CRUSADE No. 61 ~ Restraining Order

Thank you crusaders – those of you who came to play last month, and those who have left comments and sent emails about the suspension of the street team activity.  I will talk about that later but for now let’s offer a high five to the participants.  An additional round of high fives goes to all who visited the links and left words of encouragement.  When we go out on a limb to share our perspective and our work we are validated in our efforts by having an audience and a community who embrace us. 

This month I challenge you to restrain yourself.  Create a journal page that has minimal elements, less clutter, and more breathing room.  I’m not saying that less is better than more; I’m simply asking you to try it.  As we know, there are no rules when it comes to visual journaling.  We might have a formula for constructing a page or we may mix it up and free-wheel through the process - sometimes busy, sometimes not-so-busy.  What got me thinking about this as a challenge is a comment I got many months ago about I page I presented with a lot of empty space.  The friend remarked that she didn’t have the will power to leave so much breathing room in a composition.  Have you ever felt that way?  That you aren't brave enough to leave blank areas?  Maybe you think blank means unfinished?  Don't know when to stop?  This month I'm giving you permission to stop early.  Don't get me wrong, leaving space doe not necessarily equate to less time commitment.  It takes just as much concentration to compose with space as it does to compose with clutter.

I made this page today.  Influenced by the lyrics of Elton John's Tiny Dancer.  I purposely intended to establish space.  I couldn't visualize a page dedicated to this song any other way.  On another day, with another song, I might fill every inch of the page. 

 

I was at an art exhibit a few years ago and read an artist’s statement that said something to the effect of: be ruthless in what you take away.  That made such an impression on me.  For instance, with this page below from last summer, I became aware of all the elements I had within reach that were intended to use on a page, then observed that not every item had to be included.  Editing my materials did not diminish my expression.  Less clutter allowed for greater focus on the underlying texture, or the message, or the image.  There are many pages in a journal.  I can use a riot of color and pattern on another page, on another day.

I'm sure you'll agree there are pages that get our attention because they ARE busy and intricate and detailed.  Our eye enjoys darting across the content absorbing all the information.  It’s the investigator within us that likes to explore and uncover.  These kinds of pages seem to reveal something new each time we look at them.  But our eyes also enjoy a respite.  A subtle page does not minimize impact; it offers calm and deeper layers of observation.  A page with a little more space draws they eye to the efforts of color, texture, and intention.  The breaks on the page do not have to be white to be considered space.  See below.

 

As I was planning out this crusade I was noticing the contrast of busy vs. restrained everywhere.  Here are some tear-outs from printed matter that illustrate my point:

So that's it!  Make a journal page while practicing some restraint.  Try on minimalism.  Maybe you've already been doing that - show us one or a few in a new blog post and express how you feel about working that way.  Taking on this challenge as a community helps us widen our perspective because what I show you is certainly not the singular way to do things.  I love seeing how you interpret the prompt.  We all learn from each other.  As I've said, this will be the final crusade for a while.  I'm not saying I'm concluding the challenges, just need some time away to reflect on the process and figure out if I want to revisit in a different format.  Within the month I will be posting some historical trivia about the last 60 crusades so come by when you can....and once again, hope you'll come play.

Please know I step away with a heavy heart.  I love it here.

 

Comments

[Carrie]

This is going to be fun! I love your white on white page that you showed as the second example. Very elegant. Though I will disagree with you on one point. In the case of the magazine layouts, one of them is better than the others - although that might be more because it's Johnny Depp than because of the composition ;)

I hope you don't have to stay away from the street team for long. But take your time, I'm sure that when you come back it will be better than ever, whatever form it takes.

[Laurelei]

I have always lurked but never had time to participate... but I enjoy the art very much- sad to see you will be on sabbatical- but sometimes we need to recupe/ branch out/ explore. May you always find treasures in your path!

[Carrie]

P.S. (I keep doing this where I don't say everything I meant to the first time around) Love the Tiny Dancer page. Do I spy the edge of corrugated cardboard used as a stamp??? Someday I'm going to be confident about doing layers like that stripe across your page.

[Chris]

'The investigator inside us.'
You are SO right! What a great way to pinpoint that drive!

ahem.

a safety pin...?! Now, that's singular!

It's funny (not ha-ha) that I have spent many hours throughout my 7 or so years of arting consistently, regretting that I left too much empty space on a card, or that I didn't put as much bling on a swap as I seem to like on other people's works, or that maybe I was using a wide expanse of color as a replacement for content (something I didn't really feel about my work, but something I thought about in analyzing the differences btw some of my work and some of the work I saw around me quite often) So this challenge is so appealing to me both as a validation and also... a real challenge to get back to what I often fight against doing!

None of that made any sense, but it's probably because I'm thrown off that it's not THE 2ND yet.

You Rock!

[Judy N]

Michelle!
Great final crusade! And I love that you used Tiny Dancer for one of your pages....that song brings back so many memories for me from when I was 16...a friend of mine used to call me blue jean baby and sung that song to me often. I was a BIG Elton John fan back then, guess I still am. Perhaps that is what I will journal about.....we'll see.

I will miss the crusades but I have plenty to go back and put finishing touches on.

Thanks for putting these together for us for these many years!

Until later,
Judy

[Suzanne Bouchard]

Thank you so much Michelle! you have changed my journay because you gave me the guts to start art journaling! I love what you do as an artist and as a person as well! Thank you millions!

[Chris]

I came by to see if any players had posted yet, and saw that Depp article. Oh, I wish I had that issue! When I subscribed to VF, I must have missed this one!
Are you going to see the new Dark Shadows?

[Chris]

I'm up!

http://parabolicmuse.blogspot.com/2012/03/gpp-street-team-crusade-61.html

[Sylvie]

Hi Michelle, thank you so much for this last crusade. I love the idea. I always wondered about these very simple but very intense works of art and never had the courage to try. But since your crusades gave me the courage to start my own blog, I will definitly embark on this crusade.
Thank you for being here and challenging us. I wish you a fabulous and very enriching *leave of absence*. I am sure you will be back with more awsome ideas. I will continue to follow your blog, otherwise I would miss you too much. Lots of love.

[Lena]

dear michelle, from here we all wish you he very best AND that you will be back here very soon!!! My " entry " is here. Please be back very soon - I miss you already!

[Diana Taylor]

Just posted my challenge - I have really enjoyed the two challenges I have taken part in and wish I had discovered this sooner! Enjoy your change of direction.

[Karenliz]

I posted my my challenge on my blog! I can't believe I just found this. I know I would have had so much fun. I thought this challenge would be easy but it was so hard. I did learn a lot from it. Less is more!!! Thank you for the last challenge!

http://karenlizhenderson.blogspot.com/2012/03/crusade-61-gpp-street-teams-challenge.html

[Regina]

Michelle, what a perfect subject for this comma in the Crusades.
Minimalism is closer to my heart than busyness in what I create. I used to think it was my lack of creativity, but I think it is because I enjoy the calm and prefer to let textures do the talking.
See you later this month with my response. XO

[Terri Neggers]

Michelle, I'm so grateful I found this wonderful group that you have steered into learning so much, and finding each other and creating such a supportive community. This is only my 2nd time to participate, last month was my first, but I've found online art friends just in that time that I'm very grateful for. Thank you so much, and I hope you find a way down the road to continue in a way that is satisfying for you. Here's my link:

http://art-life-rust.blogspot.com/2012/03/crusade-no-61-restraining-order.html

[Cath]

This was a real challenge for me because I LOVE to play with background colour and lots of text and interest, but I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

Thank you, Michelle for all your inspiration and for sharing your processes and artwork with us all - it's appreciated x

http://katykrunch.blogspot.com/2012/03/gpp-street-team-challenge-minimalism.html

[mary]

michelle, i have been a lurker here for a long time. i love looking at all the different takes on your ideas each month. will be sorry to see them go, but i am sure you have lots more ideas up your sleeve.

i was wondering, what kind of journals do you use that have the kraft paper, and where do you get them? i have been looking for some for a while and have yet to find one. thanks mk

[michelle ward]

Thank you everyone for your kind words about the Crusades going on hiatus. Need some time away to figure things out - participation has been growing in terms of new players each month but overall community has diminished. I've always wanted this to be about building connections (and community) through the creativity challenges. I feel the love, thank you. I hope to be back soon!

Mary: We haven't seen you here since you participated in No. 36! Fellow Crusader Marie asked a similar question recently. Seems there is some interest in craft/kraft journals so I will answer here:
- the craft journals I use are both store-bought and homemade. I used to have a great supply within reach when Borders was in business and carried the Paperchase brand. The kraft paper in their journals were on the thin side, but I loved the smooth crispy pages. Since I can no longer access those I have started making my own from kraft file folders (found at Staples) that I cut down and punch for spiral binding with my Rubicoil. You can make one yourself even without the punch - Kinkos can punch and coil any paper you being to them.

[Sylvie]

Ok, here goes. This WAS a challenge. But it also was a lot of fun. I can't wait to find out what you will have in store for us in the future Michelle, but i will stay posted.
http://fromdtoart.blogspot.com/

[Lenna Andrews]

Michelle, I commend you for stepping back to reflect on the crusades and what you want to do, what is going to work for you! Difficult I am sure, but smart to listen to your heart. I have observed here more than participated but your Restraining Order crusade sounds perfect! i hope to be back with a link to a journal page soon!

[Sylvie]

Hi Michelle, i just wanted to tell you how amasing i think you are. It is soooo generous of you to comment on everyone's participation to the crusade and you give such kind words. I really feel encouraged and inpired to pursue this artistic exploration. I cannot wait to meet you in october. In the mean time, i will be exploring and learning from you and other fabulous artists trying to find my own voice and my own style. Right now, i feel more like a copycat, but that's ok 'cause it's all part of the learning process. I am tickled pink about finding you through Somerset's ART JOURNALING magazine.
I wish you all the very best. Sylvie

[Chris]

Hi. I've done it again.

Chris

http://parabolicmuse.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-street-team-canvas.html

[betsy harting]

Thanks for the inspiration. I plan to do more of this AND go back thru the archives and try some other challenges! Wishing you all the best.

[Carolyn Dube]

Michelle- learning from you last October had a very positive impact on me. I feel so fortunate to have been able to take a live class from you! Thank you for all the Crusades you've hosted. This one was one of the toughest for me that I have done- I like to fill a journal page. It felt good to stretch in a new way! http://acolorfuljourney.com/?p=2270

[Carrie]

Woo! Early this time! http://pocketsizestudios.blogspot.com/2012/03/sanguine.html

This was a great challenge, and I hope I manage to squeeze in a second or even a third entry. Thanks for encouraging us to learn more and push ourselves, even if I didn't always play along.

[Jane]

Hi Michelle, my post is up:

http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/

I really enjoyed this as always!

[MissyK]

Hi Michelle

I am enjoying your trivia!

For crusade no. 61 I used a background from crusade no. 44 (In a scrape)!

You can see it here....

http://littlecraftingmiss.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/sometimes.html

Got to paint a bookcase now but then I am coming back in my tea break (!) to check out what everyone else has done..... I have to post first otherwise I loose confidence! I'm working on that!!!!

Karen

[Michelle Brown]

Here is my contribution to this month's crusade.

http://aztecmichelle.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/gpp-no-61-restraining-order/

And I add my thanks to Michelle for collectively lifting our creative spirits and challenging us in so many ways through these Crusades.

[Daphne Dooling]

oops....i should have put the post URL...sorry.
http://www.sewinart.blogspot.ca/2012/03/gpp-street-team-crusade-61.html

[Kim Mailhot]

Ah, my lovely Michelle, you know I had to join in this one final time ! The crusades have brought me so much, even if I have been very bad about keeping up with them these days. You are an awesome source opf inspiration, my friend, and I will look forward to see where your awesomeness takes us next !
Much love, Beautiful !

http://queen-of-arts.blogspot.com/2012/03/gpp-street-team-crusade-61restraining.html

[iHanna]

Very useful exercise! I hope there will be more like this one... in the great big future! :-)
http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2012/03/try-to-restrain-yourself/

XOXOX

[Pat P]

Here is my #61 challenge:
http://artkerfuffle.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-61-restraining-order.html

Enjoy your hiatus. But to me you won't be on hiatus, because I have 61 different places to look for ideas (actually more when you include the links for each challenge). Thank you for all the great ideas!

[Paula]

What a challenge! You can find mine here:
http://littlescrapsofmagic.typepad.com/little_scraps_of_magic/2012/03/restrain-yourselfand-a-bit-of-inspiration-too.html

[TJ]

Thank you Michelle for this fun challenge! Back in Germany I had a habit of always being the last crusader to roll in across the finish line. I worked all day today to try and pull all my work together to get done on time. I can't help but wonder though if I still managed to be the last of the last. That's kind of funny! xx tj

http://studiomailbox.typepad.com/tales_from_studio_mailbox/2012/03/tjs-restraining-order.html

[Cath S]

Late, of course! But done... http://cathsheard.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/crusade-61-end-of-an-era-2/