Sketch on panel of 'Pollinate Me' I haven't written in a while because I keep feeling like I should be writing something about my current art. The thing is, artists tend to manifest a body of work for an extended period of time - maybe for a few months, or even a year or two, and this work is basically kept from the general public until it is ready to be shown in some perfect or even a not-so-perfect space.
I feel like I needed to explain this to any viewers who may come to my site to see something new, only to find the same images from earlier this year. I do wish things would happen faster, but I believe
they are probably moving at just the right pace I am able to handle.
I am in the process of producing such a body of work, which was quite a jump from what I had last put together - The Unseen. This made for some awkward fumbling while I experimented along the way. Needless to say, this kind of stretch is healthy, but often frustrating, if not for the artist, then certainly for others who are privy to viewing any of the work before it is ready to be shown. Specifically, I am referring to a critique group that I am most happy to be part of, as they help me to constructively pull out pieces of my creative self and gather energy to hopefully put them to better use.
Sketch on panel of 'Storm Coming' Making proposals also takes a great deal of time, as there is a lot of thought that goes into the idea you are wanting to present… at least there should be. Which, of course, requires endless hours of writing and even more hours of editing, or just revamping the whole darn thing and starting over again, sometimes for the 3rd or 4th time. Ugh.
Then there is self doubt… crap, this shrewd nemesis likes to follow me closely whenever I question what I am doing. The inner critic tells me things… unpleasant things, like this series is not yet "there", so don't bother to propose it. Then I show a few pieces to my critique group, and I am convinced that my inner critic was right. With the exception of a few pieces, most of this series does not feel like it is quite "there", wherever and whatever "there" is.
Then there is self doubt… crap, this shrewd nemesis likes to follow me closely whenever I question what I am doing. The inner critic tells me things… unpleasant things, like this series is not yet "there", so don't bother to propose it. Then I show a few pieces to my critique group, and I am convinced that my inner critic was right. With the exception of a few pieces, most of this series does not feel like it is quite "there", wherever and whatever "there" is.
Sketch on panel of 'The Things I have Seen' When other mid-career to accomplished artists tell you "these would be great in a children's book", you smile and think of that darling inner child in all of us, and then you really weigh their words that suddenly seem to tug heavy on your delicate confidence. In the next moment, you realize that it is not such a terrible thing to be told that your art would be great for a children's book, but it may be that the real message is about adults/art critics/peers possibly not viewing these in the true light of "fine art"… a fearful idea I would like to banish from my creative process. Sometimes it is brutal truth that pulls us up to preform our greatest achievements. Or, maybe we just settle wherever we are most comfortable and truly happy, which in the end, I believe has the same result.
Then there is health. Something you may have taken for granite all these reckless years, only to find that it actually was your very best friend all along. It speaks a language you finally understand, as it grabs your attention where it hurts, and you either listen with great intensity, or take a bow and kiss your lovely ass good-bye. Well, I think it goes something like this for most of us at some point in our lives.
Then there is health. Something you may have taken for granite all these reckless years, only to find that it actually was your very best friend all along. It speaks a language you finally understand, as it grabs your attention where it hurts, and you either listen with great intensity, or take a bow and kiss your lovely ass good-bye. Well, I think it goes something like this for most of us at some point in our lives.
Sketch on panel, 'Not So Long Ago' For this reason, lifestyle changes are quite popular with my fellow baby-boomers these days. I often laugh at our predicament, only in good humor, and somehow it seems that crying should only be a temporary option to get us through whatever we are facing. After all, it is a privilege to be alive - one far too many no longer have.
Aches and pains aside, although they can be quite the distraction when it comes to studio time, I want to live life to its fullest… happily making art, doing all I can to be healthy, spending much of my time spreading love whenever and wherever possible.
Be still my inner critic. Be joyful, my precious heart. All good things come in time.
Aches and pains aside, although they can be quite the distraction when it comes to studio time, I want to live life to its fullest… happily making art, doing all I can to be healthy, spending much of my time spreading love whenever and wherever possible.
Be still my inner critic. Be joyful, my precious heart. All good things come in time.
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