Autumn 2023 Mood Board
Spider web in a branch covered in dew, with a color swatch example.
How many Pinterest addicts do I know? Don’t be scared, I fall into that website like a rabbit down a hole and I’m not ashamed to admit it! One of the things I have learned over the years, in research, from school, and by creating my own practice is that the collecting of materials and inspiration is probably the MOST important part of my creative ritual.
Green Grey Lichen on a Grey Tree.
Neil Gaiman among others calls it the compost heap. Even things that aren’t a perfect idea all their own go on the heap to feed something else. A photo of lichen near the lake at Fall Creek Falls might not be the whole of my painting, but it’s a great start and excellent fodder for color, texture, etc. Mark Bradley-Shoup taught me about the different ways to create an archive of reference and thought provoking materials and why it is important. It could be a digital folder, a physical accordion file case, a website, a collection of books on a shelf, a shoe box of clippings and paint chips and treasures. However you want to gather your materials, be it physical or digital, have them as close to one place as you can so you can get in up to your elbows and immerse yourself. It may change over time, pieces may come and go, but the habit of collecting materials and references becomes an important ritual.
Artist wearing backpack, stooped to take up close photo of flowers over a stone wall.
Lots of us already have a bit of this practice ingrained in us as chronic photo takers. Most of us have a smart phone with a camera on our person most waking hours and are already decent at documenting our lives, to whatever end. Most artists I know snap photos of little things that catch our eye everywhere we go, or even sit and have a little sketch when the opportunity presents itself. All of this is the start of a great archive practice. Making amazing compost. From there we can be slightly more selective about what we’d like to keep or even start a whole new folder or collection based around one idea or one photo out of the bunch.
One of my favorite ways to create collections is mixed media journaling. I can save bits from wherever I go- pictures, sketches, color swatches, printed clippings, paper napkins, pressed leaves and flowers- and stick them in a box to collage in later. *Remember poachers ruined feathers for us and it’s illegal to keep the feathers of native birds, even if you found them on the ground* -but this becomes an excellent opportunity to try your hand at a sketch, maybe with some watercolor, or a nice up close photo of them for your collection.
As we acquire more bits, things that could be mixed and matched to different projects down the road, I have found it is the most helpful for me to see things and be able to rearrange them. As absolutely handy as digital archives and mood boards are, in fact some people use them exclusively, I prefer a mix, with the ability to have things physically before me. I can ask a program to create a digital color palette for me (here I’ve used the free Canva palette generator) but swatching and color matching on my own from references I have collected or printed is one of my favorites.
Photo of lichen on a grey rock, used to create digital color palette.
In my Enchanted Forest series that I’ve been working on the last two years, I’ve used mainly three colors: Prussien blue from Liquitex, yellow ochre from Arteza or Golden, and Crimson Red from Arteza. The palette they create is a mostly earthy/jewel toned spectrum and although it was just supposed to be a brief limited palette challenge, I fell in love. I finally swatched it out with the addition of Burnt Umber and white last week and not only had fun, but found some new color combinations I didn’t realize I could make with just those three-five colors.
From here I’ll either make a selection of the colors I created while swatching that give me what I’m looking for for this Autumn Mood Board/ Collection, or I can try new colors until I can get exactly what I’m looking for. You can do this with photos, magazine clippings, interior design or other books, recipe books, anything that could offer you a little selection of colors that resonate well together. Play around with some favorites!
Pages from my mixed media journal with a watercolor sketch, printed and clipped materials, and swatch of paint from a new set, which doesn’t match the spread at all, but it made me happy.
Photo of St Dunstan-in-the-East church window and Rubens’ Three Graces, 1635, with matching watercolor swatches on a paint spattered desk.
Not only are swatches fun to make, but they make choosing colors easier. For this Autumn Mood Board I’m making I’ll mix and match some, but will try to narrow it down a bit so things are a little more cohesive. Like with the three-color palette I worked with on the Enchanted Forest (and still do) limiting the number of starting colors not only helps a series blend and anchor each other, but also takes away some decision making on my part by offering only what it is capable of mixing.
Another thing I love to do is turn my studio into a mood room. Like walking into my mood board or planning archive. Try making a playlist for your current project- here’s mine! Autumn 2023 Mood Playlist
You could find a specific candle that fits the atmosphere you want. I’m burning Forest Forager by Amber & Oak right now and despite 80 degree heat, it smells a little like falling leaves in here.
I have vials of Cathedral and Ancient Cedar scents by Moonlight Cove Finery so I can smell like resin and trees and old places, or I can dab it between the pages of a mixed media journal.
Sometimes I clip the scent sample flaps from a magazine if I like the offerings and tape them open into a journal for a while, so there’s a ghost of a waft when someone turns the pages.
Whatever you choose, I hope you get a chance to include some other senses. Textured papers, handmade layers, pressed natural materials like leaves and textiles could make cool additions for the tactile inclined folks.
Collage on an old map, 2020 (minus feather, whoops!)
Above is the collage I made for a class in 2020 I think, that ended up being the jumping off point for an entire semester’s work. It revolved around history and historical places, nature and the imprints humans have left, and the emotions and experiences that make us human. It ended up getting very dark for me, particularly amidst the pandemic, but I still refer back to that period for tidbits, mining the compost for treasures, pretty frequently.
This is the new Autumn 2023 Mood Board I finished while writing this today. It’s about 40” long on recycled cardboard. If you want a closer look at this mixed media process and some hands on experience, go check out my mixed media kit and workshop! I’ll be scheduling them throughout the Autumn, so stay in touch and see you soon!
Convention Setup Progress
We’ve grown! Life is always a work in progress, but our table setup is changing in leaps and bounds. I’ve got so many people to thank for all the help along the way, and photos to share the progress.
It’s been about five years in the making, but our booth set up and table space are finally coming together in a quick and smoother way, with more visible surface, and easier interaction with visitors. What was once anxiety inducing is become a comfortable practice of packing and transporting, unloading and organizing. Doesn’t mean we don’t still forget things, get stressed or make a whoopsie now and then with numbers (who knew 150 business cards were not enough for MomoCon). Some of my favorite new additions follow.
I found the folding wings for prints idea on youtube I think, I wish I could remember from whom, and if I do I’ll update this. They are panel from a puppy crate that fold to make an L which hold the prints beautifully. From the fantastically helpful and creative Lynne Hansen, we learned about the sticky tabs for hanging merch that can loop over the wires and hold prints in place.
Amanda Makepeace, Rachel Rieckenberg Becker, and Madolyn Locke all shared so generously from their wells of knowledge as exhibitors, and probably my favorite addition to the booth has been the ProPanel knock-down panels in the back. I definitely prefer upholstery hooks to the wee painting hangers, even though they are tougher to hang.
Charles Urbach (thanks to Madolyn’s connecting very time sensitive dots) recently offered us the most amazing opportunity to test the mettle of our booth setup against a convention of around 20,000 visitors. I’m still giddy and exhausted from the experience, and am SO grateful.
JordanCon this year was a big leap in setup. Not only was it our first try with the ProPanels, which went amazingly well, but I tried a new technique I picked up from Where The Gnomes Live on YouTube for making a tree/bark texture to make a new 5x7” print bin- the night before the show sweats in artist. But I think it turned out nice and it fits the vibe of the booth better than a medical blue plastic bin, I think. Next I’m going to try making some business card holders and Journal stands with the same technique. I may try using it to shore up the wooden bracelet stand, which may not have been designed for moving all over the place.
Next step is a little sign or banner for the top of the ProPanels, or possibly a table runner!
I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support, including art life advice, pointers for conventions, dog sitting, moral support, purchases and collectors, and of course, my permanent plus one, Andrew. See you all soon I hope!
Lantern Guide Supplemental Materials
Hey folks! Thanks so much for helping this dream come to life. I apologize for the wait on these, but I wanted to get some feedback to be able to answer as many questions at once as possible.
First of all, thank you for your patience with the digital guide sheet! Feel free to refer to it here, save it on your device, or print it out to have a spare copy.
One common question I’ve gotten is how do these suits align with the traditional wands, cups, swords, and pentacles? Just like that.
Birds- Wands- Fire- Creativity/Passion
Lanterns- Cups- Water- Emotion
Trees- Swords- Air- Intellect/ Reason
Dwellers- Pentacles- Earth- Work/Money
This is how they came to me and how I felt most drawn to order them, but if you find they act for you in different ways, by all means, let them speak and make notes on what you find. If you reference the guide sheet, you’ll find general guide words for each card and a theme. These are very close to many guides from traditional decks, and I encourage you to read them from both perspectives if you have one you’re very comfortable with, or even make your own guide once you’ve reflected on the cards and your own experience.
I encourage creatives to use the cards as a prompt for journaling, creative writing, art, or any other type of passion that moves you. I regularly use them to help me pick a subject or theme for a work of art, whether it is in the subject, or the card’s meaning.
I will continue to update this blog with answers to any questions you have that I am able to answer, and hope to upload a few more materials soon, such as favorite reading layouts and examples of creative prompts. Feel free to write with any questions or thoughts!
For now, I hope you are enjoying your decks, and I would like to add that I have a few decks left, swag packs, pins, and prints, so if you would like to browse, just check out the shop tab at the top of this page.
Thank you again for all the support, feed back, and love.
Amy
The Lantern Guide Tarot Art Deck
The Fool
I wanted to invite you to join my Tarot Kickstarter! Folks have been asking about a tarot deck with my art for some time now and I am THRILLED to present the Lantern Guide Tarot. This deck is comprised of samples of a year’s worth of work from my Enchanted Forest series.
9. Strentgh. Sometimes strength comes from rebirth.
In it you will find Birds, Lanterns, Trees, and Dwellers as suits, a twist on some traditional decks. While they are numbered and titled and can be used in conjunction with your usual guide book, my hope is that these will invite the user to meditate on a card or a selection. They can be approached either as a personal meditation, or inspiration for a day’s thoughts, a journal entry, creative writing, your own art, or guiding some other creative or personal endeavor.
25. Three of birds
The first deck should arrive by July 7 and I will make a post and probably a video about how I plan to use these cards for inspiration, as well as posting some better quality photos. But I hope you will back the kickstarter before then ;)
37. Ace of Lanterns
Whether you are new to cards or an old hand, I hope you will give these a try and come help me celebrate this stretch of my art journey. I am so happy with this deck and think you will be too.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the cards, the tiers, the reward options, or any specific requests you might have. amybdart@gmail.com
Reflections On Creativity In Another Impossible Year
I’ve definitely lost track of my paintings this year. Hundreds, for sure, maybe six or seven. It would be so nice to be able to pinpoint how this creativity came to me. Honestly my primary thoughts on how I’ve been able to encourage this was just spending the summer with my hind end firmly in the studio. I had some free time after spring classes and managed to steep in enough inspirational music and imagery that my brain could concoct something new.
I had one cradled panel I’d cobbled together and challenged myself to three colors, plus black, white, and gold if I wanted them. I chose a prussian blue, a crimson red, and a yellow ochre. I tried some texture paste, a little palette knife exploration, a few enthusiastic drips, and tada! My first tree, this magic dripping thing I didn’t know I had in me. So I made a few more.
Then a few more, and a few more until I had a whole wall of trees and I was ecstatic because for the first time in a long time I felt like I had figured out how to paint the exact kind of work I wanted to hang in my own house. My own favorite flavor of art, and I just kept flowing.
Eventually I outgrew the studio drying wall and had to start taking down other art I’d collected over the years, just to have a place for these to dry.
Eventually I wore out the trees in my imagination and started adding critters that might live in the forest.
I was having the most amazing time painting these. I think one day I made a dozen paintings and just felt more energized for it, not less.
Sometime in July I had a post that got a delightful amount of attention and all of a sudden half my wall was empty. I’m not going to lie, that was a huge inspiration to make more art. And I had a place to put things!
There was a week I refer to as the Rain of Toads, because one little frog painting was popular enough to have about fifteen commissioned with a similar look. I will admit.. I got a little bored of toads. All of a sudden, I was less inspired, and my art, very briefly, and through no fault of anyone.. I was tired of painting.
So I started learning about balance, because while I LOVED painting those frogs, I definitely got a bit burned out. Business was really taking off, my sweet husband made me a spreadsheet to keep track of things instead of my stack of sticky notes, and thank goodness, because it’s been SO nice. If you’re interested in a blank of the spreadsheet, shoot me a note and I’ll see if he can make a copy.
Since then I have tried listening a little closer to my inspiration, sticking to music that encourages me and taking BREAKS. I can’t stress that enough. Taking time to rest, walk, go explore, have a road trip, eat something good or good for me, DRINK WATER, enjoy the coffee while it’s hot, stretch. All these things went by the wayside, and during an already stressful year, this was nearly detrimental.
School started back and my inspiration dried up. My enthusiasm to create when campus was such a shitshow stole all my energy and spoons. I found myself paying games on my phone again, a sure time suck. I slept badly, stressed over miniscule things and giant things and everything in between.
Then one day, out of nowhere, came the lanterns.
And they just kept coming. All that light and texture and emotion, just pouring out and piling up.
It definitely prompted me to go exploring. Tea in a swamp for instance?
Enjoying dabbling in 3D elements and even mixier mixed media.
Coming into a new year, looking out at the first snow here of the season, I’m trying to focus on the months and years of inspiration to come, wondering where this path will head next, and who will join me on it. <3
Seeking Inspiration and Making Art During a Pandemic
With my normal avenues of travel and exploration on hold due to the global pandemic, but still needing to get out of the house and into nature to clear my head, a natural nearby point of interest is the Dunlap Coke Ovens.
I studied not just the ovens and their outward, mossy appearance, but the very stones they were made from and the surrounding park, built by the local historical society to preserve and honor that past.
I made rubbings, carefully and with preservation in mind, but trying to seek out the details I wouldn’t necessarily glean just from looking.
Several trips to the Coke Ovens for lots of little studies had me wondering not just about the Ovens themselves, but also the lives of the people who lived around and worked at the ovens. The people who mined, what their lives were like. What else would they have lived through.
To keep a very long story short, I realized that the time when people were working these Coke Ovens, not only were they also fighting World War 1, but also battling their own pandemic, the Influenza outbreaks of 1918. Roughly half the deaths in this war were from sickness in camps, both from this awful flu and other things like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and gonorrhea.
But it was during this research I decided to take a leap towards a project I’ve wanted to started for quite some time- the ground work for a novel about the life of a queer soldier and miner from WWI. I plucked imagery from the Ovens, from materials I could find on war in the time, and the lives of extremely rural communities through some ephemera from around the same time.
I’ve worked on stringing together a story line for my historically challenged soldier; what his life might have looked like, where he might have settled, and how he might have lived after the war.
However, after long enough, several months, of researching these fairly depressing times, I think I need to change focus. Though this research has been highly satisfying and I have learned more than I could have hoped- and with plenty left to discover- I am going to bookmark this one for now.
My next train of thought departs in the direction of these arches I’m so familiar with, but I am intending to explore more fantastical elements. For instance, how do these ruin arches, which have crumbled for decades and yet still stand, play parts in urban fantasy?
If I were to view this archway with its short step and trod path as a portal instead of a oven window, where would it take me?
The possibilities of these marvelous ruins as doorways to imagination has kept me afloat creatively all semester. From the first rough sketches, through the process of taking rubbings of surfaces, and into the creation of a whole imaginary being and his life, these arches have been gateways. Now it’s time to step through and see what there is to find on the other side.
