I wanted to say a few words about the importance of challenging ourselves as artists...to push ourselves in directions that are sometimes uncomfortable -or even unsuccessful. I've been following two amazing artists for a while now, Natalie Kalbach and Julie Fein-Fan Balzer...both extremely creative and inspiring women. They have teamed together to pose The Second Floor Challenge. The idea is to encourage artists to step out of their comfort zone in their artwork. March 12th's inspiration was to use gold acrylic paint in your next layout. Both women took their own challenge, and both turned out work that they were not entirely 100% happy with. Gold paint can be tricky to work with, and as Natalie tried something new, the results were not quite as predictable as she was used to. Julie had a similar result, and she did the "silk purse out of a sow's ear" -thing and turned her "failed" piece into something else.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is more important to push ourselves in new directions, even if we at times fail, than it is to stick with what is safe and "tried & true", but utterly predictable, and therefore less creative. In my last post, I wrote about upcycling scrapbook packaging material and other items that we might normally toss out, but that can sometimes be given a second life as a part of our artwork (pushing myself further & further from my comfort zone) and you're probably wondering why I am including the same scrapbook pages here.
Well, unlike Natalie and Julie, at first I was perfectly happy with the results of my layout created mostly of scrapbooking packaging materials and other "throw-a-ways" (and using a touch of gold paint), but the more I looked at the pages, the more I liked them better independently, rather than as a double-page layout. Especially the page below...I feel that it stands alone so beautifully and so completely as a piece of art.
Somehow, the composition of each of these pages work better for me when they are not opposite each other (SEE BELOW).
You may, or may not agree, but for me, it was an interesting and revealing realization. Generally, the composition of my double-page layouts is designed in such a way that the two pages work perfectly together. Perhaps I was so focused on other elements that I was briefly side-tracked...who knows?
In reality, the pages will probably remain together...partnered for life in the protective sleeves of a scrapbook, since side-by-side they do tell a more complete story...which is the point, after all. -But it was fun to step back and take a second look and experience first-hand the consequences of risk-taking. Honestly, though, I wouldn't have it any other way.
So I encourage all of you to take up the challenge and take your scrapbooking, cardmaking, art journaling...whatever your art...a little further, and take a chance on trying something new once in a while. It's good for the soul and who knows, you might discover something new about yourself as you "Take it to the Second Floor."
Happy Creating! -Enikö
Speaking of challenges...I decided to "Take it to the Roof" when I responded to the Let's Scrap Design Team call. I love this group of creative women and I desperately wanted to have a spot on the Design Team. I found out early this morning that I made it! My "reign" begins on April Fool's Day...which just added to the joy of the whole thing.-More about all that in my next post...I just couldn't wait to share the news!
Your ideas, reactions and comments are deeply appreciated! -And if you decide to take on the "Take it to the Roof" challenge...or create something with upcycled products, I hope you will include a link, or post it on my

