PoppyRow

Okay, today we are going to take a break from the “Hosting Your Own Show” series for something fun. Because I’ve had some positive response to the idea of a group assignment posed a few posts ago, I decided that on the first of each month, I would post a themed project idea. At the end of the month, everyone can email me the image (not a massive file size please!) to be posted on PoppyRow, and can therefore be critiqued by fellow readers. Don’t be scared about the critique idea- I have earlier posts about this concept, and it will help you mature faster as an artist than you would otherwise within a vacuum.

I realize this blog is still a baby, and I may not get a huge level of participation early on. Nonetheless, I am VERY excited about this and wanted to dive right in! I also want your project ideas. We’ll only do one a month, so don’t feel badly if your suggestion doesn’t get used right off the bat. I’m hoping everyone will see this fun challenge as an opportunity to stretch themselves to think outside of the box.

Some of the best springboards for my artistic development came from college professors posing interesting dilemmas for artistic creativity. Often I would be completely frustrated, thinking “How could they want me to create something out of THAT concept?!” But after much contemplation and pondering, I would inevitably have a brainstorm that not only fulfilled that assignment, but meant something. And I truly believe that no matter your level of experience, your art should aspire beyond the aesthetic into a realm that speaks to your viewers, or your readers if you write, or your listeners if your art is audible.

Enough of the soapbox! Since it was the topic that started it all, the theme is going to be “Tea”.

I am a tea drinker, a tea snob, really. I don’t drink tea in bags (unless I bag it myself), I brew it at the proper temperature set to a timer, and fuss about the clarity if its over a day old. I love so many kinds of tea and there are quite a few types ranging from classic and flavored black, green, white, rooibos, oolong, and herbal. Within each of those exists a myriad of flavor choices. To me, it is calming to steep a pot of tea, and soothing to drink, hot or iced.

So, for me, as well as many others, tea is more than a beverage, it’s an experience. I would love for you to consider this challenge carefully, no matter if you paint, knit, or write poetry, and come up with whatever moves you. If this makes you think, good! You will be surprised with what you come up with, I guarantee it!