For this week’s post, I wanted to create something festive for the holidays. I began without any preconceived ideas. Usually, a few visual prompts are ample starting points to jumpstart the process.
Through Unsplash, I stumbled upon an oil painting of a woman holding a cerulean-colored bowl. Although I couldn't pinpoint why I chose it, something was intriguing about her hand gesture with the bowl.
This led me to pose these creative questions to myself: What if I paired this image with modern-day Christmas symbols commonly found on holiday cards? What will it look like? The parameter seemed simple yet open to a variety of interpretations.
So, off I went collaging for a few days utilizing a mixture of sources from public domain photographs and illustrations to AI-generated images, a new feature from Canva that I wanted to explore further. These are the results of that creative inquiry.
I love that they are anachronistically quirky and amusing! Hopefully, they are bringing joy to your hearts today, just as they did for me when I created them.
As 2023 winds down, I will be taking a two-week hiatus during Christmas and New Year's. Before I take my break, I’d like to leave you with this inspiring story.
Several months ago, I discovered Meredith Hite-Estevez’s podcast called Artists for Joy. In an episode called Who are you Creating For? she remembers posing this question to her friend Rob, an orchestra conductor. How does he stay inspired directing The Nutcracker 60 times a year?
“I’m always conducting for the one who is hearing the Nutcracker for the first time or the one who is hearing it for the last time. There is always one. That’s what I think about when I’m conducting. That’s what keeps me inspired.“
I take Rob’s words to heart even when the news is bleak or when I find myself at times, questioning what the point is of showing up to compose my weekly post while there’s so much chaos and strife.
Let us remember that we have a light inside of us. When we tap into it and share this gentle flicker with others no matter how small, it makes a difference. We should never underestimate the impact of seemingly little things; they matter. Gaze up and notice the stars at night— that’s the collective beauty of tiny lights illuminating the darkness in this world.
As always, let’s meet each other in the comments section below. Let me know what’s on your mind, and what your thoughts are on the holiday collages or Rob’s words.
I will be returning on Sunday, January, 7th, with fresh stories, more art, and inspiration.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!
(Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)
See you all next year.
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The little things do matter, beautifully said, Stella. I think these collages would be wonderful printed as a set of Christmas cards. They are so fun and quirky.
“Let us remember that we have a light inside of us. When we tap into it and share this gentle flicker with others no matter how small, it makes a difference.” Thank you for the reminder, Stella!
Van Gogh turned out to be my favorite collage - I kept returning to him again and again, something about that look in his eyes from behind all those books, glasses, and coffee cups is just so kind of mischievously delightful! They're all lovely though, what a fun inspiration. Merry Christmas!