Some new journal pages...

I've been looking at lots of art lately, trying to get inspired. It's a catch 22 because I do get really inspired looking at other mixed media and journal artists--but then there's always the danger of comparison. I start feeling page envy and feeling like my stuff isn't as good. Which I guess every artist probably goes through. I also sometimes feel like my style isn't as cohesive as I would like it to be right now.

With that being said, I did create two pages in the past week or so that I really like. They are a little bit more free and messy than what I have been doing for the past couple months. The pictures aren't the greatest--we have had very little sunlight lately which makes taking nice pics difficult. Every day is dark and grey. But you should get the idea:

Testing, Testing

I've been wanting to start a blog for a while now. I'm pretty much an addict when it comes to reading other artists' blogs. As I venture further on in my own journey as an artist, I find myself wanting more and more to document and share that process. I am not sure at this point how this blog will shape up; I will probably change it around a lot in the beginning.

Lately I have been feeling incredibly stuck in regards to my creativity. I haven't been painting or collaging or even journaling much. I've done a bit more journaling in the past few weeks, but it still feels like I am pulling teeth to get anything creative out of myself. I am typically much more prolific in summer and fall. Everything comes easy to me then. I barely have to think about paintings in the summer--ideas are plentiful and executing them seems easy. But then things start slowing down during the fall and once winter hits--forget it.

I'd like to learn more about how to create during the difficult times as well. When times are slow and the ideas aren't as easy. I am thinking if I want to become more of a professional artist, spending half the year creatively dormant just isn't going to cut it. Perhaps I will learn that it is just part of my natural pattern of creativity--I don't know. Maybe I will focus more on other aspects of being an artist during that half of the year. But I would like to learn to be at least somewhat creative during this time. Maybe slow down but not come to a complete stop.

My most favorite piece of art I have done lately is for an altered book round robin that I am a part of right now. I was assigned the cover by the owner of the book and this is what I came up with: