distilled: life words

It’s good to get your words out.

Put them down in a way that you can look at the big picture as well as the smallest punctuation mark.

Sometimes I find it easier to “discover” the words rather than write them out of my own musings. It’s a big step towards editing that isn’t painful and prevents rambling or navel gazing.

So here’s my process:

I have painted a background, but any coloured paper works well. I’ve recycled junk mail and old magazines by cutting out words & phrases that caught my eye. I find a semi-quiet place to work.

Instead of picking out one at a time, I just dump the whole word box on the board.

It reminds me of how jumbled our thoughts can get when we’ve not had a chance to process anything.

I start teasing out words that are speaking to me in the moment. I take my time, changing things as I go. There is nothing to get wrong – the piece is fluid.

It always amazes me what fits together, how the words from my heart speak to the page…

I stop when I feel all has been said and just let the words sink in.

Then I do one more edit – what is most important to keep from this exercise? – and make an art photo to keep…

What needs said in your life right now?

10 responses »

cindyricksgers on March 28, 2012 at 12:32 pm said:

Great idea, Beth!

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- bethsciallo on March 28, 2012 at 12:49 pm said:
  
  Thank you Cindy. It works on a small scale too: one old magazine, sissors & a sheet of A4. 🙂
  
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Teresa Cleveland Wendel on March 28, 2012 at 3:13 pm said:

I love your process. And I already have an envelope full of clipped out phrases–I simply didn’t know what to do with them.
I’ll have fun today!
Thanks.

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- bethsciallo on March 28, 2012 at 5:28 pm said:
  
  Enjoy!
  
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Lesley Hamilton on March 28, 2012 at 4:21 pm said:

Hi Beth, I am loving the art of encouragement, your work inspires me.

love
Lesley

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- bethsciallo on March 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm said:
  
  thanks so much for telling me Lesley x
  
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Fiona Rew on March 29, 2012 at 7:50 am said:

Escape to the…hmmmmm this speaks to me!

I had an art tutor who taught me the value of ‘play’ and then encouraged me to collect and save all the things I made from the ‘playtimes’ and when the time was right to make something, perhaps a collage, out of them. The collage can become the source of inspiration for that picture or that painting or that peice of art glass etc. Learning to play is important I feel.

Thanks for your blog Beth, I love reading it.

Every blessing Fiona

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- bethsciallo on March 29, 2012 at 8:51 am said:
  
  Thanks Fiona! Yes – I agree. When we “play” – relax and create without expectation of a finished piece – there can be
  great discoveries which have a positive influence on us and our art.
  
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Dreamreflector on June 19, 2012 at 5:51 pm said:

I did something like this a while ago but yours is definítely much more beautiful and inspiring! Wish I had thought about making a backround like you did.

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- bethsciallo on June 19, 2012 at 10:44 pm said:
  
  Thanks for stopping by! Why don’t you give it a go (again) and see what happens. 🙂
  
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