How Do You Move Creative Roadblocks?
Do you ever get stuck creatively? I do all the time! I'm a technique person, so I like to start each card with a technique, and some days I feel like I am out of ideas.
So today I'm going to bring you one of my favorite ways to get around being stumped - going back to childhood art techniques. I learned some of my favorite techniques that I still treasure today in childhood. I was a third grade teacher for a while, and so I got to share some of my favorites in classes as well.
A lot of them are good for anyone challenged with hand mobility issues too, since they are designed for kids with less fine motor control, so everyone can feel confident in creating.
A Thanksgiving classic in my elementary school was making fall trees with cotton swabs. We'd dip them in tempera paint and just make simple dots all over hand drawn trees and branches. It felt so ARTY. I've played with it a lot over the years, making leaves, flowers and other botanical details with this technique.
For today's card, I started by using a makeup sponge with the Birch Trees Stencil - just dabbing turquoise paint through the stencil in a very grungy way. This changes the look of the stencil to be more abstract than the same stencil with ink blending.
Then I used a rubber band to hold eight cotton swabs together at one end. You'll want to stack them up so all the tips are level with each other. Then I picked up yellow, red and orange paint and just dabbed it over the trees or the ground.
As the cotton swabs get used, they will create a looser texture from the loose fibers - you'll be amazed at how many different looks you can get as they break down and change.
Next, I stamped the little bunny from Winter Critters and cut it out with the matching die. Before gluing him down, I dotted some alcohol markers on him as a sort of abstract reflection of the beautiful fall colors.
I hope you try going back to those elementary school techniques for a little inspiration!
Thanks for being here today.
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1 Responses
Linda Wetterlin
September 27, 2022
What a gorgeous fall look, Lydia – thanks for the tip about cotton swab leaves!! So perfect with the stenciled trees and sweet bunny!!