Sunday, May 1, 2011

Creeping Out of A Creative Slump

I am not usually one to sink into the "poor pitiful me" blues, but the last two weeks have been somewhat of a nightmare for me personally, which had me in a pity party for 1 much of the time. Car troubles, job troubles, family worries and health problems all seemed to converge on me at once. When it rains, it pours, right?

As a result, I did not feel at my artistic best and quickly descended into a major creative slump. Hopefully, that is behind me now and I can exercise some of those demons with some cathartic pounding of clay.

Usually when the muse hits the skids, I start over with some basic techniques and just practice for a week or so. I try to let myself go and just let the clay speak to me. This time, a cruise through Etsy's digital collage offerings perked me up tremendously. I found these gorgeous blue and white Asian designs. The muse started whispering in my ear and I was able to turn out a handful of pendants I realy love.

Faux Asian Pottery Series - Group 1

Creating faux jade always makes me happy and energizes me. I had an order for a duplicate, or as near duplicate as I could make, for a pendant I created a couple of weeks ago, so I made up a batch of a dark burma shade of green, a bit darker than the newsprint jasper green, and created a couple of new pieces in that color and also a "fantasy bronze jade" piece which I liked, a good effort overall.

IMG_0065

I am running a bit behind this month with the blog giveaway. I'm finishing up a collaborative design using some wonderful carved polymer beads created for the giveaway by my friend and fellow Polymer Artist, Laurel Steven. I'll have it up tonight or tomorrow for you to get your comments in to be elegible to win it. I hope you like it.

7 comments:

Julz said...

Sorry to hear you have been having a hard time...you are right...if it doesn't rain, it pours!! I think creative people are entitled to a 'slump'...mine has been going on for the best part of a year now...LOL!!
Good to see your beautiful things again...always enjoy!!
Take care of you! xxx

SueBeads said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your bad few weeks. It does work that way - I had a bad year and am ready for the next phase of my life! Things will get better, they always do! Love your work, doesn't seem like you had a slump at all. I am particularly enamored of the asian influence...

JuLee said...

Glad to hear you are out of your slump. Your new pieces are lovely.

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you, my friends. I appreciate your lovely words. It's good to know I'm not in this boat alone, but sorry to hear of your slumps, too. I hope we all see the end of them soon!

Christi Uliczny said...

As always, your amazing muse has returned! Beautiful pendants, I love the images. Stuff happens, but that is what makes us stronger as humans. It is life's experiences that add to our souls and bring out the best in us. You know what my year was like last year, my friend! I am stronger and smarter now because of those experiences.

Nicole said...

Love them!

Anonymous said...

Another beautiful piece Linda. It is obvious you are out of your slump. I would love this piece for my birthday on May 9th.