Garden Artists

 Four members met together on Wednesday to paint and/or draw in Catherine Beech's garden.

Here is Val McDonald's sketch of Diana Veasey and Val McDonald hard at work

And this is what Diana was working on

Felt

This time we have another member who has been busy with craft projects as well as art work. Helen Welch has sent photos of a felt piece she has made, involving wet felting, prefelt and needle felting and also two bags she's made. Having avoided putting in zips for some time she decided to tackle that particular phobia, despite not having zips the right length for the project. She also made a necklace of large beads that she's had for years and a leather cord, but "since a two-day old gorilla could have done the same" she decided not to send a photo!

Do what ever you want

A recent email to members mentioned difficulty deciding what to do and also a lack motivation. They were asked to share some tips for overcoming creative blocks. 

The "lack of motivation" and how to overcome the creative block resonated with Helen Welch. She says:  

    I've always been indecisive and with so many exciting things to try I usually end up doing none of them, exhausted by the thought of it all! One thing that I hope is helping me is to have a "Something" book on the go - I don't know what to call it as it's hardly a sketchbook, or a journal, but I have heard them described as a Creative Sketchbook. Basically you do whatever you want, putting colour - or anything - on paper. If there happens to be a bit of leftover paint around you could sponge or roller it on to get started. Anything goes - you can tear/cut off corners of pages if you want. It's your book and you never need show it to anyone! It's very freeing and great fun. I stencil, spray (sometimes using a fern from the garden as resist) stamp, do a rubbing, anything I can think of.

On one of the pages I have stuck a bit of Acrylic Skin on and another has a quote from the Dalai Lama - "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."