ARTBOOK {create}

Here are two pages I've made for my artbook while experimenting with watercolours.
I found letter drawing stencils and used them to spell out CREATE on the first spread.  I filled the background with synonyms of "create": from vision to artistry, from originality to genius.

To add some dimension I glued letter "C" and used one of my stamps to give it some interesting design.

For the second watercoloured spread I wrote some of my favourite quotes about creativity, which I am hoping to share as printable cards.  I wanted them to look as if written by different people so I had fun practicing different handwritings.

Speaking of artbooks, Kalitanya wrote about her experience at Toronto's stop of The Sketchbook Project mobile library. Her post is in Russian (use Google translate), enjoy the images and don't forget to check out The Sketchbook Project website!

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HERE you can see more artbook-related posts

AWAKENING CREATIVITY {simply begin}

Can you think of a creative project that you keep "putting off"? You admire works of others yet every time you want to create something similar tons of excuses pop into your head: you have no time, your idea is not good, you have no space for the project ..... You know the story?!

"Artbooking" was this type of creative activity for me. I could spend hours looking through photos of art books, I admired artists' techniques and the free flow of their ideas. Yet I was always reluctant to start an artbook of my own. I kept asking: what if it won't be pretty? what can I write about?  I can not draw to begin with, so what if it will be "weird"?  Questions and doubts soon became excuses: no time, no supplies, no beautiful images, no ideas ....

And then, one day, as I was going though my pile of inspirational images I decided to make a collage (something I rarely, or should I say never made before).  I cut out several images, found scrap paper to go with them, took out a notebook and made A FIRST PAGE IN MY ARTBOOK!

I looked at the collage and surprisingly I didn't find it stupid or useless.  I didn't even think that it was "weird".  In fact, I liked it a lot.  It was not as intricate as pages of seasoned "artbook-makers", but it made me smile and I was happy I created it.

Over the next few months I filled several pages of my art book (I promise to share them with you in "PEEK INSIDE MY ARTBOOK" series) and I continue my "artbooking" adventure.

I might not do it often, but every time I create a page I smile. I take my time to enjoy the process, to marvel at the final creation, and I absolutely love flipping through the pages of my artbook. ... oh, and I am yet to ran out of ideas for pages.

So if you have a creative project that you admire, or a new technique that want to try, or maybe an idea that has been buzzing in your head, do not wait!

SIMPLY BEGIN TODAY!

Believe me, those excuses and doubts will disappear fast once the process gets started.

I would love to see your creations.  Feel free to leave a link in the comments to show what kind of new projects you've began today!

Anya
P.S. For the second part of the series click here


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A year ago: WEEKLY KALEIDOSCOPE