I’ve been participating in Februallage, a month of daily collage prompts with international particitpation. I’ve been posting a collage a day since December, so I figured, why not?
Above this is the prompt where I almost quit. Feeling uninspired, a migraine sitting on the edge of my awareness all day and tired even after an extra day off work, I thought for a minute maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough. Isn’t it funny, that I tell my friends and students to quit all the time, and here I am, sick apparently, and still weighing whether or not I want to continue.
Having a daily art challenge shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a source of inspiration.
Maybe I don’t care about making a prompt every day for @februllage. But I do like making a little art every day and so I gave it a go, unattached to the outcome. Having a daily art challenge shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a source of inspiration. and once I remembered that, this funny little experiment came out.
And for those of you disappointed that I don’t follow my own advice, I will share a secret: telling you to quit isn’t really about getting you to quit, it is a way to relieve the pressure of continuing.
I want you to remember that making art every day should be a choice not an obligation. Like all the best things, when we work from choice, we feel less pressure, shed the dread and can decide what to do next. It is a tool for overriding the anxiety we all sometimes feel about making, so we can focus on the art.
I’m still posting everyday at @___is_this_art but I’ve had to give up the dream of a 1500 word essay every week while I am sick.
I tried to keep it short so we could get right to the good stuff: read on about studio practice classes in March, a reading in Portland and a trip to the Bay Area!
studio practice in march!
Studio Practice: collage is dedicated studio time for you to bring your materials and work in an encouraging and supportive environment. I offer a prompt that you can follow or ignore, and we save a little time at the end of class to share!
This month, I am trying an online and an in-person option!
Mondays starting 3/4 ONLINE 4-6pm PST $0-120 pay what you can
Tuesdays starting 3/5 at Paisley Studios in Portland OR noon-2 pm $120
payment plans, workstade and other financial options available, reach out.
portland, bay area, seattle
March 23 I will be reading as part of Small Press Palooza, which is the first time I’ve read since Oly zine fest? Will I cry? Probably.
Bay Area! I’m coming to the San Jose Printer’s Fair April 13! I’ll also be teaching a collage workshop at SFCB on Monday 4/15, details TBD.
Seattle! Stay tuned for World Collage Day events in May!
I know, a lot of excitement, not a lot of details. I have A LOT more I’m not even telling you about!
failure
a few little bits for when you feel like you’re failing
andrea gibson’s advice for your mental health
three months before he died, david rakoff performed on a live broadcast of this american life. he shared an an essay and when it got too heavy, he danced (around minute 12)
amy berkowitz’ s gravitas is a reminder that no matter how much they try to tell you it’s you, it isn’t you.