Apparently I'm craving more structure in my life. Either that or I'm trying to force creative time into my schedule. My committments so far include being the BellaOnline cycling editor and writing a weekly article on any topic related to cycling (I've done 36 and am starting to run out of ideas already), and this blog (which I take as a personal committment, even if no one is counting on me for it). I've been thinking of adding a new committment for the new year.
While I manage to be reasonably productive on the creative front, I often feel that I'm just throwing this hodge-podge of stuff out and am not really improving my skills in any appreciable way. Skills not only includes technical expertise (glass working abilities, fabric surface design techniques, whatever), but also general creative thinking and originality. I have a number of books on creativity and developing artistic ability, but I never take the time to do more than read them, despite the plethora of great lessons and activities.
Where is all this rambling going? Hopefully toward another committment for the new year. Several weeks ago I thought that it might be interesting to expand my creative thinking by studying and emulating 12 women artists, one each month. My idea is to choose one female artist each month, research her and her work, and create one piece of original art in the style of that artist. Not copy one of her pieces, but create my own in the same or a similar style. The medium might be different, but the style will be similar.
The trick now is to choose 12 artists. I bought two books: 50 Women Artists You Should Know and Women Artists in the 20th and 21st Century (shouldn't that be Centuries?). The first focuses mainly on painters and the second on very modernistic artists in different media. Based on a quick perusal, neither had anyone that really caught my attention.
I have a few artists in mind:
- Georgia O'Keefe (of course)
- Robbie Joy Ecklow (fiber art)
- Emily Carr (a Canadian painter in the late 19th century of mostly Native subjects)
- Susan Shie (fiber/diary art)
I'm sure if I weren't tired right now I could think of more. These are really all in my comfort zone, however. Perhaps I should pick one or two that push me a little further. Of course, just creating one piece of art a month might be all the push I can handle.
So, if you have any favorite women artists in any medium, please let me know. I'd appreciate any ideas I can get. Provided I actually get this project started, I'll post my progress here for your critique.
