I thought I'd jump in and talk about my process now that I finally have an idea. I don't know exactly how I came around to my design process but I am sure it's born a little out of my lack of art education and, frankly, artistic ability. I identify myself more as a craftsperson than an artist. I master skills easy. Design is much harder. Of course that's the reason that I join challenges like this. I'll never learn if I don't try!
I also have to respect my personality. I am not a "swath of color" person. I live in the details and I'm very happy there. I have tried to be the abstract artist and have realized that's it's just not me. I admire people that can do interpretative art but it's not me. I'll buy that art! I'll never make it.
For this challenge I started almost the same as Sue. I rarely sketch simply because I can't draw. I rely on words and rules. I started with the words. I made lists of other words that relate to initiative.
Then I was overwhelmed.
Then one day in my "idea chamber", shower, I realized that initiative meant to do SOMETHING! That's when my whole though process changed gear and I started to think about what I wanted to get from this process and what kinds of techniques I wanted to explore.
I decided that I wanted to try to do this entire challenge as a related series. That means that there's a technique that I want to explore through each challenge and that will be the basis for all of my pieces. My challenge will be to build and develop on that technique.
..and that's where I am now! I will not start construction until Christmas break but I've known all along that would be the situation. Now you all know what I will be doing Christmas and New Year's weekend!