Hi there!
The studio windows have been full of gray skies and fog settling into the mountain folds this week. It's early December weather that’s reminded me it’s time for creating the foam block prints for this year's holiday postcards.
Decidedly Imperfect
These foam block prints are decidedly imperfect. The lines aren't crisp, the coverage is uneven, and no two look exactly the same.
That's exactly right. I love them, and so do the folks who receive them in the mail.
Trying to create perfect art is a losing cause - it's another velvet rope set up to keep you out of your own creative practice. The "flaws" in these prints are what make them mine. They're the marks of my own hand, the evidence that a real person made this in a moment that will never happen again exactly that way.
Your work doesn't need to be perfect to be valid or allowed to exist. It just needs to be yours.
New: Take What Belongs to You Workbook
The "Take What Belongs to You: First Steps" workbook is available now and I think it’s something you might find really helpful. There are three exercises to help you find the inspiration that's already inside you, narrow it down to something specific, and make something from it in 30 minutes or less. Plus studio marks you can print and use however feels right.
It's $7 and ready for you: https://ko-fi.com/s/7fb1e87ade
Last Call! Open Studio is Tomorrow (December 7th)!
Join me in the studio tomorrow (December 7) at 2pm Eastern for an hour of creating together. No teaching, no pressure - just companionship while we create. Work alongside me, watch, or do something completely different.
Sign up here: [Zoom registration link]
I’ll be making those holiday cards I mentioned earlier and everyone who attends gets a handmade card in the mail, just be sure to give me your address in the registration form.
Studio Process Videos on YouTube
I've been recording the foam block carving process and other studio work - raw, unedited, just what actually happens when I'm working:
https://www.youtube.com/@ShinyDesignsVideo
I'd love to hear what you're making or thinking about making - just hit reply and tell me. I read and respond to every message.
Shine your light!
Monette
P.S. The Take What Belongs to You Workbook: find inspiration in what already interests you - no permission needed, no perfection required. Get your copy here: https://ko-fi.com/s/7fb1e87ade