addicted to creating backgrounds, how my art is changing and the link between healing and creativity

 I have been creating a ton of backgrounds these past few weeks...and having so much fun playing and experimenting...I can barely stand it!!! I have been using mixed media papers, bristol board as well as watercolor papers....they all cause different effects. I began using acrylic inks a few months ago and just can't get enough of them....their colors are so lush, rich and versatile it's amazing. First I make some random marks....using Posca markers or oil pastels...or whatever I have at hand. Then I lay down 2-3 different colors of acrylic inks and lay them out with water. I work very fast and intuitively at this stage....usually I have music playing or listening to audio books by Dr. Estes. I have to make sure I have a clean jar of water...with inks, the water muddies up really fast and I want to maintain the vibrancy of the colors. I also try to maintain some white spaces of the paper. I mean...if I remember. Sometimes it all gets covered up so....just going with the flow.

 Then....after it completely dries...I go over the page with additional layers of ink...maybe some oil pastels....maybe mix my acrylic inks with chalk paints. Basically I just play and experiment!!! Layers and layers later....posca markers, collage, stamps...whatever I feel like.

                                                                (WIP, mixed media)
" Let the cracks between things widen until they are no longer cracks but the new places for things." -Colson Whitehead, Zone One
  And here is an image over one of my backgrounds. I feel a new energy and aesthetic emerging!!! I have been creatively stuck for the longest time. I mean....ages and ages. But what I am now realizing and experiencing is that there is a distinct connection between my healing and my creativity. As I become stronger and healthier...as I process more and more of my childhood traumas that have kept me frozen for so long....my creativity flows easier. As I begin to clear away old debris and false belief systems....as I begin to truly and deeply feel my feelings and remember those old buried away traumatic memories of abuse....my creativity flourishes. I am going to continue writing so much more about this as I heal and get healthier because there is still so much for me to learn, experience and discover.

And I am totally loving this new direction of my art that feels more playful, joyful and very strong and energetic. Can't wait to see where it all goes. Happy creating!

acrylic inks!!

 I've totally been digging acrylic inks lately...I just can't get enough of the gorgeous lush colors!! I've been using Liquitex, Dr. PH Martins and Ranger re-inkers. Here are the reasons I love them:
*they invite me to play...you simply can't NOT experiment and play with them! I mean...it's impossible! Nor can you plan things out...it's very intuitive...the colors I use, where I place them etc.
* totally compatible with all other media from oil pastels to collage to chalk paints etc.
* works with multi tasking...I can apply some inks and let them dry for an hour or two while I attend to something else and when I come back...ready for the next layer.

*the colors are so rich and lush...saturated and dreamy. LOVE!!
*not terribly expensive...and a little goes a long way.
*I can layer white tissue paper over the inks to mute the colors and designs but they still show through...creating really interesting textures and color variations.

Love adding my Posca markers and Derwent Inktense blocks over top of they inks...I can mix it in when still wet or layer over top after the inks have dried. So versatile!

Happy creating, friends!!