Hi Gretchen! Welcome to the forum. There are how-to's throughout the site. We are always sharing how we make things or different ways to do something that most of us already do. I have had some formal art schooling but honestly I use very little of what I learned in college in the art I create. I have learned to just go with what I like. As far as inspiration goes, you have been looking at it on this forum. I look around here and sometimes I try to recreate what I have seen. Other times I look here to see what everyone else is doing and use it to inspire my creativity to make something completely different. If you have questions on how to make something specific, and haven't seen the how-tos here on the site, all you have to ask. We pretty much share all of our secrets here.

~Micki~

Welcome Gretchen!
Ditto what Micki said. We all inspire each other, share with each other and support each other.
It's a wonderful group of inspired, obessesed garden junkers!
Here's our inspiration album:
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/sangaree_KS/Garden%20Junk%20Inspiration%20Albums/
I also reccommend
http://www.robomargo.com/yardart.html
and this on lists all kinds of sites:
http://empressofdirt.blogspot.com/2009/07/garden-junk-art-whimsy-decorations.html
You will be staying up late and rising early with coffee once you get started viewing this world of creativity!

Hi Gretchen. If you've been looking around, you can already see that we share ~ have you seen 2 plate flowers that look alike yet? I'm not sure who came up with them but we each add our own spin on them. I've never taken any kind of art class just do like Micki said and do what feels good to you. Enjoy! And be sure to add pictures. We LOVE pictures!

Thanks everybody. I don't own a computer, just use my sister's when we visit. Now that winter's coming, I'll have plenty of time to create what I like to call garden "art." The rest of the year I'm just too busy with the plants!
So I'll be checking in here, and checking out your pics.

Welcome, novice! Well, you'll be wanting your own computer real soon (if you're visiting all of our projects around here)...we have lots of fun. The best bet is to check in as often as you can...there's almost ALWAYS something new & interesting to see! Right now winter's comin' on for alot of us, so we're putting gardens to bed & gearing up for winter projects.

First, I would recommend using the search box above...just type in something like "plate flowers"...hit "go" & lots of posts will come up for you to look at. Have fun!

And here's a link to the Inspirational Album that texasfern mentioned above...lots of "pictorial" ideas there...just click on any album on the left hand side, like "bowling balls" ... and you'll see lots of great ideas!

Anyway, Welcome! Jeanne S.
p.s. I do have a art backgrd like smicker...but, it doesn't make any difference here...just great GJers who share great Garden Art!

Here is a link that might be useful: Inspirational Album

Welcome to our lttle corner of the GardenWeb. Some of us are self taught. Some have taken classes to learn an art. All of us share our experiences and knowledge. If you have started something, ask a question and you'll get some very helpful info.

Kat

Welcome! Welcome! As everyone has said we share with each other and gain our inspiration from each other as well! We have a lot of talented folks here who are always willing to help out with advice or even in creating and sharing supplies, etc. Hope you'll come back often...and we'd love to see your creations as well!

Thanks for the complements and glad your here. Everybody is so nice and willing to share. I have no formal training, but my brain runs on overload 24/7. You just have to have a go for it attiude, just use this forum for your inspiration. One thing I always say "I just don't show the things that don't work, do you think Martha S does?). Again Welcome.
Syble

Glad you joined us Novice. The addiction has just begun. We all get high on creativity here.
Vickie

Lol, Vickie. I think you are right!