Finding a Creative Spark: Cardboard Creations And Art Adventures...

In this video I share what i'm up to in my art practice and how I'm painting on cardboard to create temporary collages. After any break or pause in art making, I always feel the need to kindle the flame a little, to poke around the embers, to build back my creative momentum and mojo. When we talk about creativity we often use fire analogies. Stoking the flame, igniting the spark, finding what lights our fire... Finding inspiration for our art is a little like tending to the hearth fire. Ideas develop when they are given enough air and enough fuel, nurtured and stoked. So in this video I take you with me as I play about with cardboard, cut outs and paint… sometimes low stakes, low expectation, low pressure exercises are just the thing to reignite my creativity and get me excited about making and creating again…
The large sketchbook is an A3 sketchbook from a British brand called Daler Rowney and the paint I'm using to paint the cardboard is a heavy body acrylic paint from a brand called Sennelier.
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[@wendytaylor5247]

Tonight,I called to my Husband"Helens got a new Video",he watches them with me now,you are a big hit in our House🤩

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh wow! Wendy. I feel famous. What a lovely thing, thank you to you and your hubby for your enthusiasm and encouragement. Love Helen x

[@vanessarobinson1080]

😂@wendy!

[@CathSheard]

Love the archeology analogy… makes sense to me.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that’s great. Thank you so much x

[@nmickey100]

Inspiring! Love all the layers and variation when you are folding and moving things around it is like an endless composition with endless possibilities.

[@knittabhavana]

Another inspired approach to art making, Helen, thanks for sharing! (Hurries off to the recycling bin…)

[@lorrainesaliba5469]

Hi sweet Helen ! What a joy it is to see you again as vibrant and exciting as ever ! Your presence always makes me smile and sit up and get glued to my iPad to see what you have in store for us ! I am never ever disappointed as your energy vibes really get me worked up to grab my stuff and create! I am forever collecting cardboard from pasta boxes to packaging and my kids call me a crazy hoarder but I see it as a waste to chuck them out ! I always cut them out neatly into squares or rectangles but seeing you use them in their original quirky shapes WOW you are simply magic sweet Helen ! I could hug you if I could so I will just give you a virtual hug 🤗 ❤You just fill my soul with colour and energy so a massive Thank You ! I wish you and your husband the very best of health, love and happiness for this New Year and for You tons of creative moments ! Love always….Lorraine ❤️🤗🥰🎨🙏🏼😁🙌

[@thebellaluna]

Welcome back, Helen! Happy New Year! Thanks for the ideas! :D

[@monicalfd]

What a lovely surprise to see a new video from my favorite youtube artist! Cardboard collage. What a wonderful way to play with shape, color, and composition! I can do this! ❤ Thank you for the inspiration.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Thank you so much Monica. That’s an amazing compliment thank you so very much. I really appreciate it. Love Helen x

[@alison64able]

Happy new year lovely Helen. Thank you for inspiring me. I am about to do line with my year 4 children. I am going to use your idea to create a class collage. Will send you a pic. 😊

[@alisonpickard-is7oc]

So joyous. Happy New year!

[@lynnimes5577]

What a treat to see my very favorite youtube artist! It truly brightens my day when I get to see you and enjoy your creative ideas. I think reusing the cardboard is a fabulous idea and one I am going to try. Your artwork gets my creative juices flowing. I adore your use of color, it is so energizing and happy. I look forward to seeing more of you in 2024. I hope your year is filled with peace and lots of art!!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Wow that’s such a lovely compliment, I’m honoured. Thank you so much Lynne you are very lovely. Happy creating. Love Helen x

[@jdevereux9155]

Happy New Year Helen Nice to see you back ❤ Great start to the year 🎉

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year to you!! Thank you so much for your positive wishes, hope you have a great creative year. Love Helen x

[@vanessahanley264]

Hi Helen, You made my morning in my little attic studio way brighter.I love this idea....Off to search my recycling bin.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Wonderful! What a lovely response. You are very kind. Happy creating. Love Helen x

[@alice_the_voyager999]

Brilliant! Love this thank you for sharing!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh I’m so pleased. Thank you x

[@junemaguire5053]

Oh my goodness Helen you have some great ideas thank you so much for sharing them with us all.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

That’s lovely of you June. Thank you so much 😊

[@dianadee23]

Great idea , Helen. Def a good way to get back into arting 😊

[@HelenWellsArtist]

It really is! Thank you so much Diane. Love Helen x

[@jlm517rocks]

what a great idea...

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Glad you think so! Thank you for your kindness... Love Helen x

[@Verna-tm9mk]

Nice to see you again!! Good idea!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Thank you so much. Glad you liked it. Wishing you a creative 2024. Helen x

[@janetdowns9533]

Welcome back. Happy new year. Great ideas with the cardboard Helen. I have an empty cereal box to try this on !

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year I hope 2024 is all you want it to be Janet! Happy creating. Love Helen x

[@meghanrozmus1419]

Happy New Year, Helen! This was such a fun art video! PS. Your necklace is so unique!🧡

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year!! Thank you Megan. My necklace is made from an old silver sixpence, made my a lovely jewellery maker local to me Rachel Pearson www.rachelpearsonjewellery.co.uk

[@Old-schoolBroad]

Third video I'm watching. (only discovered you tonight). I love how you don't scare beginners or intermediates away. It's all explorative and exciting. As it should be.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are so welcome here…thank you for that lovely feedback. Happy creating! Love Helen x

[@Old-schoolBroad]

@@HelenWellsArtist ❤

[@MsRealityrocks]

Thank you once again for the inspiration! 😊💓😊

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting. Love Helen xx

[@gailwhitter3293]

Inspiring video my friend. Wishing you all the very best in 2024.❤❤❤❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Ah Thank you! You too Gail. Happy creating. Love Helen x

[@nancytaplin8026]

Catching up on some videos and i loved this one. The colours and the shapes and all the patterns - just fantastic. I love the idea of painting on shapes and making temporary collages as well, another thing to add to the list of things to try. I particularly liked the piece you painted on both sides, the folding over of flaps creating different juxtapositions of shape, colour and pattern. Love love love ❤️ thank you!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh what an ace reaction Nancy! Thank you so very much x

[@LittleFrenchHen]

Oh happy new year! I hope you had a restful break. I love this idea because I had great plans to "make fabulous art in 2024" which of course puts enormous pressure on me, before a paintbrush is even lifted! So I have rummaged in the bin and rescued some squashed boxes to play and have fun with. feel like I'm 5 again, haha! :)

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year!! Yes often I think it’s better to have an ambition of ‘make some art’ and see where it takes you. Happy creating! Love Helen x

[@SimoneWhippArtist]

You look lovely in Blue Helen! When you were mixing up your coloured shapes, at one stage it made me think of venice - I don't know why! For your next class, you could call it digging for treasure! x

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Love that! Thank you so much Simone. Wishing you a super creative year. Love Helen x

[@zinkadu]

I'm going to try that. Thanks👍

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Hope you enjoy it. Thank you. Love Helen x

[@mandybridger4630]

Good to see you back xx ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that’s kind of you. Thank you so much Mandy x

[@lc9902]

You are back! Happy New year Helen. 🎉

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year!! Thank you for your encouragement. Love Helen x

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

Hi Helen 👋 Continuous Blessings for this New Year 2024! I love your idea of recycling cardboard as I have plenty here from bedlinen packaging etc...I was saving the inserts from quilt covers/sheets and the like...my plan was to use them as covers for handmade books. So thank you for this video ❤ look forward to more experimenting and painting! Looks like fun 😁

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Happy new year to you and yours! That’s a super response. Thank you and happy creating! Love Helen x

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

@@HelenWellsArtist ❤💞 oh I received your lovely book as a Christmas gift from my niece Helen 💕 I love it 😊

[@KATIEKATEish]

Love this idea well done Helen

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that’s kind of you Katie. Thank you so much. Love Helen x

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Such a fun and inspiring video.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much Arlene. Helen x

[@wendytaylor5247]

Hi Helen,Happy New Year.Love this new video,like you say,low stakes on cardboard,non of the procastination we all get when we stand infront of that blank canvas.I have used the backing board from Art pads before now,if you gesso them on both sides they dont buckle .Well,heres to lots more of your great videos,and lots more inspiration.x

[@HelenWellsArtist]

It’s great to use up those boards they are often super sturdy. Excellent tip. Thank you for sharing it with us. Love Helen x

[@heidiklietz3902]

Great 🎉🎉🎉

[@HelenWellsArtist]

That’s so lovely of you x

[@vanessarobinson1080]

Hi Helen...Happy New Year to you and your husband! Loving the painted cardboard idea. I bought the a3 sketch book...and am having trouble actually making a mark on the first page! So i think I'll follow your lead here...thank you! X

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You might want to start a few pages in…to get you going. I sometimes scribble some lines on the first few pages just to get over the pristine stage… I like to think of my sketchbook as the perfect place to make a mess, an art play pen where anything goes…have fun and I hope you find your feet with it. Love Helen x

[@rikadehombreux4573]

💖🙏💖😃

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Ah you are super duper kind Rika. Thank you x

[@yolandedickinson-smith3426]

This is so inspiring. I got into a funk with my doodling and just didn't want to. By looking back over my notebooks for symbols or shapes I've used, and looking around me for interesting shapes, it kicked in again. I was in hospital before christmas - very unexciting environment, looked up and saw a lightbulb, I ripped up some random paper I found into a shape of the bulb, and just drew around it in my sketchbook, over and over. It broke that hump. Love your videos @prae.duco

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that’s kind of you Yolande. And it’s so true, sometimes the most simple or innocuous thing can be just what we need to get going or point us in the right direction. Wishing you every success with your creating. Love Helen x