Make Rorschach Animals

What can I say, I love a good Rorschach test!  If you don't know what a Rorschach is, it's a test that psychologists and psychiatrists use with some patients to examine what they are thinking about.  I have Bipolar 2, and while I've never been given a Rorschach test I love the concept of these gorgeous mirror image designs.  

So I've taken the Rorschach and made it into fine art.  It's my way of transcending something that feels like a limitation and turning it into something beautiful.  Here is how I make Rorschach animals.  They are really fun to make!  You can use the process to make all sorts of different designs, I'm making animals because lately I've been really into the spiritual meaning of totem animals.

Rorschach Horse

Materials:

acrylic ink in at least one color

a watercolor pan set

pens or black markers

white acrylic craft paint

mixed media paper

Ink and Paper

Drop ink on the paper, be sure to make a drop off center towards the middle for the eyes

fold the paper and press down evenly across the page

open it up and see the design, ask a friend what they see when they look at the image

find a reference photo online to use as a guide

Add watercolor, bring in contrast with black and white and you are done!

Make an Intentional Altar

Chances are you already have a little space where you put your favorite things.  Bringing together items that symbolize your dreams is another great way to send energy to what you want in life.  Making an altar is so much fun!  Gather up some things that represent your goals along with some of your favorite artwork.  Add plants and stones to ground your vision.  Or even add a water feature like a small fountain to get energy flowing.  

Currently I'm getting back into my quilting, so I added a little quilt to my altar.  I have boxes and bins of art in storage, and putting some of those items on my altar symbolizes getting them out into the world.  I added my Buddha sculpture to remind myself to actively pursue my vision in the present.  This area is also functional so I left plenty of room for life to happen on the altar.  

Making an altar can be a fun way to visualize your next steps.  Try it out and watch your dreams come true!

Make a Vision Board with Chakra Power

Making a vision board can be a great way to get aligned with your goals however what if you don't know what you want in life?  Sometimes it seems as though everyone has a clear path of where they are going, however like me, you may also struggle to figure out the next steps you want to take.

This board started as a bunch of random images, my intention was to put it on my art table to brow beat myself into accomplishing goals.  It started to become clear to me that while most people want to live a certain way and have certain things in life, I'm more after some soulful experiences.  

So I kept layering images and it turned out that the symbolism of the colors and images started to resemble some basic chakra meanings.

If you are interested in creating a vision board, infusing the board with spiritual significance can feel a lot more true to what you really want to create in life.  Danielle LaPorte has a book called the Desire Map, which drives home the premise that goals should be based around how you want to feel in life instead of just what you want to do.  Really underneath impulses and drives lies an emotional bedrock, from the depths of your being you want to feel certain ways which is why you do the things you do in this life.

Here's a basic rundown of the Chakras and their associated colors and meanings.  The next time you make a vision board, chose a couple of chakras that you feel drawn to and represent them on your board through color and imagery.  Also write up a short list of how you want to feel by journaling about the things you do in life and why you do them.  Then when you look at the board you will be in tune with your spiritual goals as well as hone in on what you really want in life.

Crown Chakra- Purple- Spirituality, Love, Compassion

Third Eye- Indigo-Intuition and Understanding, Service, Imagination

Throat Chakra- Blue- Communication, healing, creativity, speech

Heart Chakra- Green- Balance, love, connection, compassion, positive attitude

Solar Plexus- Yellow- Energy, vitality, will power, self control

Sacral Chakra- Orange- relationships, emotions, intimacy, letting go

Root Chakra- Red- grounding, security, survival, physical needs

Tarot and Your Art

As an artist, sometimes it can be confusing to know which way to go in your art.  Maybe you have ideas for a few different directions you could go in, or maybe you want clarity on a new project.  Look no further than your nearest tarot deck for inspiration and ideas that could lead you down exciting new paths in your art.

The thing with creativity is sometimes you have so many ideas, it can be difficult to figure out which ones to do right now and which ones to work on in the future.  Or maybe you have an idea for a series but would like some insight into how to best maximize the potential of your idea.  Tarot is perfect for times such as these!  Simply pull three cards, the one on the left symbolizes the past, the middle card is for the present and the third card is for the outcome.  Or do a more in depth reading following the book that comes with your specific deck.

In the following readings I wanted some fresh inspiration for the blog.  So I pulled three cards from each of my two decks...

The first card represents the past related to the situation, the second represents the present and the third is the outcome

This reading tells me that good luck will come my way if I follow my heart.  To be creative and innovative, and to branch out and go in new directions.    

The second reading I did was with the Archangel Oracle Deck.  I have my deck housed in a decorative box that I collaged and painted.

The present

The future

Another way to use oracle decks is to pull a single card.  If you are looking for ideas for a project, pulling a card can give you a fresh perspective or a jumping off point to get started in a new direction.  Pull a card, read in the accompanying book and then journal out whatever insights or ideas come to mind.

I do readings when I start bigger projects that will take a bigger commitment.  I also consult the Guardian Angel Tarot Deck when I want to see my art and life in a new way.  The deck shows me possibilities where I couldn't see them before.  

Nobody knows how tarot works.  Simply doing a reading can impact the outcome of your project because it can give you so many new ideas and inspiration along the way.  Even the illustrations on the cards are very inspirational.  Maybe the card you pull will have a color palette or theme that you would like to explore in a project.  Or you might get an idea for a whole new direction to go in.  Give a reading a try sometime and supercharge your creative life!  I love these two decks and they are here to stay!

Hip Hop

A brave woman, fearless and ready for a new life packed three kids into her car and headed for a new state.  I moved to Des Moines initially when I was three years old.  Mom was trying to start fresh and carve out a new life for us kids.  We lived up the street from a daycare center, so it was only natural that we went there as mom put in hours at work.  My sisters and I were the only white kids at the daycare center, most of the daycare was Black.  All of us kids would gather in a room at the daycare and dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller video together, we ran together and played.   

I continued to love HIp Hop and when I was in middle school I really embraced Hip Hop culture. On days when I could I watched In Living Color and MTV and loved the bold style and colorful personalities.  Being immersed in Hip Hop culture growing up has had a major influence on my art today.  Currently I'm working on combining the look of edgy graffiti with fine art to produce something that I'm passionate about.  

I fell in love with Hip Hop culture and to this day I love the vibe of Hip Hop.  Hip Hop is a way of life, and has rich roots steeped in tradition.    

HIP HOP by Kathryn Sturges (FW acrylic ink, Sakura Koi watercolor and white Blick matte acrylic)