Stressful Creating

Hello, Loves.

How are you?  I'm stressed.  Nothing new there but the stress of creating can make one more nervous.  The anxiety of making a masterpiece.  The not remembering how to shade correctly or prevent blooms in watercolor.  The non-spirited heartbreaking joy of tearing the paper or slicing the canvas.  The tears of frustration and the spew of naughty words that come from a dark place.  Guilt for buying all those supplies and then dumping in the trash the creativity you feel you can no longer do.  Do you feel or do any of these?

Well let me be fully transparent, you are not alone.  I've been trying and trying for weeks to do a simple craft.  Cardmaking is not for me.  I've cut so many pieces of paper and just let them sit in a bin.  My brain isn't wired to put the matting under the focal point as I'm a traditionally non-traditional artist.  I just can't do it!  *Stomps foot*

My goal by the end of 2022 is to do at least one beautiful card and to not let my Negative Nelly speak.  I have no idea how I'm going to duct tape her mouth since she's part of the reason I'm great at drawing.  I need a Neutral Norman in my life.  He'll make sure I have the right balance of positivity and negativity.  Yep, I shall find him.

The reason for today's stress is I have a company that asked me to do a few projects.  I get so excited and I plan the items before I purchase.  I'll do this.  I'll do that.  SPLAT!  Nope, it just doesn't work out.  What does one do?  She goes back to the drawing board and reconfigures how to use the items with her style.  The challenge takes you longer but the end result may be stunning.  Once you figure how to do it.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you "You Can Do It" because you are struggling to break Negative Nelly.  You don't need a false positive when I don't know if I can do it.  Life gets in the way for me.  I'm interrupted or I'm just too tired.  My mind loses focus easily as its not used to the focus of creativity.

I have to break the 30 second get it done routine and just enjoy the process.  How did I do that?  I had a breakdown and then I remembered I have a video diary of my drawings.  I went to my YT channel and selected 'How to draw a rose'.  I sat and watched the old me do it so simply whilst the present me scratches her head.

Now don't let Negative Nelly tell you that you've lost it.  You've simply grown beyond that point and that's where you start.  Break the page, draw a dot and then connect them.  Breath as though the roughest parts are over and simply let the pencil dictate the art.  I promise you the end result may stun the pants of your puppy.  

The only advice I can give to you today is go through your past creativity and pull a piece out.  Sit down with that piece and draw another.  Don't worry about making a masterpiece.  Just play.  Feel the material react to your touch.  If it turns out wonderful, fabulous.  If it turns out gross, fabulous.  You attempted to create in a mind space that has no time for peace.  Let peace be within the creative process rather than the end result.

I shall show you soon the item I'm speaking of.  Until then......blessed may you be in your life, blessed may you be on your journey and blessed am I to have you.  Stay classy, stay sassy but most of all stay you.

Love Always,

Theresa (Sassy  T)

GLOBELAND (BeeBeeCraft) Unboxing #GLOBELAND #Unboxing #MsArtfulSassyStudios

Storytime: A pumpkin learns his lesson. #DinaWakley #Journaling #Prima...

Hello, Loves.

How are you?  I've missed you.  I apologize for the sporadic postings.  I've been on the road nearly everyday.  My Dad (aka Troll) and I are hoping that it levels out after his next few appointments.  He's doing well so that eases my guilt for wanting to play.

The picture you see is Mr. Piper.  He's a peeved pumpkin.  The video will tell his story.  I, however, will fill you in here on how he came to be.  I get inspired by conversations, smells and storytelling.  I have a dear Love on Facebook that has men in her life that groan over pumpkin pictures.

I was reading a few of her comments posted by the men in her life and started laughing.  Its all good humor and fun.  I bond with people over the strangest things.  Pumpkins and goats for instance.  :)  I felt my hand crave the touch of paper and pencil.  

The day had been a rough one because of Troll's grumpiness.  He was tired as was I.  I just couldn't stop the craving so I got up and went to my studio.  I have a tower of paper and journals.  They are all unused and ready to go.  'Which one do I choose?' I asked myself.

I bought a small journal from Ranger under Dina Wakley.  Its a mixed media journal made with heavyweight cotton paper.  Now I will be the first to say that the paper is thick.....thick, I tell you.  I've not ever created on something this thick unless it was wood or canvas.

I grabbed her from the stack and sniffed my studio.  My studio smells like happiness.  The earthy smell of pigments, vanilla and love.  I took her to my computer desk and reached for my tin of Derwent graphic sketching pencils.

The sound of the tin and the feel of the coldness made my heart race.  I took a seat and pulled the label off the new journal.  I proceeded to 'crack' the spine of the journal to give her some flexibility.  A word of caution as she's thick and will rip if you get aggressive.

I opened my well loved tin and immediately started shaking.  Negative Nelly has appeared.  She was telling me that I lost all of my skills and that I couldn't break the blank page to save the day.  I let her talk until I clicked the mouse.

I needed to shut her up with some visuals.  I headed to bing.com and typed 'pumpkins'.  The search showed all sizes and shapes.  I saw a picture of a ceramic pumpkin and the shape was far from perfect.  Bingo!  I shall draw that shape.

Between the men of my Love and my Troll, I found another inspiration.  Wrestling.  What?!  Yes, wrestling.  They have a show on Starz that is called 'Heels.'  Its a story about two brothers fighting to keep the memory of their dad alive.  Its not a sappy story by any means but it draws you in.  Pun intended.

It took me back to my childhood.  Every Saturday morning the WWF was on the television.  My area used to host WWF events and they were HUGE sellers.  I was too young to attend these.  I remember being angry that I always had to go home and be still.  I used to dream of the day when I would  get to go to events like this.  Sadly, they no longer exist.

I picked the pencil up and with the glare of my screen alongside the glitter lamp, Mr. Piper the Peeved Pumpkin came alive.  His name is a legacy in the WWF....Rowdy Roddy Piper!  He is loved by the men in my family back in the day.  He was sassy.  I love sassy!

In full transparency, this is my first time drawing on pure cotton paper.  Its an experience you have to try yourself.  The paper is textured.  Its not forgiving.  When you erase, you get cotton fibers lifting.  It doesn't leave a hole as the paper is so thick but I recommend drawing on scrap paper first.  Its best to transfer your image.

After I drew Mr. Piper, I inked him with permanent black ink.  The surprise came here.  The ink didn't feather out!  I was worried that I'd wreck the drawing.  It stayed in place.  Yay!  Once he was drawn and inked, I fell in love with him.  I also worried that the ink would penetrate to the next page.  It didn't!  Surprise!  

He fits my situation.  He's a bit grumpy but he's sassy too.  I worried that he wouldn't fit for my viewers.  However, I art my way.  I can't stop my creative process to be all cutesy.  Trust me, I tried and failed miserably.  I think my level of unsuccess has been because of fear.

Fear of showing the real Sassy T and her art abilities.  I don't do nudes.  *Covers eyes*  They make me feel awkward, lol.  I do love to paint nature and fairytale creatures.  I'm noticing the success of other artists and that makes me happy.  Happy because they are doing what feels right for them.  Its time I step up my game and do what feels right for me.

Storytelling is what feels right.  Its how I break the blank page.  I tell myself that my character has traits and genes like I do.  I find a commonality and go for it.  Some storytelling is fabricated but most of its truth.  No matter how it sounds and looks.  

I find my hand relaxing the deeper I get into the story.  I find humor to be the best link in life and I use it.  I draw grumpy pumpkins and I feel good about it.  The lesson for all of us is to be who we are and not step in fear.  Be free, my Loves, be free.

The story to Mr. Piper the Peeved Pumpkin will be on my YouTube channel shortly.  I can't give an exact time or date as my internet provider is in control.  I've been dealing with sketchy internet. 

Blessings to you all!

Theresa (Sassy T)

Prima Watercolor Clearance Hoarding......Shopping. #Prima #HobbyLobby...