Kollage and Communique'
(creating
interesting correspondence)
or . . .
would you like a cup of tea first???
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Remember,
'creativity' is not just 'doing art' . . .
it is
related to many aspects of life . . .
such as . . .
ease
of thinking,
intuition,
seeing new perspectives,
self-expression,
problem-solving,
idea sequencing
AND
IF YOU LET
IT BE . . . it is JUST
PLAIN FUN!
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This
next set of photos is a great example of how ideas 'sequence' . . .
(naturally, if you let them!)
. . .
This metal chair came with the little house I bought!
A few years
ago as part of the 'Plein-air' Art classes I held in the "Summer Room Studio"
of my little house, we did a 'Drawing 101' class for those who still held onto
the 'thought-form' of being 'artistically impaired'. (I was one when it came
to drawing!)
That class
helped me immensely in not being afraid to 'just draw' without
regard to what the end-product looked like!
In our society we place such emphasis on the finished product, rather
than taking the time to look, absorb and appreciate the beauty of every phase
along the way.
As it happened,
one of the assignments was to draw my favorite outside chair and
I was very excited with the way it turned out as it reflected the 'funkiness'
of
the 'real life chair'!
An artist friend who prints her own notecards later convinced me to colour it with watercolours, then she added the wording and printed a few notecards for me!
'Just drawing' then became more fun!
Most of mine are rather child-like, but they make me smile.
This is another of my favorites which I like to print onto BIG (11 x 17)
paper
and use as stationery.
My theory is . . .
If you are going to write a letter, then write a letter . . . don't be
wimpy about it!
'Mu Shamba Zo'
In Zimbabwe,
'Mu Shamba Zo' means 'early morning before the sun awakens'...
and is known as
the time when the elephants go to bathe...
and...
as the most magical time
to make music...or write...or paint.
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Perhaps being 'trained'
early by my mother in the Art of writing ‘thank you notes’,
I have always loved to write to people!
In the early 80’s
I tired of the same old ‘Hallmark’ cards as they never said what
I really wanted to say . . . and as time went on and their prices went up, I
decided to make my own cards. And for someone who never considered herself artistic
. . .
that was a huge project!
However, I began . . .
and they didn’t look too bad !
It was then I discovered something very interesting . . .
It was I who had labeled myself, “uncreative”…..and
realized that somewhere back when I was a child, watching my parents create
so naturally and easily and knowing that I did not have those same abilities,
I decided I was not artistic or creative!
WRONG!
That’s all changed now and friends say I am one of the most creative people they have ever met . . . (which can be overwhelming at times for people around me as I am always coming up with some new idea!). I attribute this to being raised by outrageously creative parents. One could not live in that environment and not have something rub off!
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A Creative's
life offers those who enter its domaine
a glimpse through
the 'Window of Originality'!
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To me, correspondence should be an adventure
. . . for the sender . . . for those who handle the mail along the way . . .
and most especially, for the receiver!
I can't seem to send a letter or package without adding some pizazz to the envelope or wrapping . . . a blend of my love for writing and my sense of colour/texture/design.
Some of my other 'large size' stationery:
And don't
forget to make the envelopes fun too:
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I adore making my own notecards as the need arises . . .
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Kollage is a favorite technique of mine . . .
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with it's own special envelope . . .
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A number of years ago while
visiting Arizona, I signed up for a photography class and one of our excursions
took us to the old mining town of Jerome. We were told to
'be creative' in our shots.
I had taken along my favorite walking stick and some colourful fabric. They
called me 'Miss Point and Shoot' as I was the only one in the class with an
automatic camera . . . everyone else spent all their time getting the focus
right, while I was setting up
unusual shots! Here are a few I made into notecards . . .
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'Resting for awhile in Jerome, Arizona'!
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'The colours and textures of Jerome, Arizona'!
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"People say she has an artist's temperament . . .
and that it's normal
for her
to be
a little extraordinary"!
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Another favorite of mine is 'weaving' paper to make an unusual design for a note card.
And . . . make your own little boxes to make a gift even more special!
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By now you
should have lots of ideas for making your corrspondence
more interesting! Why not turn off the computer for awhile and try a few techniques.
People love to get 'real
mail' from a friend!
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About
Che’usa
Colours of The Wend ~ Ambient
Environs'
Clay experiences for those with
‘no experience’
Watercolour for those who do not draw!
Found Sounds ~ Personal Rhythm
Kollage & Communique' ~
Creating interesting correspondence
'The Bowl Lady'
and her love for Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls
Mayan
Glyphs ~ Me Musing
Mayan-Style
Day Counter
As Woman . . . Dreaming
Also: Check
out My Musings at
The
Orange Wheelbarrow
All original artwork on website © Copyright 2004