Symbolic Projections

Lets just get right down to it, you've either tried it and loved it or you're currently wondering what I'm talking about. Gelatin prints that's what. A few years ago a student introduced me to the wonders of using homemade gelatin as a printing plate (sugar free kind). As it turns out it is a very versatile work surface that brings an element of intrigue and play into the work space. When my clients first hear I'll be bringing in gelatin, they seek out napkins and forks and eagerly away the obviously tasty snack. The sound of dreams shattering as I pull-out the gelatin plates is audible (if only short lived). Soon everyone is poking and wiggling the gelatin and wondering what we'll be doing with it. Play is an important aspect of what I do. So is creativity and genuine interest. These things are however harder to come-by in adults than their younger counterparts (who jump-into explorer mode instinctively).  Sometimes I have to coerce these attr...

These days it is hard to be mindful. So much negativity and anger floating around, bogging us down. In a mindfulness group I run we dived into a daily practice for the month of December (yes that was so 2016, seems like only yesterday).  We began by splashing and smearing paint on old folders (the 1/3 tabs). Then turning them into small books. Using a prepared calendar with prompts for each day's mindful practice. The writing of a goal. Contemplating on a color. Conjuring and writing a pleasant memory. And so on... Everyone approached the tasks a bit differently. Some with words, others with pictures, or even drawings. Everything/anything was OK. The purpose had been achieved. To slow down, stop, contemplate for a few minutes, before getting all wrapped-up in the day. Or as a breather after a long day. Having served its purpose, we now place it aside and ourselves permission to pick-it-up when we need a break. A distraction, and a breath. Have the c...

November, the 11th month of #creativedeeds, came and went with huge struggles. Just last month I posted on the need to "adapt" and go with what is needed, versus holding on to past methods of doing things.  One day after the next and week upon week November kept reminding me of just that. At first creation, then documentation, and even posts took more time and energy. Maybe it's the time of the year, maybe its other things taking a toll. Previous monthly creativedeed posts: January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October .   Stay up to date and follow the creativedeeds on Instagram . Thinking back and looking forwards to the last 31 days of creativedeeds for 2015 I'm going to re-do a few things from this past year that I believe worked well. 1. Square card format - yep, love it, seems to tickle my mandala-itchy hands. 2. natural dye/stain - I like the natural antique'd look, takes off some of the an...

After the  August mandalas  were behind me it was nice to return to paint and mixed media for cards 244 through 273. Finding the familiarity of the 2.5x3.5 cards for the 9th month of creativedeed365 comforting. Throughout the month the creativedeed making processes were responsive to the constraints of the day. I guess the same could be said for each day this past year which I encourage you to check out in month by month summaries ( January ,  February ,  March ,  April ,  May ,  June ,  July ,  August ) or through almost daily  Instagram  posts. The combination of words and collage materials allowed quick ideas to develop, which I could later return to and embellish. Less than 100 days between now and new-years! In making these daily entries I am much more aware of it than I've ever been. One day at a time.

[in case you're keeping tabs thats deeds 182 to 212] Early July I prepared to attend the 46th Annual American Art Therapy Association Conference in Minneapolis, MN. #creativedeed365 in tow! Soon thereafter, I submitted my dissertation manuscript, crossing fingers and toes for a painless final set of hurdles. While those were lofty pursuits, eventually the manuscript was accepted and I was cleared for graduation. Between these two events there were days where the #creativedeed365 got pushed out of my schedule (hopefully it isn't becoming a pattern); I was simply too zapped to work. I did make it a point to catch-up whenever I fell behind.  While at the conference I was able to disseminate my back-log of deeds too. Gifting them, leaving some here, some there. Lets just say my ninja skills got a workout. This month I once again used paper stained for the 6 Degrees of Creativity 2015 workshops . Loving the antiqued look (especially when time became prec...

In 2013 I decided to create a mini fold-out book to document 13 days of travel (from the July 4th holiday through conference and back). The experience was fantastic (that was pre-blogging days) and so the following year I decided to repeat the project. In 2014 July/Travel Journal 2014 documenting the 2014 AATA Conference in San Antonio. So of course this year I had to do it again! New city (Minneapolis), new book. I’ve been swamped at every turn as of late so instead of making my own book I used one made/gifted to me by a very talented past intern. The book itself a work of art with hand-made pages, cloth pages, cardboard sections, pockets, the works. The book became my memory-saver. Lecture and workshop notes, contacts, keepsakes, it all went in there. It was the repository of stray thoughts and tasty eats, as well as sketches and future plans. See you at next years...

June has been one exhausting month for this doctoral student. Putting the final touches on my dissertation while carrying a full time job and remaining faithful to the daily #creativedeed365 was quite tough. And some days I dare say, the art got cut. There is always remorse when I have to cut the art out of my day, and it is always a last resort measure. This month was jam-packed full of due dates and weekends spent on self-imposed house-arrest to get things done and turned-in on time. I cherished those 15-30 minute creative deeds (yes they take longer than you may think) on those days where all I did was write. Like I mentioned last month  I used only the pieces created for the 6 Degrees of Creativity 2015 workshops . Its been a huge change from my earlier deeds ( January , February , March , April , May ) and I must confess I struggle through the guilt of whether I should do more. Then follow-it-up with some positive self-talk about how if that's all I can give for t...

It is now the end of May and things are gearing up for the summer months. In this post I'll review the last month's #creativedeed365 offerings and where I see it going in the next month or so. Plan in review for #creativedeed365 . When I first began this 151 days ago back in January 2015, I planned on: 1. Sticking to a small card format has worked out well. As I continue to be busy and am ramping-up to get even more tied-up with school and work for at least the nest 2 months, a small size format will limit the amount of time it takes to create one deed "on-the-go". Although to be honest I am secretly looking forwards to having some free time in the fall so I can spend hours on just 1 deed for the sheer pleasure of it! 2. Up-cycling cards (first & whenever possible). I have up-cycled for most if not all of the first 5 months (and 151 deeds) and in preparation for the 6 Degrees of Creativity 2015 workshops I am now switching for the next 2 months to use th...