Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Change Your Perspective, Change Your World


In the Phantom Tollbooth (one of my favorite books), Milo meets Alec Bing -- a boy his age, who was born with his head at the height it will be when he's an adult.  He grows down, not up.


Because of the way he grows, Alec has a very specific point of view.  He thinks it must be very confusing to live in Milo's world; Since Milo is growing from the ground up, his point of view keeps changing. 


I'm so grateful for the ability to look at things from a fresh perspective.  In fact, when I am irritated by someone or troubled by a situation, the first thing I try to do is shift my point of view.  If you change your perspective, you can change your experience of the world.


As one of my teachers once said, "the best way to get rid of an irritating person in your life is to stop being irritated.  Be compassionate instead."


This mini-canvas was made using lots of techniques for texture -- molding and fiber paste, glass bead gel, embossing powder, gesso, gel medium ....  Here's a fast forward of how I created it.  I hope you enjoy it!


Linking to the wonderful blog hops at Paint Party Friday and Art Journal Everyday, as well as the challenges at City Crafter (color palette - peach and rose),  Eclectic Paperie (use gel medium), and  Our Creative Corner (anything goes)

I so appreciate you stopping by! Please leave a few words to let me know you were here.  I will answer any questions as quickly as I can.
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55 comments:

  1. I love this canvas. I must read that book-i need a trash perspective right about now so you must have made this canvas for me :-)

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  2. I like this video because you showed us so many great techniques. And I love the Heart, too. Thank You, Jessica!

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  3. Beautiful! I always enjoy your tutorials. They are PACKED with ideas. Thanks for sharing them!
    Raine

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  4. Hi Jessica, I thoroughly enjoyed your video! Really love the techniques you showed, especially the one with the fibre paste for the flowers and leaves - the paste creates an amazing result. Thank you for joining in at Our Creative Corner. Anne x

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  5. Apologies, I also meant to say that your canvas is beautiful and I love the little background story too. A x

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  6. Your canvas is just beautiful, Jessica!
    Thanks for sharing your ideas with us and putting them in video-tutorials.
    Also your thoughts inspired me, thanks a lot!

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  7. What a great post and a beautiful canvas! Thank you so much for playing at CCCB

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  8. This is beautiful Jessica, I love that you take us through your steps and how to do it all. Thanks so much and the meaning behind it is beautiful.

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  9. Hey, girlfriend... another great piece of art. Loved watching your techniques. Love the fiber paste leaves.

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  10. Beautiful friend, shifting one's point of view and adding compassion to that new view, how marvelous. Love the flower blooming in the heart! xox

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  11. What a stunning and creative canvas WOW!! So glad you joined us this week at CCCB :-)

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  12. I really enjoyed watching such a creative process in your video Jessica. Lots of tips and ideas there to try - I especially like the heart and the flower, oh and the dots down the sides! Thanks so much for sharing it and for joining Our Creative Corner. Margie x

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  13. Very interesting and beautiful blog!! I'm following you now!! Kisses.

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  14. What a great canvas you ended up with! Just beautiful with all the colors and textures! I love your lesson about perspective too! I'll have to find that book for my grandkids! Thanks for joining us at eP!

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  15. this is a fabulous post... and the artwork complements your words perfectly... awesome...xx

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  16. Super!Talent just drips from your fingers! Thanks for the video!

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  17. Oh...all the yummy texture and layers. Just want to touch it! BEAUTIFUL!

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  18. Thank you so much for joining the Our Creative Corner challenge this time with your amazing canvas, not least because I have learned so much from your video! You've pushed me over the edge on that glass bead medium now you've shown it in all it's glory. Hugs, Jenny x

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  19. BEAUTIFUL ! I love the rose and the entire painting. HPPF !

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  20. Great video with lots of awesome texture techniques!!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  21. Thank you for the tutorial on your beautiful piece! I love the foil flower and the paste leaves! Changing perspective message was needed today. Thank you Jessica! HPPF!!

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  22. oodles of fun layers Jessica-great color choices too!! The perspective on looking at things is so true. I know I need reminders now and then. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Beautiful canvas Jessica, loving the fab textures and colours. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  24. As always, beautiful and informative! I love your blog Jessica.

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  25. Wow, Jessica. Your canvas is so gorgeous. The sheen is obvious on a 2D screen. How wonderful! And your philosophy would change the world if everyone ascribed to it.

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  26. so fun! thank you for sharing so many great ideas to use! love the way it turned out.

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  27. Lovely! I really enjoyed the video and thanks for the tip on the fiber paste being peelable... did NOT know that!

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    1. Just remember to spread it on the shiny side of freezer or deli paper! Or the shiny side of the foil... and then once it's really dry, you'll be able to peel it off!

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  28. great video tutorial. i'm always tempted to try new products but not always sure how to apply them. your piece turned out beautifully!

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  29. Loved the video and how your piece turned out. Must be great to have all those products to use. We have a limited range of materials here in NZ, not the population base I suppose to encourage companies to export. So I will continue to drool wishfully over all that yumminess.

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    1. Hi Sharon -- I found this video on You Tube about how to make your own modeling paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTVb0e9GFJY I watched it and it seems like a pretty good recipe! Here's one on making glass bead gel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL9O2Qm_UIA. Instead of mica powder, you can always use a metallic paint for painting... Here's a recipe for making your own fiber paste: http://www.ehow.com/how_8459494_make-fabric-paste-adhesive.html. The Golden product is actually made with mineral fiber, which makes it very durable, but you might get a similar texture with the ehow recipe. I've never tried any of these, but you never know!!

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  30. OMG, love that canvas and loved your video. Right from the start, loved how you taped the two tags together to cut the heart. (It was one of those duh me moments as in how come I haven't thought of that :-) ) Love all the different mediums you used. Thanks so much for playing along with the eTeam in our eTeam Picks Challenge.

    xoxo

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  31. oh...thank you for this...I took a class with you, about a month ago, and some of these steps got mixed up in my head...so this is like a mini review....I really appreciate it.

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  32. Jessica,
    Thank you - I love your video- what an amazing canvas you created ! Dorthe-xo

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  33. That book sounds like fun, I'll have to try and find it. Very original way of thinking .... Your canvas looks wonderful. thnx for the video!

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  34. You had a very wise teacher...and it sounds like you were listening! Wonder how many people heard that teacher say those words and remembered them? Probably not many unfortunately. Loved the message in this post. :) Happy Weekend

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    1. Thanks Lesley - His name is Lama Marut. Here's a link to one of his talks where he talks about having compassion even for those who annoy or harm us. http://aci-la.org/PODCASTS/Marut297.mp3.

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  35. Thanks so much for sharing...love this piece the words the video, everything!!

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  36. You are such a fabulous Artist, but your motivational speaking is super duper as well! Love this post and so true! I tell my kids this all the time...put yourself in their shoes...lol! This canvas is FABULOUS!!! Love like you quilted it...your process is just amazing! UBER GORGEOUS! PINNING!

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  37. This is such a terrific inspirational piece!! I agree and often do the exact same thing. When things go wrong I question my perspective and ask myself lots of questions!! Great post!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  38. Gorgeous piece of art full of colour, energy and texture. Loved reading your post too. Thanks so much for joining us at Our Creative Corner this time. Juliax

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  39. Wow Jessica, that's a stunning canvas! Loved watching your video, so great to see how you created the canvas. And funny book, so true as well. Thank you so much for joining us at CCCB. Hugs and happy day, Wendy

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  40. What a beautiful project.....

    Sweet memories too - I read that book to my middle son and we both hugely enjoyed it :)

    Karen x

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  41. Great tutorial video with lots of interesting techniques and a fantastic results. Thanks for sharing:)

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  42. This is so gorgeous! Love the vivid colours and the beautiful texture! Thanks for sharing this with us at Our Creative Corner - Love from Laura xxx

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  43. I hadn't heard that before, I had heard 'change your attitude.' This makes much more sense. Thank you. I love the canvas and thanks for including what you used. . .I'm still learning. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  44. PS: great video. Thanks. Blessings, Janet

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  45. what a wonderful way to start me day, thank you for all you do!!

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  46. Fabulous project! It just is so beautiful - lots of pretties to look at! Thanks so much for sharing and playing with eP too! :)

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  47. Stunning project..gorrrgeous colors and textures oooh and a video..love watching your tutorials Jessica!!
    Thanks you for playing along on the eP blog.
    Hugs
    Tracy
    xoxo

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