Carol Wiebe

I love making art and I love writing, but when I can put the two together, that is pure bliss. I have discovered an app called Steller, which allows me to fully indulge that blissful combination. So far, I have two books on my Steller shelf. Joanne was kind, generous and made me feel as if I was doing her a favor. I decided to share one of the digital works I included in my Steller book. When I explained the deeper story to Joanne, which came out as I was writing the text for

We love to claim the ideas that drop into our heads as our own. But are they? How many times have you had a brilliant idea, just to find, via the Internet, that others already had it. There was no claiming it after that–who would believe you? We often say that insights come from out of the blue, are flashes of inspiration, divine intervention, or use other terms that seem to suggest they are given to us rather than being derivative from our own thought processes. Ralph Waldo

This is a wonderful story of how inspiration takes an artist, in this case Toni Cavelti,  in a new direction. Barcelona Media Design has actually produced 12 conversations about creativity in Vancouver, BC, Canada. * Thank you to Robert Genn for this link. #BarcelonaMediaDesign #Inspiration #RobertGenn #creativity #Canada #Anewdirection #ToniCavelti #Vancouver

If you are NOT subscribed to Robert Genn‘s The Painter’s Keys, I think you are missing a lot. I have been receiving these letters for a number of years, and they provide much inspiration, as well as valuable teaching tips for artists. Here is a case in point: For visual artists, directing the torch of our imagination is our main art. Art happens when alchemy is found. One, two and multi-step systems modify reality and create what has come to be called “style.” Art without sty

Last night I got home from work and found a BIG box from Amazon sitting on the inside step. My heart performed a little leap. I waited until supper was done, made myself a soy chai latte, and sat down to immerse myself in the inspiration that art books can deliver. I was not disappointed. In fact, my thoughts were racing with possibilities and the longing in me kept shooting upwards, like one of those carnival high strikers that you hit with a large hammer in order to test yo

You know that feeling of being so full of emotions that you are going to burst if you don’t give it an outlet? It’s being close to tears and laughter at the same time. It’s having an elevated sense of energy, with your whole body vibrating  and your thoughts expanding. It’s wanting with an ache you don’t know you can survive, yet you feel so very alive. The other night I couldn’t sleep. I kept getting up and writing down lines that popped into my head. Each time, I’d glance a

Rosalie Dace taught Art and English at the high school, college and university levels in South Africa, before becoming a full time quilt maker and teacher. I first became aware of her phenomenal work in Quilting Arts Magazine, Issue 23, Fall 2006. Rosalie describes her teaching approach this way: My classes are for class participants to have fun while they are learning, and to go beyond where they thought possible. In a non-threatening and respectful environment, I guide stu

This week I received a package in the mail from Dayna Collins of Alley Art Studio. The package contained my little art buddy (LAB). I have not named the LAB yet, nor decided on gender. Here is my challenge: 1) art it up 2) alter it beyond recognition 3) take a photo/photos of the little guy going on a field trip, 4) think of something Dayna hasn’t thought of 5) a combination of all of the above! I thought Dayna might enjoy seeing that her LAB arrived safe and sound. I’ve been

Mary Oliver, in her inimitable way, admits to emotions of wild love towards the sun: and have you ever felt for anything such wild love– do you think there is anywhere, in any language, a word billowing enough for the pleasure that fills you, as the sun reaches out, as it warms you as you stand there, empty-handed . . . Over the top? Our life depends on that fiery orb, and who has not felt a wonderful lift when sunlight broke through the clouds after a week of drizzle and rai

I watched the amazing talk by Jill Bolte Taylor : My Stroke of Insight, on TED, Ideas worth spreading and was profoundly moved. “We have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world.” JB Taylor #Mystrokeofinsight #Inspiration #JillBolteTaylor #Ideasworthspreading #TED #recovery #strokes

I recently viewed a thrilling example of synchronicity, on Bonnie McCaffery’s site, that produced a stunning, award winning quilt! First of all, let me say that Bonnie’s contribution to the quilting community is immense. Just watch a few of her vidcasts, if you haven’t already, to substantiate that statement (and I love that she is an excellent business person as well as quilter). The particular vidcast that I am referring to here is #20. Meet Annette M. Hendr

When I first ran across Barbara Lydecker Crane’s site, I gasped at the ethereal beauty of her work. She states that: I hope that you will see both impossibility and believability in my art quilts. We live in a magical world, and I love capturing a bit of nature’s beauty and some hints of its mystery. These are the kinds of words that never fail to rivet my attention: beauty, mystery, magic. Then she admits to a working style that completely endears her to me: Each quilt is or

One aspect of art that fascinates me is adding personal symbols to my work. I think Lascaux–except the cave paintings are my own, and they are on cloth instead of a wall of stone. Jane Dunnewold has something inspiring to say about this: Determining archetypes that have meaning for you is a springboard to a personal visual language. Creating work with your own visual language is the foundation for works roaming a very broad and artful terrain. And, of course, you can explore