The Creative Process

After starting this personal project almost a month ago, I FINALLY finished my latest collage. I'm inserting a picture of my masterpiece, "Pretty in Pink."

I wanted to display some photos I took as I was making this collage to document the process I go through in order to create one of these. As you can see, the last photo demonstrates how I really moved images around to end up with a completely different design than I started out with.

Over the years, as I honed my craft, I started to make certain rules for myself. I never use newspaper clippings -- the paper quality is too flimsy. I never really have a theme in mind, but now I'm trying to use a color scheme so I can help myself narrow down the final selections. I'm very particular about how pictures and words overlap. I don't like "edges" and still struggle with utilizing every inch of space on the posterboard. But I feel like I'm getting there.

With each new collage I make, I get inspired to be "fresh" and innovative. Ultimately I want it to "say" something about me or perhaps even for me, that I may have trouble verbalizing, but I also like the idea that each person who views one of my collages, has his or her own interpretation of what it means, symbolizes or states to them. I'd love to hear what people feel when they first read, look at and absorb my latest masterpiece.

I enjoy expressing myself in this medium. It gives me a sense of control, making those choices for which words, phrases, pictures, etc make the final cut, but also gives me the chance to speak to the world through those clippings that catch my eye. It's cool to use so many different images -- whether of a model, a celebrity, a cartoon, a flower or one of my own photos -- and the various quotes, sayings, ad lines from magazines or brochures, postcards, etc that capture my attention and meld them all together in a way that actually says something when I'm done, is an amazing experience for me.

Now that this one is finished, I can't wait to start on my next one! Anyone else have a passion or hobby they want to share?

My Life is Like a Movie, Full of Odd Characters and Complex Storylines

It occurred to me today that I am in charge of my destiny, no one else. What a revolutionary thought huh?

In the past few weeks I've received interesting, unexpected packages in the mail, been whisked away on a surprise last minute getaway by a handsome man, read some fascinating stories, met new people, learned how to create myself as a "brand" and made plans for an exciting vacation to a place I've never ventured to see friends I miss very much. And in 4 days it's a new month!

And while there have been some pretty big "lulls" in the action of my life, I am psyched to see where the next few weeks will take me, or should I say where I'll take myself, ha ha!

I have a feeling by this time next month I may be on my way to a whole new place -- complete with an innovative cast of players and even more adventures to partake in! Check back here for an update!

Cusp

Boy this New England weather is something, eh? One minute the sun is shining brightly and the next it's overcast and grey. Today it's in the 70s and tomorrow it's predicted for rain and 50 degree weather.

The ups and downs with the temperature remind me of how I've been feeling lately. Good and bad. Happy and sad. A mixture of many emotions. Mostly positive ones, ones that will lead me somewhere new. The first step is that I am starting to compare myself less to others and focus more on what I want.

I guess you could say I'm not good with change, but I'm starting to accept that it's a fact of life. Cliche, I know, but true. And even still, I think it's a good thing. If every day was the same, if everyone we met always wore the exact same thing every day, said the same thing everytime we saw them, if the weather never fluctuated, if the world was stagnant, imagine how boring that would be. I mean, really.

So, in and of itself, change can be hard. But truthfully, I'm ready for it. I'm on the cusp of something great...possibly a new opportunity, possibly a new journey, or possibly something more. I feel like I am full of energy and can conquer the world. Something's in the air - I know it. Ever feel that way?

Great Opportunities

Good evening everyone. I've been thinking about chances lately. Taking them, and letting them pass us by.

I found this quote: “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” And I can't get it out of my head. The idea that we are letting tough times or current imperfect conditions in our present lives affect us adversely. Maybe these obstacles or 'impossible situations' are actually going to lead us to where we need to get to. Or at least that's my interpretation.

For today, tonight or tomorrow, let's think about what great opportunities we may presently be faced with and how we may see them as impossible situations. How do we fix them? How do we turn it around? Perhaps a slight alteration in how we view our world or even in how we react to the people and places around us? Or maybe it's a bit harder than that?

I know I'm going to be looking at my current sitch - surroundings and the circumstances that got me to where I am - with new eyes. Perhaps a little adversity is sometimes needed in order to grow into a more becoming person.

Inspiration Lives In Unexpected Places...

Or so it seems for me today. It's a rainy, dreary, damp day here in my neighborhood. I got up really early this morning and was ready to go out and take a walk. Might have been a good idea to check what the weather was going to be like.

But even still, as I looked out my window and realized it was raining and pouring "cats and doggies," I decided, "what the heck" and went for a walk just the same. I removed my "fun" umbrella, that I splurged on a year ago at a trendy little shop near Yale University, from its place on the floor of the backseat of my car, and packed up my camera and a few other essentials into my favorite vest and off I went exploring the hills and valleys of my area.

While I strolled along the streets, I became aware of the houses, the cats in the front windows, the dogs in the yards, the decorations on the front steps of various homes -- sights I rarely notice when I am running by these same locations on my daily jogs. The 3.1 miles seemed much longer but somehow there was so much more to notice, to see, to explore. I listened to the sounds of the highway traffic, the splashes from tires of passing cars, the barking of dogs I could not see. My senses seemed to be heightened.

With each step I took, each place I passed, I felt more invigorated to keep on walking, trying out new streets that I'd never gone down before. What an adventure! My usual half hour jog turned into a two hour exploration! I started thinking about how much more I want out of my life and how easy it really can be to find new ways of thinking and motivating myself to try new methods to achieve those goals.

Needless to say, when I arrived back at my home, umbrella still firmly gripped in my hand, unexpected inspiration in my back pocket and a few new photos snapped for my collection, I felt a little melancholy about leaving the raindrops. I think I'll check the weather forecast and the next rainy day that is predicted, I'll get out my trusty umbrella and go for another stroll.

Until that moment, I'm off to find other activities that will jolt my energy. I hope you all can find some of those same types of joys in your day and weekend!

Think On These Things...

Here it is a Sunday, and it's rather grey outside my window, very calm. It's one of those days where I don't turn on any lights but open all my blinds so it brings the "brightness" of the melancholy day into my apartment. I'm rested, refreshed and ready to take on all the projects that I have set out for myself which include reading, working on a collage, trying out a cleaning home remedy, writing up my bio, and tidying up around my home, amongst a much longer list.

Made pancakes for breakfast, bought two newspapers which I leisurely perused for the better part of the morning, while also tuning into one of my favorite programs, "Sunday Morning" on CBS. I then shut off the TV (I'm one of those rare persons of my generation who does not have cable so there isn't much to watch on a Sunday) and have been listening to my local "oldies" music station, enjoying the likes of Elton John, the Beatles, Harry Nilsson, Simon and Garfunkel as well as many of their classmates, and it's been delightful.

Listening to all this old music has made me nostalgic for simpler days. Days where I dreamed of my future and what it might be like. Who I might be, what I might be doing, and whom might I be doing this with or for? And yet, at an age where I feel like I should have more answers than I do to those questions, I am realizing that those days do not have to be considered days past.

I remember as a child going on family vacations or visits to my grandma's house in Pennsylvania - a six-hour car trek both ways made two, sometimes three times a year - and while we traveled I would listen to the music on the radio and look out the window, dreaming of who I'd be as a "grown up." I always envisioned myself as someone famous. People would love me, they would want to be near me, want to be in my world. I would "rub elbows" with all the "glitterati" of Hollywood, have a posh apartment in a glamorous city, wearing fancy outfits and enjoying luxurious foods, drinks and places that I could only fantasize about in my wonderful imagination.

And as I sit here at my computer, knowing full well that I am not a famous person, I still hope that someday I will fulfill some of those dreams. Perhaps I will become famous in my own time. I will be a famous collage maker or writer.

I do not hang out with anyone from Hollywood (although I do know some people who are published authors and I consider famous) nor do I live in a posh apartment (although it is in a pretty amazing location if I do say so myself) and my world is pretty ordinary. But, that doesn't mean it has to stay this way. It doesn't mean I can't still dream of the future.

Why do we do that? Decide that if those dreams we set out for ourselves as children haven't come to fruition, we must put those dreams aside or on a shelf and settle? I mean, yes, times have changed, responsibilities have changed, but why does the dreaming have to stop? I think we should all keep on dreaming, but also put some hard work behind those dreams to give them a shot of coming true.

Because, before you know it, maybe the "glittery" people will be knocking on my door? In the meantime, I'm going to get back to my to do list AND do some more dreaming.

ShelGee Communications

Hello everyone,

Here's my first announcement to all of you that I'm going to try to start up a little "free" business. My business is going to be called: ShelGee Communications.

Let me explain some details. I'd like to provide my skills: writing, editing, proofreading, event planning, digital photography and blogging to various local businesses or people who need some assistance in these areas. I've got over 7 years of business/marketing communications experience. And while I look for the next career path for myself I'd like to gain more visibility in the local community and help others.

Essentially I'd like to provide free advertorials for small businesses who may not be able to do so on their own, or proofread and edit documents or even write up press releases or other types of collateral that might be needed. I'm providing my services for free as I'm not sure I'm ready to finance a business yet for myself and until I can get myself more established I'd like to offer my services for free.

The best way to contact me is via my email: griffis.shel@juno.com. If you want to pass along this information to anyone you know who might like to utilize my expertise, I'd greatly appreciate it. I don't have a website yet, but hope to figure out how to create one (if anyone has expertise or knowledge on this, I'd TRULY be grateful for the help) so until that time, this is the best way for me to alert and advertise my business and my skills.

Thank you in advance for letting me share this with all of you. I'm excited for this new venture! Have a groovy day!