They were screaming. They were shouting. There was stress. Surprisingly, there was no art happening. I had a major infestation of gremlins that brought my creativity to a halt.
I had enough of these gremlins yelling at me. Time for them to go.
I decided the best way to get rid of those gremlins was to create without thinking. When I get stuck in my head and spend too much time thinking that seems to be an invitation for the gremlins to come in with their harsh negativity. So, my answer- no thinking. In this video, you will see how I start slapping things down. I had to trust that it would be okay if I made something ugly.
I started with an art journal page that just felt yucky to me. No matter what I did with this page, it couldn’t be any worse in my mind. I pulled papers from my scrap boxes, the leftovers from other artistic endeavors.
I challenged the gremlins. I ignored the gremlins. The gremlins got bored with me and left. With them gone I could hear the soft whispers of my muse.
Here’s the finished art journal page to remind me that when the thoughts in my head make me feel weak, feel scared, feel inadequate that it is the gremlins. When I hear my muse I feel stronger, more creative, and joyful. So much more fun to play with my muse! Do the gremlins ever visit you?
Links Mentioned in the Video
Sparks of Art-spiration – click here to sign up for my newsletter to get the monthly Spark of Art-spiration delivered to your inbox.
Supplies Used
Door Stencil printed with the Gelli Plate (bits of color with PanPastels)
Stabilo Pencil Catalyst Blade Blickrylic Gel Medium
Linking up to Inspire Me Monday, Make It Monday, Anything But a Card (using up old supplies), Creative Every Day, Glue It Tuesday, Create Daily, and Be Inspired and Be an Inspiration.
Marvelous again Carolyn. Beautiful all the material together.
lovely greet
Marja
Love your journal page, Carolyn, but loved even more watching it come together in your video! Yes, I, too, am visited periodically by the “you can’t” gremlins–which, generally, means I am trying to hard and need to step back and just let it happen, just as you have done here. The freeing part of art journaling (over my methodical scrapbooking) is not having a plan, not knowing where I am going, and never knowing where I will end up! My must usually must tap me on the shoulder and say, “Done!” Thanks for today’s inspiration!!
Love that explosion of color and Jessica’s stencil door in those pinks and purples. Cute scissors……I must have been channeling you because I painted up a storm today in all kinds of brightness too. Were you send out brain waves!!! xox
That´s it Carolyn! Show them the door! Bye Gremilins. 🙂
Oh, boy, do the gremlins like to visit me!!! I am so bad at overthinking so much of the time!!! I am improving (sometimes)!! It’s so great to hear that even you can have this problem!!!!
Love the explosion if color on this page. No wonder those gremlins fled – they can’t stand the brightness of your creativity. This page is gorgeous and I love all your words and that pink door. 😉
Yeah, I have gremlin problems too. I like how you defeat them! Beautiful page–the layers are gorgeous!!
Inspiring!
Wonderful post!!
** love the video, thank you for sharing the process 🙂
Gremlins, that is a tuff one… glad it can be overcome by some color & paint… YAY! ~xx
This post was just what I needed today. I too have been struggling with gremlins and you have the perfect cure. Thanks so much. I just love not only your finished page, but also the process,
.
Your page is wonderful. I love all the color. Even better than your page is your attitude. Thank you so much for filming this process and talking about the gremlins. We all have them from time to time. What a great way to evict them.
What a wonderful way to start the day! This has been the best 20 minutes of computer time that I have done in ages! I love how your page evolved, taking on a life of its own! Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey! I picture all of us who have had the pleasure of viewing this page as dancing along and waving bye-bye to those gremlins!
I am inspired….I have a couple of stagnant journal pages that needed this! Now my muse’s voice can be heard! Thank you so much!
This is so true for all of us I think – the gremlins may attack but we can move them on also. A little creativity and a bit of stubbornness can go a long way 🙂
Thanks for linking up!
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
Bye Bye Gremlins and HELLO BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL COLLAGE!!! What a transformation.. it’s a beautiful day here and the color of the sun matches your colorful page. Gremlins get in us when we have so much going on… they say..”hey, she’s not paying attention, let’s get her now”. You have so much going on.. ending school, daughter graduation and heading to college (I almost typed “collage” lol). Lots to focus on… but it’a ALL GOOD.. and so are you.
The colour is beautifully full on and I love it! I love how you work through your pieces – just soooo creative. Thanks for joining us at Anything But A Card this time. Juliax
I thoroughly enjoyed your video! Sometimes I think I have a squadron of gremlins flying around my head, just mocking me and making me feel “less than.” Now I have a weapon to use against them! Thanks for arming me!
Love the process and the final product! Very creative and therapeutic! Great stuff!
Found you on IMM hop. I do an art therapy column, check it out!
Diane
http://treasuringgrace.blogspot.com/2013/05/making-whole-healing-through-art-who-we.html
Oh those gremlins can be nasty little buggers, and they’re cowards anyway, always running away when the muse start whispering. Glad you took care of them with such a wonderful page.
yep!!
love the pages!
Gorgeous colors – definitely enough to chase the gremlins away!
Rinda
What a great way to send those gremlins packing, and now you have a perfectly wonderful colorful reminder of how to quickly banish them again if they dare show up.
Lovely work. I am glad the gremlins went away.
My gremlins are very quiet, don’t say anything just move things when I am not looking and make me waste hours looking for them.
I came over from Make it Monday.
Have a good day
Wow this is wonderful, so bright and colourful, saw you on MiM, gorgeous creation
Ruth x
Absolutely wonderful!!
Great transformation! Thanks for sharing your process for chasing the gremlins away, since they obviously tend to go door-to-door and hit all of us once in awhile. I love the colors and “busy-ness” of your final page.
SO vibrant! Love all the symbolism and you know I love a good kick to the gremlins.
the scissors are so cute! When I feel uncreative, I just leave things alone, and do something else. Like read – my escape from everything else! {:-Deb
I ABSOLUTELY love this!!!! You kick those suckers out! Vibrant, from your heart and the PERFECT words to go with it!
Great colours and I love that door, thanks for linking up with Make It Monday this week.
Hugs,
Sandy DT
WOW – fantastic, love you use of colour and your creative freedom – WHAT A WAY to banish those gremlins! MMx