Emerging Style

Trees, watercolor sketch by Katie Turner

Creatives get into it because they have good taste.  We’ve been inspired and want to recreate that amazing thing we saw, read or heard or dreamt up.  But your own work leaves you disappointed.  Many creatives quit at this point but you didn’t.  You still are plugging along trying to figure out what your piece is missing.  That’s great!  We all go through this and if you are still in this phase, you’ve got to know it’s normal.  The most important thing you can do right now is to do a LOT of work.

Sometimes you will find it helpful to ask a few questions along the way.  This is one way to help give yourself some direction.  Ask yourself what you like about the creative piece you just made.  Then ask yourself more questions:  What colors do you like, what shapes do you like, what form, line, texture, or values to you like?  These questions give you clues to your own personal style which no one, even AI, can duplicate.  You are an original creation yourself, so your tastes and interests will be completely unique.  Paying attention to your interests can help you identify your own style along the way.

Have you identified your unique interests? Have you found your own unique style?  Are you having fun on your creative journey?  I’d love to hear from others.  Be sure to comment below!

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Teasing Out the Unconscious

Frida Kahlo’s diary is a window into her intimate thoughts.  If you like art journals and want to peek into this artist’s journal then you should read The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait 1995 Introduction by Carlos Fuentes, Essay and commentaries by Sarah M. Lowe published by Harry N. Abrams Inc.

Kahlo’s diary is a way to see how she negotiates her relationship with herself.  She never intended for anyone to see her writings or art from these pages.  She journaled her state of mind – flamboyant, irreverent and personal within these pages and it is here she has the freedom to explore.

Page from Frida Kahlo’s diary.

She began her diary journal in the mid-1940s when she was around age 36 or 37.  It wasn’t long after her father had passed and she went through divorcing Diego Rivera (a year later remarried him).  She was plagued by inadequacy, knowing she would never bear a child she longed to have and had undergone numerous surgeries and medical treatments for her spinal problems and miscarriages.  Her health was deteriorating and through her art she processed much of the trauma.

Page from Frida Kahlo’s diary.

Almost all of the drawings in Kahlo’s journal are unplanned and spontaneous.  They were idea springboards for her paintings.  The journal is the place to explore and tease out the unconscious and elaborate on visions.  Kahlo used spilled and splattered ink spots – turning them into figures.  She played with colored pencils, ink washes, crayons, conte crayons, and gouache.  She created images and wrote love letters, lists, phrases and words.  For 10 years she kept the journal, adding to it sporadically until her death.

Page from Frida Kahlo’s diary.

Looking over Kahlo’s private journal gave me ideas how I can make use of my own artistic journal practice with poetry, lists, exploration and more. 

Page from my own art journal.

Page from my own art journal.

Do you have a journal or diary you keep? How do you make use of your journal space? I would love to hear from readers, be sure to share below.

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Page from my own art journal.