Working from home has its benefits and also its challenges.
And I get distracted….. A LOT!!!!
So late last year I decided to revisit some old favourite books I purchased in 2008 when I was in Denver in the U.S.; ideas and principles which have stayed with me up to now. “The Art of Personal Imagery” by Corey Moortgart, “Taking Flight” by Kelly Rae Roberts, “Collage Discovery Workshop” and “Collage Discovery Workshop. Beyond the Unexpected” both by Claudine Hellmuth, “Lotta Prints” by Lotta Jansdotta, “Bookcraft” by Heather Weston.
Some are now “classics” in terms of mixed media and creativity.
Time to UPGRADE!!
So late last year I did the self-paced e-course by Kelly Rae Roberts. That was good. But I knew most of the suggestions were going to be a struggle with a severely autistic son and a hectic family schedule. So I kept searching…..
searching……..
searching………
And found these!!
I think everyone knows who Pam Carriker is – but it took me a while to “find” Pam and to connect with her message. And her message in “Art at the Speed of Life” has stuck with me.
I can’t lock myself away in my studio each day between 10am and 2pm – filling in time until the kids come home from school, that just isn’t my life. It’s busy – and I know there are people like me out there saying to themselves, “But HOW does she do all that?”
Read Pam’s book and you’ll understand the theory of MULTIPLES and it will give you the freedom to not just be creative everyday, but to actually ACCOMPLISH something every day.
Then I came upon this delightful book by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare “Painted Pages”.
Not only is it sooo sooo pretty, but in it Sarah takes you through her whole process from keeping sketch books to organising her space.
Both ladies have guests who share their story, process and struggles so I can guarantee that there will be something in there for every Artist. Pam’s is especially good for advice on that delicate balancing act between making art, social media, when to quit your day job, finding your muse and getting out there and showing your art. Sarah’s is great for the Big Picture stuff like, Where does the idea come from in the first place?
Find these books if you are struggling, like I was, to find a good fit for you. You can purchase Pam’s book as a pdf, but I like to sit and feel the pages without backlit screens! Call me Old Fashioned….yep, go on! And they are both that Old Fashioned (!) quattro page size. The only thing to make them more perfect would have been wiro binding!!
So this Old Fashioned Duck is off to work in more MULTIPLES and do some WARM UP activities in her sketch book.
Happy Reading!!
Giovanna
Links:
Pam Carriker: http://pamcarriker.com/
Sarah Ahearn Bellemare: http://sarahearn.blogspot.com.au/
Giovanna Scott artist 
They are both terrific books with such sensible but inspiring ideas. Even if not mutiples the concept of small and frequently is great for so many of us. Hope it works fo you!
Thanks for the book suggestions Giovanna. Art at the Speed of Life is on my ‘to get’ list. Want to thank you for a brilliant class yesterday (Nada had a ball too and thanked me for taking her). I finished up my canvas last night.
I wanted to tell you yesterday that you really made me laugh when you were saying how you incorporate art into your school lessons. I work for a disability organisation and teach computers and Hospitality. I also oversee the weekly craft (but gave up doing it myself long ago due to time constraints). Anyway, I teach Photoshop Elements one day each week and I have worked out how to incorporate art into this class! The ladies are going to love it.
Thanks again.
Sue Jones