Kelly Rae Roberts - Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings

Table of Contents

Taking Flight. Copyright 2008 by Kelly Rae Roberts.

Manufactured in Singapore. All rights reserved. The written instructions, photographs, designs, patterns and projects in this volume are intended for the personal use of the reader and may be reproduced for that purpose only. Any other use, especially commercial use, is forbidden under law without the express written permission of the copyright holder. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote a brief passage in review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Roberts, Kelly Rae,

Taking flight : inspiration and techniques to give your creative spirit wings / Kelly Rae Roberts.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-60061-082-0

1. Creative ability. 2. Inspiration. I. Title. BF408.R515 2008

153.35--dc22

2008002066

Editor: Jessica Strawser
Designer: Marissa Bowers
Production Coordinator: Greg Nock
Photographers: Ric Deliantoni and Christine Polomsky
Stylist: Jan Nickum

METRIC CONVERSION CHART

Winged Family, an assemblage by my dear husband, John. Its constructed from an old piece of molding, a vintage doorknob and metal shaped rings.

Dedication

To my husband, John, who knew, well before I did, what I could do. Without a doubt, you have taught me how love unearths the best parts of ourselves.

Id also like to dedicate this book, and the experience of putting it together, to the spirit of Possibility, how it gracefully enters our lives and gives us a chance to see our own potential. What a remarkable, life-changing thing.

Gratitude

I have deep, deep gratitude for the people in my life who have encouraged me to discover my own creative spirit. To my mom, whose passion for decorating and whimsy created an early appreciation for all things design, color and fun. Thank you, too, for your unending enthusiasm for me as I made my way into this creative life. To Greggie, for your quiet confidence in me all of these years. You have been a beacon of calm in a sometimes crazy life. To my sister, Jennifer: Your art of poetry, song and gentle assemblages have inspired me beyond words, but none more than your heart. Thank you for your sisterhood, which feels deep and wide. To Tonia, who asked me to write this book: How will I ever express my gratitude to you for birthing a dream I didnt even know I had? There are people who, without ever knowing it, help to change the trajectory of our lives. You are one of those people in my life. To Jessica, my editor extraordinaire, who inspires me to be fun and sassy while still being professional. You do it all and you do it incredibly well, my friend. This book is richer because of you! To everyone at North Light Books: You all are dream makers in the flesh, talented souls whose creative visions have made this experience a living dream. Thank you. To my collective circle of family and friends who are too many to name, but whose hearts live inside mine. You know who you are. I cannot thank you enough for the endless conversations, the tears, the support, the a-ha! moments. I am very clear on the fact that you all have been the whispers of my life, nudging me along to the most honest parts of myself. Thank you.

About the Author

Kelly Rae Roberts grew up in rural northern Florida, where she jumped off docks into the Santa Fe Lake with her German shepherd every day after school. As a child, she lived for eating fried chicken every Sunday afternoon, fishing with an old, tattered piece of bamboo, and playing checkers with her then-eighty-five-year-old granddad. Amidst the winding dirt roads of her hometown, Kelly experienced the joy and complexity of life and, like her mother and sister, turned to creative outlets as a way to express her experiences. Kellys first memory of her creative girts being recognized stems from the third grade, when she won a poster contest about dental hygiene that came with a twenty-five-dollar reward, which she promptly used to purchase a Walkman (so she could listen to Michael Jackson and Olivia Newton Johnit was 1983, after all!).

In 1985, Kellys family moved to Jacksonville, where she attended middle and high school. Later, she attended college at Florida State University, majoring in something practical: social work. In 1999, she met her husband, John, and they set off to begin a life together in Portland, Oregon. There Kelly eventually took up running, which mysteriously led her to discover the confidence and passion to pursue a longtime impractical dream: to become an artist.

Kelly has had several articles published in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and has also been featured in many mixed-media books by her peers. Her artwork is collected worldwide, and she is consistently accepted to show at galleries and juried art festivals across the United States. Recently, she entered a variety of long-term licensing agreements that will showcase her work nationwide on cards, journals, magnets, calendars and decorative wall art. Combining her love of art with more than ten years of experience as a clinical social worker, Kelly is skilled at helping others reach for the best parts of themselves, both artistically and personally, in various workshop and art retreat settings, as well in her published articles and musings on her blog.

In essence, Kelly is an artist, social worker and all-around lover of life and people who seeks to express a sense of vitality and connectedness in her creations. Having spent most of her life in the company of women, her pieces grow out of the kindred support she has felt from many of them throughout her life. She is infinitely grateful for the spirits of these women who walk with her, in flesh or in paint, on her incredible journey into art, love and life. Learn more about her at www.KellyRaeRoberts.com, or visit her blog at www.KellyRaeRoberts.blogspot.com.

Winged Promise, 10 x 10 (25cm x 25cm) mixed media on canvas. In creating this painting, I was inspired by the idea that the promise of flight and creative possibility exists within all of us, that we are born for the journey.