...I have been an avid watcher of Bravo's reality show 'Work of Art' where 14 artists from various disciplines vie to be the winner (and for some reason, it's slightly reminiscing of 'The Breakfast Club').
I love this show. L O V E! At this moment, when I have SO many questions and NOT many answers, this show was Heaven sent.
At last, some bearings, a point to begin noodle-ling through the art world, from movers and shakers, to important curators and galleries, and current, viable artists and their artworks. [Well, I have been asking the Universe for a mentor AND we are a television generation...]
Regardless of what ever editing was done, I enjoyed the process the artists went through. Often, I'd imagine myself in their weekly challenges, creating my own art pieces, alongside theirs. Boy, when they say art is subjective, that art should make you ‘pause’ and think...this show makes primo example of it. The judges critiques and estimation would change from week to week with cat-ish finicky-ness. I often wondered about the judges (or anyone in general): What makes them....art-judgy?
Just this last Tuesday, my friend (whom I shall call Russ) was recounting an experienced he had which completely left him dumbfounded and somewhat jaded. He had recently just finished an art show. During a deathly, boring hour, several artists came by and critiqued his works. They remarked that his 'realistic' works were too 'old fashion' looking, though his abstracts held promise, particularly one piece. They were quite smitten with this particular piece and gushed, describing each intricate colors and shapes with fevered reverence, pointing out, with self-indulgent observations and prideful glee, the reasons behind such bold strokes. What no onew knew was that, Russ had not wanted to waste his left-over paints, some still mixed over on his palette. So, he decided to just 'splat' the unused portions onto a canvas in different squared shapes, with no special or significant intent.
Curiously remarkable? Or pleasantly ironical?
Either way, I whispered to him that perhaps he might consider omitting the last bit from the story when recounting it in outside circles...
So, back to my original question, what makes judges or even anyone in general, art-judgy? I haven't figured it out quite yet. But, there is a fine line between pompous regurgitation and thoughtful, provoking reflections.
Fans of art or 'farts'? You too can be art-judgy.
T
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Blockage! Blockade! Blockhead!...
...recent frustrations in figuring out the 'how to' and the 'what next' in my artistic pursuits, has led to art blockage. Even meditating in the park with my toes squishing in the green-grass last week did not help calm my mind. What is going on?
Further reflections and a dose of 'LA Ink' Wednesday night had me realize that certain elements were missing in my life right now. In LA Ink, the tattoo artists would sketch on their down time, practicing and perfecting their craft. It reminded me that there was a time in my life where I was always drawing in my sketch pad. Everything to anything.
[What other things have I stopped doing, possibly PG Rated, which I could mention here without embarrassing my mum?]
I am a fanatical reader. I read profusely - from fiction to non fiction. I can't remember the last time I strolled in a book store and browse until a book called and beckoned me. The last book purchased was Karen Armstrong's 'The History Of God', (I think I bought it six months ago). A really fascinating read. No. Really! The book suggests that the idea of 'religion' was created during a time of great economic strides and the fore-fathers feared their people would be 'spoilt' and get carried away by their wealth, and so installed certain beliefs to curb negative tendencies....alright, I got carried away myself, back to the present.
So....maybe, my blockage somehow, may be tied to not reading or drawing, that these elements might be the connecting 'in/out' cables to my creative source. Who knew...
So back to the drawing board...or pad...and possibly a visit to my local bookstore. I need to get back to *tabula-rasa.
It is weird that I feel relief? Man, I do.
T
*Merriam Webster Dictionary defines TABULA-RASA as something existing in its original pristine state.
Further reflections and a dose of 'LA Ink' Wednesday night had me realize that certain elements were missing in my life right now. In LA Ink, the tattoo artists would sketch on their down time, practicing and perfecting their craft. It reminded me that there was a time in my life where I was always drawing in my sketch pad. Everything to anything.
[What other things have I stopped doing, possibly PG Rated, which I could mention here without embarrassing my mum?]
I am a fanatical reader. I read profusely - from fiction to non fiction. I can't remember the last time I strolled in a book store and browse until a book called and beckoned me. The last book purchased was Karen Armstrong's 'The History Of God', (I think I bought it six months ago). A really fascinating read. No. Really! The book suggests that the idea of 'religion' was created during a time of great economic strides and the fore-fathers feared their people would be 'spoilt' and get carried away by their wealth, and so installed certain beliefs to curb negative tendencies....alright, I got carried away myself, back to the present.
So....maybe, my blockage somehow, may be tied to not reading or drawing, that these elements might be the connecting 'in/out' cables to my creative source. Who knew...
So back to the drawing board...or pad...and possibly a visit to my local bookstore. I need to get back to *tabula-rasa.
It is weird that I feel relief? Man, I do.
T
*Merriam Webster Dictionary defines TABULA-RASA as something existing in its original pristine state.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
A world was born from 2 minutes….
...a whole 2 minutes. I heard a ringing and felt something settling in my head - an epiphany exploded, exclaiming that I am not who I am.
If I am not myself, then how can I connect and be the artist that I need to be? Who really am I?
My earlier life has mostly not been of rainbows. In a time and place where I should have had a happy childhood, I had pain. Slowly, being broken, bit by bit, stripped and rained on, in an endless storm. I found a rock and held on, and with my little hand, I gripped and tore to get onto this rock, my own ‘rock of Gibraltar'. One day, I woke up. The storm had ended and I was as hard as my rock....but, I survived. In the coming years, I became harder and harder....but, I survived.
It all changed. Epiphanies does that, you know.
As I am writing this, I begin to understand it all now. I became hard to protect myself, to weather the storm. Perhaps parts of me were hidden for a reason, so certain parts could evolve. I don't know. But somehow, I became lost and I forgot.
And now...well, like a cheese-cake (emphasis on the cheese), I guess I'm ready, and the epiphany came heralding a change, a beginning, a new world.
My true self? I have learn that I am strong, that I can withstand plenty of challenging situations. I accept that I am really not a jaded person, that I still do believe in the goodness of the world. And while I'm baring my soul, I might as well come clean and confess that I am a goofy nerd that loves to read about discoveries in technology and science, sneaks in documentaries on CBC, who cries at sappy commercials and movies. For gracious sakes, have you seem 'Terms of Endearment'? I've seen it 6 times and cried all 6 times! Forget that...I cried watching FINDING NEMO. Yup...a total softie!
But you know what's more important? I learn that I can be solid like a rock but I don't need to be hard - the trick is finding the balance. And yes DAMMIT! Love is the answer! No matter what we have gone through, we ultimately came from Love.....even if it lasted for 2 minutes.
You know, a world was born from just 2 measly minutes. Ask your mum...
T
If I am not myself, then how can I connect and be the artist that I need to be? Who really am I?
My earlier life has mostly not been of rainbows. In a time and place where I should have had a happy childhood, I had pain. Slowly, being broken, bit by bit, stripped and rained on, in an endless storm. I found a rock and held on, and with my little hand, I gripped and tore to get onto this rock, my own ‘rock of Gibraltar'. One day, I woke up. The storm had ended and I was as hard as my rock....but, I survived. In the coming years, I became harder and harder....but, I survived.
It all changed. Epiphanies does that, you know.
As I am writing this, I begin to understand it all now. I became hard to protect myself, to weather the storm. Perhaps parts of me were hidden for a reason, so certain parts could evolve. I don't know. But somehow, I became lost and I forgot.
And now...well, like a cheese-cake (emphasis on the cheese), I guess I'm ready, and the epiphany came heralding a change, a beginning, a new world.
My true self? I have learn that I am strong, that I can withstand plenty of challenging situations. I accept that I am really not a jaded person, that I still do believe in the goodness of the world. And while I'm baring my soul, I might as well come clean and confess that I am a goofy nerd that loves to read about discoveries in technology and science, sneaks in documentaries on CBC, who cries at sappy commercials and movies. For gracious sakes, have you seem 'Terms of Endearment'? I've seen it 6 times and cried all 6 times! Forget that...I cried watching FINDING NEMO. Yup...a total softie!
But you know what's more important? I learn that I can be solid like a rock but I don't need to be hard - the trick is finding the balance. And yes DAMMIT! Love is the answer! No matter what we have gone through, we ultimately came from Love.....even if it lasted for 2 minutes.
You know, a world was born from just 2 measly minutes. Ask your mum...
T
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A sophisticated hick chick....
I had a chance conversation with someone yesterday. Somehow, we started talking about abstract art. He tells me that his painter friend has no patience for abstract painting.
I'm on the fence....and its chafing...badly.
I was at a art gallery opening several weeks ago for friends' friend -- who painted abstract art from nature's weather and sounds. I was quite enthralled by her works. I saw sounds and color, the shifting energy. I could imagine being in it and the feeling of being swept in its current, all out of her painted abstract form.
Now this gallery had also other artist showcasing their works, all abstract. I enjoyed them mostly till I saw some in particular which made me wonder, how art could be THAT objective? This artist used squared plexi-glass, where he just added minimal drips of color, then named them 'depression' or such things...I couldn't even remember. Definitely no Jackson Pollock here!
Has art turned into minimalist, abstract mishmash, claptrap? Or have I?
Which brings back to the chance conversation I had. My companion felt that the earlier works of minimalist or even abstract painters, began their illustrated careers studying under Masters and the 'old ways' of painting. And in their moment of eureka, took their previous paintings, stripped it down to the bare elements and tried to find truth and beauty in simplicity. He pointed out that many of those works had depth and meat that drew the audience in. And now, these works still stood against the tests of time, inspiring new generations of artists. He concluded that most works now had none of the background of the 'masters old ways' or even the learnings, so perhaps that is why the new works are lacking.
Whoa! A moment of eureka. I think my head hurts.
Degas (apparently) had said, "Painting isn't so difficult when you don't know ... But when you do ... it's quite a different matter!". I have to agree with him.
I am beginning as a sophisticated hick chick. But as I learn and understand more about art, and how I paint, I hope I end as an unsophisticated urbanite. Enough spinal-back to challenge the status-quo but still unjaded enough to always be in awe of art.
T
I'm on the fence....and its chafing...badly.
I was at a art gallery opening several weeks ago for friends' friend -- who painted abstract art from nature's weather and sounds. I was quite enthralled by her works. I saw sounds and color, the shifting energy. I could imagine being in it and the feeling of being swept in its current, all out of her painted abstract form.
Now this gallery had also other artist showcasing their works, all abstract. I enjoyed them mostly till I saw some in particular which made me wonder, how art could be THAT objective? This artist used squared plexi-glass, where he just added minimal drips of color, then named them 'depression' or such things...I couldn't even remember. Definitely no Jackson Pollock here!
Has art turned into minimalist, abstract mishmash, claptrap? Or have I?
Which brings back to the chance conversation I had. My companion felt that the earlier works of minimalist or even abstract painters, began their illustrated careers studying under Masters and the 'old ways' of painting. And in their moment of eureka, took their previous paintings, stripped it down to the bare elements and tried to find truth and beauty in simplicity. He pointed out that many of those works had depth and meat that drew the audience in. And now, these works still stood against the tests of time, inspiring new generations of artists. He concluded that most works now had none of the background of the 'masters old ways' or even the learnings, so perhaps that is why the new works are lacking.
Whoa! A moment of eureka. I think my head hurts.
Degas (apparently) had said, "Painting isn't so difficult when you don't know ... But when you do ... it's quite a different matter!". I have to agree with him.
I am beginning as a sophisticated hick chick. But as I learn and understand more about art, and how I paint, I hope I end as an unsophisticated urbanite. Enough spinal-back to challenge the status-quo but still unjaded enough to always be in awe of art.
T
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sometimes, you just got to 'DO' it.....
"Do or do not, there is no try" – Yoda
Yoda, the ultimate teacher of truths. I suppose in the moment of 'trying', the ACT itself becomes a ‘do’. Why do we often say ‘I’ll try’? I think that to infer ‘I’ll try’ brings a reality which says that I do not hold myself accountable nor do I care to commit fully to the situation. Example, I'll try to do better next time.....hmmmm.
Perhaps fear and a lack of confidence comes to play? I do not think that many people are aware or even care. I’m starting to care though. For many years, ‘I’ll try’ has been my song.
In the past few years, I have begun to slowly attain awareness. Questions of where I am heading, who I am…where am I standing in this life, becomes increasingly important – old age, you think? ‘I’ll try’ no longer suffice. Now, I use words like ‘I am', ‘I will’, ‘I shall’… time no longer registers as standing still.
I am currently working on my 2nd commissioned artwork; a portrait of two sisters. Next, I will be painting two more art pieces where it will be sold on consignment at a store. Also, there is a possibility that I shall be doing a 3rd commission as well, slated for October of this year.
Action may be a great thing but words are power. It can propel you forward or stop you in your tracks. This blog will chronicle my moments of success, pitfalls and 'eurekas!' while navigating into the world of art...now, where's my 'Art for Dummies' book?
T
Yoda, the ultimate teacher of truths. I suppose in the moment of 'trying', the ACT itself becomes a ‘do’. Why do we often say ‘I’ll try’? I think that to infer ‘I’ll try’ brings a reality which says that I do not hold myself accountable nor do I care to commit fully to the situation. Example, I'll try to do better next time.....hmmmm.
Perhaps fear and a lack of confidence comes to play? I do not think that many people are aware or even care. I’m starting to care though. For many years, ‘I’ll try’ has been my song.
In the past few years, I have begun to slowly attain awareness. Questions of where I am heading, who I am…where am I standing in this life, becomes increasingly important – old age, you think? ‘I’ll try’ no longer suffice. Now, I use words like ‘I am', ‘I will’, ‘I shall’… time no longer registers as standing still.
I am currently working on my 2nd commissioned artwork; a portrait of two sisters. Next, I will be painting two more art pieces where it will be sold on consignment at a store. Also, there is a possibility that I shall be doing a 3rd commission as well, slated for October of this year.
Action may be a great thing but words are power. It can propel you forward or stop you in your tracks. This blog will chronicle my moments of success, pitfalls and 'eurekas!' while navigating into the world of art...now, where's my 'Art for Dummies' book?
T
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