Monday Paint-Shmears

Happy Monday...

Studio Time...
I've been in my studio a lot lately.  The best thing about my studio is how it envelopes me – the space is relatively small, and there are shelves on every side, so the shelves of supplies form a circle around me, like my copic markers, stamps, cigar boxes and paints are all surrounding me with love and support, giving me a big bear hug.  If I turn around, myself, in a complete circle, all I see are my art supplies.  No windows, nothing but art.  I always feel like a kid in a candy store when I’m down there.

My theme for the studio is red, of course.

I like to surround myself with pictures and cherished remembrances of loved ones.  While I was sick, I lost both of my grandparents, whom I was very close to as a child.  My grandmother was an amazing seamstress and my grandfather was a spectacular tailor.  They always made me suits and dresses growing up.  To honor them, I keep my grandmother’s old laces in my fabric drawer – I only use it for truly special pieces.  

Ans, my grandfather’s big plastic bag of assorted buttons hangs on a hook, that I love to rummage through, and feel his touch.  

I made this in honor of my grandparents, who I can still sense with me.

Then there is a bowl of my mother’s costume jewelry from the 80’s, some old baby clothes that I use for mixed media pieces, and then all the trash that drops on the floor is subject to creative repurposing!

My bookshelf is a bit overcrowded!

I also look for creative books on art and mixed media, and I've found so many wonderful ideas and inspiration from these.  I have amassed quite the collection!

One of my favorites is True Visions Authentic Journaling, where several artists on interviewed on how they use art as a way to express themselves - there are some great exercises and ideas - I highly recommend it!

I was incredibly inspired by this article, where you can see photos of 100 famous artists in their studios.  Where do you like to create?  Art, food, taxes, anything - What inspired you?

So today, I worked on some more inchies.  I've been creating my "inchies" for years now, and have amassed quite the collection.

I love how each one is just a tiny thumbprint of an idea, a glimpse into a moment.  Really, anything goes - as long as they fit on a 1 x 1 square!  Sometimes having a limit like that can be less overwhelming and liberating, actually.  So this morning I put some old inchies to use on three interestingly sized smaller canvases:

A fun technique I do for some backgrounds is to spritz all the layers of paint with water or rubbing alcohol, then either passively let it drip or bang the heck out of it until it does.

I've really been wanting to do something with this background I painted on waxy paper - my idea is to cut it up into various size squares and arrange them in an interesting way where they can all interact and still stand on their own.

This was some lovely inspiration that I found:

You can visit this artist's shop here.

You can learn more about this artist here.

So I had an idea to put them on a washed out black canvas, with some layers of newsprint showing through.

Then I decided that I really like the backgrounds I created.  They were very intriguing to me and I hesitated to cover them up with more color and paint.

So I got another idea...

I think the key to pulling this one off may be the orientation.  Maybe rather than line everything up, they should be oriented in a square - or some kind of innovative and different pattern - any ideas?

Of course, if I had learned how to do paper sculpture already, I would have made that painted paper into something like this!

From Lushome

Or once I finally learn the art of paper-cutting...THIS!

From The Endearing Designer - this is actually toilet paper roll art!!!

And courtesy of Boredpanda.com, these are some more amazing paper-cutting examples.  Boredpanda, by the way, is an amazing source of inspiration if you want to find some ridiculously creative and unique artists.  And some fun random articles too!

Just by arranging and rearranging, seeing things differently, it can completely alter our experience.  I am always looking for new ways to experience my world.  I've done all the recommended creative juice stir-ups, like drawing with the opposite hand, etc.  Keri Smith has a wonderful book about art and life - it's been my bible for years:  How to be an Explorer of Your Own World.

These are some ground rules - straight from Keri's book:

HOW TO BE AN EXPLORER OF YOUR OWN WORLD (by Keri Smith)

1. always be looking (notice ground beneath you)
2. consider everything alive and animaye
3. everything is interesting.  Look closer
4. alter your course often
5. look for long durations and short ones
6. notice the stories going on around you
7. notice patterns, make connections. 
8. Document your findings in a variety of ways
9. incorporate indeterminanncy
10. observe movement
11. create a personal dialogue with your environment, talk to it
12. trace things back to their origins
13. use all of your 5 senses.

I really resonated with this book because I love seeing life as an adventure - it makes every day exciting - or rather, it makes us realize how exciting life truly is!

Oh, before I left the studio, had to make a little something for Brandon of course :)

“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ....get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” 

― Abraham Joshua Heschel - (one of my favorite thinkers - a rabbi, sage, activist, and all-around great guy)

“The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living.” 

― Abraham Joshua Heschel

And my Amen to that, is a song I recorded - I forget who wrote it, but it wasn't me! - called Hello World.  (you can listen to it at this link!)

Selling things update...

And on a Yay note -  I ordered a few coasters of my art...and they came out great!

Hope to be selling many fun things off of amyoes.com within the next few months!

Before I go...
So I hope your week is off to a good start!  What can you do on this chilly Monday to find some magic somewhere, anywhere at all?  I try to keep a bit of me wherever I go to last me through the day.  Here's a poem I wrote about IT.

IT...

By Amy Oestreicher

Keep it tucked into your pocket

Keep it warm inside your heart

Keep it plugged into your socket

Keep it close every part

This is hope that life gets better

This is faith that you’ll find strength

If you summon these together

Love survives at any length

Cherish it with every sunrise

Cherish it with every raindrop

Cherish it with every surprise

Cherish it – it’s all you’ve got

This is the moment we’re given

This is the earth where we stand

This is breathing, this is living

Cherish dearly while we can

Face it when the world turns on you

Face it when your hands grow cold

Face it when your point of view

Grows smaller when it gets too old

This is fear that stalls and shocks us

This is worry that we can’t win

These are thoughts that freeze and lock us

In the same place we’ve been in

Love it when you feel a void

Love it when you’ve nothing else

Love it when all else is destroyed

Love it dearly – love yourself

It’s your body who support you

It’s this frame that lets you feel

This shell protects and comforts you

Love it as it learns to heal

Teach it to accept and love you

Teach it to adapt and grow

Teach appreciation of you

Teach it everything you know

This is the child that lies inside

This is the child who asks tough questions

As you teach her not to hide

She allows your pain to lesson

Dive in it when you are unsure

Dive in it when you need direction

Dive in it to feel more pure

Dive when you long for connection

It’s your soul that warms and saves you

It’s your soul that keeps you yearning

It’s your soul that keeps you brave too

It’s your soul that keeps on burning

Breathe through it when life’s a battle

Breathe through it when your chest tighten

Breathe through it when your thoughts rattle

Breathe when your face starts to whiten

This is pain that suddenly hits

This is pain that won’t subside

This is pain that with your own wits

You can’t fight it or survive

Know it fiercely, know it boldly

Know it even when things are slowing

Know it even if it’s only

This that is what keeps you going

This is trust that there’s a lesson

In each struggle and each hurdle

This is trust that there’s a blessing

In angst that makes your blood curdle

Embrace it when it all gets too much

Embrace it things shock and scare

Embrace it when you need to touch

A solid thing that keeps you there

This is YOU that needs sensation

This is YOU that needs affection

YOU need your appreciation

You are your own deep connection

So Keep it, Cherish it, Face it, Love it

Teach, Dive, Breathe, and Know it too

Embrace it when you are far from it

Whatever this “IT” means for you

IT is my sweet melody

IT’s my anchor, it’s my shelf

It is what will set me free

It’s all I have; IT is myself.

Random Inspiration...

These are some cakes you have to try.

While you're at is, these are french fries you have to try too - my dad loves Thrashers, so he'll approve this list.

These are welcome mats that explain your feelings so you don't have to.

The best Jimmy Fallon clips from this year.
And - these are 40 websites to make you significantly "cleverer" - I've bookmarked quite a few of these, actually!

“Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.” 

― Abraham Joshua Heschel

Have a great day...

My first ever attempt at inchies :)

<3