Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V

This project is noteworthy to me because of how little intention was involved. I have long been frustrated by a lack of time, energy, and drive to create new art. I often think I've built it up so much that I needed whatever I make next to be PHENOMENAL and noteworthy and laden with meaning. This has created a sort of creativity paralysis, where I was unsure where to start. Forget the fear of a blank page or blank canvas, I couldn't even break out a sketchbook.

However, this past weekend brought a bit of unfocused inspiration. I couldn't say why, but the idea of making a collage crossed my mind. It has been forever since I did anything like this, but it seemed a very low pressure piece to do.

So Saturday I went to Michaels (no relation) arts and crafts store to buy our old friend Mod Podge. I picked up the classic jar along with one that provided an antique (read: yellowing/browning) effect. It was very relaxing to snip out pictures and words from a newspaper and arrange them not-quite-haphazardly on a large piece of paper.

Sunday I decided I wanted even more material, so I went to a convenience store to pick up a few more newspapers. I didn't have any specific subject matter in mind, so as long as they had a variety of types of photos, graphics, and headlines, I was satisfied.

Honestly, I still don't know where I'm going with this, but it sure is fun--and relaxing! It's interesting to give a certain amount of thought to the position and orientation of snippets and then randomly slap something on top of it later, obscuring it anyway.

I'm toying with the idea of making this the groundwork of some drawing or painting, using the collage as more of a visually textured paper upon which I draw something else. That may take some trial and error, because I didn't give any thought to the option of drawing on top of it, so I'm not certain what I can use that won't be hampered by the glossy coatings of Mod Podge.

Salvaged from LiveJournal: February 21st, 2002

mood:  optimistic

Job searching. How I hate it. Blargh.

On the bright side, I decided to let my comic officially lapse into oblivion. There are just too many things I want to do, and I have no idea how much time I'll have once the youngest Michaels puts in an appearance and/or I find a new job.

So of course I have to get inspired and figure out something I can do that will make my comic fun to write again. I have no idea if the Era of Webcomics is over and no one will come back to my strip, but I'm going to try drawing for a while again. Heck, my decisions to stick to a set schedule never seemed to take- why should my decision to quit? But I'm only going to keep it going as long as it's fun. And if it falls behind again, it falls behind. It's really just another creative outlet, so I suppose I don't really mind if no one is reading it.