[-inspiration, photography-]

metAphorism is a PCQ coined-word that means a simple, everyday thing, concept or event that points us in the direction of a deeper lesson. metaphor - figure of speech giving an implicit comparison: this is that. aphorism - concise statement of a truth or opinion.

The metAphorism:
The Artichoke Plant
The Lesson:
Things Take Time

by guest metaphorical thinker and photographer, auer

© 2007 auer all rights reserved

If you eat artichokes you know that the middle part, full of thistles has to be pulled and trashed so you can get to the heart of the matter. But left to nature, this prickly trash becomes a lovely flower with soft filaments that blow gently in the breeze.

Sometimes all it takes is time and nature to turn a problem into a thing of beauty.

© 2007 auer all rights reserved

This lovely reminder was sent in by one of our readers after seeing the new PCQ. If you feel similarly inspired by anything that you’ve read here, take a chance on submitting your own MetAphorism or anything else that might be of interest to other creative people out there.

Thanks auer, for taking the time to send this in and for the timely message!

[-photography, science-]

Heart Chakra

Originally uploaded by Solitaire Miles.

This image gets to me, leaving me a little bit breathless. I’m not sure why. I have a nursing background so it has nothing to do with seeing someone’s insides. It has more to do with making something visible that we almost never see and therefore, often don’t think about.

The artist, Solitaire Miles is using the scans and medical procedures that she’s had to undergo as art– with beautiful results.

The image is striking. I’m struck by how close the heart is to the brain. I’m struck by how strong the arteries look. I’m interested in the fact that there’s symmetry but there’s also asymmetry within. And it fascinates me that the heart is clearly visible but the brain isn’t.

The image stimulates both my mind and my heart.

Art is about making the internal, the secret, the little understood, the inexpressible, the unarticulated, the unknown–visible.

Thanks Solitaire for the ultimate in personal art.

See more of Solitaire’s art at her flickr site.
Consider joining the Practically Creative flickr group

See my essay on my inconsistent bloggedness here.
Here’s another post and work of art - by arlee - based on the heart

[-fiber art, journals, art-]

second stage, my heart current
© 05 - 07 all rights reserved

Uploaded by arlee.

This work of fiber art by arlee is the second stage of her ongoing work on a fabric art journal she calls, My Heart Current.
About this arlee said that she’s trying new things such as:

foiling, the use of my own hand dyed fabrics, some rough edge applique and lots of spontaneity!

Journaling has undergone quite a transformation in the last few years. What used to be a simple pen and paper way to chronicle thoughts or life events has become an art form in and of itself. Now fiber artists are taking it further, making the whole journal a piece of art. These art journals can be made of paper or textiles or both.

Thanks arlee, for sharing your process and your finished products.
See more of arlee’s work and thoughts at Albedo Design

Here’s a collaborative blog: fabricartjournals.blogspot.com
All our Journaling posts.
Articles on Altered Books
- Karen Hatzigeorgiou
- Nancy’s first attempt is chronicled and illustrated

Originally published by permission of the artist in the original Practically Creative blog, February 2006; slightly edited for re-publication

[-practically mperfect, alterations-]

by Nancy S.M. Waldman

I missed a day (or was it two?) of posts. Some days I just don’t have *it*, you know? I’m busy shovelling out my workspace as it has gotten overwhelmed in the last two months.

When I get inspired, I start pulling materials out of the closets and can’t even think about putting any of it back because I might need it! Since my work room was such a mess, I started working in the tv room and several other rooms of the house. Whoa. Creative energy has a way of spreading, sometimes taking over not only our minds but whole rooms. *grins*

Anyway, it’s time to get things under control again. So that’s what I’ve been doing… as well as working on several small projects - all over the house!

Emma’s robot

Originally uploaded by Lockwasher.

Today’s image is charming, isn’t it? Lockwasher does these great sculptures out of found objects and metal do-dads. Each one has such personality and the craftmanship seems meticulous. I’m very impressed.

I chose this one because it’s made from a fancy tin. And, well, yeah, maybe because this one has a heart. Click on the image to see more of Lockwasher’s bots and rockets. They’re simply wonderful (and inspiring).

Must go work on my space.
Happy Sunday, all and thanks, Lockwasher!

Here are more wonderful robots that lockwasher has created.
See all our Practically Mperfect articles
Here’s a wonderful article on the process of creativity and how clutter enters into it: Mind Space
See all our Alterations articles
See our New Again, an Alterations Challenge
Here’s an article on our human need to GATHER things
(with links to the fun results of our Collectors Survey)

First published on March 5, 2006 in the original Practically Creative blog;
Re-published as written as an informal Practically Mperfect article

[-poetry-]

This poem explores the most intimate kind of space:
what’s inside us

by Chaphan Paul Trombley Read the rest of this entry »

[-music, art, inspiration-]

Get your brushes, paints, colored pencils and gel pens ready. When you get finished reading this article you’ll be wanting them immediately!

by guest contributor, Debbie Jensen

“Today, I find myself interested in graphic arts and multimedia; albeit with music written upon my heart and soul.”

As a very young child, I began a long journey of piano playing which has followed me all the way through my adulthood. From childhood lessons to adult lessons, and after decades of musical education which included reading notes, chords, scales, music theory, and composition, you would think I’d feel like I had achieved my musical goals. To the contrary, I still have so much more to learn! However, once any pianist reaches an expert level, it is difficult (and expensive) to find the musical instruction required to keep going. From this experience, coupled with other twist of events, I have drifted away from playing music. Today, I find myself interested in graphic arts and multimedia; albeit with music written upon my heart and soul.

Music has been one of the strongest influences to my artistic expressions and has helped me understand how to express beauty, rhythm, and movement. From my photography background (from which I photographed thousands of images), I learned the seven wonders of photography, the importance of framing and composition, and how to create emphasis. So you might wonder, how could music influence artistic expressions of a different medium?

When I used to play the piano, sometimes I would reach to fasten my seat belt, but of course, it was not there. This often happened right before I started to play, and perhaps this occurred because I felt as if I was about to travel through space. From my mind’s eye, and at the point I was lost in my music, I could easily envision colorful, geometric forms. The forms were beautiful. Other times, I would see imaginary birds flying, and possibly those birds are manifesting themselves through my graphic designs today. My sketch books are filled with endless imaginary birds; and I often wonder, where is this imagery coming from? There seems to be no end to it.

In music, the rhythm can slow down and speed up, pause or sustain a tone, leap, or even freeze for an instant; but if the rhythm breaks–sadly, the moment is lost. Is art any different? Isn’t this concept similar to what we know as a design principle? Each piece of artwork whether it be 2-D or 3-D needs to pull together as a unit and needs to have the same feeling of completeness in the same way as expected in a song; that is, at least to the point of solving all the design problems related to it.

Next time you find yourself stuck, creatively speaking, turn on music which harmonizes with the piece you are working on. Amazingly, in the way songs are written and in the way words are expressed within them, pianists vary the way they choose to strike the keys. So, why wouldn’t music influence how the artist’s brush strikes the canvas? To experience what I’m trying to convey, close your eyes and draw with your imaginary pen or brush and strike the air as the music influences you; and let the music influence how you make your abstract design. If brush strokes and lines are artists’ signatures, then why not let your signatures be influenced by audio multimedia?

© copyright 2005 - 2007
Debbie Jensen “Black and White Piano Keys Composition”