Greta Jónsdóttir

To flourish

Creativity awakened from hibernation

This essay is about my art research, where my personal journey in awakening my creativity from hibernation is in the foreground, as well as researching my own creative process and getting to know myself better as an artist and future teacher.

From a young age I have been fascinated by flowers and had many positive experiences over time involving flowers Flowers have previously appeared as a subject in my work and still call upon me In the theoretical overview, one can find discussion of flowers in historical contexts, their aesthetics and perceptions, along with how flowers have appeared in art Subsequently, the healing effects of flowers and art and especially photography as a means of introspection and healing are scrutinized.

Given that flowers still call upon me as a subject in my artistic creation and also in light of their healing effects, I chose to use them as the material in this study The methods of the art study were autoetnographic Emphasis was placed on the importance of the process itself without pressure for preconceived outcomes A sketch diary played a key role as a tool to keep track of conceptual work and triggers, along with it being used for reflection, as well as to keep track of the process itself The sketch diary was not limited to one specific format; it contained sketches, diary entries, text fragments and photographs Photography was worked with photography as the main medium, emphasizing putting myself in a frame so to all the images where I was actively interacting with the subject and the environment.

Greta with the sculpture Soundlily

During the creative process, two works were created, on the one hand a photo series called Blómalandslag and on the other hand the work Hljóðlilja. At the end, the pedagogical value of individualized processes, such as a sketch diary, is discussed as a method for students to do their own conceptual work and manage their own creative process in the form that suits them at any given time.

The focus of the art study was on studying one's own creative process and raising the creative power out of hibernation It succeeded and is all that was created in the process a success in itself and part of its outcome.

Instructors: Ingimar Ólafsson Waage and Rakel McMahon
20 ECTS Art Education M.Art.Ed.
2026