AWE AND WONDER - DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER -

"Awe can literally stop you in your tracks, and it induces significant physical effects. You might shiver. Your pulse quickens. You might feel a warmth in the chest and tears in your eyes brought on by awe's influence."

From Your Brain on Art, How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Finding the Wow and Awe

For me nature offers up that sense of awe, the "wow" escaping my lips when I spot magical lichens or unusual plants or curious patterns or shadows. Music can have an awe effect on me too - pieces that reach the depth of my emotions, bringing on a shiver or goosebumps as I immerse myself in the rhythm and and sounds. 

With winter almost upon us here, that for me means more time to create. I have a list of art pieces I'd like to make, mostly based on my two trips for an art retreat the last 2 summers where we were immersed in nature. Here are just a few of the scenes of awe I came across and which I'd like to now turn into fibre art.

This last photo was fun to take, as I was using a new macro lens that simply clips onto a smart phone. Who knew one could take such good pictures with a little clip-on lens. My only challenge was choosing which photo turned out best. 

Music and my Creative Arts Therapy Classes

I'm not only enjoying the online class I started last month but am also realizing just how useful the activities are and how much the arts can benefit us in so many ways. This month includes activities using music and experiencing how it can boost our emotions and mood, and enhance creative expression and focus. 

Do you have a playlist you listen to when creating? My playlist when I'm making art typically includes Native American flute music and artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Adele, and Cat Stevens. And through this class I've now tried several other artists and music genres, and yes even silence, experiencing the effects of each on my art-making. I'd love to know what music sparks your creativity - please let me know. 

Using AI for Workshop Descriptions

One of my goals for 2024 is to develop a series of mini workshops on artsy mending and fixes for clothing and textiles that are torn or discoloured, and also to offer more gelli printing workshops. Now I'm not the greatest at putting together descriptive promotions and I never thought I'd give AI a try, but when I saw an opportunity to have it write my workshop descriptions, I decided to give it a whirl. . 

I was pleasantly surprised. It took the words I fed into it and came up with some creative paragraphs. Some fixups were definitely needed but the copy was better than I could have hoped. I've now done a few using AI, and perhaps they will help with my own creative writing skills. 

Image Transfers Workshop Using the Gelli Plate

I taught a workshop earlier this month on image transfers using the gelli plate, experimenting with 4 different methods. It was a small class which I prefer as I can give so much more attention to everyone.

And what a creative group and with good results by all with a bit of practice. I will be running this class again on February 29, 2024, at the Ottawa School of Art Orleans Campus. Registration is available at https://registration.artottawa.ca/course/detail/10786. I'm also offering a general class on the gelli plate on February 15: https://registration.artottawa.ca/course/detail/10785

Here are a few of the images my students achieved. My goal is to ensure they can start to achieve success in my classes and start to find that sense of awe as they see the potential in  these techniques. 

Until next month,

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