Blog Post #13
BAD ART IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
Topic of discussion
Greetings friends! No time no see, I know. I have been quite the busy bee as of the last few months, I’ve been working on getting back into school to finish my degree (nothing art-related so don’t be too excited), and I also have been working on some commissions, planning for a pop-up shop that I have been invited to be a vendor at in July, and planning my very own event for Tyistight Creatives, which I’ll give more details about both events later in this blog so stick around until the end! Now that I have most of my affairs back in order I have been thinking about more fresh ideas for my blog and art therapy exercises for all of those who are here for the love of art! So enough about me and where I have been, let’s dive into today’s blog post topic and art exercise.
Today I want to talk about my fear of creating 100% “original” art, coming up with something new and refreshing, something that is cool and interesting more times than not. I’ve searched for the solution, the remedy, whatever it took to fix this fear so I can overcome this and unleash my full creativity freely. Anyone who’s been reading my blog since the very first post, I mentioned how somewhere in my life I was told that art wasn’t a real career and to consider other paths. Now that I am older I understand what they meant, but as a child, it really shot my confidence and self-esteem as an artist and almost made me feel like it was a waste of time to an extent to focus on such a “useless” talent. 20 something years later I do understand that relying solely on art to support you in life is NO easy task, along with being your boss. So in hindsight, I do need my 9-5 to support my life while I make art in the meantime in between. That kills me inside because I then feel like I do not have enough time to really do all of the things for my business and create and still have somewhat of a life outside of that! But honestly, you truly make time for things that matter. I took a look at my screen time usage on my iPhone and realized a lot of that time spent (sickeningly 6-8 hours a day) and that time DEFINITELY could be spent doing other things really push me towards the person I’m aspiring to be and making more art even if it’s “bad” art.
Making bad art is actually good for the soul, whether you consider yourself to be an artist, or a non-artist. Creating is channeling your emotions, connecting with your inner self, and releasing anything that you may be carrying unknowingly. I feel like for all those years I was telling myself that art was not worth the time and that I should be spending it doing other things that will ensure success for me in the future. It wasn’t a bad idea until I fell deep into a depression shortly after graduating high school, 2 years into college after switching my major, I just felt no one (or only a hand select few) of us were actually doing what we wanted to do as a career, be that thing that we answered when someone asked us as a child, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. All those years I wasn’t creating, I wasn’t growing to my full potential, scared to use my imagination which then would lead me to feel like my ideas aren’t good enough to put out into the world. And honestly, those thoughts can be hurtful, and hinder a person’s journey. Luckily, art has found me amid my depression, reminding me there was beauty in the chaos I was feeling on the inside. While I am pursuing art to become my main source of income in the future I am currently trying to remind myself to make it a habit to create BAD ART. Bad art is permitting yourself to color outside the lines, not having any idea or mapping out the result already in mind, exploring colors, textures, and techniques while expressing yourself and just simply HAVING FUN. Often I think in a world where social media is pretty much at the center right now, we feel if our art isn’t “post worthy” then it isn’t worthy of being created. FALSE. Creating art that is for your eyes only is perfectly fine and highly encouraged. Create like no one is looking! To challenge myself to do this and make you feel comfortable doing it as well I am introducing my “Sketchbook Saturday” where I will be showing you guys a glimpse of what my sketchbook looks like for the week every Saturday, the good, the bad, the ugly just to share with you all that I too make ugly art and in that there is beauty and freedom! Sketchbook Saturdays can be found on my social media including (IG, and TikTok) and also found right here on my website!
#TyistightArtTherapyThursdays
Life is a collage…and we all are part of a bigger picture that isn’t picture-perfect but worth the picture still!
Today we will be creating a collage!
Collaging is the art of assembling different forms of media to create a new piece of art and offers a myriad of benefits that range from enhancing creativity to providing therapeutic relief.
Here are 8 benefits to collaging:
1. Boosts Creativity: Collaging encourages you to think outside the box and use materials in innovative ways. This process stimulates creative thinking as you combine colors, textures, and shapes to convey your ideas or emotions, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms.
2. Improves Fine Motor Skills: The act of cutting, gluing, and arranging materials in a collage helps in developing fine motor skills.
This is particularly beneficial for children, the elderly, and those recovering from motor skill impairments.
3. Reduces Stress: Like many artistic endeavors, collaging can be a relaxing and meditative process. Focusing on a creative task can divert your mind from everyday worries and serve as a form of mindfulness, reducing overall stress and anxiety.
4. Encourages Self-Expression: Collages allow for personal expression in ways that words sometimes cannot. Artists can explore and communicate complex feelings through the images, textures, and overall mood of their collages, offering a unique medium for self-expression and emotional exploration.
5. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills: Creating a collage involves decision-making and problem-solving. From selecting appropriate materials to figuring out how to fit pieces together to convey a certain message or aesthetic, collaging develops critical thinking skills.
6. Promotes Recycling and Reusing: Collaging is eco-friendly as it provides an excellent opportunity to repurpose old magazines, scraps of paper, fabric, and other materials that might otherwise end up in the trash.
This aspect of collaging can also raise awareness about sustainability and environmental conservation.
7. Accessible to All: One of the great things about collaging is that anyone can do it. It does not require expensive materials or a formal art background. This inclusivity makes it a universally accessible form of art, promoting diversity and participation across different demographics.
8. Cultural Education: Through collaging, individuals can explore and incorporate elements from various cultures and historical periods. This can be an educational experience, expanding one's knowledge and appreciation of different backgrounds and traditions.
MATERIALS NEEDED
Newspaper, magazines, construction paper, old book pages, or printed pictures, use what you have.
Glue (Modpodge if you have some lying around)
Scissors
Pastels, paint, markers, crayons, whatever you have available!
Keep in mind ***
For this exercise I really want you to dig deep into your creativity. Use materials, patterns, textures, and things you usually wouldn’t think of or normally would pick up. Think outside the box, color outside the lines, and freely create with nothing in mind and no judgment along the way of how good or bad it may appear to you. Good or bad, you can do whatever you want with this art once you have finished, feel free to throw it away, hang it up, tuck it away somewhere, frame it, burn it, or post it on social media, whatever you feel!
MY ARTWORK AND REFLECTION
TIME TO REFLECT
Once you have completed your artwork I challenge you to take a piece of paper, or maybe jot it down in the notes on your phone but take a moment to reflect on your art and ask yourself questions to gain a deeper understanding of your emotions and yourself.
Example reflection questions:
What parts of your artwork do you feel are most successful?
Did your artwork turn out how you intended? Or did it take a different direction?
What would you do differently if you were to create this artwork again?
What did you enjoy most about this process?
What did you learn from creating this artwork?
CALL TO ACTION > POST IT TO INSTAGRAM!
Like usual, please be sure if you are comfortable sharing your artwork from today’s exercise tag me on Instagram @Tyistight_creatives and be sure to use hashtag #TyistightArtTherapyThrusdays
I would LOVE to see your work! If you don’t feel comfortable sharing on social media you can send it directly to me either by DM on Instagram or to my email: Tyistight.creatives@gmail.com
QUOTE OF THE WEEK :
“Stop yourself from stopping yourself” -unknown
Stop yourself from stopping yourself from achieving all the things you want for yourself in life. All of your dreams and aspirations are yours to have if you’re willing enough to get out of your way and put in the deep work it takes within yourself to reach out and grab them.
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK:
@quietlymakingsomeart
Linktr.ee/quietlymakingsomeart
CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Earlier in the blog I mentioned some upcoming events that I will be a part of soon that I wanted to give more details about!
Saturday, July 27th, 2024 I will be a vendor at a Pop-up shop hosted by Astro Girl Gear! There will be tons of variety of other vendors at this event and it is FREE and open to the public. So if you are in the Akron, Ohio area please come to this event from 5 pm-12 am and support while having a great time.
I will be introducing my new art and products that will be part of my new shop update for August. So don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity!
Also, Tyistight Creatives is proud to present our very first Paint N’ Sip! This event is perfect for you and your friends or family to come paint, laugh, and sip!
When? : This event will be on Saturday, August 24th, 2024. 5-7:30 pm (Please arrive promptly to ensure plenty of time to finish painting)
Where? : Silk and Glow located at 1200 Portage Trail Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
How?: Tickets go on sale May 31st, 2024. Tickets are $45 per person: ticket covers painting materials, canvas (yours to take home), wine, and Hors d'oeuvres
20 available tickets so please purchase in advance. The last day to purchase tickets will be August 18th, 2024 by 11:59 pm or until sold out. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR.
You can scan this QR code to purchase tickets once available (May 31st, 2024)
Or you can click this link https://www.ticketsource.us/tyistight-creatives-llc
***Additional info: limited wine will be available for as long as supplies last, but please feel free to bring your bottle(s) of wine of your choice if you choose to do so! (Please drink responsibly.)
Lastly, I wanted to point out the new updates to my website for you to check out! I have made some slight changes to the website to make your experience even better, including a services page! I offer a wide array of services that I now have listed clearly with easy access to more information and details about each service. Please click the “services” tab now listed.
THANKS:
Thank you for joining this week’s exercise. I hope you really enjoyed creating and found the exercise useful in tapping into your happiness.
Don’t forget to check the art in my shop while you’re here on the website! Also, if you are looking to create your own creative business and don’t know where or how to start, check out Printify!
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