Labor Day weekend in the studio

I reserved space at a fall market in the city park, and my friend Lisa and I are going to sell our creative wares. Lisa makes jewelry, and I'll be selling cards. The market is less than a month away, and I'v been busy with my professional writing (www.VeronicaDeschambault.com) and wrapping up the summer with my kids. When I can, I've been slipping into the studio to make cards, usually on the weekends when the Man is around to keep the Charming Offspring engaged in life.

When I escape into the studio, I never know what I'll produce. I've been focusing on making cards with my own hand-painted backgrounds, and much time is spent hunched over the maple work table either 1) trying to choose paint colors and techniques to use, or 2) staring at background papers trying to envision the cards they could become, or 3) Wondering which efforts should be abandoned to the recycling bin.

What media is best? What color cardstocks and paper to use? What mood to convey? What image to make the focal point? Portrait or landscape? And then once decisions are made, there's the crafting of the card itself with glues, pencils, pens, ink, stamps, heat guns, etc. The debate over whether adding one more element will perfect or ruin what I have, and finally, a setting aside of the finished product.

By now it should be clear that making cards is a labor of love because it takes me forever, and whatever I make from their sale will be scant compensation for my time. Still, it's a good process. Sometimes the finished products thrill me, often I'm ambivalent, and occasionally I think, "Oops, missed the mark on that one."

Arts and crafts continues to be a journey for me, a learning experience, a commitment to stepping outside of my comfort zone. I tell myself the more I flex my creative muscles, the stronger my work will become.

No matter what form it takes, there will be people who like it, those who are indifferent to it, and those who find it cringe-worthy. That's life.

Here are a few recent creations:

It's not visible on the scan, but the darker leaves on the background are done in metallic copper and the main leaf has gold highlights.This is one I like *most* of the time.  : )

  This one took some work to get the composition right. The colors are softer than they appear on the scan. There are things I would change, but I won't tell you what they are.  : ) 

This one is complete departure for me in terms of colors and style. Maybe it could be a Chinese New Year card?

Here is one I'm ambivalent about, but I like that it's a different style than many of my other cards.

This looks like it could be an art journal piece, or a card you send you a loved one after spending a weekend together. 

The colors in this one thrill me. They are softer than the scan indicates, and there's a sweetness here. I'm normally not about "sweet," but I love the tender feeling this combination gives me.

I've saved my favorite one for last. I'm not sure I can sell this one! So serene.

If you like looking at cards, check out my Gallery. There are more there.

Comments

[Kelby]

Creative and beautiful work, V. And, I love watching you explore the creativity of your soul.

[Granola-grrrl]

Wonderful! I love the leaf one that you "like *most* of the time"... when I first saw it, it made me think of leaves floating in a pond or creek. That Ghandi quote is one of my favorites, and the bright orangey-yellow one is definitely something I would frame and hang on the wall. I love the composition on the others; they just seem to work color wise. I like that you can do things that are not your "style", but that you like all the same. I think that is the mark of a good artist: being able to appreciate things beyond your personal style. I feel the same way about music as well. It's so cool that you make the time to do this for yourself. :)

[RD]

These are beautiful, V. I'd have a hard time selling any of them. The last one is my favorite too--I love the grasses and the texture behind them. So special! It's been so nice to see you evolve as an artist these last few years I've been reading your blog. You do have a gift and I think it's great that you've decided to push it.

[V-Grrrl]

Thanks for the kind words. This week I hope to get lots of hours in the studio and maybe, just maybe, I'll get faster and freer in the process.

[gfe-gluten free easily]

You realize that one person might fall in love with and buy all your wares in one fell swoop ... they are all so wonderful. The one you are ambivalent about would make a great celebration card, BD card, etc. I will have to put this event on my calendar for sure. :-)

Shirley

[mamatulip]

I love your collection - what creativity, what talent!