Let In The Light With Imperfection

Taos Bell photo by Doug Bryan

Last weekend I had a blast exploring inspiring studio spaces and visiting with some of the super talented and friendly artists on the White Rock Lake Artists' Studio Tour. (Creative Oasis Coaching was once again happy to be a proud sponsor of this fabulous tour.)

One topic that came up over and over was the importance of giving ourselves permission to release the need for perfection in order to move forward creatively and embrace the joy of creative experiences. 

In one studio I even stumbled upon a sign of one of my favorite Creative Oasis Mantras I just shared with my classes last week ~ Perfect Is Boring! One of many cool heemeesheemee experiences this weekend. (My word for all things serendipitous.) 

Hanging in the studio of Rebecca Boatman

I saw several examples of cracked, broken and "imperfect" pieces of glass and found objects assembled into gorgeous mosaic and sculptural pieces. 

Pieces by Cindy Kelley & Angela Gallia

I received a fascinating lesson in the intricate process of creating bronze sculptures from Glo Coalson.

Glo Coalson shares a lesson in the bronze sculpture process

And also enjoyed visiting with one of the founders of the tour, Marty Ray. 

Marty Ray

Marty shared that her new bird pot designs evolved from pinch pots and offer a fun and relaxing way to play with clay and take a break from her more intricate incised and painted story pots shown below.

One of my favorite parts of the tour was meeting some of my neighbors who have studios within walking distance from my house. How cool is that? I so love my funky little creative hood! 

Janet Reynolds of Imagine Studios

One neighbor, Janet Reynolds, has the most inviting, colorful studio space in her backyard and personality to match! 

Betsy Doan of Mud Puppy Studio

Another, Betsy Doan of Mud Puppy Studio, offers a great variety of whimsical yard art and ceramic pieces. 

More from Mud Puppy Studio

by Juli Hulcy-Kessinger of Artquirks

The tour is a wonderful opportunity to meet kindred creative spirits, expose yourself to many different types of creative expression and be reminded of the beauty in imperfection. 

Thank you to everyone who requested a free copy of the Creative Inspiration Guide I created for the tour. I hope you enjoyed the creative permission, prompts and play! 

If you live in the Dallas area, I hope you'll join us in 2015 for the 23rd annual White Rock Lake Artists' Studio Tour! 

In closing, I'd like to share this quote:

“Healthy striving is self-focused: "How can I improve?" 

Perfectionism is other-focused: "What will they think?” 

― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

All the best from my far from perfect but very light filled Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

Butterfly mosaic by Juli Hulcy-Kessinger of Artquirks

Bye-Bye Overwhelm - Hello Fun Bloggin' & Lots of Amazing Artists

Jill and  Mosaic Butterfly by Juli Hulcy of www.Artquirks.org

Okay, I'll admit that I've slipped a bit behind in my posts lately and I'll be happy to blame my slight perfectionistic leanings and good old procrastination for that. I have several wonderful stories and lots of great photos to share, so as they've slowly piled up over the past few weeks I've felt more and more overwhelmed by the prospect of sharing them with you in a timely and pretty manner.

Luckily, today it dawned on me that I am, after all, a Master Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coach and I have the tools to break down this overwhelm and get back to posting.

First, though I have three or four different stories I'm eager to share, guess what, I don't have to share them all at once. Once at a time will do quite nicely, thank you. (breaking projects down into small, doable steps is a wonderful part of this creativity coaching method)

Fun sign in Front of Juli Hucy's amazing chick coop (sad my photo didn't turn out - it looks like an old-fashioned circus car - super cool! Lucky chicken!)

So today, I GET TO (no reason to tell myself I HAVE TO do something I really enjoy doing) write the story I want to share about the White Rock Lake Artists' Studio Tour here in East Dallas a few weeks ago. Creative Oasis Coaching™ was a proud sponsor of the 20th anniversary of this East Dallas tradition and it was a blast getting out to see as many of the studios as I could over the weekend.

My Sis-in-Law Shanny went with me, and I do happen to love her, so this photo opportunity at Juli Hucy's funky studio was perfect. (check out Juli's work at www.artquirks.org)

One of the most surprising stops along the tour was the White Rock Weaving Center, which looks from the outside like an unassuming one room shop, but as we walked further and further in we realized there were more than seven rooms and spaces filled with beautiful, color threads and yarns, looms of all shapes and sizes and the wonderful women creating various weavings throughout. It was truly a feast for the senses. 

I would love to wrap myself up in all of the super soft and colorful wool in the spinning room. 

Did you know there's such a thing as painting with felt? Check out this gorgeous, textile – so lovely to see and feel – a 3-dimensional depiction of a photograph created on canvas with soft felted wool. 

We visited the inviting backyard studio of Sonya Shinn Edwards and enjoyed watching her work on a few canvases and sell one or two just in the short time we were there. (Yay! Love people who support independent artists!) And that's what the tour is all about – exposing people the fabulous variety of talented artists we have right here in East Dallas – many of them in my own hood.

www.Sonyaedwards.net

I could have spent all afternoon on the funky and fabulous grounds of David B. Hickman and his eclectic sculptures. He and his wife have truly created an artistic oasis. Check out this brilliant mosaic fireplace in their back house. (I know it's wrong to covet - but I want one!!!)

www.davidbhickman.com

I was able to find a few lovely things to buy for myself including a Japanese style vase created by Lynn Wilkes Armstrong of both hands studio.

www.bothhandsstudio.com

I also loved the photography and mixed media pieces shown at silent G imagery. Their styles encompassed a wide variety of images and themes and were so engaging and magical!

www.sharonocallaghanshero.com

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the woman who started this all 20 years ago – hosting the first event in her backyard with other artistic neighbors – Marty Ray and her husband Richard Ray. Marty creates beautiful pottery and her husband paints. 

www.martyray.com

Richard's work shed in the back reminded me of my granddad's garage where he hung all matter of rusting treasures. I wonder if he realized he was creating art in his own way?

Check out his Vangoghesque painting of White Rock Lake. I love it!

www.richardraypainter.com

Of course there was no way I could visit all of the 50 artists and five art centers in just two days, but if you visit the tours' website at www.whiterockartists.com you can check out even more of the many talented teachers, artists and supporters that came together to open their studios and hearts to the Dallas community and do so each fall. I know they'd love for you to join them in 2013!

Fun sculpture made from an old tree stump, because that's what you get when you view life through a creative lens!

Until next time, all the best from my creative oasis to yours,
Jill

p.s. - Last tool, I gave myself an hour to create a blog that was not perfect, but good enough to share, and that's what you have here. Hope you enjoyed!