Sunflowers – Tell Me How to Improve
Sunflowers bring light to darkness and look very powerful. Perhaps that’s why they symbolize a life change for me. This fall they are more relevant than ever. I resigned from my day job just few days ago and started as a full-time creative entrepreneur!
In the past, I have always admired the people who make changes in their lives. But I never thought I could do that myself. It seemed to require exceptional courage and ability to take risks. Seven years ago I experienced a small change when I decided to change my professional identity from computer engineer to designer. I went to study industrial design.
Little did I know back then that it was the seed for the big change that I am experiencing now. I thought I would be perfectly happy developing new products focusing on user experience more than their technical qualities. But with designer studies something reappeared to my controlled life that had been hiding for a long time: the compelling need to create art.
The assignments connected to my studies gave some basic skills but I missed more – self expression! That goal in mind I spent years practicing most of the evenings, analyzing what went wrong and where to improve. At some point I realized that I do not want to be the greatest artist on earth. I do not want my blog to be the showcase of my artwork only. I want to share what I have learned and also what I am currently learning while struggling. I want to teach art.
It took years to dream and nine months to plan the big leap. I have gone through the fears of being lonely, poor, inadequate and uninteresting.
Now, in this special phase of my life, I ask you: help me improve and develop new products and services!
Answer the reader survey of this blog!
While answering, think where you want art to take you!
Let Me Be Your Art Teacher
During the years I have had all kind of art teachers. For example the bohemians of my childhood: two professional painters who taught on Saturdays at the children’s art school. Or that very strict old lady that gave exact instructions and kept the class of 30 teenagers busy with various techniques and approaches to art. I also remember a textile artist who taught freestyle weaving for adult students. She adjusted her view according to each student’s skills and desires. When I studied industrial design I was taught by an illustrator guy who was specialized in sketching the prototypes of sports cars. Despite of their different personalities they all had a big impact in my life.
What kinds of art teachers have you had? How have they impacted your life?
(Photo: Me 30 years ago at the art exhibition of the children’s art school)
There are some things that I would have liked to change in my teachers. They taught perspectives, techniques and theories but very little about self-expression. They showed the work of other artists but never spoke about the unique style that all of us naturally have. They gave exercises but never explained how to make creative thinking as a regular, enjoyable practice.
I just had my 45th birthday and it’s about time to give back what life has given to me so far. So, I ask, let me be your art teacher! Let me show the fascination of using creativity. Let me give you new ideas how to find the artist in you. Most importantly, let me bring colors and imagination to your life. Whether your daily practice is just enjoying the images you feel drawn to or creating them yourself.
Say yes and subscribe to my newsletter to get new ideas and keep motivated to create beauty and meaning through art.
Scrapbooking News
I attended the Finnish Scrapbooker of the Year competition with this layout. It is about an old typewriter that my parents bought with part payments. My father was a policeman and needed the machine to type the investigation reports. I also wrote about how different the machines are nowadays and how it all relates to me.
I managed to get to the final! There are 6 of us. There is a about 4 weeks to make a mini album for the final judging. The theme is “A day of somenone’s life” and some scrapbooking supplies were sent to us. I took all the photos yesterday. The weather was great and it was Saturday so it wasn’t too stressful. Furthermore it was my beagle’s 1 year anniversary!
This photo is taken by my husband. I think Stella looks very content. And yes, I am happy too, there’s a lot of work with a puppy but now it’s getting a bit easier once she’s older. I think she is still as cute as a puppy though!
I heard that Google reader is retiring and that must be a reason that I have got new followers through Bloglovin.
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New Site, New Folk Bag and Other News
A lot of things have happened recently, along with the new web site and the location of this blog! I am going to expand the web site within the next months and hopefully you’ll already have bookmarked the new location of the blog.
Participating in an Exhibition
From October to the beginning of December my work is displayed at a knitting themed exhibition in Tampere, Finland. At the crafts centre Verkaranta you can see my printed fabric Botanical Garden and a new folk bag there.
Botanical Garden, turquoise colorway
Here’s the new folk bag.
I think that crocheting the bottom part with many colors looks pretty!
Great Time at the Craft Fair
In september I attended a craft fair in Helsinki, Finland. It was organized by a small group of local small businesses. I mostly sell online so it was fun to talk people in person for a change.
I am holding the fabric Summer here.
But now it’s nothing like summer in Finland, it’s cold and dark and we have already got some snow too!
This was the day Stella saw snow the first time. She loves it!
I am sorry about the few week’s break in blog posts! Now when I am settled here in the new location, I will get back to regular posts. Lot’s of new creative stuff to come!