April 2020
In stressful times, creative activities can help. Indeed, numerous studies by medical doctors have shown creative endeavours can help improve our well-being:
- lessening anxiety
- keeping us grounded
- helping us reach a calmer state
- bringing out positive feelings
- lowering blood pressure
- reminding us to enjoy and laugh
- keeping our hands busy
- distracting us from stresses
- providing a sense of purpose or accomplishment
Some have a practical side too, like sewing or learning to sew on a button or mending our clothes instead of going out to buy new clothes. Google "boro mending" to find some great ways to work around holes and tears in clothing while make some very creative designs.
As a local weaver said:
"I for one find my weaving to be a good antidote to everything I'm hearing on the news. I often nowadays feel a bit numb after hearing the news, and sitting down to weave keeps those numbed feelings and thoughts moving freely and gently in a safe space."
Sharing what we're working on by uploading pictures, phoning a friend, emailing, helps to keep a sense of connection within a community.
The important thing is to try to do something creative every day. It really can be a good prescription to stay positive and enhance our well-being.
Stay well
February 2020
Whether it's pottery, glass, wood, stone, figurative - functional or not - three dimensional art adds a wonderful depth and texture to your home that 2D pictures cannot. If your room seems flat, try adding some dimension.
Free standing art can be shown on a table, on bookcases, a fireplace mantle, a dresser, hallway table, pedestal, a recessed area. Display boxes can work too, or an easel, or a chair doubling as a display area.
Consider whether the art should be seen from all sides or can be featured against a wall. Combine with some two dimensional pictures. Pottery, wood bowls and other functional pieces don't have to be hidden in a cupboard. Show them off in your kitchen or dining or other gathering room. Some sculptural pieces show well in the garden too, check first if they can be out in wet weather and if they should be brought in for the winter months.
As for lighting, natural daylight is best, but you may wish to add some lighting for evenings and gray days for those pieces that are special to you.
The keys to arranging free standing pieces are:
- sculptural art that is a focal point should not be overshadowed by furniture or other works, and should be able to be seen by all entry points into the room
- don't overcrowd a piece or group of pieces with clutter, or they will feel lost
- a large item may look best on its own, and smaller items in a group
- look for harmonious ways to display, e.g. glass items, wooden, by colour, theme
- include a variety of heights and sizes and textures to add interest
- odd numbers of items tend to look better than even numbers (if you have an even number of items, try grouping them in an odd number of pairs, e.g. 6 items may be grouped in 3 pairs on all the same table)
Lastly, we like to suggest rotating items, changing them up perhaps every season, giving a fresh look to your rooms, just as we re-decorate for the Christmas season.
The possibilities are endless.
Whether it's pottery, glass, wood, stone, figurative - functional or not - three dimensional art adds a wonderful depth and texture to your home that 2D pictures cannot. If your room seems flat, try adding some dimension.
Free standing art can be shown on a table, on bookcases, a fireplace mantle, a dresser, hallway table, pedestal, a recessed area. Display boxes can work too, or an easel, or a chair doubling as a display area.
Consider whether the art should be seen from all sides or can be featured against a wall. Combine with some two dimensional pictures. Pottery, wood bowls and other functional pieces don't have to be hidden in a cupboard. Show them off in your kitchen or dining or other gathering room. Some sculptural pieces show well in the garden too, check first if they can be out in wet weather and if they should be brought in for the winter months.
As for lighting, natural daylight is best, but you may wish to add some lighting for evenings and gray days for those pieces that are special to you.
The keys to arranging free standing pieces are:
- sculptural art that is a focal point should not be overshadowed by furniture or other works, and should be able to be seen by all entry points into the room
- don't overcrowd a piece or group of pieces with clutter, or they will feel lost
- a large item may look best on its own, and smaller items in a group
- look for harmonious ways to display, e.g. glass items, wooden, by colour, theme
- include a variety of heights and sizes and textures to add interest
- odd numbers of items tend to look better than even numbers (if you have an even number of items, try grouping them in an odd number of pairs, e.g. 6 items may be grouped in 3 pairs on all the same table)
Lastly, we like to suggest rotating items, changing them up perhaps every season, giving a fresh look to your rooms, just as we re-decorate for the Christmas season.
The possibilities are endless.
January 2020
Unsure how to create a grouping of pictures? Or maybe you have just one but it looks too small on your wall?
A rule of thumb is that art above a couch, bed or long piece of furniture should be about 2/3 the width of the furniture. That's why art may look lost on a wall if it's smaller than that. A grouping will solve the problem. And two or more art pieces can create a high impact area as they function as one piece.
There are no hard and fast rules for creating groupings. Look for harmonious ways to tie art pieces together: similar frames, a common colour in the pictures, the same mat colour, a shared subject or theme. These make for a more formal display. But you can also have everything very mismatched, informal and eclectic, as though pieces have been added over time.
Whichever your preference, here are the keys to creating your gallery wall:
- Measure the wall space available, height and width.
- Lay out all your art pieces on the floor, within these same measurements - keep rearranging the art until you're happy with the layout. It may take a few tries of moving art around so the colours, textures etc. look right.
- The spacing between pieces is important - there should be just a few inches or about 10 cm between each (1-2 inches or 3-5 cm for small pieces), otherwise they look disconnected. It's better to have pieces closer together than too far apart.
- Measure each painting and cut out kraft paper for each one. Tape the paper to the wall in the same layout as what you created on the floor. And mark on the paper where the nail should go. Remember that the bottom of the art looks best about 8-10 inches above the furniture. Putting up the paper gives you a chance to alter the configuration if it doesn't look quite right on the wall, or to add pieces if the space still looks empty.
- Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, put in your nails, remove the kraft paper, and hang your art.
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December 2019 Yes there is an art to hanging art. You want it to be shown at its best after all, and not just plop it on the wall. We display art because we love it or it has meaning and it adds interest to our home's character. It's like the jewellery that enhances or finishes an outfit. Many people hang art too high. It should be hung at eye level, not so you have to look towards the ceiling. But what does eye level mean when people are of varying heights in the same household? Think of the art as a mirror - that's approximately the height you should hang it. There is no perfect measurement, although experts say the centre of the work should be hung at 60 inches high (just over 1.5 metres). A rule of thumb is to place art so the bottom of the frame or canvas is 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) above a couch or headboard. If your furniture is very low, it’s better to have the pictures lower rather than higher. If you have very high ceilings, art can be hung on the higher side. Have someone hold a picture at the height you think is right and based on the above, while you stand back to see how it looks, before making holes in the wall, then you have a chance to adjust the height. One final thought, if you need to remove a picture hook from the wall, use pliers, as the claw of a hammer may leave a mark. If there are pencil marks or smudges, try a grey kneaded eraser to remove the marks. |
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March 2019
Although the trend has been for neutrals in our homes, we are starting to see a shift to adding more colour. This can be done as simply as finding colourful cushions, painting one wall in a non-neutral colour, or adding colourful artwork to your walls or to your table. And colour helps get us through these gray days of winter.
While today's popular gray is a stable and calm hue, too much gray can lead us to feeling down. Try brightening up a kitchen or home office with stimulating splashes of colours such as red, yellow or orange. Or if it's a restful and soothing environment you need, add shades of greens and blues.
February 2019
When we are into creative activities such as gardening, music, woodworking, dancing, painting, taking photographs, cake decorating, etc....we experience a sense of play, a state where we become fully engaged, losing a sense of time, feeling rewarded, energized.
Play and creativity enhances our well-being. When we suffer from anxiety and stress, it's difficult to be creative, but the irony is that being creative helps to generate happier feelings. If you're feeling down, try putting on some music and move or sing, writing down 5 things you are grateful for, laughing, or doing what you are passionate about.
Creating for the sake of it - rather than focusing on the outcome - is what's important. And being creative has been proven to help with a range of emotional conditions. Take, for example, the power of music on people with dementia. Many dementia sufferers respond very positively to music, often unlocking memories that seemed to be gone, and offering a time when some communication is still possible.
And the benefits to encouraging children to create are multiple. They learn and develop:
- fine motor skills through the use of scissors and cutting straight and curved lines, and by holding crayons and paintbrushes
- creative thinking skills by exploring and trying new ideas
- problem solving skills as they have to figure out what will work for what they want to accomplish
- visual-spatial skills through drawing, working with clay, beading etc.
- innovation when encouraged to express themselves and take risks with their art.
We begin to think differently when we embrace creativity and start to ask "What if" much more often.
January 2019
If you haven't heard of Hygge, it's a Danish concept with no direct translation to English, but it's about creating an atmosphere or experience, a feeling of home, cosiness, happiness, and covers all six senses. Hygge is a year-round concept, but seems especially fitting now that winter has arrived.
Picture sharing an evening with friends over a homecooked meal, or a glass of wine during a painting night. Or maybe some time alone, curled up under a blanket and with a cup of hot cocoa and books to read. The sense of taste through Hygge is comforting, sweet, familiar.
Sounds are part of Hygge too - a crackling fire, the wind blowing through the trees, boots crackling on top of snow, the shrieks of children playing on the local ice rink.
Scents appeal to memories, of days gone by, comfort and safety, of fresh baked bread, wet mittens drying, a beef stew cooking on the stove.
Cozying up in front of a fire with friends on a cold night is very hygge, especially after feeling the cold air on your face. Snuggling into a warm scarf and sweater. The warmth of handmade woolen mittens and hats, hand crafted wood tables, natural materials adding to the decor. Or getting your hands dirty with finger paints, moulding clay, perhaps knitting those woolen mittens.
Picture the beauty of that first hour after the sun comes up and again just before the sun sets. And the long shadows on the snow on a sunny winter afternoon.
Feel yourself slowing down. It's these quiet times when we find inspiration, when we appreciate all that we have. So watch those snowflakes as they fall. Find the wonder again. Recharge. Be creative in all that you do.
There are lots of books on Hygge. If you would like more information, spend a relaxing afternoon at the local bookstore or library with a warm cup of tea and peruse the books.
December 2018
- Never leave your brushes in water with the bristles down for any extended period of time as the bristles may fall out!
- Use an Ivory Soap bar - or other unscented soap to clean your brushes, it helps to get that acrylic paint out of the bristles. If the paint doesn't get cleaned out, it can harden and ruin the brush. Or pick up some Masters Brush Cleaner at a local art supply store - cost is less than $10.
- Don't throw out those old, ruined bushes. There are some techniques, such as pouncing and spattering, that prefer old brushes.
- If you don't have time to clean the brush properly, put it in the freezer and thaw it out later for thorough cleaning.
- Don't throw out old flat canvases that didn't turn out. Instead, cover them with gesso, then make a new painting. It may take a couple of coats to cover, but don't waste money buying a new canvas.
- Styrofoam trays that meat comes on are great to use as a painting palette, also heavy freezer paper.
- For jars (podgy, gel medium, etc.) that have lids that regularly get stuck and are hard to open, spread a bit of vaseline petroleum jelly around the inside of the lids. Makes opening so much easier.
- If you are a coloured pencil user, the best way to clean your pencil sharpener is by sharpening lead pencils in it after each day's use. The lead pencils help get rid of the wax build-up.
- When gluing papers, work on top of pages from a glossy magazine. The papers won't stick to the glossy sheets, and they will protect your surface, then they can be tossed afterwards. Use a fresh sheet for each glue job
- Cereal bags work great too when gluing - a good way to use up those bags before throwing them away. Rinse, cut open and leave to dry before using. I keep a big stash on hand for this purpose They also work well if you need to protect a small area on a table when painting.
November 2018
With fall having now arrived and winter approaching, many people have turned to reorganizing closets, cleaning out garages, getting living spaces and studios organized. Here are some tips that may help with some of the organizing challenges:
- If you have trouble keeping your clothes closet tidy and organized, here are two ideas that may work for you: organize by type of clothes, eg. shirts together, pants, skirts, etc. -- or organize it by colour. This last one works for me. When I get up in the morning, my choice is about what colour to wear. See which one of these works for you.
- Clear, plastic shoe boxes and other clear totes work great for storing supplies, as you can easily see the contents. For small items, try mason jars, an attractive way to keep multiples of one item on hand.
- It's easy to lose paint colour chips, and paint cans don't always have the information or sometimes get painted over. Keep all your paint chips in one spot, and indicate on the chip which room the paint is for.
- A binder with sheet protectors works great to keep those loose papers organized that you need to keep but don't really have a spot for - things like take-out menus, a phone list from a club, papers from the school ...
- Use a tray to organize items on a table top or kitchen island.
- A pretty bowl is great for tossing keys into that may get misplaced otherwise.
- Old coffee cups can hold pens, pencils and paint brushes.
- Re-use old spice jars to store beads and other small craft items.
- String up an old clothesline or rope in your workshop, and use paperclips, bulldog clips or clothespins to pin up ideas, notes and works in progress.
October 2018
We often hear people say "I don't have a creative bone in my body". We disagree. People are born creative, but often we believe we are not creative as we grow up. Everyone is creative in different ways, expressing their creativity through everyday life, activities, relationships. It could be the way you tell a story, planning meals for family and friends, projects around the home, problem solving at the office. No special talent is required, just a desire and a willingness to learn and grow. What does creativity mean to you?
The Navan Fine Arts Group plans to share a palette of tips each month on different aspects of creativity that we hope will be useful for you. This month's tips focuses on creating a look - whether you're painting a picture, or making a table centrepiece perhaps for Thanksgiving, or another project.
⦁ Consider working with an unusual shape or size.
⦁ Arrangements look best when there is an odd number of items, adding some rhythm to the overall look.
⦁ Add impact and interest by putting objects off-centre, or if making a picture, having objects look like they fall of the edge of the canvas.
⦁ Consider unusual perspectives: worm's-eye view or bird's eye view
⦁ Adding a contrasting colour can make a display much more dynamic than a monotone arrangement. If you’re not sure about a colour to add or where to place an object, try painting it on acetate sheet first or taking a photo and altering the look in one of the design softwares.
