Inspiration Thursday: Explore Your Creativity!

When I started blogging in 2008, I also started to explore my creativity. For some time the urge to create something had become stronger and when I discovered all the creative blogs this felt like a revelation! There were so many people out there sharing their drawings, needlework, patchwork, collages etc. and I felt sooo inspired.  I had always loved photography and making collages but I had never dared to really choose art or design as my profession or even considered it a real hobby.

I had never been encouraged or even encouraged myself to pursue my creative dreams and so they had been sleeping for some years. Once I gave myself permission to create I started with making textile collages for kids because I had two little kids and that seemed to be something easy to make. Slowly I moved on, making photos, blogging, buying a better camera, learning to work with photoshop and taking some e-courses that motivated me a lot. Finally, some years later, I had become an artist  and selling my photography and working in a studio with a group of creative people!

This was and is wonderful, but I still wanted to grow and to make real mixed media photographies using my photos and working on them with all kinds of techniques (I wanted to get my hands dirty with paint!!!). So this year I opened my heart, chose another very good e-course and actually started making mixed media works! The one you see above is the first one were I use my photography and acrylic colours and it's the first one that feels like I'm moving into the right direction. I'm enjoying this process of expanding my wings, moving on despite my fear and inner critics because I simply have to do it!

As I'm slowly moving on and sharing my story, I want to encourage you to do the same! 

Explore your creative dreams! Give them space and time to grow - slowly or fast but persistently! 

Nothing but Photos: Week 4

Details of a delicate headpiece by Kopfgeschichten

Inspiration Thursday: Creating Atmosphere with Textures

With the help of textures the atmosphere of a photo can be completely changed and I like to use this effect a lot! Today I want to show you the transformation of one of my new photos which I have made last week in Zurich.

First I used a texture by les brumes (she is an artist who creates the most beautiful textures - I love all of them) and then I added a more experimental one I had made myself. There were many road works going on in the area where I lived in Zurich which was a bit annoying but I really liked the texture of one of the construction site containers. I took some quick snapshots and when I was working on the photo with the swans some days later this texture with the yellow borders suddenly came to my mind.

Interesting surfaces are really everywhere and perhaps you will also like to use them as beautiful textures for your photopraphy!

Some days ago I took a lot of photos of the old working table which is standing in the siebenmachen shop and studio. It is covered with stains of paint, coffee mugs and there is even some nail polish ;-) Perhaps one of these new textures will be used in one of my next photos very soon...

Inspiration is everywhere!

Nothing but Photos: Week 3

Zürich, March 2014

Inspiration Thursday: Be Like a Kid!

Sometimes, the best we can do to find inspiration is to be like kids!

 

"Play is the most important element in discovering who you are." (Kerry Smith, "Living ou loud")

PS.: This week I gave myself permission to play and created these textures/backgrounds with acrylic colours and really had fun!

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Nothing but Photos: Week 2

Happy Monday!

Inspiration Thursday: Don't Forget the Simple Remedies

Yes, sometimes I forget the simple remedies that are really good and uplifting for me like going out for a walk. I need to walk without having any special reason or goal but to walk and perhaps to take photos. When I walk I feel free, I'm going at my own pace (not running to get somewhere just in time...), I can breath deeper and I begin to relax. My mind starts to wander in a very good way and I often have the clearest and most inspired thoughts when I'm out for a walk.

This week, beautiful Spring weather made me go out for a stroll in the neighborhood. It was so very good to enjoy the warm sunlight and the beauty of all the first signs of Spring that nature is offering right now! I just reread a very moving quote from Anne Frank's diary where she is talking about what nature means to her:

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. (...) I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."

What is your simple remedy that makes you feel better?