Been awhile, hasn't it!
I've been busy working on a few new articles and a new mystery project that sprung out of a series of paintings I have planned (of course, planning doesn't create, only plans, and that never goes anywhere!). The first is finished and I'll be working on the second as soon as I finish posting. I don't want to give too much away, but it's time to stop doing a little and start getting out there.
Recently, I went to a job interview (as I do these days, being unemployed and disabled) where, instead of starting with a one on one interview, a group of people were invited for a sort of pitch -- that is, we were introduced to the company and what they were about, giving us the opportunity to choose if we wished to continue. Beforehand, many mingled about, talking about previous jobs and the evils of old companies who once were friends (in only the way someone giving you a paycheck can be). While chatting, a manager remarked that she sometimes turned her umbrella lapel pin upside down for a bit of fun.
"Or maybe you're just trying to collect rainwater," I suggested.
She turned to me and said, "You're artistic, aren't you?"
It reminds me of one of the letters in Julia Cameron's Letters to a Young Artist; how you shouldn't try to dress like an artist. Artists are expected to dress a certain way, a view convayed through movies and television -- wild spirits with odd combinations of clothing. And while I have to admit that I myself may have an odd sense of fashion (which drives my younger brother, a fashionista if there ever was one, absolutely crazy), I was dressed in grey slacks and a cow-neck sweater -- business dress like everyone else.
Perhaps, when you're doing what you love, let it permeate your life even when you're not in your studio or drawing in your journal, it oozes from your pours and becomes visible no matter what you're wearing. I've learned that trying to be something always ends up feeling as empty as it really is, and once you just be yourself, letting what you want to be fill you up naturally, it ultimately comes without any effort.
The comment was flattering. I was still sporting some chalk pastel residue on my fingers and flashed it like a badge of honor. Despite society's wish to be more open, free, and creative, encountering someone who makes art of any kind is still a somewhat rare experience.
Happy New Year!
Since the holiday (Christmas, that is), I haven't made much art-wise, though I have been working on layers in my journal, #4, for the new year. Much of the work can be seen over on my flickr page; a lot of it reflects my recent purchase of a fountain pen and the influence of Sabrina Ward Harrison's artwork and books.
I've been experimenting a lot. For awhile, I was stuck in a groove, working with techniques I was comfortable with, feeling that everything either had to be a single piece or in my journal. Working without intent hasn't really been part of it -- when I sat down, I was there to make work.
Not every page in a journal is an amazing piece of work. I'm sure the journal pages uploaded by artists I admire like Teesha Moore and Anahata aren't every page in their journals. I need to accept that I'm there to have fun and create what I like looking at -- after all, it's my journal and I'll be the one looking at it the most!
Now, I go in my studio and just relax. Sometimes, I listen to music or watch TV. Read or play with my typewriter. I re-use paint left on paper plates (I use those as palets) and do several pages with the same colors. It's like making a series, and I don't believe in wasting paint. If I have a color left over, I'll smear it on a blank canvas or several pages in my journals. After a few colors, I have nice backgrounds to work off of!
I've even discovered a new way of illustration I'm in love with, and have become comfortable with how I draw people. I'm totally loving having a style I love making that's my own voice. It also lends itself to stationary or cards, and I've found some places I want to approach once I get final versions done. One of my gifts for Christmas was more RAM for my laptop, which means I can finally run Photoshop! Yipee!
Welcome to my new home!
I love that Typepad allows you to set up photo albums and seperate blogs, and felt it would be a nice place to put together at least a small sampling of my work for all those interested; flickr is a wonderful site, but I'd like people to know a little more about what goes into the work when they're browsing. There are so many creative ways to use Typepad, and it's cheaper per month than the webspace I'm paying for (and haven't used in months).
The last few weeks, I've been going through some kind of artistic re-birth. For the longest time, I was looking at workk that was popular or spoke to me in some way, and worked at duplicating that which I liked -- there's little self-expression when approaching things in that way, but it is a necessary step for any type of art. It's why children mimic speech and talk avidly, then go quiet for awhile. They're going from imitating what they've heard to comprehending and producing their own sentances.
Writing is much the same way. Artists must first take in everything they can, duplicate what they like, and then, like toddlers, go quiet for awhile in order to discover themselves.
It worried me for a bit; I felt I'd lost whatever got me started in the first place, would never make worthwhile art again -- the general discontent thoughts. Then, a few days ago, I just went wild. My life took a huge hit and I was bursting with emotion and needed to just get it out. It was through that I discovered my own style and reasons for creating, and feel much happier for it. The new combination of art and words speaks to both the artist and writer sides of me.
I can't say if it's good, or looks like what everyone else is making and selling, but it's more of myself, and it'll be enough for me.
Feel free to preview all of the new work in my Art Journals album. My camera is dead, so they're all scans. Aren't you just spoiled?
