Karen OBrien - Imaginary Characters

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This book is dedicated to the child in all of us.

In folktales, curiosity is a trait that can get a girl in a lot of trouble. That thought has never dampened my enthusiasm for playing, taking risks and asking what if? There is a close link between curiosity and creativity. I see it as a circle: If you are curious and allow yourself to play, then the more you discover and the more creative you get by solving problems. This leads back to curiosity again and then back to play.

My approach to art is to let go of expectations, to dive in and see what happens. This is how I am teaching myself to make better art. I am on a quest, seeking something that sparks my creativity and keeps me coming back to the studio. I am searching for information that will make my art better, more unique and more fun to do.

Each time I buy a new book on art techniques, I am weak with anticipation over the possibilities within the pages. I am not alone in this quest for inspiration and a fresh or unusual approach to creating art; you are probably right there with me. We are a community of questers, those in search of the magic that comes from creating something from your heart. We are also a community of storytellers. We tell our stories through words and pictures every day. We use social media, take pictures, share special moments online, interact with others during the course of the day. We notice the smell of the ocean, a little girl with red sneakers and the sound of wind in the trees.

Each little fragment of information is a source of inspiration and a potential story unfolding. These fragments are part of what I call my urban landscape, a fusion of what I observe, dream and imagine every day. I nurture this landscape by collecting these scraps of ideas. I write things down, take pictures and add them to my sketchbook. Most important, I try to be present and notice as much as I can, recording the ideas in my memory, so theyll be ready to spill out into my art.

Chapter Keys

Our Tale: Each chapter has a new section of story. Follow along with the tale of the girl in the red shoes as she learns new skills and tries exciting new mixed-media projects.

Chapter Treasure: At the beginning of each chapter, youll find a list of treasures. These are the things youll learn while exploring and creating the projects in the chapter.

There once was a girl with red shoes who lived in a small village. Red shoes are known to have special powers, and these were no different. She wore her shoes to bed, and she dreamed of making things with her hands and using her creativity every day. Her head was filled with thoughts of magical landscapes, creatures, heroes and heroines. Sometimes she felt as if she would burst if she could not make the characters from her imagination come to life. This girl loved her crayons and drew outside the lines in her books, making colorful worlds with pink skies and blue trees. She was told that she needed to follow the rules, to stay in the lines and to color her trees in hues other than blue. Others made fun of her unusual choices and her creative voice started to fade.

One night an enchanted butterfly visited her in her dreams and left a magic key on her pillow. Attached to the key was a tag that said BE CURIOUS! Upon awakening, the girl went to see the village storyteller. The storyteller said, It is a sign that you are ready to go out in the world and find your unique creative voice. All you need to do is wear your magic shoes to bed, and they will take you where you need to go in your dreams. So the girl put the key on a chain around her neck and began planning for her journey of discovery.

Quest Treasure

The first step in the girls journey was to make a list of what she might need to find her creative voice.

The Key: to BELIEVE in locking away doubt and opening the door to possibilities

A Magnifying Glass: to FOCUS on rediscovering curiosity and the beauty of the details

The Spiral Hand: to GROW by gaining confidence through learning new skills

A Heart Locket: to OBSERVE, be present and recognize intuition

Wings: to RISE above challenges and seek a unique path

Now be brave and take the first step in the journey!

Visit createmixedmedia.com/imaginary-characters to discover bonus art.

Our quest begins the way most journeys do: We gather and pack. I challenge you to begin with materials you are most comfortable with and have on hand. When you are considering your ingredients, ask yourself three magical questions:

• What are you seeking? Are you looking for relaxation, play and a little flexing of your creative muscles? Inexpensive supplies may be more approachable. If you want to splurge, I recommend treating yourself to a few artist-grade paints.
• What will you do with your art when it is completed? The answer to this question will play a part in determining the supplies you choose to make a piece. You may be making art for yourself, giving it as gifts or perhaps selling it. If you plan to keep your art, working in an art journal allows for lots of creativity without storage issues. If you are going to gift or sell your art, consider the surfaces you choose. What will be required to assemble your finished product? Will it withstand the rigors of transporting, displaying and storing?