Lunaris Art

What medium do you prefer for creating your art?

Digital Art

Using photography editing software has been such a source of creativity and madness. The endless possibilities can boggle the mind if you don't have a clear direction that you are aiming for with your art. I love using procreate. It is extremely helpful in allowing me to plan art pieces as well as create beautiful digital pieces.

Unfinished Work

I know many, if not all, artists struggle to "finish" their work. I know that I am always in danger of overworking a piece. If I do not stop and allow fresh eyes to look at what has been done so far, I can easily ruin a piece.

The watercolor piece below is sitting in my unfinished art stack at the moment. This began as part of my first "experiments" with watercolors. Work has been particularly busy and will not slow until summer. I have promised myself I will get back to all my unfinished art...and finish them...this summer.

Exploring Creativity: The Methods and the Madness (Part 1)

When I first began to realize the positive impact that creating had on me, I started to explore the different "methods of creating".

I tried thinking of topics to explore. I tried sketching and writing about whatever I felt in the moment. I tried many, many different approaches. At one point, I came across some research about the brain. In a nutshell it said that when you're sleepy, your brain is primed to create something wonderful. That is when I realized I had been ignoring my most creative thoughts. Ideas always came to me when I was trying to fall asleep or when I was just waking up from a dream! Voila! I had insight into my brain and how I create. Of course, this doesn't apply to every single person, but it did for me. This helped me to go with the ideas that came to me rather than try to stifle them in order to sleep. When I have an image, idea, or a string of words now, I jot it down and either keep going or sleep on it. I fall asleep much easier now, knowing that my ideas will be there waiting for me and I won't forget them. All this time I'd been ignoring my inner voice and now it was time to set it free! It felt very liberating and gave me a sense of peace.

Exploring Creativity: The Methods and the Madness (Part 2)

So you have great ideas but you also have them noted all over the place?! There are sticky notes, napkins, scraps of paper, stuff in journals, notes in your cell phone, the back of a receipt, voicenotes, you texted some to your friend, UUUGGGHHHHHHH! The struggle is really real!

I have tried every single avenue of documenting my ideas. I learned to jot down ideas as a child, using paper and pencil. Not to mention that I am a visual learner, so seeing things on paper really helps my brain work through material a lot faster and with greater ease. The problem for me came when I realized I AM NOT A PAPER type of person. I lose paper, I accidentally throw away great stuff on paper. I leave paper at the bottom of my purse balled up into little wads of wonder. Then there were those many times when I didn't have a shred of paper or a writing instrument on me to use. Lipliner and eyeliner were used at some times...seriously.

I thought long and hard about how I could keep track of my ideas effectively. I had realized the problem but had failed to see it as my solution until weeks later. I AM NOT A PAPER PERSON...at least not in the beginning of my process. I came up with the idea to use my cell phone to keep track of ideas to begin the creating/writing process. I use notes and I label them POEM, ART, CONCEPTS , etc. The second line is a working title or I label the topic. The third line is the date (because notes changes the date when you update stuff). I have one note titled "Art/Poetry Random Ideas" and this is where I keep words concepts, topics, or phrases that I come up with but haven't figured out what to do with yet.

Once I had jotted all my ideas for a piece in a note, I then revised and edited in that same note. This did not work for me. It bothered me that I could not keep all the changes I had made and all the different versions of that same material. The evolution of a creative piece if you will. That, in my opinion, is an important part of the process and can lead to other works.

After trying and feeling that I failed, I decided to stop fighting the fact that I learned to write with paper and pencil and print my notes. YES, I PRINTED MY NOTES. I decided to add them all to a binder and revise/edit on the actual pages. GUESS WHAT?

IT WORKED FOR ME! I felt like I had conquered the world when I finally got to this point!

Figure out who you are creatively and do what works for you! Every person works differently. It really helped to hear what other people did just to give me some guidance on what is possible, but I had to take this journey with my needs in mind.

THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO CREATE!

I wish you luck and insight. May you find YOUR WAY!

Taking Things with a Grain of Salt

Getting feedback about your creations can be an amazingly helpful thing. It can also be something that can stifle creativity...if you let it.

When I started writing, it was only for me. Writing helped me find my way through feelings and thoughts that needed to be processed. It became a way for me to be able to make peace with things and share my experiences. The first time I ever wrote a poem for or about someone else, I couldn't wait to share it. I finally had a break through & wanted to share my writing with someone special. His reaction to my work about him was wonderfully freeing & made me so happy.

I continued to write just for me and didn't show anyone my work. Years later... I met someone, let's call him Jake. Jake writes and he asked me to send him some poetry to read. So I, very hesitantly, did. I let him know that I had never allowed anyone to read my stuff. He was very kind and his feedback really helped me. Jake did something very special for me...he lit a fire in my belly and made me want to write more! Jake not only inspired me to write more but also to share more. He was supportive and even encouraged me to share my work at an open mic. The thought of doing that gave me chills. No way could I ever do that! Like, in front of people? No thank you!

It was at this time that I made a new friend through Jake. Let's call her Dream. To make a long story short, Jake and Dream took the time to hear me and my creations. They inspired me to create more and different ways. If it wasn't for them, I would never have shared and this site would not exist. Without them, I would not have this wonderful avenue of expression that helps me feel balanced and at peace. I needed this & I truly believe that God put Jake & Dream in my life at the exact right time that I needed them.

Some years later my best friend, Thom, introduced me to her kind of art. Creating clothing! That is when I began my journey to teach myself how to sew clothing! My mother had taught me how to quilt and make stuffed animals. We often make cuddlly creatures and donate them to children in hospitals and group homes. Sewing clothing was a new way to be creative and I was all in! As of today, I am able to make almost any type of clothing that I desire. I feel really proud that I have taught myself this new form of art!

Taking things with a grain of salt is something I learned by watching Jake, Dream, & Thom in work mode. It is always great to get feedback as long as you know to stay true to your message. Take what you want and ignore the rest. It's a skill to be learned, especially when the criticism comes. Not everyone will like what I create or "get it" and I know that. That will never stop me from putting into the world what I want to make real.

If you want to grow as an artist, at some point you have to share your work. Take what you need, adapt if you know it will make you better. Never forget, there are no rules in creating art!

As for the rest, don't let it keep you up at night or hinder your creativity. Do not allow the opinions of others to stunt your evolution as an artist. It's easier said than done, but with practice you will become a better artist.