Tuesday, April 2, 2013

"KEEPING ARTISTS-BLOCK AT BAY"


Beryl Here !!!

I hate throwing anything away so I usually have a box of left overs from earlier work. I like to use them up by piecing them together like a jig-saw to create one large piece - hence the photo.



I place layer upon layer of papers, paints, fabrics, anything that might have landed in the box.

I produce these experimental pieces in between times when I am not working to deadlines or producing commissions. This practice dates back to the days when I was at college doing my City and Guilds course. My tutor would always drive the message home not to have long spells without doing any work - it's so hard to get back into creative mode after a spell out. I also found this to be true having experienced it first hand when, during the course, after working under a lot of pressure for a prolonged spell, I decided that when the summer vacation arrived I was going to have eight weeks of chilling and relaxing and no way was I going to touch a paint brush or needle and thread again and wow did I suffer when I got back to college. It took weeks to get the creative juices flowing again and it threw me behind so much that I then had to work twice as hard to catch up  -  LESSON LEARNED !!

5 comments:

Linda Teddlie Minton said...

Wow, what a great inspiration to use up all the extras from earlier art quilts. Thanks for the picture and the post!

Gloria Hansen said...

You're such an inspiration, Beryl.

Anonymous said...

Great idea. I keep every little bit too and try to find interesting ways to use it all up. I like you piece! It actually looks like it goes together and isn't random bits and pieces. :)

Natalya Khorover Aikens said...

Makes so much sense!

Carol Sloan said...

What a beautiful piece Beryl. I love your "piece by piece" way of working. I often use small collages in the same manner. And yes, I totally agree with the idea of working a little on something every single day. Beautiful post!