Wednesday Wonderings #14 Attitude and FREE E-books!

Wednesday Wonderings
Wednesday Wonderings

Hello!

Thank you for joining me for my Wednesday Wondering…. my space to wonder, wander (around topics) and write about my Art and anything else that happens to take my fancy.

This week I am starting to make some big changes and it’s all really exciting, the kind of exciting that makes me a bit giddy and look like I’ve had too much coffee…. which I often have.

It’s been a really exciting week too because I released two FREE e-books last Friday. Have you seen them yet? See below for more details!

I’ve been reading a lot about attitude recently, and how important our attitude towards life is in terms of what we do, and how we feel. How we respond to life and everything in it is so important, and it’s so simple.

I would love to say I am an ultra calm person and respond to everything by taking it in my stride…… hmmm, I like to think I am. What I can do though is reflect on how I respond and try to learn from it. This is very much how I approach my Art. Sometimes my Art is a proactive creation, but often it is a ‘reaction’ to something. A thought, a feeling, a glimpse of an image in my mind. It doesn’t always have a well thought out response, but that is often what makes the most exciting images. What is important for me is to reflect on it. Reflective creativity can be a real self awakening, sometimes a shock even. But it is a really important part of my process. Probably a bit like this little blog of mine. A reflective wondering about the past few days……..

Be creative, look at your responses today, reflect, smile and have a coffee (or fruit tea/beer/whiskey if you prefer). I hope it surprises you nicely.

Much love

Susan

Get your FREE e-books!

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The first is a printable sample of some of the holistic colouring pages that are in the larger colouring book I co-created with The Mother Magazine. The images are really sweet and we have had some great feedback from the children (and adults!) who have enjoyed colouring them.

The second e-book I am giving to you absolutely free is a book of my recent exhibition Music, Art and Passion. The book pulls together all the images and my inspiration for the exhibition, sharing with you the work that I was pulled to create in the build up to the wonderful live gig with The Glass Child.

To download these free books simply click on the FB link above and enter your name and email in the newsletter sign up pop up. Alternatively you can do the same on my home page. In addition to the e-books you will then also access my monthly newsletter which will be the place where I announce any new work, images or gigs and from time to time offer you some great deals.

 

 

 

Wednesday Wonderings #2 comps, sales and youtube!

Wednesday Wonderings
Wednesday Wonderings

My Art life this week has been lovely, creative and busy. So I’m going to start today by letting you know what I’ve been up to.

I recently collaborated with The Mother Magazine to create a holistic colouring book which they have put together beautifully with my images. This is now available as a download for just £1.99 from their website. It would make a great gift for a little one or for adults who love to colour in and find it therapeutic to do so!

I recently heard someone talk about ‘colouring in’ limiting creativity. I can see where this point of view comes from but I have to say I disagree (my opinion only). As an Artist (who used colouring books as a child) and a mother I see it as an addition to creativity. For some children and adults art, drawing, putting any colour to paper, or even creating shapes or patterns out in nature doesn’t always come easily.  I’m not talking about simply being worried it ‘won’t look right’, but for some the freedom to explore in the visual feels overwhelming.

For some, colouring in can be the first step to realising it’s not scary or limiting. You can add any colour, or stickers or mud, or craft, my daughter likes to cover the whole picture in one or two colours or add extra lines and shapes to the image. It can be a discussion about a picture or a challenge to change it in some way. Creativity for any of us is a gift, and it is limitless. So hopefully some of you will buy this colouring book, create whatever you or your child want with it, alongside exploring any other creative form you wish indoors or out!

The other project I am involved in with The Mother Magazine is their exciting new app ‘Mother’s Connect’. They have an indiegogo campaign to raise funds but they also have some exciting developments going on behind scenes too. My involvement is supplying 2015 Calendars to them for some of their packages. The Calendars are a collection of my ‘Life’ illustrations and look so lovely. The app is a wonderful idea as it not only connects people but it will connect parents based on their interests, parenting styles, location, activities and so much more. If anyone reading is a parent you may understand the craziness that often becomes your life when having children, and connecting with others can often feel like a lifeline so go and check it out!

I have also this week added my first two basic drawing tip clips to my YouTube channel, Susan Merrick and I will be adding a clip per week for anyone to use as a guide or tool for picking up basic drawing ideas.

My Christmas Sale has started and is on for the next week – I will be creating 10 illustrations, most with a winter theme, and posting them to my FB page. These signed originals will all be for sale for just £35 each!

Finally I have today announced the winner of the competition I launched last week. The lucky winner (check out my FB page) will receive the original sketch of their choice from the official music video I created for the Glass Child’s single ‘Yesterday’.

With my weeks news announced I want to move on in my Wonderings and start talking about the inspiration behind some of my work. So today I’d like to introduce the large Oil painting that I created this Summer, ‘See Me’.

See Me, Oil on Canvas
See Me, Oil on Canvas

The image is a gathering of figures laid together, holding one another in various poses and positions to pull together the image of an eye.

This was a very personal piece to paint. Since becoming a mother the various roles I have in my life have become many and often the chaos of this (often self created) seems immense. The change from individual woman, to family, to mother. My working roles and my roles as a parent. There was an awakening that this brought in me in relation to the feminine and sensual but also this was also entwined with the demands of routine life.

The duplicity and medley of selves this can create at times makes a person feel less visible, confused. So ‘See Me’ brings about the many selves and shadows and shapes of oneself. As a whole creating a larger more striking image and enhancing the person, not reducing her.

Thank you for reading, I will be back next week to see what the next few days bring and what my mind begins to wonder about! I shall leave you with my vintage outfit of this week. A silk skirt and separate underskirt that I found in a lovely charity shop, along with a jumper I got from a vintage section last year.

Susanmerrick.co.uk
Susanmerrick.co.uk

It feels a bit luxurious, like I’m going to a party….. And why not 😉

have a lovely week!

Susan xx

Makeup Free Month Day 15: Pretty much halfway!

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Well I’m pretty much halfway through my month without makeup. I’ve looked at what cosmetics I use, why I use them, some history of makeup and a bit about feminism and makeup. I’ve discussed makeup with relation to professionalism, confidence and self esteem, and where these assumptions/ideas come from. I’ve talked about some reactions I’ve had and also how I’ve felt in myself. I’ve touched a little on homemade and natural skin products and towards the end of the month I want to consider some alternative cosmetic products or even homemade ones to try once my month is up. Seeing how good my skin looks and feels I’m reluctant to slap rubbish back onto my skin!

I’m feeling very excited today (jumping up and down a little) as the video of my Street Art, that inspired me to go makeup free, is almost finished. The fabulous Ashley Meneely has worked so hard to create a beautiful piece of film that captures not only the artwork that I created but the feel of the day and what I was trying to achieve. It’s also come together by us being allowed to use a gorgeous track by singer songwriter Charlotte Eriksson. The lyrics are truly perfect for drawing out all of the ideals and issues that I wanted to question with regard to what we use on our skin. But I will discuss this more once the video is up for viewing 🙂

We are hopeful that this will be finished over the next few days and when it is put up on The Mother Magazine website (thank you so much Editor-in-chief Starr Meneely for agreeing to showcase it) I will shout! Loudly!

If you would like to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support please do so via my Just giving page or via text as described below. xxxxxx http://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Merrick

or text MMFM £1 to 70070