How One Things Becomes Another....

....And then becomes something else entirely.

Here's what I mean. If you remember back to my first post, you will remember that each member made a doodle. Then they mailed the doodle. Another person went to their mailbox, and 'lo there was the doodle. The doodle then was coloured in with paint, or crayon, or pencil, or... well, you get the idea. Then, the doodle took another trip to another friend. That friend added some lovely collage bits and pieces, and... voila... a completed project.

Now, maybe you think that this poor doodle had travelled enough and had all the fun it was going to have. Ah, well see, you would be wrong. Because that one doodle, coloured and collaged would need to take one more trip. This was the trip that really mattered.... and it would be a bit epic.

This final trip would bring this doodle to one lucky buyer. And you would think that would be the end of the trip, right? Well yes and no... indirectly the journey continues, although the doodle can rest up for a bit.

The purchase of the doodle resulted in a simple enough transaction. Money was paid in exchange for the doodle. The money was donated in support of etsy seller Loopy4Ewe in her quest to help end breast cancer. This perhaps is the truly epic part of the doodle journey. For the second year in a row, Loopy (as we lovingly call her!) has walked in the 60km Weekend to End Breast Cancer Walk. By doing so she has (at last check) raised nearly $5,000 in support of this great cause.

So you see, one simple doodle, can go on a journey, and that journey can turn into something truly, staggeringly amazing!!

Click here to see how art projects are raising money for charity.

*Collaboraters for the above artwork are:
fiveforty.etsy.com
paisleybaby.etsy.com
willowcatstudio.etsy.com

Emmarts and "Just Letting Go"

It was Gabriele of Emmarts that first proposed the scribble project. I have to admit to being a little envious of her freedom of creative expression. I tend to play my creative cards close to my chest. I'm learning to let go, and Gabriele has been a great mentor in this respect.

I asked Gabriele to explain a bit about her creative process, which largely is about not limiting yourself and opening yourself up to the concept of total abandon.

"(It's) playing around with stuff - doing scribbles, stirring in water colours, sorting handmade papers or gorgeous textiles....anything 'speaking' to your senses.
The senses then will overtake, pushing away the brain part more and more.
It brings me in a certain mood and going from playing to working happens without a gap in between.
Sometimes music can be a support, sometimes I prefer the silence or just the singing of the birds outside.
Having materials handy is important, see it as similar thing to mis en place in the kitchen."

Her advice to others who want to get in touch with their creative side is exactly what she attempted to instill in our group:

For people who fear to be creative, doodling is a great tip.
Danny Gregory's blog comes to my mind http://www.dannygregory.com/
He quoted Miles Davis "Do not fear mistakes. There are none."
That went very deep - it could help others, too.
You know - art has no rules or borders at all! Well, you shouldn't mix certain chemicals wildly......but other than that, you are free to do what you want. Dance a little, shake your bones and muscles....that should get rid of bowing, bending and obeying. Make them flexible again, feel the adventurous seed germinating in your stomach? Great! Let it grow, it's good for you. No excuses anymore. :-)
If you don't do it, it's not there. Not positive. Dare to be yourself.

Some of us need to dig deeper to find out inner artist. When I asked Emmarts about how she found hers, her response was both inspiring and surprising:

"There was no discovery. I just don't know myself differently.
But I remember my mother saying "I sat her down on a blanket or into the sandbox and she was so happy for a couple of hours, totally content with everything, creating little things or sandy cakes in a row, designing landscapes...."
Well, who knew about autism back then in the 50s?!
At the age of 42 I discovered that I'm synesthetic. I always had assumed that everyone sees the number 5 in green and an A in red and sees what people say, in front of him/her. So much easier to learn poems and stuff in school......
It was a shock to suddenly read about this. It explained many misunderstandings in hindsight but made me totally happy. Gave me the feeling to coming home."

So perhaps, letting go is mainly about letting yourself be. Embrace yourself - set aside pre-conceived notions about who you or others think you should be. Open your eyes to the world, open yourself to your senses and give your inner artist the opportunity to expose herself at last.

Find Garbriele on etsy at:
emmarts on etsy
fluur on etsy
and of course, thescribble group on etsy.

Or check her out here:
www.emmarts.ca
http://www.redbubble.com/people/emmarts
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/902920

A Hearty Welcome

On behalf of The Scribble Group I would like to extend a warm welcome.

Let me briefly introduce our group to you. We are a group of Canadian artists, artisans and crafters who met on an etsy forum thread. Funny thing about our group, for such a creative and talented bunch, we had many, many creative hang-ups. Last summer, one of the members, the ever-wise and multi-talented Emmarts proposed an art project. We were put in groups of three. Each person was to doodle three pictures. The piece would then be mailed to the second and then the third members to be coloured with a medium of choice and collaged.

As our doodles, criss-crossed the country we learned to set aside our fears and misgivings about trying new art methods. This was the whole endeavour of the project: "The concept is to practise the art of being creative while letting go of preconceived thoughts and barriers of what art 'should' look like. Art for arts’ sake."

The suggestion was also raised that our doodles, once completed, be sold on etsy and the monies raised would be sent to charities chosen by the members. TheScribbleGroup shop was thus born.

Continuing to break down our barriers and creative insecurties, we have recently completed our second project and are beginning a third. Details on both of these will follow in the days to come, so do please stay tuned. As well, I hope you will come back to meet some of the wonderful members of the group.

Thanks for stopping by today.