How Creativity Happens by Carol Nelson

We are the sum of our experiences.  Since I frequently work in mixed media, my paintings are often composed of paint plus "other materials."  My latest painting is called "C1 - Latch Hook."  The C stands for Combination.

C1 - Latch Hook

side view

If you think this is the start of a new series, you are right.  My mixed media paintings are getting more and more "mixed."  That is, I seem to be finding more altered or re-purposed things and found objects to put into them.

This painting has numerous wood components, printed/painted papers, and odds 'n ends I found in my garage.  This painting is technically a 2D piece because it hangs on the wall, but in all other aspects, it is 3D.

It is approximately 12 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 6.5 inches deep.  It's a wall sculpture.  You want to touch it.  You want to hook the latch - I like that little kinetic touch.

I am often asked, How do you THINK of these things?  That's the creativity part.  I was dreaming/thinking about this piece before I got up the other day, and I was able to trace all the things I had done or seen in the last few months that lead up to the creation of this piece:

1.  I had been reading the fascinating biographies on TheArtStory.org. Since I did not study art in college, this site offers a wealth of art history in an easy to read format.

2. I am especially interested in the abstract expressionists.  I took a workshop, sponsored by Golden (paints), about the AbEx painters of the mid 20th century several months ago.

3. I am interested in some of the paintings done by Robert Rauschenberg, especially his "combines," which are mixed media collage work.

4.  I was at an art show a few months ago at the Madden Museum of Art in metro Denver.  There, I saw a huge Rauschenberg painting with a chair sticking out of it!

5.  In a workshop I gave a few months ago, a student showed me a cool pin she was wearing which was a "steam punk" design.  I noticed a similarly fascinating piece of jewelry on another student at my art show a week ago.  This genre of jewelry has numerous small parts, vintage clock gears, brass fittings, etc. that combine to make a pleasing design.

6. The latest issue of The Artist's Magazine (July/August 2012) has a story on the work of Crystal Michaelson on p. 82.  Look on p. 84 at her piece titled Construction Series 1, Number One.  I love this piece, with it's multitude of collage elements, and especially her disregard for the constraints of the rectangle.  WHO SAYS A PAINTING HAS TO BE AN EXACT SQUARE OR RECTANGLE?

Mix the above experiences 1-6 in my head, and out comes this latest mixed media painting...or is it a sculpture?  As I said earlier, we are the sum of our experiences, especially where creativity is involved.

For more information on this painting, click here to go to my website.