What's Your Re-Purpose?

Flea market find. Bizarre bazaar. Junk junkie. Picker. Hoarder. Magpie. Pack rat. Rusty gold. Roached. If you've ever taken a workshop at Art & Soul, you're probably familiar with some of these terms. Because, when it comes to mixed media... well... there's just something about recycling pieces of the past!

Rummage sale. Yard sale. Garage sale. Estate sale. Thrift shop. Salvation Army. Goodwill. Heck... how about the garbage! We'll go just about anywhere and pick up anything that strikes our fancy. I know some days I've found more goodies in the trash or on the ground at the flea market, than I've purchased from actual vendors!

Grungy. Grimy. Patina'd. Rusted. Scratched. Dented. Worn. Well-used. The bigger the story an object tells... the better. We seem to love that about the items we covet. They just look like they have a tale to tell. And the way Art & Souler's upcycle these beauties in our many classes simply amazes me!

And whether you use your vintage goodies for collage, journals, assemblage, jewelry, art dolls, sculpture or something else... your creativity makes my heart smile.

So tell me girls and boys... Where is your favorite place to shop for retro recyclables? What's the coolest thing you've ever stumbled upon? How do you like to upcycle your fabulous finds? Do share!

Being All Over the Place Can Be Good!

Today's guest post is by our lovely Monster Maker — Catherine Zacchino, a.k.a. Junker Jane. She shares a little about what is "expected" of artists to get done, and then a lot about what "really" happens in the art room. So... take it away Cat...

Did you ever try to just do one thing, creatively? I hear from so many people that you should work on one thing at a time. But as an artist and maker of things, I'm here to tell you that... being all over the place can be good! 

Usually it's a good thing to start what you finish. It's discipline. Right?

But when it comes to creating I find that if I start out with a rigid end-result mindset I might worry too much or never even get started! But creating is the one place I can be all over the place and it's a good thing!

I just follow my intuition or the creative urge now, even if that means I start painting squares in different colors on a piece of junk wood. I have several painted wood plaques around my room and one day I had the urge to nail a red children's wooden block to it, so I did.

Then I found wooden craft game pieces and loved how they looked next to the wooden block. This was a month ago and it's not finished because I didn't know where to take it next.

But that's okay, I set it aside and started decorating  a left over scrap canvas with craft pom poms, a marker cap, just goofy things! I didn't finish it because I don't where it's going yet. I'm waiting for the idea to come. It will come, but on its own time. I have learned not to force something, but just to trust. It's this trusting that allows me to get new ideas and grow because the pressure to finish a piece from start to finish is gone. The answer always comes, I just need to wait and be open to it.

I used to feel that I was wasting so much time starting a doll, pillow, or painting and not finishing them.

Or spending the entire afternoon setting up displays in my room.

I felt like I kept making failures, even though I was very inspired while doing the half part that came to me to create. I am realizing these are necessary steps though, in my creative journey and it's not a waste of time, that this is the way my inner artist grows.

I might not understand why, but this is how it is. I just need to trust my intuition and let the ideas out. Without knowing what it will end up being.  JUST LET THEM OUT.

By allowing myself to create this way, I continue to grow and this is what it is all about!

What is your process of creating? Feel free to share your ways. And come take a class with me in Portland, OR this October at Art & Soul Retreats! I'll be teaching a Monster Mashup doll making class. We'll have a magical time.

~ Junker Jane 

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Mandy Makridakis: Creating Time in Artella Land, on July 2nd

Marney Makridakis is the first creator of one of the first online communities for artists – Artella Land. She is a true visionary. After years of providing inspiration, resources, and community Marney has tackled one of the most overwhelming and definitely the most common problem artists and truly everyone faces – the lack of time for creativity, dreams and self-expression. Is there really a way to create time? Let’s find out!

So please join us for an inspirational chat...


Art & Soul Radio featuring Marney Makridakis
with Lesley Riley
Monday, July 2nd
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio




And don't forget, Art & Soul Radio's interviews are also available on demand, to listen to at your leisure. Check out what other mixed-media artists are doing and how they're living their lives with passion any time!

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Judith Heartsong: Artist with a Song in Her Heart on March 12th

Come along with Leslie Riley as she chats with Judith Heartsong a talented woman who has been working as a professional artist for thirty years, after a public school education which was completely art-centric. As a child she was always out in nature, in the woods and along the creek beds of northern Pennsylvania where she developed a sense of awe and respect for the natural world early on and that devotion has never wavered.

Judith is currently a professional artist and prolific painter with an impressive resume and a mover and shaker in creating and sustaining the art community in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. She has painted a mural at the National Zoo, licensed artwork for collector plates, created a limited edition series of prints sold on Princess Cruise line, she has served on the board of a local art center and most recently works as a corporate art consultant. And if that’s not enough, Judith hosts an artist’s salon each month at her fabulous new studio.

Leslie and Judith will be talking about this and so much more in her interview. So please join us for an inspirational chat...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Judith Heartsong
with Lesley Riley
Monday, March 12th
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio




And don't forget, Art & Soul Radio's interviews are also available on demand, to listen to at your leisure. Check out what other mixed-media artists are doing and how they're living their lives with passion any time!

Destination Creativity!

Well, she's done it again! The inimitable Ricë Freeman Zachery has come out with another amazing book celebrating the creativity and connection of art retreats! She traveled the country, visiting some of the largest events in the nation, including — of course — Art & Soul. She takes you on a journey (right from the comfort of your living room) where you'll find that these gatherings of like-minded souls not only seek out inspiration, but a sense of community — and they find it. Ricë has done the homework for you! If you've ever thought about attending an art retreat, or wished you knew what it was like, you need this book!

Ricë has even made a fun little video about her journey and the book — Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat. Check it out...

And don't forget to order your copy now on Amazon! You'll be uplifted and inspired!