I can’t contribute to the writing contest at Creative Portal because I don’t live in the US. The title of the contest is true genius and you can send in submissions until 15th of March, it should be a short essay (200-300 words) describing a time when you felt the genius of creative inspiration. And haven’t we all felt that, one time or another?

I got inspired by the title…

Hemlighetsfull krlek (copyright Hanna Andersson) Nytt blod str?mmar in i hj?rtat (copyright Hanna Andersson)

My Own True Genius

by Hanna Andersson

I am on my bed, collage papers, ephemera, crayons and glue stick spread out all around me and on all sides of me. I’m surrounded by creative materials and inspiration but it’s the creative force within that makes me forget about time, not the material. Nothing here is expensive or fancy. I am creating my art on cardboard recycled from pizza boxes.

I don’t have a big studio, at this time in my life I don’t even have a proper desk to work on… And still I am getting into the flow and hours pass by. I notice I need to go the bathroom but I don’t want to get up right now, just this little dot here first…

K?ra gamla hyggliga sj?l (copyright Hanna Andersson)

I sit cross-legged like a meditation yogini for a couple of hours and I notice that my legs hurt but I don’t really want to quit working. I’m creating these collages on square pieces of paper, starting with a collage and adding layer upon layer. I work on one while the other is resting, waiting for me or the universe to figure out what it needs next. It’s the universe who is smiling tonight, and though I know I am the artist it feels like I am also a by-passer. A viewer. And I’m so enjoying the show tonight!

En sorts solig f?rg (copyright Hanna Andersson)

I’m happy, I’m in the flow, I feel confident and without expectations on the result. It’s because my friend called and told me, for the first time, that she likes my art. That she thinks that I know collage and should pursue it. It felt so unexpected to hear that. I don’t know what to do with that information, except let it be more collage art. I’m the goddess of art… and do you want to know how? Not by anything else except my inner most feeling. It’s because tonight I feel like an artist.

I feel the artist within.

I think I could’ve win the contest, don’t you? Just by the pure energy I feel when I look at these collages. Hehe.

These are the art pieces mentioned in my portion control post last week when I created in my altered book. I’m posting this as part of the crusade too, because in some of these there are lots of portion control (half hidden symbols and patterns). Especially in the red one above, look again. See all those circles?

Here are two pieces that I shot before paint and after, just for fun:

Before painting (copyright Hanna Andersson)
Collage before….

Penelopes r?tter
…and after

Before painting (copyright Hanna Andersson)
Before painting (2)….

A st?r f?r alligator (copyright Hanna Andersson)
…after painting (2).

I’m going to list all of these Art Collages on my darling Etsy Shop during next week. If you would like to know when, please join my Newsletter! Thanks.

Have a great weekend, and remember, you can be an art goddess too. It’s not about what you create, but how you feel while doing it!