StudioMojo #557 • April 9, 2022

Words inspired me this week. I listened to Julia Cameron (of Artists Way fame). She is completely not what you might expect. Very real and talks about her successes and getting sober. (Listen in the YouTube links below.) Then I stumbled back into Atomic Habits (click on the quote a the bottom left). Amazon tells me I bought the book in 2018. Never cracked it until now. The author explains how the slightest changes make huge differences. You could handle tiny changes, right? Spring threatens to arrive any day and with it comes the possibility of change and newness and finally in-person art shows. I include a picture of my new super simple work that pleases me. I'm allowed to wear my contacts since my eye surgery got pushed back to May/June. I'm grateful to see again. (The botanical bead shown above is from Heather Powers • https://www.instagram.com/Humblebeads/)

Try this

  • Hammered brass

    Anna & Bull (Singapore) offer this super simple imitative technique. Super simple was exactly what I needed. Plus the big earrings are super light in polymer

  • Garden slab

    Covering a slab of clay with tiny shaped petals patiently arranged. It's either tedious or meditative...or both. Showing up more frequently. This from Montana's Speckled_Designs

What's next?

  • Teaching Artists Guild

    Sarah Wilbanks raved about how much she learned at last week's Pacific coast TAG gathering. Let's get IPCA on board with the concept. Sarah says, "I now know who to contact in my state for funding and how to connect with local TA’s to create a community so our voices can be heard by orgs and legislators."

  • What's the cost of a free tutorial?

    How do we deal with our Russian artist friends? This lovely little tutorial comes from St. Petersburg's Vera (HandmadeBlossom). A sad moment

What's now?

  • Future focus in DC

  • Days like this

    Linda Pearl masterfully mixes textures, colors, patterns and photos into a layered, intriguing brooch

  • Peace Garden

    I am seeking stillness, quietude, calm in this crazy world," says Canada's Lyn Tremblay. Polymer clay, pan pastels, mounted on 6”x12” cradle board.

  • Peeps and polymer at RAM

    Peepzilla from Cremona Weisser took top honors in the RacineArtMuseum's 13th competition. He's made of found plastic bags, found bubble wrap, paper mache, paint, polymer, plastic eyes

Watch these

Three "must see" YouTubes • A walk through the Bishoff/Styron studio • A link to Linda Leach letting us in on her latest successes with polymer sculpture and painting • The strange "No Ideas" link takes you to the Julia Cameron interview.

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