CRUSADE No. 14 ~ Imaginary Friends

Do you have a Muse?  Is there someone who inspires you and your art?  What is a Muse?  The definition says it's a guiding genius who motivates you.  Do you have imaginary friends who visit you in your studio space? 

The nine Greek Muses encouraged the creative process through their spiritual presence.  In modern times, as you know, many famous artists and writers have claimed to have had a "Muse".  In the reference below, Francine Prose explains the role of a Muse in an artist's process.  Her book, The Lives of Muses:  Nine women and the Artists they Inspire, covers modern day women and the men they influenced.

For instance, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's muse was his wife Elizabeth Siddal.  And Kiki of Montparnasse, was Muse to many men, particularly Man Ray. 

And I love how one of my faves, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, credits his wife for being an inspiration, and partner in art.

And then there was Zelda, who not only influenced her husband, she was a reference for many of his writings.

Have you recognized that you have a Muse?  Here's mine:

 

Evidence that he's been present in my work:

You may have more than one Muse.  This guy is a more recent Muse of mine (but you knew that.)  If you click here you can see that I got to tell him...don't listen to the voice in the foreground (that is the girl who is filming from her cellphone).  Listen closely, in the first few seconds, while the other girl is talking, I say "You're my Muse", and he makes me repeat it, then he says "You're my Muse" back, and we laugh.  Caught on film!  Why is he my Muse?  It's more than the Crush I've admitted to - it's the music, the lyrics, the aesthetic of all things that surround the band.  HIM has had an affect on my attitude and my art and I'm grateful for the influence.

On your blog, tell us about your Muse, or your Imaginary friend that motivates or inspires or influences your art.  (It doesn't have to be a real person, maybe it's a thing or a place.)  Mention Crusade No. 14 in your post, then comment here with a link to your site.   I will post the links as they come in with the newest at the top.  (Archived lists become alphabetical).  Anyone can play so come join us!  If you would rather challenge yourself with a previous Crusade just label appropriately and explain that in your comment. 

DUE DATE:  Top Hat Drawing will be December 1.

Want a graphic for your site?  You are invited to take this button.

EDIT:  I still hear from visitors who haven't read enough on this blog to know how I feel about music and my right to Make Some Noise.  Keep in mind you are in control of your volume just as I am in control of the content here (said with love).   

"Kiss of Dawn" was finally made available to add to the playlist on the left, so that player has been enabled for autoplay and is easily turned off or better yet, scroll through all the videos.  Now I just gotta figure out how to widen that sidebar for better viewing.

Comments

[Barone]

Michelle,
Your post regarding The Muse depicts so beautifully the impact of the medium in which we work. I can visit this post as a resource regarding art and culture, a source of inspiration, to learn about you, to daydream, to connect and communicate. You bring art to life. Thank you! jodi

[Natalie Briney]

Hi Michelle

Another beauty of a theme!!!

Here's my entry - http://nats-ramblings.blogspot.com/2007/11/gpp-street-team-crusade-no-14.html

Thanks so much for YOUR inspiration.

[Penny Stuart]

Hey my friend.....What a fantabulous theme! I am back, I am ready to create art and I must say that it is because of my muse.....You and this wonderful Crusade neighborhood! This art on this page is just the most beautiful, most impressive, totally incredible! I am totally in awe and ready to come back to play. I have to be honest, even though I have had my evenings and weekends again for the last two weeks, I have not had any desire to create art. None! But, today after looking at your beautiful pages....I am regretting having invited friends over tomorrow as the visit will take away the art time for awhile. I know that is horribly rude but all I want to do is create! I am so darned ready! Thank you!
xoxoxo
Pen

[Monica Magness]

Michelle, you have livened up my soul yet again and invited me to reach places I held quiet before. I am enthralled by your attention to detail, your art captivates and inspires me immensely! Ahhh, this will be a fun month to follow your muse, I wonder where she will lead you next? Blog on! haha ~Monica

http://www.girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2007/11/talking-spool.html

[johanna]

i hope i will come up with something about the muses this month. but for now i have an older theme (#12) - confessions about my crush on card decks...
http://johanna-mixedmediafun.blogspot.com/2007/11/crush-on-card-decks-faible-fr-karten.html

[Syanne Bleu]

I have been dying to join the GPP Team and keep missing the deadlines. Luckily, I'm in time for this one! More goodies to come.
http://syannebleu.blogspot.com/

[Jo Anne Owens]

Hi Michelle! I am a newbie to your GPP Crusades, but thought I would give it a try! My muse decided that what she wanted to contribute was a word doodle which you can find at my blog http://paper-cats-page.blogspot.com/
I hope you like it and that it qualifies!

Jo Anne

[bonnie]

Crazy about the black, white and red "Who's your muse?"

[Belinda]

ha, instead of working on a fabric project my muses wanted some attention! you go girl, love your muses!! will certainly be interesting to discover all the many different ones from the participants ...
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2007/11/04/gpp14-whats-your-muse/

[johanna]

michelle, love your pierrot muse!!

and now time for confessions:
http://johanna-mixedmediafun.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-muse-litarta.html

[Griselda Tello]

Good morning Michelle.

My beautiful friend Monica Magness invited me to take this challenge for Crusade 14 on naming my Muse.
It was easy, because he has had such impact in my work, I can't but honor him in my pages.

Thanks so much for creating this forum, I can see how much brighter our world can be with people like you.

I will come back.
Bright Blessings to you.
Griselda
http://gristello.blogspot.com/

[Kathleen Chabot]

Count me in again, Michelle. I didn't have to think about who or what my muse is.
Your page is an inspiration, indeed! Love your art on this subject.

[Jo Anne Owens]

Michelle...I am a new person to this sort of challenge, but I can state right here and now that I hope to participate each time! I love the creativity that you inspire with your crusades and can't wait to see what is next! Just browsing through all of your art is mind blowing...you are an awesome artist!!

Thanks so much for organizing the GPP Street Team so that all of us can share and be inspired! Love it!

[Ulla]

What a wonderful post Michelle! I've never given serious thought to who my muse could be... but I know subconsciously I have one... I LOVE yours though!!! LIVE OUT LOUD GIRL!

[Pam]

http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/2007/11/whos-my-muse-crusade-14_05.html
Ok, I've started on this one... what a great crusade theme! These crusades have been a great muse and inspiration... it's great to have an idea and theme to focus on to generate ideas... you are great at that, Michelle! It's all about sharing ourselves through our art and what fun it can be! And it's great fun to see how everyone interprets the theme... so many vastly different ways to express it. Thanks for inspiring us all as one of our many muses, Michelle!

[Peter Hollinghurst]

Hello Michelle,

My friend Griselda Tello suggested I take this challenge, so I thought 'why not'? It seems an interesting exercise :)

I like your artwork and these pages are inspiring-many thanks (though I always see Ville Valo as Elric of Melnibone)!

Here is my entry: http://hybridartifacts.livejournal.com/25706.html#cutid1

[Pam]

I've done installment number 2... come see who my second muse is!
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/

[Amy McI]

Hi Michelle...

I finally decided to jump in and try one of the Crusdaes on for size -

http://artfulheart.blogspot.com/2007/11/could-not-help-myself.html

I plan on coming back to experience more :)

Amy

[ArtKat]

Hey Michelle,

I've never really thought about having a muse before, but it was very easy to figure out! If you want to take a look, here's my link:

http://creativeartscraftsspot.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-muses.html

Thanks for the inspiration! :)

[Valerie Cramer]

Once again, great theme! Here's one of my muses: http://pandorasbox818.blogspot.com/2007/11/gpp-street-team-muses.html

[Pam]

Ok, ready for installment number 3? I think many of you will agree this third muse of mine will be one of yours as well....This post will be in two parts because it is long and has several pictures...
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/

[Lisa]

Here's mine, not a post filled w/ any of my art, but important none the less.

http://anotefromthequeen.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-muse.html

[Deryn Mentock]

Hey Michelle! Here's the link for my muse:
http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/something_sublime_from_th/2007/11/sublimity.html
Love the "noise"! The guitar is great!

[Megan Warren]

Hi Michelle

I'm not sure how you keep coming up with these great ideas. Here's the link to my muse
http://therosegarden.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-months-crusade-is-imaginary.html

[Suzanne]

Meet my muse! http://suzannerenfrow.blogspot.com/2007/11/meet-my-muse.html

On a side note, I'm so pleased to see how the Crusade community keeps growing!

[tina]

Well, I did it, after looking at the crusades for the last several months, I met the challenge!!! Thanks Michelle!!!

[Laurie Blau-Marshall]

Hi Michelle,

Well, I made it to my second Crusade - hurray! This is a great topic. I have several muses, but I started with this one: http://loudlife-laurieblaumarshall.blogspot.com/2007/11/music-is-my-muse.html And you know what? It's like the song says, "Suddenly I see" why I am sometimes stymied when I'm trying to work on art. I need to be in touch with my muse more. Thank you for posting this illuminating topic.

Laurie

[deborah]

OK...how much do I love this theme???? I could go on for days..... but here she is...
This was such a fun topic! What or Whom isn't my Muse?? All I have to do is look around to be inspired!

http://encrepapier.blogspot.com/

[Fiona]

Great topic this month - really got me thinking. I've done part 1 of some of my muses.

Fiona

www.alteredheart.blogspot.com

[Vexxxy]

I just wanted to say I think your work is amazing, as well as your members' works. I decided to submit something as your site inspired me to instantly create. You all were my muses yesterday.

Here it is. Thanks for sparking up my inspiration.
http://vexxxyillustration.blogspot.com/2007/11/gpp-street-team.html

[barone]

I loved creating this post and it gave me a tremendous amount of artistic refining and direction, THANK YOU!

http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2007/11/who-are-your-imaginary-friends.html
jodi barone

[barone]

http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2007/11/who-are-your-imaginary-friends.html

I loved creating this post. I feel energised by the refining and direction that came to me as I explored this crusade. THANKYOU!
jodi barone

[Monique]

Great muses! I didnt even know mine had a name but we have been properly introduced now;) So thanks!
http://smallworld.web-log.nl/moniqui/2007/11/do_you_have_a_m.html

[hedwig]

Hi Michelle,
Finally I have made myself a weblog, so finally I can join for the crusades. Read a several minutes ago on yor blog about Tim Holtz, I called Ranger ink a musing company, but his is one of the great contributor's to that. More? Read it on my blog:
http://belle2create.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/my-muse-on-the-go-for-my-first-crusade/
Bye,
Hedwig

[Beverley Todd]

It might be a bit predictable but my little lad is my muse & I celebrated him as my muse in a layout here: http://craftymoments.blogspot.com/2007/11/made-it-just.html

[barone]

A second entry...http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2007/11/muses-2nd-installment.html

gratefully and happily,
jodi barone

PS have loved seeing everyone's contributions on this topic.

[Tautchia]

Very cool topic! Crazy as it seems, I haven't found my perfect muse. I will be looking for it, though. In the meantime, I am playing catch up and posted Crusade 12 on my blog
http://tautchiacoleman.blogspot.com/2007/11/playing-catch-up.html

[Marble Blue]

Finally finished the reno enough to move in. Still got to unpack all my artstuff, so no art on the blog this time.

This theme tripped me up, but also got me thinking. Promise to include art in my post for the next crusade.

Love - Marble Blue.

[izabella]

Halo!! I am nervous...but this is my first entry to your wonderful topic...I have enjoyed reading all of the other entries...Michelle you are amazing, I love how you spur us to ponder, think & challenge us~

xo!! ~Izabella
http://izabella.typepad.com/izabellas_blue/2007/11/izabellas-muses.html

[Marble Blue]

Hi Michelle,
I have been thinking about this theme some more and I remembered I had a journal page about Muses (though I still don't have one....). So I did managed to include some art with this theme. Hope you like. The journal page was a huge experiment - colours I don't normally use, dimension magic, trying to get the hang of journalling....again trying too hard. But turned out okay in the end.

Love - Marble Blue.

[martha]

Took me awhile, but here's the link to my entry.
http://mamzellehepzibah.typepad.com/mamzelle_hepzibah/2007/11/i-love-checking.html
Michelle, regarding your edit about your music, I found it funny because although I don't usually go for that genre of music, after hearing Kiss of Dawn so many times while scrolling thru posts, it began to grow on me, and I actually look forward to hearing it now! Whoodathunkit?

[Janine]

Hi Michelle

Although I haven't really been doing too much lately, I wanted to participate, have primarily been using glass and fusing, but hope to change that in the very near future!

http://janinea.blogspot.com

xo
J

[SyAnne Bleu]

Some real artwork to my muse. I am making him into an icon. What fun!

[SyAnne Bleu]

Whoops! Forgot the link.
http://syannebleu.blogspot.com/2007/11/few-journal-pages-to-my-muse_17.html

[Kathleen Chabot]

Michelle, inspired by Pilar I. Pollack's post on Sylvia Plath's birthday, I followed a link she posted and found a poem of Plath's entitled, "The Disquieting Muses". It was just too serendipitous a discovery for me not to post it for the Crusade! It's up on my blogsite, along with a comment. I could have said so much more about it, but the post is long enough as is. I intend to pursue my rediscovery of Sylvia Plath further.
All this comes about because of you and your inspiring Crusades!

[Ariel Gill]

What a great Crusade. It certainly got me thinking about what inspires me -- and what that Muse is all about. Thanks for cheering us on, Michelle!

Ariel

[Heather Bradley]

Michelle,
Thanks for being such an inspiration in so many ways, sharing your life, your art, your love for music. I have finally worked up the courage to start my own blog AND now respond to a crusade! I think that my first post was about the creative muse and it was a delight to return to mulling over what the spark behind my creativity is, to identify it and to put it out into the world!
Heather Bradley
paperfollies.typepad.com

[izabella]

Michelle...if your not too busy can you come & visit my blog...you have been nominated for the "roar award" ;) I know your busy...& I think I remember reading somewhere you "don't do tags" but just wanted you to know you are such an inspiration to me!!

xo ~ Bella

[Fiona]

I've felt the need to muse further........

[Paula]

You rock! Here is my crusade submission...
http://forcryeye.blogspot.com/