Creative Frustration

So it's been a while now that I have been feeling frustrated with my work, like writer's block, you know, but for a visual artist. Visual artist's block, if you will. And this is also one of the reasons I have been posting so little here, as well. But I had a bit of a breakthrough this week. I finally came to an important realization about my work.

I think the main thing is that apart from the stuff I create for my etsy shop, I have been doing collage and mixed media for a very long time. And it is quite different from the work you see in my shop.

mixed media collage (copyright by me, please do not steal)

I'll backtrack a little here. Since I was a tot, I have always been creating some sort of visual "art." Collaging, drawing, painting, tracing my favorite illustrations, etc. I have also been collecting and obsessing over paper goodies for almost as long. In high school, I started collaging zines and creating collaged displays for my bedroom walls. I didn't realize mixed media/collage was actually considered a "legitimate" art form until I discovered Robert Rauschenberg and Joseph Cornell in my late teens. And when I did discover them, I mean, WOW. I just fell in love.

Throughout college, though a film major, I took art courses, from painting and ceramics to lithography. And my film studies enriched my photography (another love of mine). Then, six or seven years ago I started using a new mixed media technique I had learned in a workshop. I began creating these mixed media pieces, mainly utilizing image transfers. And this is still one of my favorite techniques.

mixed media collage (copyright by me, please do not steal)

Since I have always loved paper, I have also wanted to make greeting cards since I as long as I can remember. Loved making them for friends and family. Then about a year ago, after I discovered Etsy and the nifty Gocco, I realized I could make that little dream come true. I opened up my shop and started creating my paper goods!

Once I began doing that, I stopped creating my mixed media works. Not on purpose, it just kinda happened slowly. For the past few months, I have been feeling very frustrated, unable to come up with new ideas, lacking inspiration. I knew of course, it was partly due to the fact that I had stopped making my mixed media work. But I realized this week the main source of the frustration was due to the different ways I approach the work.

When I am making mixed media/collage pieces, I don't approach the work with a final design in mind. I simply gather my materials and begin selecting images and start putting them together. The work just shapes itself. I go along, layering, adding, until I achieve a result that feels complete.

When I am making work for my shop, my approach is completely different. Besides the considerations of materials cost, time expended (time=money) and what will sell, I will attempt to design a final product... I will have to create a screen with which to print my images. I have to think it out and design it and come up with an idea. And this approach is so different than the way I create my other work.

And so this had been my stumbling block! I realized this when, in a fit of frustration, I pulled out my mixed media supplies and set to work making a few new pieces. My method is to just let the piece come together on its own. I can't believe I didn't make this connection before! So then I got some colorful papers and began collaging some simple but cute notecards. It felt so liberating! I was just putting the pieces together, moving them around, letting the colors and lines dictate each piece until it felt complete.

So now I have to make sure I strike a balance with my work. And maybe I have to rethink my approach to the way I design products for my shop. Please share your thoughts and ideas with me in the comments below! I'm sure most of you have felt creative frustration before, and I welcome all of your opinions and advice!

Blog Thanks: better late than never...

I want to say a belated thank you to three lovely ladies for including my work in their blogs!

Jan of Poppytalk included my screenprinted vintage paper cards in a valentine's roundup

Madcity Girl included my Lab Partners card in her roundup

and Michelle of Little Paper Dog featured my shop on her beautiful blog. She also has her own Etsy shop, and I love her style! Here are some of Michelle's lovely paper goods...

printable stationery set by Little Paper Dog

gocco screenprint by Little Paper Dog

Just too cute!

Business Cards

I haven't been posting as much as I would like lately... But I did want to share my business cards, because I got some nice compliments on them recently. And I just stocked up on some more which arrived yesterday, so here they are...!These are double sided! I made them and had them printed through Zazzle. They have full color, double sided business cards at about $16 for 100, and about $26 for 200, and so on. What do you think? Am I spending too much on business cards? I usually wait for some special offer to roll around and then I order them. I really like them.

If you haven't heard of Zazzle, check it out! It's one of those sites where you can design your own products and they do the printing for you. You can open up a shopfront and sell through them. Not exactly Etsy, but it's fun! Feel free to share links to your business cards in the comments section below! (And so you know, this isn't a promotion for Zazzle. I'm just very pleased with how they turned out!)

More Silly Dog Tricks

Almost as soon as I posted the photo of Hunter in the previous post, she climbed back in the basket. And I promise you, I didn't stage that bit of lace over her face.Then she settled in for a little nap. And by the way, she has numerous dog beds in every room of the house (except the bathroom). But I guess she likes making up her own dog beds.

Silly Dog Tricks

Is is just me, or does anyone else find this incredibly funny? My beagle Hunter has this habit of always crawling into baskets or containers full of soft things, i.e., the laundry basket while it's full of clothing or freshly laundered towels! Last night was particularly amusing because she crawled into this very small basket full of fabric scraps. Then she posed there for several minutes while I almost fell out of my chair laughing and snapping photos.

I have a hunch that she knows how much this cracks me up and she does it for my benefit/amusement. Though a rascalish doggie in a basket of clean towels in not actually that amusing...

What silly things does your dog do?

Sharing the Love!

See those cute buttons on the left column? The Flickr and Email ones? Well I got those fantastic buttons and a great little tutorial on how to set them up from Cathe of Just Something I Made. Follow this link to the Flickr button tutorial and this one for how to set up your email button! Thanks Cathe!

Big Apple Sweets: Tra La La Juice Bar

Inside the Essex St. Market is one of my favorite places ever, hands down. Tra La La Juice Bar. This little juice stand and bakery is so much more... and, while googling around for links, I discovered that the owners, Ron and Ira, also run the adjacent Rainbo's Fish. I really wish I had known that before I moved from the neighborhood! I have not been there in a while, sadly, but I remember they also serve fish sandwiches, yum! (now it makes sense. I wondered why they had fish sandwiches, but that's because they own the fresh fish stand!) Either Ira or Ron (don't remember now) once told me that they have been there for over 20 years... don't quote me, but it was a long time... I think 26 years. Or 16. Well anyway, they have been around a long time!

A little bit about this special slice of heaven: not only do they make the BEST muffins on the planet (and yes I really mean that), they also sell desserts and other baked goods, fabulous specialty custom cakes, along with coffee, savory snacks, and fresh squeezed juices. So delish, and also, very inexpensive. And, very importantly, Ron and Ira are sooooo nice. Just really sweet and friendly, and they are always right there, mixing up a fresh batch of muffins right behind the counter. If you are lucky, you can get a muffin hot out of the oven. Just heavenly.

corny corn muffins, originally uploaded by jm3.

Now, let me just say that I am not really a "muffin person." Never really was into them, I much prefer cookies or cupcakes over muffins. Except for these. They taste more like quick bread than muffins--you know, banana bread, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, etc. These muffins are so dense, delicious, flavorful and moist. And they come in so many different combinations, wow. I recommend trying several... so you can find your favorite! My favorite is the banana chocolate chip, laden with tons of chocolate chips and chunks of fresh banana. Holy cow, I mean, there is no skimping here, not on ingredients, freshness, quality... in fact, I don't think they are charging enough! I would happily pay double! These muffins are also huge, by the way.

Tra La La Juice Bar
Inside the Essex Market
120 Essex St., between Rivington and Delancey
New York City!

Tra La La is located right off the entrance closest to Rivington. Directions to the market here.

While I do browse online reviews when looking for a new place to eat, I also want to mention that I am not one to read Time Out NY or other local magazines in search of the "best" place to eat or newest hot spot. I tend to discover things either through recommendations from people I trust or just by stumbling upon things. I discovered Tra La La when my ex-boyfriend's Mom recommended the muffins to me, or maybe I tried one of hers... To us they are simply the "Muffin Guys." I like sharing these things because I think there are people like me who simply don't have the time or inclination to browse publications in search of yumminess. So I hope whenever you find yourself in nyc you will check out some of these places!

PS... I think they are closed on Sundays. Check the Essex Market website for hours. You can also find pics there of Tra La La and Ron and Ira, by clicking on numbers 34 and 7&8 in the merchant directory.