GUEST POST: GETTING PAST THE HUMP IN A CREATIVE PRACTICE

Guest post by Renée Gendron MA, Business Development consultant, Co-founder and Chief Information Squirrel, Author 



I set a goal to write 1 million draft words of my 1.8 million word series in 2018. That’s 5,000 pages. Although I’ve written other books and short stories, this series is the first that has the potential to be commercially viable. I reached that goal on August 31, 2018, and I’ll work towards my stretch goal of 1.8 million words. I’ve been stumped. I’ve written myself into corners. I’ve had to redesign characters and do some deep thinking on magic systems to ensure that my world was logical and internally consistent. And I continue to have to fix problems with plot, structure, characters, and endings.

I’d like to share with you some components of emotional, psychological, and professional resiliency that you can use in your creative work whether it’s writing, Painting, performing arts, composing, or some other artistic endeavour.


Put your Pride Aside

It’s not easy creating something. What gets typed up on a page, painted onto a canvas, inked into a score, often isn’t what you initially thought it would turn out to be. I wrote a romance scene where the heroine and hero fell into each other’s arms and fell madly in love with one another. A perfect ending to a beautiful story. Romantic, eh? The problem was when my beta-readers reviewed it, they pointed out the glaring flaw that the conflict the heroine and hero had just a chapter ago wasn’t resolved, that it didn’t make sense in context for them to wrap each other up in their loving arms and that the scene was flat. No spark, no desire. Ouch.

I rewrote the scene with their advice, looked at the margins where they scribbled notes and questions, answered them all in the rewrite, and ended up with a better chapter.


Lesson

To create the best product (art) you need to open yourself up to feedback. Open to feedback from people who have more experience in the art than you.
A chapter may not make sense. A composition may lose its rhythm or not synch well with other instruments. A piece of weaving may not achieve the desired pattern. A painting may work best when another technique or perspective is used.

Sometimes you’ll have a creative difference with the person providing the feedback. Other times you’ll have to have a think about how to rework it, how to incorporate the feedback, how to make it fit for what you want to achieve.

It’s not easy, but you’re better off for it. Sure, there might be some creative differences, but you asked them for feedback. You won’t get better unless you take that feedback and rework it into your work.


Stuck

There are days where my brain doesn’t want to cooperate. I have an idea in my head, it’s clear and crisp, but when I go to type it up, it’s garbled and flat. There are days where I can’t get a piece of the story to work, the plot twist that I thought it would turn out to be a gentle slope, uninteresting and predictable.

I think I write goodly 😃, but then it comes out as making no sense. Sometimes it’s because I’m tired, so I take a break. Sometimes, it’s because I’m dehydrated and I can’t think clearly in those situations. Other times, it’s because I need to improve my skill level.

Lesson

Budget your time and money.

I budget time and money for professional development. If you don’t have a lot of money, that’s okay. You need to allocate more time. For example, I read a lot of free articles online, listen to free podcasts, and participate in free forums about my craft.

I also allocate a professional development budget, and I participate in conferences, workshops, and online courses. The better I get, the more tools and tricks I can use to overcome a technical challenge.

Support Systems

It’s nice to have your spouse or sibling ask you about your art. And then you see their eyes glaze over when you become animated and enthusiastic about your work. Your spouse, your children, your siblings, are likely to smile and nod when you show them a new creation, but they often don’t share the same passion for your art as you do. That stings and can discourage you from pursuing it.


Lesson

Find and surround yourself with people who are equally passionate about the type of creative practice you do. I’ve developed an ecosystem of individuals associated with publishing and writing to help me through this project, and I’ve expanded my network in this area. With them, I get technical about writing, engage in deep conversations about the craft, go to conferences with them, share resources, and talk until lose my voice about all things related to writing. But when it comes down to it, I still need to put my fingers to the keyboard and produce.


Motivation

I love writing. I took a fifteen-year break from writing – though I can’t remember why I stopped writing, and when I came back to it, I remembered how much I love it. I find editing difficult and less entertaining. When I don’t feel like doing it, even though I know I have to do it, I break it into smaller chunks, I learn techniques to make it less of a slog, and I keep reminding myself that I need to do this to achieve the end goal: a well-written, polished, book.

What’s your motivation? What drives you to do what you do?


Take that idea, then apply the points of this article from bottom to top.


Renée Gendron MA

I’m the founder of Vitae Dynamics where I help companies and communities improve their economic resiliency. I think Canada needs to create 6 million full-time jobs to ensure prosperity for all. You can like my Vitae Dynamics page on Facebook and/or follow me on twitter under @vitaedynamics.
My website is http://reneegendron.com/index.html

I’m also the co-founder of a clean agricultural company. We offer a range of organic certified whole life cycle products that reduce the need for antibiotics, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves air quality in barns, and boost yields for farmers.
If you’d like to follow me for my writing, please do so on twitter @reneegendron I’ve not posted much yet but will do so soon. I will probably post a lot about squirrels because they are awesome.

ART SHOW MISHAPS - SOME DO'S AND DON'TS TO PLAN FOR THE WORST

Having spent the better part of my career in event planning, I've seen many things that can and do go wrong at shows. Some things can be prevented with a bit of insightful planning, other things, well, are just beyond one's control. And with art, craft and vendor show season well underway, it's always good to do some planning to prevent things from going wrong and to put contingency plans into place for the uncontrollable, This applies whether you are a show organizer or renting space at a show.

Here are some DO's and DON'T's to help prevent similar situations that I have encountered: 


😲 DO be prepared for small hands who like to touch your products. A potter I know who makes bowls with beautiful textures keeps one piece at the ready, just for those little hands who like to touch. Then parents can rest assured that nothing will get broken.

😲 DO Trust your intuition if something doesn't feel right.

My most memorial mishap was at an art show where all the grids had been set up in advance. I didn't feel the grids were stable at the area where I was assigned, but the organizers looked at it and advised me it was fine. Alas, a gentlemen who was unsteady on his feet knocked over several of the grids in the row where I was stationed, resulting in several broken frames and broken glass on several art pieces, including mine. Fortunately there was someone in the group would could cut glass and she re-framed the items with broken glass, at the organization's expense. But it was very upsetting and I was not impressed with the organization. Others confirmed to me that I was right that the grids were not stable to begin with.


😲 DO always double check plans and details that others have responsibility for.
      DON'T leave anything to chance.

I was coordinator of an international conference at a local hotel where we discovered at noon that our lunch had not been set up for us! Turned out the person in charge forgot to check the banquet sheets that morning. The staff was great - they got tables set up and food for us within half an hour, but I learned from that mishap to always check the rooms and with the staff the day of to make sure nothing gets missed.

But sometimes things can still go wrong. The next time we were at the same hotel, for the next annual international conference, despite checking that our meals would be ready for us on time, when we did actually make our way to the meeting room, it was only discover another group was sitting down eating our food!

😲 DO have an emergency action plan put together in advance - who will stay with the person who is sick or injured, who will call 9-1-1, and who will meet the emergency unit at the door and guide them in.
     DO know if anyone in your group has CPR or defibrillator training. Emergencies do happen, and one does need to know what to do.
     DO check in advance if cell phones will work where the show is - some facilities block cell phones, so you need to have a back-up plan in case of emergency.

😲 DO bring a change of clothes in case of bad weather. This is a given for outdoor events, but indoor? I've been caught in torrential downpours while bringing my stuff from my car to the building, and without dry clothes to change into. Also a good idea in case of spilling coffee.

😲 DO bring a pool noodle for your tent for an outdoor show. They help to absorb water that may leak during rainy periods. 
     DO check your tent, guy lines, tarps, and other booth props before coming to the show, just in case anything is missing or in need of repair. Signage especially has a tendency to flip the wrong way or hang skewed. You do want customers to see your name. 

😲 DO have a plan or policy in place in case of last minute cancellations - or no-shows - of vendors or artists. It doesn't look good when there's an empty table in the middle of a room, or if a vendor packs up and leaves early. This happens more than you would think. Touch base with anyone on your waiting list a day or two before the show to see if they are still interested, should the need arise. And reconfirm with all your vendors the day before the show. 

😲 DON'T panic or show your stress if things do go wrong. It doesn't help, and if you show stress or anger or panic, then others around you will too. Take a deep breath, stay calm, keep your head on, and decide what steps you need to take to rectify the situation. 

GUEST POST: IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT TITLE

Delighted to have Ottawa Mystery Writer Barbara Fradkin provide one of her recent blog posts here - this topic is equally relevant for writers, artists, indeed anyone who is involved in any of the arts. Read on...

GUEST POST by Ottawa Mystery Writer Barbara Fradkin

In Pursuit of the Perfect Title

It's the August long weekend, and it's hot, sunny, and gloriously lazy. I am sitting on my dock by the lake, far from the bustle and obligations of city life. I am working in a desultory fashion, reading research books for my next Amanda Doucette novel, which is still a mere twinkle in my imagination but as of yesterday possessed of a title. It's always a thrilling moment when I hit the combination of words that make the perfect title. Sometimes it happens before I even know there's book ahead. PRISONERS OF HOPE was a title in storage for years until I finally had the idea to go with it, and now the finished book will be released in October of this year.

Sometimes the title comes during the writing of the book. At some point I write a phrase or a character says something, and I think "There's the title!" This happened in one of my Inspector Green novels, when halfway through the book, Green and his sergeant are discussing suspects, and Green says "But what about the fifth son?" FIFTH SON was perfect. Sometimes I wait in vain for the epiphany and at the end of the first draft I am still at sea. I fiddle and worry and turn phrases and words over in my mind as I go about my day. In desperation I may eventually throw a bunch of theme words and descriptors into a Google search, enter "Quotations" and see what pops up. THIS THING OF DARKNESS, a quote from Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, was discovered that way.

A book is never finished until it has the perfect title. A title should capture its essence or hint at a major theme or conflict. It should match the mood and voice of the piece. It should give the reader some idea of what lies inside. Titles with puns are popular with cosies but would be inappropriate in the gritty mystery/ thrillers I write. Punchy, one-word titles like FEAR hint at bare-bones thrillers, also not the type of book I write. Mystery titles should hint at mystery, rather than romance, horror or science fiction.


Sometimes the quest for a title becomes an urgent matter when the publisher demands one for promotional purposes or when the media puts you on the spot by asking what the name of your next book is. You could always say I don't know, but that's a promotional opportunity lost. HONOUR AMONG MEN was conceived when a newspaper reporter asked about my next book. I had already started researching PTSD among our soldiers but as yet had no idea of the plot or conflicts, but that phrase popped into my head on the surge of adrenaline the question provoked. It was a classic military phrase, and ended up suiting the story very well.

So back to that languid day reading on the dock yesterday. I was reading a beautifully written and illustrated book called ALBERTA THE BADLANDS, which was peppered with snippets of poetry by an early fossil hunter in the area. I came upon this quote from "A Story of the Past", by Charles H. Sternberg. "The rains of ages have laid bare the ancient dead."

THE ANCIENT DEAD. Perfect.


I only hope my publisher agrees. Now my story has begun.


Barbara Fradkin is a child psychologist with a fascination for why we turn bad. Besides her short stories and easy-read short novels, she is best known for her gritty, psychological Inspector Green series, which has received two Arthur Ellis Best Novel Awards. However, her newest mystery suspense series features international aid worker Amanda Doucette, who battles her own traumatic past to help people in trouble.


The first two novels in that series were released to starred reviews, and the third, PRISONERS OF HOPE, is due for release in October 2018. She is currently planning a trip to Alberta to research the fourth, to be set in the Alberta badlands. For more information, check out www.barbarafradkin.com.

STORYTELLING THROUGH VISUAL ART

The telling of stories through visual art - or narrative art - has been around forever but is rising in popularity as a means for social-cause stories, rather than the more traditional depiction of daily life or events, myths and folklore. Some recent subjects I have come across are dementia, the value of friendships, and the environment, portrayed through paintings, mixed media, sculpture and woven art. 

The visual language of symbols, metaphors and archetypes are the main elements of the narrative art, designed to guide and engage the viewer in interpreting the story. More subtle are the metaphorical art mediums chosen, as well as colour, contrast, texture, movement, rhythm and so on. Art genres can range from painting and mixed media to sculpture and fibre arts, and may also include forms with both visuals and text, genres such as collage, journaling, book arts, cartoons and comics, graphic novels, mixed media.

And without the addition of a title or a few words, the story is not always clear to some. Words can be the prompt that assist the viewer in getting the picture, or message. And sometimes it's only after reading the artist's inspiration or statement that the story is unveiled - or partially unveiled.

But maybe that's what the artist intends - that it's up to us as viewers to use our imagination to fill in the blanks and reflect on the subject. Our experiences, knowledge and ideas all contribute to deciding what story the artist may be trying to tell. A bit of thinking may be required. The artist may want us to decide in what direction the story will go. 

Often a narrative is told not through just one picture, but through a series of pictures. Just as written works have many layers and elements weaving through several chapters, the same would hold true that multiple visuals may be needed to disclose the threads of a story. Consider setting, characters, plot, conflict, etc., all elements of a bigger whole. Of course it depends on how complicated and long the story is. 


My own attempts at visual storytelling have been somewhat successful. Perhaps my best one to date, shown here at left, is of this woman standing on the side of a road under a make-shift shelter, a mixed media piece using old fabric, paper, and cardboard, acrylic paint and coloured pencil. The contrast between the sari and the grays is an important visual element. Some assumptions can be drawn but it's the picture and materials combined with the title - "A Place to Call Home" - that I think suggests a story behind the picture. You be the judge. 

My goal is to make some narrative art for an exhibition opening in June 2019.  My challenge right now is to sift through possible stories and chose 1 or 2, then start thinking about how best to represent these stories through fibre art. 

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you about narrative art you have created - or samples you have seen.  

Related story: Titling your Art

6 WAYS TO DETERMINE IF YOUR ARTWORK IS FINISHED

Sometimes we overwork our art. Sometimes we under-work them. It's easy to get caught up in working too close to the piece but we need to step back once in a while to see the big picture. Once you think you have finished a piece, here are 6 ways to help determine if your piece of art is actually complete - or if it needs more work.

1. Turn it upside down, then stand across the room to view the piece and look at it from different perspectives. By altering the right side up view, we start to see gaps or disconnects where the piece is not quite finished, where a colour needs to be fixed etc. It's like looking through someone else's eyes.
2. Hold the art up to a mirror  - try right side up, upside down, sideways. By looking at the mirror image, as in #1 above, we gain a new perspective and can see if and where fixes are needed.
3. Walk away for a few days, then look at the art through fresh eyes, like seeing it for he first time, and as another viewer sees it. Some suggest to hang it up and live with the picture for a week or more. You will be drawn to parts that need to be fixed.
4. Ask a friend - There's nothing better than getting a second opinion. Just make sure it's someone who will be honest in a positive way, and not be afraid to critique and possibly hurt your feelings. "I love it!" is wonderful to hear but not always helpful.
5. You realize you're bored with the piece - It may be unfinished, but perhaps you have gotten out of it what you needed to learn. Decide if you want or need to finish it. If not, move on.
6. Trust your intuition - As you get more experienced in art-making, you'll start to sense if it's finished or if something still needs to be fixed. Then turn to the suggestions above to figure out what needs to be done.

DO YOU REMEMBER NAMES OF PEOPLE YOU'VE JUST MET?

How often do you hear someone say "I'm really bad at remembering names"? I'm one of those. I was told a few years ago that we have to say someone's name 3 times when we first meet them in order to remember it. Uh huh. That didn't always work for me.

Then I met someone this week (gosh, what did she say her name was ?!) who asked how I spell my name, specifically with or without an 'e'. She explained that she remembers names by "seeing" it as a word and with all its letters, so she always check the spelling, even when it's a simple name.

It occurred to me later that she must be a "visual" learner. Approximately 65% of the population are visual learners, 30% auditory, and the remaining 5% are kinesthetic.

Auditory learners are naturally good at remembering names and at finding ways to do so. Kinesthetics need to feel some kind of connection with you in order to remember your name. 

Visuals will remember a face, but not the name. Since 65% of us are visuals, it's no wonder I hear so often from people how bad we are with names. By working with images, perhaps this idea of seeing the name written out is just the trick we visuals need to cement a name to memory. I will try this next time I meet someone and check how they spell their name. And if you give it a try too, let me know if it works for you!

Anne - that's Anne with an e - Warburton
Visual Learner, Fibre Artist and Blogger

CREATING IN A GROUP PART 2: 14 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE JOINING A GROUP

In my last blog post I talked with my friend, visual artist Kerstin Peters, about "Creating Art with a Group" - about groups she is part of, how they can help contribute to success as an artist, and about meet-up locations (https://annewarburton.blogspot.com/2018/07/why-you-should-create-in-group.html). In this second part we talk about challenges and about collaborations on a joint piece, and provide you with 14 questions to ask before you join - or create - a group.

4) What are some disadvantages of creating with a group? Are you afraid to lose your own creativity when you participate in group activities too often?

One of the advantages of creating with a group can also be a disadvantage: you influence each other. If you paint too often together, there is a chance that you start to copy each other.

It is also important to realize that it does not matter how fast or slow you paint. It does not say anything about your skill, but rather reflects your personality. This was something that was very discouraging for me at the beginning, because one of my painting buddies paints very fast. Sometimes, it feels like she is almost finished by the time I start. We go on many trips and outings together and have come to an agreement that we will look for spots where she can easily find several angles to paint.

It is also important to realize that we are all unique and as much as we sometimes admire another artist’s work, it is important that we stay true to our personality. We have our own styles and interpretations, and part of the beauty is that we are all creating unique artworks, even if we paint the same scene.

5) Have you collaborated with other artists to jointly create a piece of art?

Until now, we only talked about creating a piece together but we never worked on one artwork. The closest we came to jointly creating art was last September, when we all set up our easels at the same location to paint the sunset in Kamouraska. We could probably put all six pieces as a sequence showing different stages of the sunset.


Kerstin has provided my answers to these same questions on her blog. I invite you to visit her post at: http://kerstinpeterspaintingblog.blogspot.com/


If you would like to join - or put together - your own creative group, here are some items to consider so you can define what you want to get from such a group:

1. What kind of creative work does the group do, is it restricted to one medium or are other mediums allowed?
2. Is there a demonstration or workshop during the meeting, or does everyone work without instruction?
3. Who is part of the group? A mix of skill levels? How about the age group?
4. Are you all expected to work on the same project, or can you work on your own project?
5. Will you need to bring your own or purchase extra supplies? How about tables, chairs, easels for an indoor venue?
6. When does the group meet: day or evening, weekdays or weekends, and how often do they meet?
7. Is there a fee (if so, it is usually minimal for local events)? If you are looking for multi day outings like a retreat or a painting trip, the costs vary depending on the accommodation and location.
8. Is regular attendance expected, or can you sign up for individual get-togethers? Do you have to pay a yearly fee, or can you pay on a pay as you go basis?
9. Does the group work inside or outside, or both depending on weather?
10. If you are inside and there is oil painting in the group, are you sensitive to the oils or thinners? Are thinners allowed? Are there other art materials or tools used that some people can be sensitive to?
11. Is there a lot of idle chatter or do the artists mostly focus on their projects (chatter related to the projects is usually fine)? Be honest with yourself. If you need tranquility to work, you will not enjoy an environment with chatter or music in the background.
12. How far are you willing to travel? Is parking available close by? Is there a cost for parking?
13. Is there food or coffee/tea available near by? Do you need to bring your own?
14. Where to find groups: Facebook, art organizations, local art schools and galleries (paid instruction)

WHY YOU SHOULD CREATE IN A GROUP

Imagine what you might experience by creating in a group, how can it benefit you. Potential for new ventures, gaining knowledge, collaborating, making new friends. 

I sat down recently with my friend, visual artist Kerstin Peters, to talk about this topic and have recorded her perspectives below. Kerstin has been part of creative groups for many years, travelling to several destinations in Canada to capture the beauty of the landscape. She is a firm believer that everyone can express themselves through art, and offers painting parties and “Creativity and Me” workshops. She has recorded my thoughts on groups in her blog, and I invite you to visit hers to see my answers at http://kerstinpeterspaintingblog.blogspot.com/ or through www.KerstinPeters.ca.

Links are included below for more information on our video conversation.

1) Kerstin, why do you create art with a group? What do you get out of creating with others?

I belong to a couple of groups, the biggest of which is the Plein Air Ensemble, we paint in various places around the region. We used to paint at farther locations in Ontario and Quebec. We have more than 50 members and our trips are usually 4 nights away with 14-20 people. We don't all paint together, but in small groups during the day, then get together for our evening meal and to compare notes, recommend a painting spot. Sometimes we don't see some of our artist friends for months so it's great to catch up. At the end of every trip, we have a show and tell. We use different mediums, we have oil, acrylic and watercolour artists, and some pastel artists. It's fantastic to see how everyone sees nature with different eyes. Even if it's freezing cold, to be in nature and immersed in the sounds and the smells is just fantastic.

I have another small group of friends I create with in the area. It's sometimes easier with a small group and we can get together more often.

Link to video on different painting groups: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyiSOZGxUYM&feature=youtu.be

Another group I'm part of, which is completely different from what I usually do, is the Ottawa Urban Sketchers, it's part of a larger group from around the world, who set up outings and anyone can come and sketch. Usually they are free events, and you just come and sketch in pencil, coloured pencil, watercolours. The artists are at all levels, beginners to very experienced. And we get help from others, especially if you're a beginner. Everyone is very positive and we get inspiration.

Link to video clip: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04MaEvhsZ-8&feature=youtu.be

2) Do you think being part of group is helping with your success as an artist?

It makes me go out and paint, as life is busy, and sometimes other things going on, so if you are part of a group and have a place to meet, then you go out and create. You get inspired and are reminded of the fresh breeze of energy and you share the experience.

If you work in a studio you are by yourself, and sometimes you need to be, but I love when I'm with my artist friends and am getting their energy and being outside. It's such an inspiration, nature is an inspiration.

Link to video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWlYxfKTVGY&feature=youtu.be

3) Where do you meet - are there any challenges with finding locations?

Locations are a challenge because there is beauty everywhere. Sometimes the beauty is so big it doesn't fit into a painting, but you think about finding a solution on canvas, but it may not look good. I take pictures that help. And you have to set up somewhere that is safe. Some locations are just fantastic but are not safe when you are setting up an easel or to set up a camera, or you have to walk far and your equipment is too heavy. And we have to consider weather.

Cost for space - and indoor space - can be an issue. You want to go to places that are mostly free and not overly crowded. If you paint at the tulip festival, you won't have much fun as constantly people will be in front of you and your camera.

Link to video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9J_Lkd4GI&feature=youtu.be

---------------

The second part of my blog on this subject will be posted on Sunday, July 15, by 7 pm, in which Kerstin will talk about the challenges and collaborations of a group, and we include a list of 14 questions to ask when looking to join - or create - a group. 

Part 2 of Kerstin's blog will be published the evening of Friday, July 13 - again, I invite you to visit her blog to see my answers: http://kerstinpeterspaintingblog.blogspot.com/ or through www.KerstinPeters.ca.

Art hives, hubs, maker groups, creative circles, playdates, whatever you call them, it’s about a community of artists creating together, sharing, collaborating, supporting, socializing, forming friendships. Groups may be public, private, in stores or a place of business, through arts groups, friendships or common interests. And Ottawa has no shortage of creative groups for painting, sketching, fibre art, knitting, stitching, writing, music, woodworking and more. 

And I'm thrilled to announce another artist friend has just started up the Ottawa Plein Air Adventurers, with locations planned for sketching and painting the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month around Ottawa for the summer of 2018. Lissa has provided her email at the link - contact her if you're interested in joining the group. 

TEXTILE ART FOR A 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

When I was asked earlier this year to create an art piece for the 20th anniversary of the Vars and Area Women's Business Network (VAWBN), the group's President, Julie, wanted to honour all the current and past members since the group's start in 1998 by displaying each person's name and business. 

As the art piece would likely be on display at several events, I also needed to consider ease of storage, transportation, and set-up. It could not be hung, but would have to work on or beside a 6' table. But for the 20th anniversary open house celebration in July 2018, it had to take centre stage and reflect the dynamics of the group.

And so my "canvas" of choice to fit these requirements was settled: Clothing.

Clothes, after all, are loved by women. What we choose to wear tells a story about us, our goals and our experiences, and plays a large role in our business lives, whether it's a suit for the executive boardroom or yoga pants for the gym owner. 

As 200+ business cards would be adorning the clothing, the selections needed to drape well and have a simple background that would complement and not take away from the assortment of cards. A visit to a local thrift store yielded a black dress and a red jacket. A black hat and a scarf as accessories would complete the look.

A simple valet stand and hangers were chosen to display the clothes, symbolizing the support and tools needed for our work tasks and daily planning.

The VAWBN is about much more than just networking. It's about social interaction, support, sharing, friendships, community. And much support is provided outside the group through donations to local causes. In addition to monetary support, the group collects items such as pop can tabs (used toward wheelchair purchases), milk & bread tags (for a school project), and milk bags (crocheted into ground sheets). These items have been added to the clothing in recognition of this support. 

I'm excited about how this art piece is coming together, and am looking forward to seeing it on display at the 20th anniversary. The VAWBN Open House is open to the public on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm at the Bearbrook Community Centre, 8720 Russell Road Navan/Vars. There will be door prizes, refreshments, vendor tables, and more. Admission is free. 


And I will be sure to have photos of the entire piece at its unveiling July 10th. 

Hope to see you there. 

WHEN INSPIRATION DOESN'T STRIKE

When inspiration is just not forthcoming, try turning to the journaling and writing world for some right brain exercises. Here are 5 ideas to try. Who knows, these may just help you find the ideas and inspiration you are looking for. And these are not just for art, but for any issue you are looking to get some insight into. Happy to say I've used all of these methods. If one doesn't work for a specific issue, try another. 

1. Hand-write a few sentences with pen or pencil about the problem you are trying to solve, outlining what you need inspiration for or need help with. Then switch your pen to your non-dominant hand, and sit ready to write down a response. You may be surprised at the answers that come. The non-dominant hand acts as a direct link to your true self.
2. Write a list of 50 possible solutions in 30 minutes. Write them down no matter how absurd they seem. This exercise is not about pre-judging but about coming up with ideas. The first several ideas will be easy yet also common solutions, the next set will start tapping into the imagination, the final set will be the most creative. 50 seems like a lot, but these last dozen or so are the most innovative ideas  If you get stuck before you reach 50, put the list aside until the next day, then come back to it.
3. Try stream of consciousness writing. If you've read Julia Cameron's book The Artists' Way, then you're familiar with this already. The idea is to write 2-3 pages early in the day and to just allow the writing to happen. Don't plan it out, and you certainly don't need to show your writing to anyone else. It's not about spelling or grammar either, but just letting your thoughts flow and purging thoughts that may be bogging you down. We know how active our minds are; just let those thoughts flow onto paper. This is most effective when writing pages every day over a couple of weeks.
4. Create a mind map. Write a word or two in the centre of your page and draw a circle
   around it - this is like the nucleus. Now begin to write other words that come to you in
   relation to your circled word - actions, ideas, feelings, people, places, whatever may surface. Draw circles around these and add lines from your centre to these new thoughts. Keep adding ideas as they arise, after a few minutes you will realize that you have shifted to thoughts coming from your unconsciousness.
5. Create a narrative timeline of a period of your life. This is a snapshot or map of any part of your life, and can get pretty detailed as you dig further. Memories may surface which can give you some inspiration for ideas. The standard way to create the timeline is by a straight line horizontally or vertically, but it's really much more creative to draw a road or river or tree and use that as the basis for your own narrative.

5 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN TITLING YOUR ART

(reading time 4 minutes)

If you're like me, coming up with a title for a piece of art can be a challenge. Some titles simply state the obvious: Tulips, Beach,The Barn. Zooming in on location or an element can help: Tulip Festival, Beach Umbrella, Barn Door. And titles such as Untitled 1, Untitled 2, etc. just leave the viewer, well, wondering. 

So when I asked my friend and fibre artist, Rita, how she comes up with titles for her art, her 2 suggestions really caught my attention. The first 2 considerations below are based on her response, and the last 3 should help ensure the title chosen is the right fit. 

1 - What memories did the piece bring up?

Using a title that helps brings up a memory your audience can relate to really does work well. I've seen many people reminiscing as they were drawn into a piece of art and as the title reflects the intent of the artist.

This mixed media picture at right could have simply been Sewing Box but when I titled it Grandma's Sewing Box several discussions were sparked among visitors at the shows where it was displayed, all based on time spent with their own grandmothers. Everyone who looked at the picture mentioned a sewing box or basket that their own grandmother had, and often mentioned a time learning to sew buttons or to stitch.

2 - Consider what were you feeling when you were creating a piece.

We don't always pay attention to our feelings about a piece we are creating. And feeling emotions about a piece of art should not be left to the end or only for consideration by the viewer. Think of the country singer - he or she not only sings a song with much emotion, but also writes the lyrics and composes the music from a place deep inside. As visual artists we sometimes forget about creating from inside, yet it adds much depth to our work - and a title from this same place will fit perfectly. This is especially true for abstract pieces which can display energy or calmness, be soft or glowing, and so on. 

While creating the mixed media picture at left from a photo I quickly snapped while on a bus in India, I found this lady was constantly in my thoughts - what she was thinking and feeling, her family, what life was like for her living in a make-shift home, her courage, her future. I was struck by the contrast of her sari against the backdrop of found materials used for walls. I still wonder and feel concern for her, and the many homeless in her country, every time I look at this picture.  

I tried to honour her when making this picture by using recycled fabrics, paper and cardboard, only enhancing with acrylic paint and coloured pencil.  Once it was finished I struggled a bit with the title, then came up with what I felt fit my feelings and how I hoped she was living at least in that one moment of time: "A Place to Call Home".

3 - Use neutral terms

There is so much awareness these days about racially charged language and terms that should and should not be used about mental illness. It never hurts to put out more reminders. I seem to have been coming across several such examples recently:

• An article in the Times-Colonist about the renaming of Emily Carr's 1929 painting Indian Church to Church at Yuquot Village by the Art Gallery of Ontario. This is a trend being seen at many art galleries around the world, causing much discussion on whether historical context is being lost. Here's the link to the article. Of course Emily Carr would have had no idea in 1929 that this would ever become a consideration. 
• The 2007 novel Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, the title of which actually refers to a real historical document. The book was re-named Someone Knows My Name in the U.S. and some other English-speaking markets before it could be sold.
• I just finished reading Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes, who is a spokesperson for Bell Canada's Let's Talk initiative. There is much good information on the Let's Talk website about acceptable and unacceptable terms. 

4 - Get feedback 

Share your idea for a title with a friend who you know will give you honest feedback. Plus your friend will be seeing the piece with fresh eyes and can let you know of any memories and emotions the piece triggers. And sometimes an idea for a title that you had not thought of will come up.

5 - Sit with the name for a few days

Often after coming up with a title for a piece of art, I would find myself referring to it by another name. So now I sit with a name for a few days before deciding. I am noticing now that if I do change the name, it's sometimes because I did not go with the idea of memories or feelings in the title, and other times I needed a bit more time for reflection before the right title would arrive. 

If you have other thoughts about coming up with titles, I'd love to hear from you. 


The mixed media pieces above are in the collection of and copyrighted to fibre artist Anne Warburton.