me, although maybe I shouldn't have been, since I've been working on letting go of old unhappiness. I think my inner self is showing me the work I'm doing is paying off.
If you want to join me for a collage project this Saturday at 2 PM at Village Books, please come. We'll be collaging our intentions for 2013. Of course, as this process demands, we'll be mindful...and mindless. And we'll have some fun! Cheers, Nancy
When I say mindless...I really mean mindful. Mindful in a meditative way. As I flip through magazines looking for photos that I feel good about, I feel myself settling down. Soon, pleasant stirrings energize me, the same happy feelings I get when I'm in the final stages of a painting.
I believe I'm giving voice to another part of myself, my inner artist, which some people say is also the inner child. Once I've picked out a number of images, I lay them out on mat board. This process is equally pleasant. The composition comes together on its own as I fiddle with placement. Usually it is surprising to me, how different the energy in the imagery is from my writing.
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| New Year's Day 2013 Collage |
If you want to join me for a collage project this Saturday at 2 PM at Village Books, please come. We'll be collaging our intentions for 2013. Of course, as this process demands, we'll be mindful...and mindless. And we'll have some fun! Cheers, Nancy
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