Time to Plant?

Ancient Chinese Proverb Says:

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. 

The second best time is now.” 

I have thought about this quote in relation to creating. A lot.

You know, sometimes life just gets in the way, doesn't it? The demands of work, family, responsibilities, and community can sometimes leave the balance in my creativity completely out of whack! As a result, I find that weeks (and sometimes months) have passed without creating a single thing.  


Nothing. Nada. Zilch! 

How can you get the creative juices flowing again when you only have a small amount of time or feel burned out from the heavy load of the day? 

Good question. And it’s a question I attempt to answer when I find my art heart wilting. Here are some ideas:

Some people enjoy doodling.

(Source: shellybeauch.blogspot.com)

Others discover that simply pawing through their art supplies 

helps jump start their creativity. 

While others find browsing inspirational sites helps awaken their muse.

(Can you say, "Pinterest pajama party, here I come?!")

As for me, I love to warm up by throwing some paint on a pristine piece of paper or canvas. Inevitably, when I am done, those splashes of paint end up becoming a painting of a face. (My favorite subject.)

Here are the results of a couple of those warm-up painting exercises:

Add a little plaster and beeswax to the mix 

(thanks to Stephanie Lee’s techniques) and you will discover messy bliss! 

I have found that simply hanging out in my studio and cranking up the music can awaken the desire to create something. And I find that no matter how depleted I felt before I began, the time spent creating always energizes me.

So, when is the best time to plant a tree? 

Today, you say? I agree. 

Let's get planting!

So come on, let's plant those creative seeds deep in the earth. Go get your paint brushes, glue, collage fodder, glitter, fabric, scissors, jewelry bling -- or whatever strikes your fancy -- and let the fun begin. 

I'm Rena Peterson, mother of two, printer, author, and artist. 

I love to create in a variety of mediums. 

And today...I'm gonna plant a tree! :) 

Art Tribe

Remember that song from Sesame Street, “One of these things doesn’t belong here”.  Well, if all the art friends lined up and that song started playing…I would be the “thing” they are singing about!  

I'm a "W" in a room full of "2"s

Unlike all of these sweet and wonderful “art sisters”, I am loud, I am obnoxious, I cuss like a trucker and have very little natural artistic talent!  Does that matter to them…absolutely not!  Years ago, one of our sweet friends, Rena and I had a conversation about how important it is to belong to a “tribe”. 

My family - 

By the way - I'm Emily Mortimer (I'm the old gal in the middle - not the pretty off to the left).  I am fortunate in many ways.  I live in the house I grew up in.  My little family and I live surrounded by aunts and uncles, cousins, friends since childhood, and my siblings near by.  Add to this a community of my parent’s friends, their children, neighbors, my church congregation…and my life is full of people.  Wonderful people!  People who have influenced my life in so many ways – mostly for good ;)  As I met my sweet art friends, I added them to my “tribe”.   I LOVE these friends.  I love that we have diverse backgrounds and life situations.  I love that none of that matters.  I love that we support each other, laugh with each other, cry with each other, mourn with each other and celebrate with each other.  Shouldn’t everyone be so fortunate? 

In the past few months I’ve take some on-line courses from the lovely Terri Brush and the adorable Jeanne Oliver.  Both of these women have created Facebook pages for the class participants.  It’s been a place of sharing and encouragement for students to share their creations, ideas, tricks and tips.  I’ve been amazed at the generosity of complete strangers, and it just reaffirms to me that in this world, we all need each other.  We all need a tribe.   That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this blog!  We want you to join us, create with us, laugh with us, and possibly cry with us!  We want everyone to have what we have…an art tribe. 

Inspired by Jeanne Oliver's e-course

Now – on to creating!  I love metal.  I love patina, rust, chipped paint and all other manner of character on metal!  I also love jewelry.  I remember as a child scouring the Utah desert with my family - looking for beautiful rocks and arrowheads.  My father would then take the rocks to a friend and have them made into jewelry for my mother.  I treasure my mother’s jewelry, and I’m sure those memories helped develop my love of all things “earthy”. 

Leather cuff embellished with vintage door hardware

This simple bracelet is made from rusty vintage door hardware, simply wire wrapped to a leather cuff.  In the center of the hardware is a vintage earring secured in place using either resin or clear caulking.  I have had so many compliments on this bracelet…and the best thing?  It gets more comfortable each time you wear it!