My Creative Muse Out of the Box

Most people have a passion in life, something that they react to or interact with exuberantly. Some may call it their calling, others their gift. My passion is creativity. It is my favorite activity or topic, and I find it in most parts of life. So, when this year's "Out of the Box" call for artists went out (a benefit for the Akron Area Arts Alliance,) I wanted my piece to be about my creative passion. Creativity for me is something that definitely cannot be boxed in, and because it is all around, my creative muse would definitely be bursting "out of the box."

Many visual artists go through phases in their careers as new inspirations or techniques are experienced and learned. The majority of my career has been as a graphic designer exploring and working in the fields of print and web design. In my daily work, creativity is what drives me, however process management and technical production often replace hands-on creativity. My goal to be working on a creative project helps me to stay focused on even the most mundane of tasks. I now feel the term graphic artist would fit me better. I've found a desire to add to my design skills interpreting emotions and concepts by incorporating photography and art and craft techniques into collage. After a few years producing a few collages, I am definitely still at the beginning stages of this phase.

All creative endeavors are fueled by a need or desire. Some call this their inspiration or their muse. For me, my muse is my faith. I feel people may be missing God’s point, the point to life and the wonder of the things in front of them. To me faith does not have to be shouted about from a megaphone nor hidden to promote a politically correct agenda. My faith is all encompassing, a part of everyday life, and is finding a voice through creativity. Concepts that are hard to put into words, I can envision and interpret as a collage. My piece titled My Creative Muse Out of the Box is an example of that interpretation.

Using mixed media, My Creative Muse Out of the Box's goal is to be both visually engaging and to read like a story with a focus on spreading creativity. The symbolism of the dove on the soapbox is like the Holy Spirit, my faith inspiring me to spread creativity. The soapbox itself is a symbol, as I often get “on my soap box” about the importance of creativity. The word “create” bursts out of the box wrapped in an ethereal haze. The escape button is what creativity is to me, an escape. The largest focus on the collage is the angel praying with her gaze pointed upward. This image, taken at a local cemetery is visually interesting and peaceful to me.

This collage reads like a story, my creativity story. I hope whoever ends up winning the piece at auction, finds within this piece their own Muse story.

*Photograph: My Creative Muse Out of the Box by Janet Pahlau