For my Grandma...

So, for Christmas I decided to make my Grandma a collage as a “thank you” for intrusting me with tons of our old family pictures.

In fact, I used one of those pictures in her collage as the focal point. It’s of my ancestor, Mary Rosell. The picture was taken at her high school graduation, and she died a year later of TB.

I stared at her face a lot while making this. I imagined that at that moment she had all these plans of leaving her small Utah town and seeing the world. She had dreams of getting married and starting a family. She had her whole life before her and she was filled with the possibilities.

And then, Tuberculosis came to visit and took her away. She was born, lived, and died about a century before me. And yet I feel like I know her from working on this piece.

That’s really why I like using my ancestors in my art. It connects them to me and me to them. And I feel like I’m doing my part as their descendent: Remembering (which is the title of my Grandma’s collage).

Through my work, they still live on in this world, even while they are in the next. And that’s my way of honoring them.

So, if you’ve requested a picture (and I’m working on three right now), know that one of my ancestors will soon grace your walls…

P. S. And a picture of my Grandma is also included in the top left corner.

It Begins...

“The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It’s the lack of a deadline.” – Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo

So, with the big day starting tomorrow, I’d thought I’d let you in on a few things I learned from participating in NaNoWriMo last year.


First, understand that your novel is going to be bad. Really bad. I mean, really, really bad! This is not to say that there won’t be some good parts—because there will be—but most of it will stink.

Now, you might think that going in to something knowing ahead of time that you’re going to suck at it, might be a bad thing. But, you’d be wrong. It’s freeing!! You don’t have to worry about writing the next GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL. It’s not going to happen, so don’t stress about it.

Just write.

Who cares if your plot has more holes in it than something with a lot of holes, and that half-way through you decide to kill off your main character because she’s boring or somehow morphed into a space alien. The point is that you sat down, and wrote your little, trite, poorly-crafted heart out!

Second, and this directly relates to the first point, don’t worry about the research. If you don’t know it, make it up, and use as many words as you can think of to do so!

Just put the made up parts in caps, italics, or something, so you know where to go back later and find out the facts. And frankly, you probably know more than you think!

For example, I know that my main character is going to have dealings with police detectives. In fact, a police detective is going to become an important character with the first few chapters (somehow). Now, am I a police detective? No. I’ve I ever dealt with police detectives? No. But, I’ve watched tons of police-detective-type shows! So, for now, I’ll just rack my brain for any tidbits it can come up with and worry about the “facts” of how a “real” police investigation would go, later.

Last year, my book took place in Ohio. Have I ever been to Ohio? Nope. But I didn’t let that stop me! So, use your imagination, and don’t let the fact that you don’t know that “facts” be an excuse for not finishing your book.

Third, you might start out strong, but you’ll soon waiver on your commitment. (This happens to everyone around the 2nd / 3rd week.)

Trust me.

You’re going to be too busy.

You’re going to be too tired.

You’re going to be too bored.

You’re going to be too untalented.

You’re going to be too far behind.

You’re going to be too…something!

But don’t be tricked by your mental gymnastics! It’s just your inner self-doubt coming to the forefront. All you need to do is remember that you’ve given yourself the permission to write the WORST NOVEL ON THE PLANET!

So, pick yourself up, put yourself back at the computer, and keep typing! It will get better! I promise.

Besides, never forget that you have 11 months to fix it. No matter how bad it is, you can change it!

Now, just a few more little things.

If you can, and are on a roll, write more than the required 1667 words per day. Give yourself a buffer. It will help you on those days where you think your creativity has gone on strike and you can’t put a sentence together.

Also, if you’re like me, you want your first paragraph to be awesome. And waiting for the awesomeness to arrive will soak up valuable writing time. So, do what I do: if I really can’t think of a great first paragraph (which I never can), I just write “The super best, most witty and awesome paragraph ever written that tells us about…” and then I just give the facts of what I’d like it to say using the most words as possible.

Later, when the month is over, I’ll go back and make sure that my prose sings like a canary! (But using some other analogy that is far more creative.)

Lastly, don’t use contractions*. You want every word count you can get. Write out any numbers you use (even if it looks stupid)*. And use LOTS of adjectives.

The point is quantity, not quality. So, write your story, and don’t worry about it!


* This post contains 791 words. But, if I write out all the contractions and numbers, I would have 61 more words! For a total of 852 words. And that would mean that I was more than half-way to my 1667 word per day goal. See! Every word counts!!

A Simple Palette

For Hannah’s art piece, I decided to use only two colors of paint. I wanted to see what I could do with a limited color scheme, and I loved it!

I thought it came out very graphic (not meaning explicit, of course).

It’s still whimsical, and it still has the two components that I include in each of my pieces:

Poetry and Women.

But, it “feels” different from my other ones.

Looking at Hannah’s and then Rachel’s, I don’t know if you could tell that I was working on them at the same time. But, I was!

The pictures, once again, stink. I really need to get a new camera… The colors just aren't as vivid as in real life.

I hope you like it, Hannah! (If you want a different one, let me know.)

Rachel's Collage: I think I feel queasy...

Full Confession: I almost threw Rachel’s collage away not once, not twice, but three times.

And when I gave it to her, I almost puked.

You see, I tried something different with Rachel’s.

I wanted it to be a little more whimsical.

I wanted brighter color. (Hence using blues, greens, and oranges.)

I wanted more texture so that people would feel compelled to touch it.

So, when you look at the pictures, keep that in mind. Because I don’t think I succeeded, but that was the goal.

Oh, and once again, my camera betrayed me.

I don’t know why it doesn’t like me to get close and zoom. It just won’t focus correctly when I do that. I suppose if I read the instructions it would tell me. But, I can’t be bothered with that…

Rachel, I tried my best...

Another Birthday, Another M.M.A. Piece

Well, the Other Liz had her birthday on Saturday!

So you know what that means?

Yep, I finished another painting/collage as a less expensive birthday gift.

(Except, they actually don't turn out to be less expensive. By the time I buy the canvas, specific colors the person requested and other doodads that go with the theme, it turns out to be roughly the same price as a nice gift. But, it's a heck of a lot more fun than just buying something! So, I'm sticking with it!!)

I think Liz liked it*. I didn't give it to her when all the other people gave their gifts because I was sitting at another table at the farthest point possible while still being considered a member of her party.

So, I didn't want to pass it across to the other table and then have everyone look at while I was a mile away and couldn't give my disclaimers.

You know: "It's just for fun." "It's not perfect." "I tried some new techniques that didn't really work." "I'm sorry it's crap."

So, I waited until the party** was about over and people were leaving and I could pull her to the side really quick and give it to her.

I know. I know. I should be more positive and confident in my art.

But, it's scary for me.

Scary in a good way because it means I'm stretching myself. But still. It makes me feel a little panicky inside. You know what I mean?


Well, blah blah blah, here are some pictures of it.

(I had a hard time with the glare and focus factor. Sorry.)

*Oh, and Liz, I forgot to mention that yours was the first piece I've done with a picture of one of my ancestors. I have no idea how I'm related because my great aunt didn't label the picture. So, I don't even know her name. I call her Molly.

**It was really a fab party at this Indian restaurant. And I had a fun time talking with my new bff's Joey and Emily. It was nice to get to meet new people! So, I'm not complaining about being at the other table of outer darkness, or as Joey coined it "the short bus." It fact, if I were Liz (and I am A Liz), I'd feel loved because so many people came they couldn't even fit at the main table.

P.S. Hannah, I've finished yours. I just need to find you!

P.P.S. or P.S.S. (which ever it is) If you left a comment on my other M.M.A. post indicating that you wanted one, I've written your name (and any colors, etc.) down, and will get to it as soon as I can. (Even if I we haven't met. Hi Annie of Blue Gables!)

M.M.A. --Or, Mixed Media Artist (Not Mixed Martial Arts which is what pops up first if you google MMA.)

In an effort to keep this blog alive, I’m going to start posting on anything remotely creative I do. That way, I’m hoping this blog becomes less scary to me and I’ll be visited by the poetry muse again.

With that, I’ve finished it!

“Finished what?” you ask.

Katie’s birthday painting!

“But, Liz, wasn’t Katie’s birthday like 5 months ago?”

Yes. I’ve had some issues with it. But, I pressed forward and finished!

I gave it to her on Saturday, and of course, she was kind and gracious and said she loved it. (I’m taking her at her word even though she could just be sparing my feelings.)

Do you want to see some pictures?

Well, here you go!

Now, for those of you with a birthday coming up, guess what you’ll be getting!!!

Seriously.

(I’ve planned a cruise through Asia in a year and a half, and I need to save all the money I can. So, you’re all getting a painting, or a birthday “High Five.” Take your pick!)

So when it’s your birthday, this is what I need you to tell me:

1. What colors do you want? Be specific, and if possible, give me an example. Don’t just say “blue” (unless you really don’t care).

2. What theme(s) or idea(s) would you like to be included? You know, maybe you want one with fairies, or trolls (if you’re Brett), or love, or freedom, or birds, or houses, or reading. Stuff like that.

Oh, and if you had a birthday already this year, and would like one, let me know!

And if you’re interested in what I used to make this painting, here is a list of some of the materials:

Acrylic paints
Oil pastels
Watercolor pencils
Charcoal pencils
Crayons
Shimmery stuff
Metal brads
Ribbon
Thread
Paper (all different kinds)
Olden days writing and images
Ink
Stamps
Flowers
Mod Podge
Gel medium

Hi, do you remember me?

So, despite my best intentions and efforts to make it otherwise, it seems that announcing my plans to the world of posting a weekly poem has crushed my creativity under the weight of fear.

Seriously folks, the well has run dry.

Even when I tell myself that I can write a poem and just not post it, I still clam up—or self-edit so greatly that my original idea becomes a bland piece of junk.

This has weighed heavily on my mind.

I want to improve. I want feedback. But, I’m not sure if a blog is the answer.

So, the next question becomes, what to do with it?

Should I morph it into something else?

I have been thinking of expanding the purpose of my blog from dealing only (or mainly) with poetry, to dealing with anything I do of a creative nature.

I mean, I do mixed media art, maybe I should post pictures of my latest work?

I participate in ATC (Artist Trading Cards). Maybe I should show you what series I’m working on?

I’m trying to get my freelance career started. Maybe I should give updates, and track my progress?

I’m starting to write another book. Maybe I should talk about that, and post some stuff?

Or, maybe I should just hit “delete blog” and be done with it?

I don’t know. I’m still thinking on it.

I only know that every time I announce something on a blog, I seem to lose interest it or feel a deep sense of crapdom.

What do you think that says about me?

Hmm…