Even if you're the creative sort, there are times when it's hard to come up with something to make. There are days when you just feel kind of blah and nothing seems inspiring.
On days like that, what do you do?
Many artists, like Ruby Silvious, beat those "blahs" by making a challenge for themselves. A daily challenge is a great way to keep the creativity flowing, and many artists find that they end up surprising even themselves with what they manage to make, like the artist who folded a paper crane every day for a year — with some creative twists.
Ruby, who loves tea, decided to give her used tea bags new life by carefully emptying them of the tea leaves, letting them dry, and painting on them. At the beginning of this year, she challenged herself to make one every day — and she's been going strong all year!
Now past the 300-day mark, her yearlong project is almost at an end. Here's a look at some of the incredible, tiny paintings she's made.
(h/t: BoredPanda)
Using tea bags in all different shapes and sizes, Ruby creates tiny images on each one. She paints, draws, and collages to create her images.
She takes her inspiration from just about anywhere, including nature, news, family, and more.
Sometimes the bags tear, but that's okay. These imperfections make them more unique, and sometimes even inspire an image!
Sometimes she references classic works of art...
... and sometimes she creates images anyone can relate to!
For such a tiny, fragile surface, Ruby can achieve an impressive level of clarity and detail.
Using differently shaped tea bags, like these round 'pod' kinds, also informs the images and creates a whole new feeling.
While most people might throw a used tea bag away, Ruby sees the potential for beauty in each one.
'The used tea bag is not very attractive,' Ruby admits. 'But while you may see a soggy, stained tea bag, I see a blank canvas.'
Each tiny painting is completely unique, and the unusual medium and small sizes make it the perfect challenge.
She just lets her creativity take her where it may, and the results are beautiful.
'People have this notion of what traditional art should be,' she explains. 'I think reimagining the discarded as art inspires new forms of creativity.'
