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Eccentric' at Amazon »
Official 'Journal Bliss' Blog Tour Stop Interview with (not-a-shrinking) Violette
By Chris Dunmire
I am so pleased to learn that my favorite eccentric Canadian artist-friend Violette (www.violette.ca) has just published her first book,"Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric" (North Light Books, 2009).
Not to be a know-it-all or anything, but I saw the cusp formings of this book coming a long time ago... like in 2006 when Violette wrote Visual Journaling by the Seat of Your Pants! for the Creativity Portal.
So it's with extreme gladness that I get to be part of Violette's blog tour for "Journal Bliss," not only to help spread the word about this new creative fun, but also to share TWO exclusive excerpts Violette's so generously allowed Creativity Portal to publish and share with the creative community: 1) Doodling and 2) Symbolic Stories.
After you read those, you'll definitely be interested in my follow-up questions to Violette concerning doodles and stories. Weaved within are also questions I'm just plain nosy about.
So, without further ado, i present the...
Small i's, Big Visions Q & A
CD: I love the title of your new book, "Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric." You do eccentric so well. Why is it important that we learn how to 'unleash' this part of ourselves?
V: Thanks Chris — i'm happy you feel i do eccentric well! It's taken me many years to get to the place of acceptance. When i finally did it was akin to uncorking the magic lantern and unleashing the Genie within! Yes i believe that it is important to let out this part of ourselves. We have so much inside us waiting to be unleashed but it's held back due to fear of being
ridiculed. There are so many family and societal constraints which prevent us from following our passion — our hearts. It's time to simply go for it and Embrace it with zest! You'll be much happier for it — and naturally all those around you will benefit greatly from your elevated mood and joy. It has a ripple effect.
CD: I read in one of your blog posts (under "What will the Neighbors Think") about how one of your neighbors was mortified when you chose to paint your house purple a few years ago. What advice do you give to us creatives who struggle with finding balance between conformity vs. being authentic and true to ourselves?
V: Well just like anything, taking babysteps is a good idea. You don't want to fry your circuits or those of the folks in your near vicinity do you! Ha! Adding tiny bits of sass to your wardrobe or your home decor is a good start. If you wear neutral clothing try adding a chartreuse scarf or perhaps several strings of funky coloured beads. Wear mismatched socks in juicy colours — paint one room in your home a happy colour like orange or bright yellow. Rather than plant flowers all in one colour theme experiment by picking every colour possible and create a garden that is a riot of color! If you buy magazines that are the norm stretch yourself and buy some magazines with subject matter that has always fascinated you but that you were afraid to step out of your comfort zone to buy.
You can start small and work your way up to more and more of the authentic YOU! If you are having difficulties deciding what you love then create a Dream Board. Just google "Dream Boards" and you'll come up with how to's on making them. Basically you assemble things that you are attracted to from magazines or your drawings — rip or cut them out. In the center of your board (which is usually 36" x 24") you might put the words — "Things i Love" and then radiating around the phrase add pictures of nature, art, symbols, clothing, decor or whatever you are drawn to. Your Dream board will give you clues to things you might want to add to your life. You may be happily surprised.
CD: In the 'Journal Bliss' Doodle excerpt, and on the subject of 'absentminded doodles', do yours ever reveal an unknown attitude or perspective about a person or situation that you were previously unaware of? Are doodles like "reverse" inkblots?
Oh YES!!!!!!!! My absentminded doodles have led me to make huge shifts in my life. They have shown me when i was severely depressed and blocked — the drawing helped shift my depression. How easily and rapidly the images emerge are an indication of how important the issue is. For example, i created a journal page on "Peace of Mind" and original doodles easily and effortlessly flowed from my pencil since that's something i am always striving for...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...but that is already known...okay once when i was watching a show on TV about psychics with
my pen in hand a doodle emerged. What came out was a soulful looking man with deep eyes. The words next to the doodle were something to the effect of "the eyes are the windows to the soul." I realized then that all i had to do was to really look into people's eyes and i would know and understand what they were about.
As for the simple doodles around the borders of pages, they usually indicate my mood — for example, arrows going off in every direction mean i have no direction. Hearts and flowers usually mean that i am feeling very loving — if i draw a column with a heart on top it usually means that i have elevated "love" as the highest feeling we can obtain. While doodling i don't usually think about these things. It's afterwards when i get out of my right brain and engage the analytical left brain that i realize the meanings behind the doodles. On a more specific level, i drew a picture of a fellow once with horns and realized afterwards that perhaps this person was someone i should avoid in the future.
CD: In your Symbolic Stories excerpt, you shared an anecdote about a
particular "cream-colored ball gown with tulle and extreme poofiness." Where is that gown today?
V: Oh it's hanging up in my closet — it has debuted at a number of parties. Right now it's waiting for me to lose 10 pounds so i can wear it again! There is no sense in getting stuck in it once more! This time it will REALLY get torn! The poofy ball gown is sort of symbolic. It represents glamour, fun and realizing dreams. It is representative of a time in the past — a time that i have enjoyed but am no longer longing for. I have moved on.
CD: What kind of shoes are you wearing to keep up with all these blog tour appearances? And where can my friends get an eccentrically-signed copy of your book?
V: Oh, generally speaking i wear shoes as little as possible, but if i were wearing virtual shoes they would be my magic boots (which i have for real) which are painted in different colours, accented by inspiring words and topped off with a sprinkling of glitter! They would leave a trail of virtual glitter in their wake...as i dance from blog to blog chatting about my passionate journey.
Regarding having my book signed — you'd have to be living near me for that unfortunately. I'll be doing several book signings in my area. Please contact me (through www.violette.ca) and i'll let you know where! [Otherwise, you can order 'Journal Bliss' through Amazon.]
Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me. This has been fun!
CD: You're welcome! Violette. Keep those magic boots on. And thank YOU for sharing your answers and excerpts, and for listing Creativity Portal in your Journal Bliss Resources!
Next Blog on the Tour: My Creative Journey. See the entire tour list here. •
© 2009 Chris Dunmire www.chrisdunmire.com. All rights reserved. |
