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Mary Anne Wise

Use three simple techniques to help you become your own teacher. Approach this process with a childlike sense of play, and work it until you find your own unique approach.

Technique 1: Have confidence in your artistic sight. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’m not an artist. I don’t have anything to say.”? Many people believe artists were born with a special voice, but this belief is a myth. To paraphrase writer William Stafford, an artist is not so much someone who has something to say as someone who has found a process to discover new things. Just as you learn a technique, you can train your artistic eye.

Application of the Technique: Start by creating a visual reference notebook. Think of this notebook as your own personal clip art file. If you had to tell the story of your life using icons, what would those images look like?

To read this complete article, please see the November/December 2009 issue of Rug Hooking magazine.