I’ve enjoyed the slow pace of Christmas in our household. We cut a tree in the National Forest, decorated it leisurely, ate a little more than usual, and generally felt like we were on vacation.

(Except for a few runs to the grocery store – where we and a million of our closest friends were in a Mad Max quest for a parking space. And then for a cart!)

But yesterday I had some quiet time in my studio, just looking around. I am beginning to turn the wheels of thought on new projects for the new year.

So, looking around, I counted and noted some simple things that I find inspiring. These things help me get moving.

INTERESTING SHAPES

This clump of grasses and roots hangs where I can see it all the time. I have used it a number of times for monoprinting, and it always yields surprises.

MIXING MY OWN COLORS

The process of creating a full range of colors from a limited palette of base colors just gets me going. I stir the colors together on the mixing palette and begin to envision how they will print on fabric.

TOOLS EASILY IN REACH

My stencils hang on the wall just an arm’s reach from my worktable. My paints are now arranged on a little shelf right next to them. I don’t have to unpack or rearrange things to jump into a project.

COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

There is probably no single learning experience I value more than the time I have spent experimenting with complementary colors. Paint them next to each other. Paint them together to make brown. With one color dominant, mix in just a tad of its complement to watch it de-intensify and become more neutral. Mix them together in varying amounts then add white. Aaaahhhh! Beautiful greys.

The orange-purple overprinting above makes each color intense in a way neither would be alone.

EASY CLEANUP

This wonderful set-up, a utility cart plus a garden hose right outside my studio, permits me freedom to dirty up my brushes and my hands and other mark-making tools. Clean-up is just a few steps away.

SEEING COMPLETED ARTWORK

This is a newly-finished canvas triptych “They Built Their House of Twigs.” It is on the wall behind my sewing table. I look at it all the time. I tried some experimental ways of working in this piece. Seeing it completed helps me to relive the experiments and to evaluate how they worked. And to consider what to try next!

READING POETRY

This reading spot is not actually in my studio but in my living room. It is part of my day. I am learning more all the time how the rhythms and patterns of words relate to the rhythms and patterns of visual artmaking. Starting the day with poetry reading has become a well-loved habit.

If there are little things you can do to make your workspace or your work habits easier, do those things. If there are little things you can put in your everyday line of vision to stir thought and ideas, do those things.

Find inspiration in being attentive and alert. It doesn’t require huge lightning bolt experiences or revelations to become inspired to create.

My hope for all the artmakers reading is that you will find some new small things to do to enhance your experience of creating.

And to all who are kind enough to follow along in this blog journey: I wish you Happy Holidays. And peace to all.

If you would like to learn more about the piece featured as an orange-purple complement example, it’s on my website: A DIFFERENT LIGHT REMEMBERED.

If you would like to learn more about the triptych shown hanging in my studio, it is on my website: THEY BUILT THEIR HOUSE OF TWIGS.

For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi

bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

How I keep in touch:

BLOG POSTS  - once a week:  Mostly about what I am creating in the studio. If you would enjoy receiving blog posts by e-mail, please subscribe here:  I post and send by e-mail each Sunday evening. BLOGS-BY-EMAIL

NEWSLETTER – about once a month: Mostly news of exhibits and my way of introducing new work. You’ll get FIRST LOOKS at new artwork and members-only discounts. You’ll hear from me about once a month.  NEWSLETTER