I'm a bit late in updating this but here goes: I'm renewing my pledge to daily creativity and I'm signing in CED 2014! You'l find the CED logo on the right column of this blog.
I like a challenge that is calling to add more creativity in our everyday lives, art-wise or otherwise. To learn more about this challenge, you can read here.
So... to get my creative juices flowing I got myself a notebook from MUJI and started doodling away. Here is a preview of I've done sone far:
I'll post a whole new series of drawings soon!
Isn't that notebook lovely? I'm a stationery junkie!
This an updated post, formerly published on July 31st 2013 (oops, i just realized there are still a couple links missing in the post, and hope to be able to add them before the weekend starts).
I've always liked (and seeked) the opportunity to be "trying something new", but I finally realized I am a "hypercreative" person - this is simply my coping mechanism as a former abused child (please note that I'm still abused TO THIS VERY DAY by family members and strangers alike).
Why hyper-creative?
Because during my lifetime, as a way to cope with abnormal, absurd and non-comprehensible violence towards me - physical, emotional & sexual types of violence - I tried (and was pretty successful) my hand at all of the following artistic disciplines:
writing/reading poetry and fiction (I have been published in digital format several times on ecrits-vains.com)
painting (oil, acrylic, mixed media) - several exhibitions as a solo artist at the Nozart Gallery in Toulouse, France
drawing
doodling
calligraphy
engraving (rubber, wood, metal and plastic sheets etc...)
textile printing
singing (this really SAVED MY LIFE, more on that process later)
dancing (mostly alone in my living-room, though I'm now determined to go out and rock the world, a bit!)
classical anatomy sculpting
swimming in an athletic way
I also walk for hours and can ride a bike pretty well, despite both activities being used by my abusers to make me suffer, too
acting: important support role in short film at age 5, several amateur theatre plays
in the film industry: editing, live translating, sub-titling
photography (official film set photographer etc... now an avid instagrammer)
speaking fluently 5 languages
...
the list goes on and on...
This long, long list makes me think about Shiva.. I know nearly nothing about Hinduism, but... but Shiva or even Kali, the Dark Goddess do come to mind...
I think this image of terrifying Kali:
is really me, the terrified abused child trying to make scary faces to scare off past & present abusers...
But maybe I am not a Hindi deity, but rather some kind of "nobody", aka the Beatles' "NoWhere Man":
Since June 2013, I have started to tap dance (yes, alone in my living-room, just by watching tap dance beginners' videos on youtube).
I desperately want to go back to engraving, some time soon (workshops will resume during back-to-school 2013 time).
Being hyper-creative helps me avoid resorting to violence myself, and it provides a place to express anger, anxiety and high levels of sadness in a non medical (aka official psychiatry) way.
I am NOT crazy, I am a SURVIVOR of repeated rapes and other wrongs done to me repeatly throughout my lifetime.
I do NOT seek revenge, other than in a metaphorical way:
* "the pen is mightier than the sword" - so I have started to write a testimonial about my first hand child abuse experience in short fiction form. I have chosen my working title and opening quote already and have a rough plan for the plot.
* "living well is the best revenge" so says the quote. Merely by surviving, by coping by thriving by being - albeit fleetingly - happy, and by taking good care of myself (no drugs whatsoever, no work in the porn or prostitution industries) and undertaking therapy, I daily mock my torturers' intention to kill me - literally.
(reflect on the meaning of the word "discipline" btw... it means both the abuse and punishment by abusive parents as well as my self-imposed artistic activities... weird double-entendre,here! see this except from wikpedia's article on child abuse: "Until quite recently, children had very few rights in regard to protection from violence by their parents, and still continue to do so in many parts of the world. Historically, fathers had virtually unlimited rights in regard to their children and how they chose to discipline them.")
So I chose the "D" answer as my main reason for joining the Feminine POwer FREE webinar, it's tonight live at 2AM Paris, France Time.
The D answerstands for " Infusing your life with meaning and purpose" - when your very own parents actively hate you and want you dead since your in utero state, it's hard to make any sense out of this life of absurd happennings and endless pain.
links (still missing fro the time being): more about fem power here (simply check out their facebook page or feminine power.com ) + find your own time zone here.
there is NO WAY I am gonna be ashamed of myself: this is my true *NEW* name, my true face and my true story you see here. My google+ profile now displays a phot of Lana del Rey, but this is temporary of course and I'll add my own selfie soon.
No need to apologize for being alive and well!
...but the past abuse(s) don't really matter anymore - I'm moving forward. AND I'm taking my life, identity and own name back.
I was born again this very day and from now on my name is "Alix" - it's a mix of the normal-sounding-to-me first name "Alice" and the word "phoenix" because I am daily ressuscitating from my own ashes, "Alix" is also the name of the beautiful heroine of the recent French movie "Le Temps de l'aventure" featuring Gabriel Byrne and Emmanuelle Devos in the leading roles.
"La leçon de sagesse" - an ATC I did back in 2009. (c) TeaButterfly.
How are you today? I'm in the midst of a hugedecluttering process, in order to make my future moving house project much, much easier. More about that here in this insightful midway simplicity article.
Actually throwing away useless stuff is much more fun than I thought (I used to think of it as of something very, very painful). If you're ready and ripe for it, it is a totally enjoyable process.
"Hope" - an ATC I did back in 2009. (c) TeaButterfly.
So during this process I found lots of paper, of all kinds, around the house. I'm swimming in a sea of paper! And this morning I just thought: "How about making new ATCs with all this paper? indeed!
I just conceived the idea, so the ATCs you see here were done back in 2009, I hope to post new ones, fresh from 2013 here soon.
"For Life" - an ATC I did back in 2009. (c) TeaButterfly.
This is living proof that moving house can be a creative process!
For this photo a day challenge, I will join the flickr group as "Teabutterfly", use the instagram hashtag #FMSphotoaday (I'm @teabutterfly on instagram) and be reminded by the lovely online calendar (also available as a cool app). I will also do a monthly recap here on this blog by the end of the month.
All the details about how to play along can be found here.
Green Vessuvianite Necklace - photography and design by Rachel Unger.
I'm happy to announce that my "Tea with... [insert name of
artist here]" series will now become full-blown interviews with living
artists whose work I admire! Their art is also somehow related to my
visual obsession, esp. tea scenes, Japan-inspired art, and insect
drawing.
Charm Necklace - photography and design by Rachel Unger.
Today, I am happy to introduce you lovelies to the work and design of Rachel Unger. I first discovered Rachel Unger jewelry by chance through random
netsurfing on Etsy. I instantly fell in love with her timeless designs
and finely crafted jewels. I ordered one, then, two, three four etc...
Each design is unique, her pieces of jewelry being all different and of a
"heirloom-quality" as Rachel puts it.
She agreed with enthusiasm to answer a few questions.
Q: Hello Rachel! Make youself comfortable & have a cup of tea with me today. Could you please describe your perfect morning?
My perfect morning would be to wake up with both my kitties snuggled up
to me in bed and to know I didn't "have" to do anything that day except
create whatever I wanted. I would then put on a pot of coffee, check in
on my etsy shop, turn on the pickle pot (for cleaning soldered pieces),
and get going on making some fun designs with some beautiful gemstones!
Q: When did you start making jewelry? Where did this passion rise from?
Although I was always artistic, I choose the academic route and never
even fed my artistic side until after graduating college! It was then
that a roommate brought home some beads and I started experimenting.
Soon I was getting requests for jewelry from friends, family and
co-workers. Gradually my hobby became a passion and then a business.
Funny thing is...I later found out that my grandmother also made her own
jewelry. She got Alzheimers while I was still quite young, so I didn't
really get to know her, but my mother says I get my knack for
decorating and jewelry making from her.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
I am in love with the beauty of gemstones and much of my inspiration
comes from simply trying to show off the gems in the best way possible.
I handpick every gemstone I buy to ensure beauty and quality. Most of
the time I have a design idea for the gems as soon as I see them. But
sometimes I have to mull them over in my head for a while, sometimes
months, until suddenly the design pops into my head.
I also find inspiration in nature, in decorating, and in the work of
other artists. One little item or idea can spur a whole line of
designs. I guess inspiration can come from really just about anything
that I find beautiful, unique, or interesting.
One of Rachel's many orchids...
Q: Some of your designs remind me of Chinese lanterns (a pair of vintage
earrings i own from your collection). Does Asia have a special meaning
to you?
I would love to go to Japan or China. I love the clean lines and the
connection with nature that Asian design has. I also grow orchids,
which are really popular in Asian culture. I have 20 plants right now
and all of them bloom periodically throughout the year. Many of them
bloom twice a year. I even have some planted in a protected area of my
garden. Those are about to bloom for me in a few weeks as they are late
winter bloomers. I have people giving me orchards all the time because
they know I'm probably the only one they know that can get it to bloom
again!
Q: Do you drink tea? Does tea mean something special to you? Or maybe you're a coffee addict? Please tell me more.
I am a huge fan of tea and coffee. They are both very important to me.
Coffee is a must for me in the morning. I suffer from degenerative
disc disease in my spine, so mornings are very rough. But the smell and
taste of that first cup is a big help.
Tea on the other hand is my go-to remedy for all sorts of ailments;
upset stomach, insomnia, the flu, and just needing to relax. I have a
little get together with several girlfriends every other Weds evening
and we drink tea and eat snacks. I set out all my varieties of tea for
them to choose from and we get to chat and do a little Bible study over
our tea. It is great fun and very special to me. I even recently
purchased a coffee maker that has a side just for hot water!
You can find Rachel Unger Jewelry here on Etsy.
Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36855996@N02/
Contact: via Etsy
Yes, January rolled upon us and it's New Year's Resolutions Time again!
What are your goals for this new year? I just want to stay creative, preferably every day.
That's why I take part, since 2010, in the challenge called "Creative Every Day". To get things rolling, I will share with you today the process of me, drawing.
Here's the first sketch:
And here's the final drawing (poorly scanned, sorry about that).
I haven't published anything here in a while, wasn't feeling so well, but wanted to keep you lovelies posted.
Today, I have finally joined the google+ communtity, making it easier for you to share and like my content. Come join in the fun! All the google+ gadgets are on the far right column of this blog.
selfportrait, me smiling at last!
I also added a new profile picture of me, smiling at last! see above.
I also intend to share with you very soon my fall & winter essentials (from my French beauty tips series), the process of me drawing and some new drawing and paintings. Stay tuned!
Yesterday I was at a barbecue with friends, and I so totally enjoyed it that I forgot about this year's "30 Days of Creativity"! #30doc #30moc
So with a day late, I will tell about this wonderful project, that is good for everyone, just anyone!
From their website: "30 Days of Creativity is a global social initiative encouraging people to create stuff (anything) every day for 30 days in June.
2012 is our 3rd year. We hope to make it a big one.
Your brain is like a muscle. When you exercise it, it gets stronger."
Remember the Japanese tsunami of 2011? Fukushima? Well, I have thought about it for a long, long time, and always wanted to offer one of my Japanese-inspired drawings to help raise funds for the relief of Japan and the Japanese people.
I have finally drawn what I find is the right piece for just that purpose. I will sell this black ink drawing for Japan via 'Kibô-Promesse', a French non-profit organization. Kibo means Hope in Japanese, and Promesse is the French for 'Promise'.
If you wish to purchase that drawing directly from me, this is also possible. Just send me an email, and I promise all the price of the drawing will go to the Japanese Red Cross.
Here is the full view of the drawing as well as some details:
Untitled (steaming cup of tea). Mixed media. (c) Lipson 2012.
size: 14.5 X 21 cm
technique: ink drawing on wallpaper, glued on drawing paper
"Aimée" - photo and collage, my own. (c) Lipson 2012
My creative outburst is full-blown right now! I'm deeply into collages and you can see them on instagram (simply follow me as TEABUTTERFLY ) or on my flickr...
This week has seen the last days of my struggle against the flu. It's finally over, hooray! So i have been eating macarons to celebrate (see above).
Even before I had fully recovered, I ventured outside (crazy, I know) because the depth of winter is so beautiful, and I wanted to take some pics of ice and snow before they melted.
photo, my own.
After going outside in the cold, here is a glimpse at what I come home to:
After much inner debate, I have discovered the virtues of Dr Bach's flower elixirs. They really work! Life has been good to me ever since I started taking them, from day one. Quite amazing!
I personnally use the hornbeam remedy, but you might want to read a book or two before you take the plunge and choose your own flower.
I am starting to think about and prepare an exhibition of my oil paintings this year. This is a very exciting project! I need to count, name and photograph all of my oil paintings, not just these three few you can find here. More to come about that.
In the meantime, I have tried the following "Joyful Simplicities" for February, as advised by Sarah Ban Breathnach:
And Happy New Month! February is knocking at our doors, and I wanted to welcome it, just like Paula did, and beautifully, too. Especially as January has been tough and well, ugly.
Now I want February to be a winter wonderland of creativity and fun and warmth. After all, this is the time of year we got the first snow here in the south of France where I live.
My cold is still on... Since January the 18th. I'm seeing the doctor again this afternoon, because it just can't go on like this. I had plans for this blog this week, beautiful plans. On Tuesday, I wanted to share a new "Tuesday's butterfly" with you, via oeuf NYC.
On Wednesday, I wanted to welcome February's first day, sharing some exciting new photography challenges (challenge one & challenge two) that could let our creative juices flowing. I'm in!
On Thursday, I wanted to share some February pleasures with you, along with some pics of corners of my house. I use fresh white flowers and a bowl of citruses for that punch of color in an otherwise neutral living-room.
bowl of fruit. photo, my own.
I believe February is meant for paper whites and other forced bulbs, to bring in some living, growing greenery inside.
February is extra cold and we all need everything to be extra warm and soft to soothen our bodies & souls. This is the time my cat's fur gets super soft and fluffy, I love stroking it! I drink lots of hot chocolate, too, while watching the snow falling... Winter pleasures!
Here, I did share after all... :-)
So what are your plans for this new month? Any news worth sharing?
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