O'Keeffe Online



Summer Days (1936) Georgia O'Keeffe



If you you enjoy the works of Georgia O'Keeffe, you will appreciate this site offered by the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.  I had the opportunity to stay in a lovely inn in Santa Fe where she and friends used to gather for conversations and parties.



We also had dinner in the Georgia O'Keeffe Cafe, next door to the museum - very simple, very elegant. The museum is lovely. 



Here is the link: http://contentdm.okeeffemuseum.org/

  

Ghost Ranch gives you a sense of the beauty of isolation -- underrated in our society by today's standards.  The landscape is immense and private.  It helps if you like the desert, which I do and find it irrevocably beautiful.

Quite private in her later years, I applaud her sense of irreverance and a comedia del arte in pulling the legs of establishment-climbing critics.

The enclosed photo is not a full representation of that particular piece.



More info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O%27Keeffe 

Today isn't doing it for me...how to stay in the sacred creative zone... x10

Oh yeah, we have all been there.  It doesn't matter if it is an art piece, a book chapter, craft...whatever, there are times when we sit in the studio and flip through a magazine -- anything, anything, rather than create.  Worse, we don't even go into "the studio".



I have been thinking about the tools I use to pull myself back into that creative zone -- the point where I actually paint or write.  It might be called looking for inspiration.  Here are some suggestions that might help you -- they work for me.

1.  First, you have to be in the physical space -- just commit to that part.  Go into the studio or space where you do your thing -- create.  If it is not at your home, get into the car and actually go there.

Wait, wait, wait...

You know what, I take back #1. Go sit on the patio or spread a blanket at the park or take up some room on your couch.  Go visit your favorite coffee shop, clothing store, museum, cafe.   


Now, do your thing.  Shop , think, eat, look, take in nature...just let your mind wander -- don't force any issues -- and just be.  It isn't inspirational to demean yourself because you aren't creating. That little demon only adds to your frustration and spiraling self-esteem.  So you are going to mentally redirect your thoughts -- if the negative pops up, squash it.  You will get back to the studio soon enough.


Typically, creative opposition is a combination of external and internal forces:

• external -- the light doesn't work in your studio, so in order to produce, you have to find a new light bulb and put it in and all that.
• internal -- self-talk in the form of, "you know, my work isn't all that great anyway."

Creativity is also about choices.  You can choose to work your way past it.  You can choose to coax yourself to work past it.

Coaxing yourself (my deal is painting, but you can apply the tips below for other arts)


1. Go online and look at other people's work.  This inspires me to create every single time.
2.  Go to several art galleries -- the atmosphere is 98% pure creativity -- you can't help but soak it up.
3.  Get together with colleagues who create and see what they are up to.  If you have a group or collaboration, get into a discussion about the illusive muse.
4.  Buy new materials...love this one.  I always want to use them right away.
5.  If you can't bring yourself to paint -- write about it -- think about your next project and put some goals (and sketches) on paper.  Don't write a thesis here, just jot down some thoughts. Draw, doodle, connect.
6.  Play.  Play with your paint on paper.  Go back to creating a color wheel of your paints.
Really, once you pick up the brush...it's all good.
7.  Paint a familiar theme, landscape, style, still-life.  This technique makes you feel good immediately -- you already know you are good at it.
8. Bring music into your studio.
9.  Change the studio environment with candles, rearranged furniture, added artwork, posted sayings...you get the idea.
10.  Take a power walk around the block with the promise that when you return, you will go into the studio and do one of the things on this list.  Exercise frees us, changes our head and gives us a new view.

OK now.  You can stumble, step, dive or slip into creativity.  Stay focused and positive even if it is coaxed or forced...you will soon move into that creative space again and naturally, easily, happily... do your thing.

Best wishes!



 

Linked In...artists...connect!


  As a professional artist, if you haven't joined LinkedIn -- you may want to do so...soon.

You will need to create a free account to get used to using it, then can upgrade from there as it fits your needs.  Go to this link http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/



Photo courtesy of Rice Agency



LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 80 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. 

In the groups section, you can join groups that pertain to the arts community -- it puts you in contact with people in your specific area of interest.

Take a look...I am so glad I did.

Best wishes,

DCR  

The art of scratching...love it!

As a watercolorist -- love that term -- I like to move away from traditional techniques from time to time.  I have discovered scratching tools that are designed to work on clayboard.  Guess what?  Those same tools provide interesting and unusual results when applied to a dry watercolor painting.  As I became a bit more brave, I applied deeper layers of paint before using the scratch tools and I have to say I like the textured results.  I had one or two mishaps where I used the tools a little too vigorously, but I actually like that finish, too. 

One of the tools is like multi-fingered wire stubs...oh my gosh, what it does for trees.  I am working in abstract right now -- if fits my mood -- and the tools were the muse.  I will post some photos for you soon.  I think you might be surprised and pleased with all the glorious texture. 

My greatest comfort zone is specfic color and detail, detail, detail.  Working in the abstract mode with these tools has given me permission to just apply color, more color, and then take some away.  Next, I added the detail -- splatter, dots, lines and connections.  I tend to work up to a design point after the majority of painting is completed. 

As a greeting card designer, I remember that my art can be digitized and sized.  I have a vision with each piece -- not only as a print, but a finished card as well.  I enjoy the freedom this discovery has given me.  I don't feel the need to worry over each little thing and, when I begin using the scratching tools, a new idea for the intention of the piece usually comes through.

I have included one of my pieces, which has actually become the logo for this site and a greeting card...Infiniti Crow. I am really pleased with it and will use it in a variety of sizes.

Try the scratching tools -- they can be found at jerrysartarama for $14.  Not bad... http://search.jerrysartarama.com/search?keywords=clayboard+scratching+tools

Photograph is infiniti crow art.  Makes me happy.  DCR

My love - Native American Artwork

Why Native American Art?

A friend on Face Book visited my website.  Happily, he loved it... and was surprised that I did Native American (NA) artwork.  His comments got me thinking about why I love creating NA art.  I began drawing and painting my own interpretations of NA art on my first visit to Sedona, AZ over twelve years ago.  We were fortunate to stay for two weeks -- long enough to absorb the beauty and history.  We explored, took photos (my husband is an excellent photographer) ate, talked to people, took in the historic sites and those off the beaten path.  We came to love the place. 

Eagles Return/DCR

While I was there, I filled up with a need to paint and communicate my own version of love for the spirit of NA culture.  I have wondered if my deep feelings for all things NA came from a family connection.  My great grandfather on my mother's side was full Cherokee.  As was common at that time, he was adopted by a white family, his name was changed and he became immersed in a completely different society than the one in which he was born.  I never met him.  My mom passed on when I was very young, so I really didn't get to know her side of the family and he had passed on at that time as well.

As well as watercolor and oils, my NA art has extended to the creation of fetish dolls and hand-carved, hand-sanded (38 times) and hand-decorated walking staffs -- many of them are in some nice galleries and private collections around the country.  I haven't created the fetish dolls or staffs in a long time and I am not sure I will return to them. They are very, very labor intensive and my heart has moved on for now. 

I used silver, elk hide, horse hair, fur, feathers, turquoise/other beads and copper on the staffs. The same materials went into the fetishes along with 100-year old muslin, wood, slate and pen work.

Last year, we took a trip to Santa Fe, NM.  Let me tell you, after a week in that art mecca, fabulous desert, Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch and the historic Turquoise Inn where we stayed, my being again swelled with inspiration to create Native American art.

We visited the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe -- I highly recommend it.  Here is the link http://www.iaia.edu/museum/ if you are interested in American Indian art.  It is very contemporary and the artists are serious about their work.  

My NA artwork definitely has my own flair and vision.  You can see my Native American Collection of greeting cards on my website at  http://www.dcrdesign.us/index.htm

I would love in your feedback and comments.  Here's to inspiration!


Diana        

New website launched!



http://www.dcrdesign.us/

 The day arrived -- we launched the new DCRdesign art website featuring my greeting cards and art.  The site is simple, beautiful and very user friendly.  Please take a look -- I would love to know what you think -- either at this site or by email.  We have had positive feedback and a few orders already -- a great beginning.  A sincere thank you to Rice Agency for their beautiful web design, patience and great care to get it right.

I will begin updating this site (infiniti crow) more often, introducing new art and explaining the process behind different pieces.  Please visit my new site at
http://www.dcrdesign.us/index.htm 

Exciting...

Good news!  We are coming closer to unveiling the new website, complete with merchandising capability.  As you know, building a custom website takes time and commitment.  We are almost there and look forward to sharing it with you!

Regards,
DCR