Spooky Summer art projects!

It's been a little bit since I have shared some new clay designs I have been working on and I appreciate your patience while I navigated a rather emotionally challenging transition from spring to summer.
Having lost my dad to cancer not even a year ago has definitely made things a bit trickier for me when it comes to balancing life, grief and creativity. I am not the kind of artist who finds myself inspired during difficult times, I am actually more creative and inspired when life is going smoothly. My creative mind comes alive when I'm in a mentally good place and since last September, my grief has become a rather constant battle for me. Sometimes I am doing okay and other times I'm struggling with it. 

Early this May my brother, mom and I drove to my dad's place in Arkansas for a week to spend some time together and honor his memory. We had a very nice time and got to enjoy the beautiful hiking trails and art museum there. We also explored nearby Branson which was a lot of fun. It was however bittersweet at times considering how much we missed my dad, though we knew he was there smiling with us.

When I returned home I fell into a quicksand of grief and found it challenging to create anything or just function normally. I took some time to process it and my family and husband helped me up when I felt ready and I got back on track. 

On a bike ride one afternoon I began to think of things I would be excited to create knowing I didn't want to make the same things I have in the past. I pulled inspiration from the things I enjoy this season like juicy watermelon, cold ice cream on a hot day and festival treats! These ideas sparked my imagination and I started working on them right away! 

I hope you enjoy these new creations and I just want to say thank you again for being patient and understanding with me while I work through my grief. You are truly the best and I appreciate your kindness and support so much! 🥰

Cheers friends!

Crystal