“Lily Pad Bliss”
Have you ever given up on finishing a piece of art, because you lacked inspiration? Did you place it in the UFO pile (Unfinished Object) or even worse in the trash? Only to later rescue it, and give it a second chance? In doing so, did it become one of those pieces of art that you are pleased with, and glad that you persevere in it creation? I had one of those experiences a few weeks back where a dream intervened, and it was responsible for saving this feature art piece “Lily Pad Bliss.”
With my new studio ready, I was beginning to feel the creative energy again! During the organization of my studio my eye caught the attention of a stabilized fabric that I had painted a sky, ground, and water several months before we moved to our new home. I felt it was now time to finally do something with it. I had originally placed the fabric in the UFO pile, because I was not happy with the way the sky turned out. Pulling out my paints, I began reworking the sky, over and over again, but could not seem to make it look as I intended it to. Finally, getting fed up with it, my scissors came out, and I cut the sky area off from the piece (it nice you can do this with fabric.) I was left with the ground and the water areas of the painted fabric.
When I create, a painted background on the fabric sometimes reveals what the outcome of the art should become. After studying what was left of the fabric for several hours, I still did not feel inspired on what to do with ground and the water. Frustrated, I decided to throw the whole thing away in the trash, and went to bed. I had a dream that night that I was pregnant, but could not give birth “crazy right!” When I woke up, I was just irritated, and I immediately knew it was a metaphor to how I was feeling about not being able to bring a creative project to reality.
Walking into my studio that morning, I decided I was going to give 100 percent of my time to creating art, so I could feel as if I had given birth to my creative ideas. I went to my work station, and notice the fabric piece I threw in the trash. As I looked at it, I felt I need to pull it back out. Studying it, my imagination over took me, and I knew finally what to do with it. I sat down and began to work
I worked on the art for most of the day, and did the same every day for a week, not wanting to break the momentum of the creative surge that was pouring out of me. After the week, I physically saw what I had imagined in that instant when I took the fabric out of the trash. “Lily Pad Bliss” was the reward for not giving up on this UFO, and definitely giving it a second chance . The Lessons I learned through all this were; Don’t throw art pieces in the trash out of frustration, be more aware of my dreams, they are a reflections of my inner desires, in this case to sit, stitch, and create, and to trust my imagination it will guide me in creating art that makes me smile!
Hi Ana, Is Lily pad Bliss and Sunset among the trees for sale? If so, could you tell me the prices? I bought a picture from you a couple of years ago! I love it! Thank you Kathy
Thank you Anna for sharing this enlightening experience and your process!
This is very affirming and inspirational on many level!
PS I found you through the InStory Summit last September and I am now InStory and in the process of exploring my desire to bring my healing work and my art together in some way.
Healing is my focus for this next Summit, as my vision unfolds. I’m setting up a website with a domaine name that I’ve been holding for over 8 years! The site is being developed and the vision is slowly unfolding, but it feels exciting! The website is http://www.windnwater.ca and will only begin initially as a resting place for my free gift (up by the 22nd) and will be developed over the next 5 months, as I bring my vision forward.
Jannice,
Thank you so much for saying that! It is true that what we write can be received in so many different levels. The key is to write! 🙂 I am so glad that you are enjoying InStory, and cant’ wait to see you on the InStory Summit, and learn more about how you are using your art in healing work! That is wonderful. The link you sent was not complete, send it back to me when your website is up and running. Love to look at it. I am glad you have a plan to move forward with the gifts you have been given! Looking forward to seeing your creative expression in the world! Ana 🙂
Love the way it turned out! I have more than my share of UFOs but it’s seems to be more the need to attend to life responsibilities or lack of technical knowledge that interferes rather than inspiration. But I enjoyed your story thoroughly.
Joan,
Thank you so much! Also, thank you for sharing. I definitely understand how responsibilities or lack of knowledge interfere I have those as well. Don’t give up on them. It funny how when you ponder on how to do something, eventually it come to you either by someone else giving you an idea or seeing how someone does something in a quilt show etc. I had that happen to me, and yes life’s responsibilities always get in the way, but take time out for yourself to create or you many end up having dreams like I did.(just a bit of humor.) Ana 🙂
Ana, I love your story and the metaphor of giving birth. As we know, a pregnancy needs time for full growth. I have several UFO’s hiding away. Maybe it’s time to take them out to see how the light of creativity shines on them now.
Janice,
I really love you perspective on it, that it needs time to fully grow! Can’t wait to see what you do with your UFOs ☺️ I hope I did well with the newsletter this time let me know if it worked better! I am so grateful for your suggestions I worked hard at applying them. 🤗Ana