Is it real ephemera?

Is it real ephemera?

Nope, it's not real in the sense that it's old or found. Those pesky checks keep arriving in the mail, you know the kind that credit card companies would love us to use! I ripped my name and account number off of a couple of them and went to town with paint and instant coffee. The backside, on the bottom, turned out better than the front. I love recycling junk!

Being that I've been a bit under-the-weather lately I've spent a lot of time reading blogs and it seems that there are quite a few creative types in the world who are examining their need to purchase the latest techniques book along with it all of the necessary supplies. Perhaps you've noticed how some of the same techniques make the rounds every few months and then die down only to be fueled by someone's interest a few months later. Why not take one technique and own it in a way that no one else can. Read:http://ornamental.typepad.com/ornamental/ Scroll down to "Let's try this again" Jan. 16th post. If you've put yourself out into the world by offering techniques or workshops then you understand where Nina is coming from. I've had ideas "borrowed" over the years and it nearly destroyed any further sharing with the art community. It's not easy coming up with an original take on something especially with all the yahoo groups, blogs and web sites springing up daily. But by thoroughly exploring a technique that excites you perhaps you can create a look that says "you." How often do you see a piece of artwork and know who created it before you even see the artist's name? Suggestion: Use techniques not to emulate someone but to expand your own creative vision.

How does one go about finding a technique to explore? In no particular order:
1. Go through your art supplies looking for clues.
2. Make a list of the supplies.
3. Colors and ephemera will provide some clues.
4. If you have more paper than fabric or vice-versa that will obviously be the area that speaks to you.
5. Play with a few techniques you've put off exploring, you know the ones you've marked in books and/or magazines. But first cull through them to find the similarities of which there will be quite a few. Combine ideas and start playing.
6. Keep notes in a blank journal. Scan or photograph your techniques-in-progress so that you can follow your progression. (I've posted lots of scans over the years that show my progression, check out the EV files)
7. Make a list of supplies needed for the techniques you want to explore and if you don't have them "look" for alternative supplies. This is how you can "own" the technique. tip: I don't have even one glaze type of paint in my huge collection of paints, but I do have lots of cheap acrylic paint and a jar of glaze medium meaningthat I have all of the glazes I might ever need. Mix the glaze with acrylic paint to the consistency that suits your needs.
8. Don't be shy about posting your experiments. We can all learn from them and put our own take on them. Creative coaches will tell you"take what you can use and leave the rest behind."
9. Cease feeling left out of the loop if you don't try the latest technique making the rounds; a creative path isn't about the next high it's about your own journey.

Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.
George Kneller