Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Creative Struggle

Sometimes being creative is a struggle, and right now I am in the resistance stage of a piece I am working on....

But instead of showing you the piece that is in the works, I thought I would show you the struggle I had with a piece that I finished some time ago.  It is a collage made with a number of tea bags that I had dyed and some botanical bits.   I then struggled with the focal bit.   Should it be a copy of a picture I took of a tree.....

Or perhaps just some more of some leaves I bleached,

Or a drawing of a bird I did.  
I wasn't happy with any of these things, and I um'd and ah'd for quite some time.  And then I turned the whole piece around.....
and went with the bird. 

Some pieces are such a struggle, while others come together so easily. 


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12 comments:

  1. My Creative House September 19, 2012 at 11:07 PM

    Kim, your collage is fantastic, love the colors and the bird, and I love your final result, but the tree fits also perfect for your background.
    Anni

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  2. Carol RigbySeptember 20, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    I know exactly how you feel. I have just completed a piece for my newly decorated wall at home. At first I just didn't know where I was going with it. I didn't like it at all. But then I just added something to it that took me in a different direction and it is now hanging on my wall and I am pleased with it.
    I love your choice of the bird and the backround is beautiful.

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  3. Stefanie SeltnerSeptember 20, 2012 at 2:27 AM

    yes, that´s true!
    But your collage is fantastic, I love the colors and composition, the bird in the circle, the material - I think in anyway you are the winner!

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  4. Jennifer Pearson VanierSeptember 20, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    It's wonderful. Sometimes you just gotta walk away or turn it around to see it in a new way. Great work!! I am sure that the "solution" to your creative block will come around soon.

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  5. Mail Art DramasSeptember 20, 2012 at 6:34 AM

    Perfect. alway so impressed by your use of rich colors and depth in each piece.

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  6. Caterina GiglioSeptember 20, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    isn't that the truth... but sometimes the ones we struggle with turn out the best...

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  7. NuminositySeptember 20, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    But it's the "knowing" that is your creative genius when it is or isn't just right. That's the miracle of a creative artist.
    Sometimes I walk away for a very long time.

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  8. deborah from collagewhirlSeptember 20, 2012 at 10:11 AM

    I agree with Caterina. It never feels finished to me if it was too easy!

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  9. Lynette (NZ)September 20, 2012 at 7:35 PM

    I love when the struggles lead you to new discoveries and (often) better pieces :-)

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  10. robin cox walshSeptember 20, 2012 at 9:30 PM

    Ain't that the truth! Some pieces 'make' themselves and others are like pulling teeth!
    The curse of creative endeavors I guess! Your collages never look like you've struggled. They are lovely.

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  11. Cynthia SchelzigSeptember 21, 2012 at 4:49 AM

    What a stunning piece. I like that you showed the variations of possiblities.....I like them all:) but I said to myself...go with the bird,,,and by darn........chirp,chirp...
    Have a good weekend in paradise.

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  12. anca graySeptember 24, 2012 at 12:40 PM

    oh, the resistance! it is a struggle i know all too well. how wonderful to trace your process in these photos!

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