Joslyn Taylor – Page 5 – A Space for Creative Thoughts to Play

Feels so good to be back!

October 23, 2022 No Comments

Saturday morning, it was still chilly out, but still, I’m happy!

Years ago I was a regular street vendor. It was how I supported myself and my young son at the time. So many doors opened because I met so many people. For example, I met a woman who worked as a teaching artist and her company was looking for employees. We became friendly, and she recommended me. I auditioned, yes it was an audition, and got the position. Fast forward, I stayed there for 5 years.

Vending was and is hard work, but I can honestly say that the good certainly outweighs the bad. I really like it. It was hard feeling isolated during the lockdowns. While I’m not a social butterfly per say, I did miss sweet, lively conversations to be had with others brought together because of a shared interest, plus being online so much was resulting in digital fatigue. And before the pandemic, I was seriously thinking of going back to vending, and to teaching. But it was during the pandemic that I began to make hand bound journals. I’d already had a love for journaling, so thought why not make my own. And while I’m at it, combine the things that I love in one place: paper, fabric, and writing.

So this weekend, I got back into the saddle. I decided to vend at the largest farmers market in Brooklyn, at Grand Army Plaza. It was GREAT! Being around people again, let face it, people watching is an amazing pastime, felt truly exciting and uplifting, I felt alive. Talking to folks, looking at their very cute pooches, and getting feedback for my work made for a really beautiful day. And if the day couldn’t get better, my terrific partner drove me there and kept me company the whole day. I’m truly blessed.

There’s a reason I so admire the quote from Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” For awhile, I just couldn’t seem to get out of my own way, taking just that first step seemed so insurmountable, but of course, it was just in my head. I dedicated a page of my zine to that quote, it’s just that important to me. So, I took that chance, starting where I was, using what I had, and with that, doing what I could. To expect more from ourselves is to set unrealistic goals, and a setup for failure. When we follow the advice of that quote, we keep the faith, most importantly, the faith in ourselves. When I was in my own way, I’d lost faith in myself, and one has to wonder that if you’ve lost faith in YOURSELF, how can you expect others have it for you?

Until next time,

Jos

Jossy Creates

Zines!

October 20, 2022 2 Comments

In the process of cutting and folding my zine

Why a zine? Because art is a form of communication, this small piece of DIY published work can convey your thoughts, display your latest achievement, all the while having great control doing so. Social media and digital footprints will always have its place, but having something tangible, something to hold, admire, and save I think is fundamental to us as a people. When I know that someone has put time and effort into an item, such as a small painting from an independent artist, I find myself cherishing it, in part because I can keep and hold it.

Making zines has been a great experience for me, a real pleasure, and seeing what others have designed is also pretty awesome. Let’s hope that zines continue to have a place in our lives, long live the zine!

Jos

Jossy Creates

My Journal, My Friend

October 19, 2022 No Comments

The journal I’m currently working in, built by me, using vintage book covers

Journaling has become incredibly popular as of late, but I noticed that a good amount of those who start a journal would begin to lose interest. They felt guilty for not writing as much as they think they should, missing days, or weeks even, and just letting it fall even off the back burner. I also think that the media shows these beautifully appointed journal pages that are impossible to recreate for most people, making them feel as if they will never measure up, so why bother…? That’s such a shame, because I think the issue is perspective. I don’t see my journal as a chore, but view it as a friend, confidant, personal assistant, and portable art gallery. I love my journals. I keep track of my days, share my thoughts with no judgement, draw, paint, and collage, and best of all free my mind of information overload by just jotting stuff down. My journal posts can be anywhere from just a few lines to a few pages, depending on the way the wind blows that day. I too am guilty of not adding on a daily basis. Sometimes days, weeks, or more go by and I haven’t written or drawn a thing. But honestly, during that time, I’ll realize that I’m kinda miserable. Too many thoughts swirling in my head, too much to remember, not giving myself enough me time to create art, and generally feeling a bit overwhelmed. My journals have become a low cost, yet high yield device that ultimately allows me to feel calm and comforted. I feel a tremendous sense of happiness and well-being just knowing that my journal is near by. And this is the thing: my journal is for me, not for anyone else, unless I choose to share it.

Just some of my journals…from the top, only 4 and 5 are store bought, the 2nd one is an altered vintage book, the rest are built by yours truly

My writing doesn’t have to be perfect, just honest. And by keeping it as simple, or as complex, as I want it, it becomes a little world that I have management over, in world that increasingly seems out of our hands. My journal doesn’t scold me for not getting everything done on my to do list that day, I work out issues that may seem a little too large at the moment, and experiment with art ideas and techniques. As Martha Stewart has said, “It’s a good thing.”

A portion from a collage page from the journal I’m currently working in

A cross section of journals that I’ve made that I will be selling. I call them Patchwork Journals because I love fabric and do a lot of sewing. Patchwork and piecing in particular.

If journaling has let you down in the past, reconsider. Perhaps a fresh mindset is in order. Remember, there’s no pressure, a journal is for you.

Jos

Jossy Creates

My First Zine and a Letter to My Younger Self

October 17, 2022 No Comments

Have you ever wondered if you’ve become the person that would make your younger self proud? If you have the opportunity to write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? I would tell my younger self to be prepared, there are going to be experiences that will test you, that will break your heart, bring you unbelievable joy, and plunge you into deep despair. But through it all, you will not only survive, but thrive many times over. Always believe in yourself, listen to your heart, because you are an amazing creative. Your instincts, your talents, and your ability to make magic will be your saving graces, they will be the tools that define you, and thus the stuff that can never be taken away.

There will be those that that will want to tear you down, sadly by folks that are supposed to love you, to care and cherish you, leaving you confused and in a dark place. But listen carefully to what I’m about to say because it will save your life: it has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with their own damaged, chaotic, and unfulfilled bitter lives. They will do everything to chip away at your self-worth, but please remain steadfast, I’m counting on you.

Allow your love of art to grow and flourish. Foster and tend to it like a beloved garden, and in turn it will bear the fruits that will feed your inner self, your very soul. Think of this as a love letter, in the purest sense, I want to see you become the person you were truly meant to be. Your inner compass is so much better than you think, trust and follow it.

Jos