studio friday.

I'm totally diggin' that it's time for another Studio Friday. I'm posting this early since I wouldn't be able to link my SF entry to Tine's blog until tomorrow night and I didn't want to wait!

This week's topic: FAVOURITE RESOURCE(S)!

What is the most favourite resource you use to seek encouragement, understanding, enlightenment, inspiration, strength, to gain further knowledge or fun? Is it a book or a magazine, a quote, a website, a photo, another artist? How often do you turn to your source and at what point on your creative path?

Hokey Schmokes! I gotta pick a favorite? Where I go for inspiration is, to quote my friend Jay, "all over the yard!" I am constantly feeding myself inspiration! I surf blogs, I read craft books, I read magazines, I read fiction, I read non-fiction, I listen to music, I draw, I doodle, I collect things, I take classes, I window shop, I go for a walk, I go for a drive, and sometimes just plain sleeping and dreaming can be inspiring. Oh and whenever I go on a vacation, I always come back full of inspiration!

Having said all of this, I actually do have a quote that is very powerful for me and I go to it often when I need a boost of inspiration. I feel like I post this thing every few months or so. Not surprised, since I always come back to this...

"Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another."

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

This quote feels like my foundation. It feeds me. It keeps me going. It keeps me honest and it keeps me from ever being hard on myself.

One thing I know about myself, I am a visual learner. In order for me to learn, I need to see pictures. I think that's way I still love to buy Japanese craft books or Marie Claire Idees even though I can't read them! I don't buy books for "how to" lessons. I buy craft books and magazine to fill my conscious and subconscious minds with color, contrast, combinations, textures, and sugarplums! You can always tell when I'm about to start working on a project because there will be a pile of books on my nightstand...and the floor under my nightstand and bed, if you must know! (Gee, Mom, I wonder where I get that?!) I love to just peruse a book or magazine right before I go to sleep and let the images just settle into all the nooks and crannies of my brain.

I also love to blog surf. So many yummy, amazing, incredible artists! I do have to confess, though, and it may be because I'm old school (okay, old!), I still love "holding" pictures. The computer screen is great and I am a blog junkie but none the less, I feel like my mind's eye is filled differently when looking through a book or magazine than pictures on a blog. Does that make sense? This is one of the many reasons I completely adore the new mag, Artful Blogging. I get to POUR over pictures from lots of the delicious blogs visit on a daily basis in natural light, far from the anything electronic.

Okay so since I like to include pictures with my posts, here's a few from my archives of inspiration..

Um, yeah, I have a few books. These are just craft and design books. Tucked away in here are also my beloved issues of Teesha Moore's Play and Art and Life. I won't show you my pile of magazines. It would just be too embarassing since there's a lot and they're not neat and tidy like this!

Something I starting picking up a few years ago, but don't use near enough...

Gotta love Craphound. It's a local publication out of an amazing shop in downtown Portland called Reading Frenzy. Independently-owned, political books, lots of zines and self-published books. It's a great place to give your money to. Craphound is jammed full of images and most are copyrighted by "lawsuit-friendly entities" so you can pretty much use them to your heart's content.

Here's a couple of pages...

One last pic...my bits and bobs box that I put together for last year's Art and Soul. I usually keep this sweetie close by. It's kind of a palette of my current favs and obsessions so things get changed in and out of it on a regular basis. I just like looking at it.

Okay, my dears, hope you have a serioulsy FABULOUS Friday!

Comments

[alex]

okay so not only does that craphound look totally awsome but I just realized you were in my neck of the woods. I am always amazed at how small the world relaly is! Gosh you are making me want to go back to my post and add to it yours is so jam packed with goodies.

[Julie]

Awesome quote...I love the Craphound....I like to sleep and dream for inspiration too..haha...I seem to be fighting the battle to keep this place from becoming the "craphouse"!

[Stephanie]

I agree! The more visual stimulation the better!!!! I've never heard of craphound...love it, must go look for it!

xo
s
p.s. be sure to leave me your snail mail address!!!

[Sharon at Norah'S]

Enjoyed your post immensly...as always. Love the quote and will write that down in my little inspiration book for today. Thanks.

[Lilli]

Inspiration really is everywhere, isn't it. Good for you for knowing that. If we're not feeling inspired, it's just because our minds are cluttered with other thoughts, concerns, residual stresses, etc.

P.S. I have more stuff than you do ! :)

[Hanna]

Your inspiration box is awesome, and so is that book with images! All those eyes, just cut them out!

[Jana]

Wow, that eye page in Craphound reminds me of my college years---I'd draw eyes all over my notes... ;)! Sent a link to my sweetie about Craphound (something I'd never heard of) so he can see how cool it is too! I find inspiration everywhere too---if your eyes are open and trained, inspiration is out there whenever you want it to be!

[Gabi]

Wow now you have me totally hyped up and inspired!! Blogs are a huge inspiration for me but I agree with you, there's nothing as inspiring as seeing something in person. You can get a better feel for the true colours, depth and textures.
Great entry! Have a fabulous weekend!!
~Gabi

[Marcia]

ok, that does it! I'm getting Teesha's mags....been seesawing about them but this is confirmation. That Craphound mag looks fabulous....I love eyes and hands. Portland was always a great place for bookstores and record shops. thanks for the inspirations!

[s.patel]

love this post! i am also a visual learner (and am sitting trying to read some very DRY articles with nothing visual besides some tables of numbers :p).

i am so jealous of your collection of inspiration! it looks like that type of thing i could get lost in for hours and hours :)