Call me
old school, but I get a thrill from shopping for my summer reads in a brick and
mortar store. I love the smell of new books and the awkward, weighty feel of
balancing a stack of promising adventure in my arms. I like turning paper pages
while losing myself in mysterious story worlds. There’s something real about the
physical involvement with a book that makes my reading experience more intimate
and ultimately more pleasurable.
It’s the
same with art. These days, I design new art almost exclusively on the computer.
The other day I was transferring a small scale computer rendering of a
commission into a full scale drawing. At first, the pencil felt awkward in my
hand. My eraser was actually still a pristine pink rectangle with sharp
corners; a tell-tale sign of neglect and deep embarrassment for any artist. The
inexperienced pink poser was a disgrace compared to the many oval shaped,
pencil lead stained nuggets that saw me through numerous drawings. Unlike its active
predecessors that would roll out of the way when I swept a graceful arc across
the blank page, this starched newbie barely tumbled and just got in my way. After
a few minutes, the old familiar rhythm returned and the design took shape. And
that’s when I felt real joy. Freedom. It was the interaction with the pencil,
paper and even the stubborn eraser that transported me to that introspective plateau
where new and exciting works of art are born.
Some people
don’t think they can draw. It’s not true. You can draw. It’s as much a learned
skill as riding a bike. Like anything else, it takes practice. But more
importantly, it takes desire.
During a
lunch date, a friend told me a story about her 80-year-old mother who lives in
a lovely assisted living facility. From her well-appointed apartment she has a
breathtaking view of Tampa Bay. Even so, her mother was always unhappy. Nothing
was ever good enough. She continually complained about everything. Until one
day when my friend gave her mother a box of colored pencils and a coloring book
filled with intricate designs. Her mother was reluctant at first, but after some
encouragement she gained confidence and came to enjoy coloring the detailed images.
My friend credits the coloring book for dramatically improving her mother’s attitude
about everything. Now when she goes to see her, the visits are more pleasant and
she’s sent home with beautifully colored refrigerator art.
There’s no
doubt about it, coloring and drawing are therapeutic. It liberates your mind
and allows you to think abstractly. And that is revitalizing.
How do you awaken your inner artist?
1.
Doodle. There are no rules and no critiquing
your scribbles. Go ahead, mess up clean paper. Sketch incomplete design ideas
you’ve been noodling around. Let them evolve organically on the page. Overlap
and combine unrelated concepts to explore totally new directions.
2.
Get up and out. Take a 40 to 60-minute walk outside
and leave your cell phone behind. The
world will survive your short absence. About 15 minutes into the walk your mind
will clear. Problems will fade away. You’ll start to hear the birds, see the lacey
shadows made by the trees and feel the breeze on your cheeks. Then after
another 10 minutes something wonderful will happen. Solutions to problems
become obvious. New ideas you were trying hard to force will come to light. The
revelations will leave you feeling refreshed and lighthearted. And best of all,
you’re likely to find out that you enjoy your own company. You don’t need the
constant stimulation of your phone. Your doing just fine all by yourself.
3.
Clean the shower. Maybe it’s the closed-in environment
combined with the harsh chemicals, I don’t know. But I always get great new artistic
ideas while cleaning the shower. Folding laundry has a similar effect on me, it
could work for you as well. Plus, unpleasant chores get done.
4.
Draw like you mean it. Confidence will come with
practice. But you have to start somewhere. Take a large sheet of paper and draw
out the shape of your intended project. Then let the pencil glide over the page
without any preplanning. Try adding a new line in a different direction. Play
with the space. Don’t hesitate to test unrelated combinations. The eraser is
your friend. You can always remove something that isn’t working. Remember, a round
eraser is a well-loved ally and evidence of experimental, freeform thinking.
5.
Try a new approach. I come to glass from a fine art background
and so a lot of my work is pictorial in nature. When I want a fresh, less
literal perspective I let my medium drive the design. I pull random pieces of
colored glass from the scrap bins and stack them in piles in the center of my
work table. They may sit there for days or weeks. Every so often I remix the
piles making new combinations until something pops. Then I use that color palate
on my next project.
Making art
is more than a mental exercise in creativity. If you expand your interaction and
get physically involved as well, you’ll quickly find yourself exploring new territory
and discovering all new possibilities for creative expression.
Get going!
Lisa
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND WORKSHOP
Upscale Fusing with Lisa Vogt
July 26, 2016
July 28, 2016
Incorporating
pattern and texture to elevate and refine your fusing style, are the focus of
this in-depth webinar. Join me and you’ll learn how to tastefully blend various
cutting-edge techniques to add dimension and volume to your work. With the pros
secrets revealed, you’ll be on the fast-track to developing winning
combinations that’ll get your work noticed!
Register here
BRAND NEW Webinar!
Creative Slumping with Lisa Vogt
August 30, 2016
September 1, 2016
Reshaping
the way you slump and drape glass, is the concentration of this detailed webinar.
Join me and see how thinking outside-the-box and using readymade molds in new
ways, offers numerous and exciting opportunities to produce unique forms.
You’ll also learn how to make your own graceful, free-form shaped molds from
readily available materials. No laborious measuring or messy mixes needed.
There’s more. Lisa will take you one step further. She’ll show you how to use these
different approaches in combination, to transform ordinary projects into
inspiring, sculptural pieces of art.
Register here
NOW Registering!
Advanced
Glass Fusing with Lisa Vogt
October
18-21, 2016
Personalized Instruction, 4-Day,
Hands-on Workshop
Lisa’s Private Studio, Wesley
Chapel, FL
Seats
are limited. Register today.
This
is my last hands-on workshop in 2016!
Here’s what the students are saying
about the workshop.
“Lisa is
an exemplary educator who is passionate about her craft. She is highly
organized and mindful of her student’s strengths and challenges. Best practices
of teaching as well as craftsmanship were utilized throughout the workshop.
Thank you for igniting my creative spirit to a whole new level.” -JoAnn
“Loved
everything about this class.” -Joni
“Great
workshop. I learned so much. You were wonderful to work with.” -Erika
“My
favorite part about the workshop was the creative flow between the instructor
and the participants. Lots of positive feedback and encouragement. Lots of
attention to detail.”
“What
surprised me about the workshop was how many completed projects we were able to
make during the workshop.”
“My least
favorite part about the workshop was having to leave! I loved everything about
this intense and interactive workshop.”
