The Gilded Gypsies: December 2013

Creativity isn't always a consistent flow of ideas and ability. Sometimes it ebbs and flows and the Muse seems to be in a coma! I find that surrounding myself with objects that inspire me to creativity can usually rouse the sleeping Muse and art happens. I am sharing some of my favorite inspiring things with which I have crowded my art room. I have SO crowded my space, I will be transitioning a bedroom into an art studio in the coming year. And that, my friend, means I can collect more inspiring things! Woohoo!

My art space has what I would call a "cohesive chaos", which means I am visually pleased every time I darken the door....artists are visual beings. Old books, old suitcases, old gilt frames, old anything. That's my theme! It's eclectic like the jewelry, but it's cohesive in its "oldness".

I am obsessed with old silver-plated pieces. I keep my art tools in tarnished teapots,creamers, sugar dishes, trophies, bowls and candy dishes. They are filled up with paintbrushes, scissors, chandelier prisms, tools, glue and old buttons. Over time they have become dear friends. (But NOT as dear as Anne.)

I love little vintage shoes. They were popular as pin cushions in the early 1900s and their companion ceramic sisters arrived in the 1930s. They're old, what can I say?

The influence of my passionate Christian faith is evident in the religious reminders scattered around my art space. Crucifixes, vintage pictures of Christ, and old chalk-ware statues. I find their presence both comforting and inspiring as I recognize that my creativity is a gift....from an expert.

Dried roses add a faded Victorian flavor to my shelves. They are an inexpensive luxury and easy to dry....just hang them upside down in a warm place! There's my Mom at four on that vintage bottle. Hi Mom!

Architectural salvage is really inspiring! My husband is a builder and has been

assigned a project, to build me an apothecary chest from old sewing machine drawers. It will be perfect for housing buttons, jewelry findings, rosaries, pearls, rhinestone pieces, and hundreds of other elements for creating!

So, now you've seen the inspiration, next, the start up process.........here's the secret.....
I turn on some great tunes, "Say" by John Mayer, "Paperweight" from Josh Radin & Shuyler Fisk, sit down at my Victorian desk (which is far too cluttered, to be shared) and start pulling out buttons and findings to create. Just seeing and handling these little pieces of history are enough to bring forth ideas and kindle creativity.

Anne and I believe we are living in another Renaissance, a day of the everyman artist. Anyone can create if time and space are set aside in which to be inspired. The journey to discovering ability and creative leanings is not short, but certainly can be traveled with much pleasure. The more I create................the more I create.