This ATC project of my sisters has turned out to be the best thing ever for me in terms of getting creative juices flowing. Making a very small piece of art is so much less intimidating than the big high-pressure projects that I had take on in the last couple of years. Initially, I feared that the single-subject of ocean themed would prove to be difficult because it is a topic I never, ever incorporate into the kind of art that I make. But is has forced me out of my comfort zone and actually proven to be fun and stress free!
Today I got out some of the blank ATCs that I bought a long time ago, not really knowing how to use them. One package said they were meant for acrylic paint, so I painted them. This is such an experiment for me. I feel like I'm cheating on some of the ATCs because these are for little kids and I remember what my kids liked at that age - sparkles! I broke down and bought some of those Jolee's boutique stickers that are meant to be used for scrapbook pages, figuring it would help me get started. I've painted a few backgrounds, collaged a pinch of paper and then used the stickers on them. I'll work toward weaning myself off of the stickers, but at least I've produced a few ATCs for the project. That's a step in the right direction. They're silly, but I had fun with paper, paint, glue and glitter and that counts for something right now while dealing with the stress of selling and (eventually) buying a new house.
Saying no to making a big art commitment to the holiday auction this year was hard at first, but I just couldn't do it. The stress of trying to balance creative time with keeping a house model perfect for selling would have caused me to burst into flames. This is a manageable project with limited mess (not quite so limited since the house has now sold), and I can continue to make ATCs even when we move into our temporary little rental house and I'm having to commute with my son to his school here in our "old" home town.
I'm a much happier mom and feeling more like an artist this week. I'm making cheesy art, but it's art :-)
Today I got out some of the blank ATCs that I bought a long time ago, not really knowing how to use them. One package said they were meant for acrylic paint, so I painted them. This is such an experiment for me. I feel like I'm cheating on some of the ATCs because these are for little kids and I remember what my kids liked at that age - sparkles! I broke down and bought some of those Jolee's boutique stickers that are meant to be used for scrapbook pages, figuring it would help me get started. I've painted a few backgrounds, collaged a pinch of paper and then used the stickers on them. I'll work toward weaning myself off of the stickers, but at least I've produced a few ATCs for the project. That's a step in the right direction. They're silly, but I had fun with paper, paint, glue and glitter and that counts for something right now while dealing with the stress of selling and (eventually) buying a new house.
