I created this piece, “A Journey Within,” four years ago. It is still one that is close to my heart. I created it for a fractal art class I was taking online. I still remember one of the questions from a fellow student, and friend of mine, as she asked “Why did you not follow the golden mean rule? Why is your image so far off center, way up in the corner? What’s with all that black space?”

Well, simply put, it is how I see my journey. A path that is not well illuminated, but I see that light, that bit of lightning like light shimmering ahead of me. It blossoms and blooms and it is waiting for me, if I just step forward and move towards it. It speaks of the dark. The isolation within. Just one flowered shape, alone in the corner. Jagged and different. Petals stretching out, reaching through the inky darkness, reaching for something to hold. The darkness itself, textured and full…choices to take or ignore. Paths to follow or disregard. But there is illumination. There is light. Color. Hope. All within that dark. Is it out of reach? I don’t know. But I am driven to move towards it, all the same.

And so I break the rules of art. And place that flower like hope in the far upper right corner, amidst all that black space, for it is a peek inside of me. It would not be much of a journey if it were smack dab in the middle. It would be a different piece entirely, needing a different title, and full of a different kind of meaning. But it is a journey of the heart. Of the soul. All that we have to work through. The dark uncertainty that is life. The isolation sometimes felt as we muddle through it all. And yet, there is light. Hope. Color. All of it, leading us on.

I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the curtain. I don’t often share the thought processes behind the art images, unless asked. I do get asked a lot, however, and so I will continue to blog more regularly about the fractal art pieces of the month!

Go out and make it a Fractalicous day!

~Kimberly

Technorati Tags: A Journey Within, creation, Creativity, Digital Art, Digital Artistry, flower, Fractal Art, Fractalicious, fractals, golden mean, heart, Kim Hansen, Kimberly Hansen, Kimberly R. Hansen, Kimberly Rae Hansen, soul, techincal art form

I am a professional artist. I get paid for creating. I am therefore, disciplined. My office/studio space is clean and clutter free. It is a zen like space where I schedule regular time to create art and design fashion pieces. All is serene and productive.

Hahahahahhahahahahahahahaha! Whew. If only this were true! Since most of my work is done on the computer, I have a constant plethora of distractions. Funny emails sent by friends must be looked at. There are new fun videos to watch on you-tube. Oh don’t mention that sample sale or tending my farm on Facebook. When you are addicted to that information super highway, there are a jillion reasons NOT to work!

Miracles can happen however. Yesterday, I created a new scarf design, completed an art image, and even found time to work a bit more on my fractal art book. All while battling a migraine, juggling family time, sports events with my son and a bark-a-holic dog yapping at the neighbors.

How did I manage to find that burst of creative energy? Well, I had deadlines. Things needed to be done, clients had made orders, I had to push through. There is nothing like a good old fashioned deadline to keep the mental wheels turning.

The next big thing is cleaning my ever chaotic office to get ready for an upcoming art show. I do have a lot of my ducks in a row and have a system in place that allows for easy gathering of art and booth fixtures, but the only time my office is truly clean is if someone is coming to view it.

Procrastination can take over. Especially with summer coming. Warm weather, kids home from school. It is sometimes hard to keep creativity flowing; to be productive.

Some things I have found that help give me a little kick in the pants.

*Schedule an impromptu private open studio for your best collectors Take some time to show them how you create your art. I walk them through the creation of a fractal; let them hop on the computer and play a little. It forces me to keep the office space clean, to have a work in progress that can be reviewed.

*Sign up for artist-of-the-month at your local art gallery. Offer to teach a class.

*Volunteer to speak at the local schools, see if they have a career day. Bring some art supplies, and create with and for the kids.

*Volunteer at the senior center. Donate your time and expertise with teaching a class. Everyone needs their lives touched with the beauty of art.

*Volunteer to host the next meeting of your local artist group, or start one yourself if your town does not have one. Volunteer to speak at local networking groups.

*Keep your eyes open for little, non-juried events you could do in town or close to home. Or create your own! Talk to a local restaurant about hosting an artist lunch. Bring your art supplies. Create in their outdoor patio while patrons get to watch and ask questions.

You will be forced to keep busy and your creative mind will soar! This all also works for inspiration. Or at least it seems to me, that inspiration hits me most right before I am busy with something else!

What are some of the things you do to be more productive? Share in the comments below.

Go out and make it a fractalicious day!

Kimberly Hansen

Technorati Tags: art, Creativity, Fashion, Fractal Art, Fractalicious, Kim Hansen, Kimberly Hansen, Kimberly Rae Hansen, Productivity

We all feel fear in whatever walk of life we are in. For a creative artist, fear can be the kiss of death for our business. It can prevent us from starting or completing a piece. Can keep us from approaching that gallery; keep us from pushing through to make that sale. For me, fear will work its way in as a form of procrastination. I can feel it simmering just below the surface. A mix of excitement and apprehension, barely perceptible, but it is there. When I feel that excitement but can not seem to take the steps to move forward, I know that there is an element of fear hiding underneath it all.

The only way I am able to break free is to shine a spotlight on it, pull it out into the open, and face it head on without judgment. Everyone feels fear, everyone has worry. I have to remind myself that there is nothing wrong or abnormal in this. I then ask myself two simple questions. “What is the worst that could happen?” and “How does this make me feel?” Usually, this puts things into perspective and I discover that most of my fear is based in a feeling of lack of self worth. I am often afraid that what I do is just not good enough. (Oh the joys of being a perfectionist!) I think for me, it is a mix of that and a need of acceptance. Admitting this out loud makes my skin crawl! I must be hitting close to home.

I think Rainer Maria Rilke says it best in this quote:  “Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke

Realistically, I know that I have a special talent. I love to create my fine fractal art and fractalicious fashion accessories. I would never want for a different job. There are some who love my abstract art. There are others who prefer traditional art. I am ok with this, and it really does not bother me. On the surface. But when that fear takes hold, it can blow it out of proportion, if I let it.

A well-known acronym for fear is:
FEAR = False evidence appearing real

In other words, even though what we’re fearful of seems very real to us, it’s usually something we’ve made up in our heads, as opposed to something we’re facing  physically.  The stress hormone cortisol causes our bodies react to our thoughts regardless of what is actually in front of us. Our fears feel very real, very self detrimental, even if they are not.

I know I am not the only one facing the fear conundrum! Here are some common fears I have heard voiced from other artists.

* No one understands my art. If they don’t like or “get” it, they won’t like or get ME. I could not handle the rejection.

* If I put my art and myself out into the world, people may not like it. They won’t like me. They may laugh at me. I won’t fit in.

* I’m not fulfilling a need in the world by just creating art. No one NEEDS my images. I’m not serving a purpose.

* I don’t want to be a starving artist! If I commit fully to my art, I won’t be able to support myself or my family financially. I could lose everything and become homeless, penniless.

* Why try to create? There are others out there so much better than me. If I make a mistake, everyone will notice.

* I can not break free of my fear. I may die with my creativity still inside of me, and never take the steps to get my art business off the ground.

“We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure.  It is a powerful obstacle to growth.  It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation.”

– John W. Gardner

Do any of these above examples sound familiar to you or resonate within you? Is there something else driving your fear that holds you back? I am sure that there are many other reasons that prevent artists from reaching their full potential than just the ones listed. The trick, however, is to feel the fear and do it anyway.

The question, however, is how?

I find for me it helps to just DO something. Anything. No matter how small. It is forcing myself forward to take that first step. Even if it is a baby step. Even if it does not take me all the way from point A to point B. It is movement. It is progression. It is a start. If I can begin, I can keep taking baby steps until I am finished. The whole then, seems less daunting, when chunked into manageable steps.

One of my favorite tools is a book by author Julia Cameron titled The Artist’s Way. I recommend getting the accompanying workbook to use along with it. It is a hands on course to help break through creative blocks to help your work to be fresh, original and better yet, fear free!

What are some of the things holding you back from reaching your creative best? What is at the root of your fear? What are some of the tools you use to combat fear based procrastination?

Share in the discussion. How do you feel the fear and do it anyway? I look forward to hearing from you!

Go out and make it a fractalicious day!

Kimberly Hansen

Technorati Tags: Abstract Art, Creativity, Fine Fractal Art, Fractal Art, Fractal Art Business, Fractalicious, Kim Hansen, Kimberly Hansen, Kimberly Rae Hansen