Have you ever had unfinished artwork stacked in your studio, waiting for your attention?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I’m revisiting nine forgotten cradled panels and transforming them into a single unified composition. You’ll learn how to renew your creative energy and refresh your process through two strategies: Layer Time – keeping traces of the old while building something new Combine the Forgotten – uniting multiple unfinished works to discover surprising connections Watch as I demonstrate how to layer, connect, and reimagine past pieces—turning procrastination into playful possibility. In this episode you’ll learn: How to revisit old work with curiosity instead of judgment Ways to layer transparently and preserve previous marks How to combine multiple surfaces into one cohesive composition Reflection prompts to help renew your artistic vision
Is there a medium that you have always wanted to try?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I’m diving into something totally new — cold wax medium! Join me as I explore how it interacts with transparent collage, tar gel, pan pastel, and R&F pigment sticks. This mixed media experiment is all about play, curiosity, and discovering new surfaces that transform how light, texture, and color behave. If you’ve been thinking about trying cold wax or mixing new materials into your art, this video will show you what happens when you combine transparency, texture, and matte depth..
Courage and/or Fear
Most creative work begins with a dictionary filled with words, a stash of materials, a mix of musical notes, and a pile of emotions. Somehow all of it has to come together to make something that has never existed before. That can be scary because it has to come from you; therefore you will have to show the world who you are. But, showing up is half the battle when it comes to creative work. If you can show up and just put a mark on a page then maybe you can move forward and make another.
How does color influence your work?
A year or so ago, I joined a week-long sketchbook challenge where each day was assigned a different color. What an incredibly easy prompt. The challenge got me digging into some of my collage papers that I’d stored away. New, unused materials came out to play. I started looking around my home, through my photographs, and within nature. After the week was over, I added brown and black to my work because I wanted to keep going. It was a fun, simple exercise that got me excited to work.
What could you release from your life that will allow you to replenish your artist's soul?
After gathering ideas from as many sources as possible and breaking down your idea into multiple parts, now it is time to build the idea to its full potential. Build your idea into something that is meaningful to you. You are all that matters when it comes to your artmaking. If you build something that is authentic and meaningful to you, others will follow. Your creative endeavor will connect with someone because someone will feel the same way. To neglect your ideas is to deprive the world of your art.
Why does the idea your building upon matter?
After gathering ideas from as many sources as possible and breaking down your idea into multiple parts, now it is time to build the idea to its full potential. Build your idea into something that is meaningful to you. You are all that matters when it comes to your artmaking. If you build something that is authentic and meaningful to you, others will follow. Your creative endeavor will connect with someone because someone will feel the same way. To neglect your ideas is to deprive the world of your art.
How do you know when to unify and when to deconstruct your ideas?
In my last blog, I talked about gathering ideas from as many sources as possible. The idea is to go deeper into the focus of your creative endeavor. It would be impossible to share all of my inspiration for my newest series, but I can share a few key ideas that I deconstructed from my lists and how I am using that to create unity.
Where do you go to find new ideas or gather inspiration? How can you expand to bring together information from even more sources?
For years I have allowed decay to creep into my life. That may be a little dramatic, but I have put my personal art to the side for so long that I feel like I am starting at the beginning again. The beauty of starting at the beginning, is that I now know, I can only grow up and forward. That decay has created a rich soil of excitement and motivation that will nurture my visual voice.
What are you doing to grow as an artist?
For years I have allowed decay to creep into my life. That may be a little dramatic, but I have put my personal art to the side for so long that I feel like I am starting at the beginning again. The beauty of starting at the beginning, is that I now know, I can only grow up and forward. That decay has created a rich soil of excitement and motivation that will nurture my visual voice.