Mud Pies and Magnets

When I was a kid, a common thing to say to friends when we were trying to think of something to do was, "Hey! Let's make something!" I remember making all kinds of different things. Here are some examples. I used to like to find really smooth rocks and paint pictures on them. I still have one left on which I painted a little owl. I would find an empty shoe box and scraps of this and that and create a little room for one of my small animal toys. It would have the most elaborate things—a stereo system with albums, carpeting, furniture, lamps, and so on. I got into making potholders with a little device my mom had for making those. I got into macrame. I drew a lot. When I was really little I drew a story sequence of birds in a nest in the middle of about a dozen small paper plates. My mom saved it and I still have it! My friends and I would try to make whatever we decided we were going to make. Once we got the bright idea to make mud pies, just to do it. What I remember about it was that at first it was really fun to dig in the mud, but after awhile it was just difficult because it wasn't moist enough and we weren't near water (or didn't think of that), but we were determined and did make mud pies! Making things, creating, is a magical experience. Even kids growing up now in this age of technology still really enjoy making things. Whenever my nieces and nephews visit, we always do something together where we're creating something. They love it. And, so do I!

A side note... When I was about three, my mom was making enameled jewelry and was using tweezers to place various pieces of glass on the piece she was working on. I was hanging around (of course too young for my mom to have me be a part of it in any way). Well, I found the tweezers. I was on the floor, I guess, and I saw the outlet near the baseboard. "Hey!" I thought. "These would fit right into those two holes! I wonder what would happen?" (I doubt I went through this entire verbal dialogue with myself, but you get the picture.) So, being the curious kid that I was, I jammed the tweezers into the outlet and got the surprise of my fucking life. All I remember was the feeling of electricity going through my body, a big noise and sparks, and smoke coming from the outlet (which had to be replaced). All I can say is that I was one lucky three-year-old. I remember that it hurt, that jolt of electricity, and I realized I had made a big mistake. I don't remember anyone being overly concerned, but I'm sure I was just in a daze and don't remember. Anyway, that was my introduction to art projects. I will never forget it! And, I'm still curious but a whole lot more cautious.

Anyhow, reading the fourth chapter of Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon is called "Use Your Hands," and it really got me thinking about how fun it is to make things. It stirred up memories of making things all the time as a kid, which is why I began this post by discussing some of that. As an adult I have continued making things. I go on kicks. For awhile I got into watercolor painting. My own style. I have no technique, but I really enjoy it. I like to paint very ornate, micro-detailed designs on different things like little pots for plants, wooden shapes that I then make into magnets, bowls, picture frames, boxes, and so on. I like to make thing with beads and charms, both jewelry and non-jewelry items like bookmarks. I discovered how to make cool refrigerator magnets using glass pieces, silicone, art of my choice, and strong magnets. One of the reasons I really enjoy making things is because I enjoy giving them to people as gifts. One Christmas I gave my family only things I had handmade. It was really time-consuming, but totally worth it!

Being creative has to involve doing things, moving, feeling things, listening, smelling, even sometimes tasting. This is one of Kleon's main points of the chapter. He says that "computers have robbed us of the feeling that we're actually making things." I like how Kleon uses example of other types of artists, such as musicians and orators, to illustrate the point that creating has to involve bringing your entire being and your body into your work. For graphic designers, or anyone who creates on the computer, it's easy to get stagnant if you don't do some kinds of hands-on work. Kleon says that sitting in front of a computer and creating just from the head is no good—we can't create just from the head because our inspiration comes from doing things that involve all of the senses. I am totally in agreement with him! Sitting in front of the computer for hours on end is deadening to the mind, body, and soul. I do enjoy my computer work, but it can't be only that. I love his idea of having an analog workspace and a digital workspace. I actually already have those, as probably many of you already do too. They are in the same room, right next to one another. I call it my art room and have art on the wall made mostly by artist friends of mine. It's inspiring! I always work with some kind of music playing, and it's very comfortable. It has a good vibe.

I think that engaging as many of my senses as possible will help creative people produce better work, and that's because it wakes us up! It is how humans experience the world. We don't just see the world; we see, feel, hear, taste, and touch the world. Kleon's description of bringing analog tools back into his process made total sense to me. He said that the work he did that engaged most of his senses was so much fun! He said that "there was a kind of magic happening." (p. 58) And most importantly, "it didn't feel like work. It felt like play." When what you are doing feels like play, of course you are going to produce better work! Your love and enjoyment of the process are evident in what you create!

Generating ideas on the computer might work for some people, but using analog tools first, such as a sketchbook, are much better. Collecting things to put in your idea stash and then getting them out and spreading them out over the table when you want inspiration is also a great way to get the brain active and more "alive." Kleon likes to move back and forth between his analog space and his digital space. The analog space is for idea generation and the computer is for executing the ideas. "When you start to lose steam, head back to the analog station and play." (p. 61) I love that line and will try to start working that way.

When deciding what kind of analog project I wanted to create, I was pulled toward my magnet making project (ha...). So below are a bunch of pictures, all captioned, that show some things I have created over the years (things I really enjoy making), my workspaces, and the process and final execution of my analog project. I miss doing this kind of project!

Set of magnets I painted (acrylic on wood). These are about 1 1/4 inches high.

Same kind of magnet project, but these depict my actual cats. I added the halo when Zöe died.

The most recent set of painted magnets.

One of my painted pots. I have painted dozens of these. Yes, that's a little person at the top. He came with a terrarium kit that someone gave me from TWIG company. :)

Another pot. The plant isn't looking so good...

I guess you might call this kind of thing "folk art?"

I have no idea where I got this idea, but I made a few collaged outlet plates. I used various papers, applied them with Mod Podge, and on this one I added a few little rhinestones.

Same idea.

I have always tried to find special ways to commemorate beloved pets of mine who've passed. These little matchbook memorials are just my style.

The first magnet set I made (of this particular style). The images are patterns from a Victoria's Secret catalog.

So my workspace is currently one big messy room. This is a room that for years was our "office." We kept the main computer, file cabinets, bookshelves, and stuff like that in it. I needed an art room, so I gradually took it over. The main computer is now in another room (the "studio") where my husband spends much of his time practicing guitar and saxophone. All of our musical gear is stored in that room. So anyway, we each sort of have our own space. When I went back to school, my room also became my work room for school work. So now it has a computer desk with my large monitor and tablet (printer is in the studio but I print wirelessly), and a utility table where I can spread out.

Digital Work Station

Analog Work Station
It doesn't always have so much stuff on it. I just have some of the materials out that I keep in the room to give you an idea of how much crap I truly have! I keep everything as organized as I can, but I really need a bigger room. Notice the wall of art. I have so many talented friends and family members.

Getting ready for the project. All materials are on the table. Now I have to look through a bunch of images and decided what I want to use to make a few magnets.

After considering cutting up a copy of one of my watercolor paintings or a greeting card that has little musicians on it, I settled upon images from an old calendar (the little pics on the backs of calendars that show what the pages look like are great for this). This is a Tibetan Buddhist art calendar. 

Put the glass (I don't know what you call them—flat on the bottom, rounded on the top) on the image where you want, then I just trace around with an exacto knife and then finish with scissors.

Finish and fine tune with scissors, making sure the glass fits just right over the shape.

This is some toxic stuff. I only use it because all other glues leave bubbles or don't work right for one reason or another.

Put a pea-sized glob of the silicone on the picture...

 ...and then the magic happens. It's so fun to watch as you press the glass down and the glue spreads out—the glass magnifies the image and makes it come alive! (This is before the magic has happened.)

Voila!

Now who can I give these to?