Following the Lead

Several years ago, I become aware of a growing urge to expand the focus of my creative endeavors. It began as a desire to paint on canvas again - which I had done for several years early in my career. I did not want to stop doing the Works on Paper which I so enjoy. Rather, I wanted to create Works on Canvas as well.

Next, I noticed the thrill I felt when looking at works created by certain Mixed Media artists. It seemed so enticing not to limit oneself to using only one medium in a work. What joy it would be to just jump in and go for it with no self imposed limits.

Then, a pivotal event occurred. I attended a Fiber Arts Exhibit and found myself enthralled by some of the works. The whispering became louder and started to echo within. "Stop simply swooning and settle on something. Something new and different. And start doing that new and different something soon!"

Finally, I took action. I immersed myself in research and readings - with an eye toward creating Mixed Media Works using fibers, stitching, watermedia, digital imagery and words. I also joined the Clinton, NY based Foothills Weaving & Fiber Arts Guild

This month, I framed two Mixed Media Works for the Focus on Fibers Exhibit in Fayetteville, NY. The Show is open from April 3-29, 2008, and features work by members of the Foothills Weaving & Fiber Arts Guild and the Syracuse Weavers Guild. A wide variety of Fiber Arts - including weaving, quilting, embroidery, mixed media, and more - will be displayed.

My previous blog post - Rocks and Water - shows pictures of these two Mixed Media works and gives a bit of infomation about them.

This merger of extensive visual arts experience with discoveries being made as I work with fibers, stitching, and digital imagery is invigorating. It is energizing to incorporate new ideas into my creative life and watch as they weave themselves into my work. It is an everyday delight to wonder, "Where will this piece lead me next?"

The whispers of our Innate Creativity constantly urge us to be and to do our best. They cheer us to keep on, keeping on. We can tune out with skepticism, apathy, or fear and stay stuck. Or, we can choose to listen and respond with action.

We can choose to move in the direction we are being invited, pushed or pulled by our Inner Creative. Moment to moment, we can receptively ask, "Where will my listening lead me now?" Following the lead of our Wisdom Within, we can dance - step by step – through our days. And we can marvel at the ways our work and our life respond.

All best, pam

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Images & Words (c) Copyright 2008 by Pamela Walker Hart