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Creating Like A Child

While reading some of the amazing Art Every Day   blogs (and there are MANY GREAT BLOGS to inspire!), one idea resonated very strongly with me.  This post  discussed creating as a child and  to adult.   “I believe that the things we love to do as children are the things that are meant to part of our lives always.”  That got me thinking about the children I am raising and have worked with over the years.  The children  just do it.  They don’t spend hours trying to pick the perfect color.  They don’t worry – they do.  So, in that spirit, I used what I had, followed my whims, and made this art journal page.  I’ve been excited about umbrellas and rain lately, and I’m just following it where it leads me….

 

A tree background with  a bit of spray ink and tree stencil from Crafter’s Workshop.  The umbrella is a paper I was playing with many moons ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Raindrops from scraps of painted text papers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To add shine to the raindrops I covered them with Glossy Accents.  The shine doesn’t show up so well in the photo…

 

 

 

 

 

A few touches finished it off- the raindrops got a touch of shading with a navy blue pitt pen,  white porfolio crayon along the edges of the umbrella, and a bit of found text.  These aren’t my usual colors – perhaps fall is finally taking hold…

 

 

 

 

{ 21 comments… add one }

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  • Andrea November 2, 2011, 6:20 am

    How true that children don’t think and just do! In art class this afternoon I watched my group of 5 and 6 year olds eagerly rush for materials and begin a piece that would showcase how they feel about forests. And they aren’t put off by tradition or colour, or how things “should” look – forests of purple, pink and orange trees grew up right beside the green ones and the end results were stunning!
    Your page turned out beautifully – it’s amazing what we can create when we just let ourselves play! 🙂

  • Serena November 2, 2011, 7:43 am

    A wonderful finish!

    Very true….I wish I had the daring my young son does when he sits down to paint or draw. I tend to waste a lot of time procrastinating but I’m trying to relax and play more. 🙂

  • Michelle November 2, 2011, 7:52 am

    What fun playing in the rain :). Happy AEDM!
    Stay inspired!

  • Cynthia November 2, 2011, 9:28 am

    Love the page! The raindrops are so serene and beautiful!

  • Elin Folkesson November 2, 2011, 10:47 am

    Thanks for the reminder not to think som much and just play! I need to hear that often. I love the colours in your art journal page.

  • Daniele Valois November 2, 2011, 11:14 am

    I think this is an important thing to do. Step back, don’t think, just create. We all need to get back to a child-like state now and then.

  • Reba November 2, 2011, 1:07 pm

    So true…..take a deep breath……and play….just do… For us to find that Child- like state is often hard because it places ( well for me any how) places me out side of the box…

    Love the raindrops!! So serene!!

  • Jennibellie November 2, 2011, 2:14 pm

    Love this page – and the sentiment, I believe this too and try to slosh paint around like a child whenever I feel like it. I don’t worry about the result, just the enjoyment of the process, thanks for sharing Jennibellie x

  • amanda jolley November 2, 2011, 3:10 pm

    Stencilry! Love the imagery here, and the colors.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog today. 🙂
    Happy AEDM!

  • Kristen (Creative Stash) November 2, 2011, 3:17 pm

    beautiful page! kids are the best teachers aren’t they? i love that your minds are so free and can create from the heart so easily.

  • linda November 2, 2011, 4:43 pm

    oh wow! What beautiful work… just love it!

  • Julie November 2, 2011, 7:11 pm

    so true, your page is beautiful!

  • Tracey Fletcher King November 2, 2011, 7:25 pm

    I liked seeing the steps and loved the quote… great finished piece xx

  • Pop Art Minis - Joni November 2, 2011, 8:17 pm

    Love the quote and the step by step. Awesome work and wonderful blog! thanks for popping by over at Pop Art Minis today too!

  • Carol Apple November 2, 2011, 9:15 pm

    What a treat to visit your blog, and what an inspiring idea. Love the picture, the colors, the whole concept. My dream as a child was to be an artist and after years in a different career, but constantly doodling, I have recently gone back to my childhood dream. So I think you have hit on something here!

  • Fran T November 2, 2011, 10:12 pm

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and dropping a line. I am in love with the tree background! In fact, I love the whole layout. Wonderful!

  • Eden November 2, 2011, 11:45 pm

    Very true about not holding back when you are young! I am always worried about not wasting paper! I like the rain and the sprayed ink.

  • Coleen November 3, 2011, 1:44 am

    Carolyn, thanks for visiting my blog (Palestinian girl). I appreciate your commenting.

    Great piece here. I love the tree outline in the background and the raindrops done with text. I try to approach my work like a child. I’ve found it frees me up when I can. Amazing how much “stuff” we can have going on about our art.

    Hugs, Coleen in Ukraine

  • Theresa November 3, 2011, 2:15 am

    Your page feels just like fall. I love all the colors and the papers you can see through.

  • Nele November 3, 2011, 5:10 am

    Great idea! Where the heck did we loose that carefree spontaneous creative spark along the way? As a parent of a 3y old, I try to be conscious of that and never interrupt her creative wave. The worst question you can ask a child after she drawed or painted something is: “And what does this represent?” 🙂

    Love how this piece worked out, love the combination of colors, raindrops and text. Very autumnal indeed!

  • Jen November 3, 2011, 6:33 pm

    What a wonderful way to work, and your collage is so beautiful! I love the shiny accents on the raindrops.