Here I am, being nostalgic again. As we were packing the car with a load of *stuff* to take to the new place, I saw my landlord’s chair, against the stone wall. He’s had it there all the years we lived there, probably many years before, and now….
It got me thinking of how the neighborhood had been good subject matter for my artwork. I didn’t have to go too far for inspiration.
So, for those of you who haven’t seen them, a parting glance of a little street, in a very big city:
So, here’s the sketch…another with the theme of making peace with winter. I finally did the skeleton of the sycamore’s pale branches against an bright blue sky. Voila (sorry, I’m working for a French company, it sneaks into my vocabulary now and then).
So, now the promised topic………
Every so often, art work is done that is labeled “It’s about the process, not the product”. Such a philosophy has ended up in some excellent abstract art….and also some really bad abstract art. Just check out the Craigslist artist section in your local community, you’ll find plenty of examples there.
So, once when I was burned out as hell doing my usual……..I decided to do art about the process. The result was my “Love it or hate it” Namaste series:
I was very proud of myself…..until I went to the art reception of an acquaintance, a mixed media show. There a young woman, just barely out of high school, effused enthusiastically how the work in the show was “About the process, not the product”. I nearly spit out my bad Chardonnay! I had fallen into a cliche, artspeak trap. I hung my head in shame.
So, back to representational art. I enjoy doing it anyway, the ability to use symbolism, and the fact that people can bring their own emotions and associations to it. But damn, it can be tiring. Art for the process is like fingerpainting, joyous and messy.
But…I found the best of both worlds. I found I could do representational art, with areas that just flowed with the process (another, more esoteric term for this is doodling). It worked in, for instance, “Tiger in the Jungle”. I just played with the leaves and had fun.
So, I’m going to do this sycamore picture going with the flow…..and see where it takes me.
And here’s her FB page.
As I was saying…..I was looking for an animal cause for which I can do pet portraits. I remembered my old high school buddy, Mrs. Dolittle. She’s a holistic healer for animals, and I’m going to try to raise money for her to give hospice care to pets whose families wouldn’t otherwise afford it. So, I’m dividing my time between “Floral Overload”, and making sample pet portraits.
Remember Hannako?
Here she is again.
So, I plan to do another kitty, two doggies, one horsie, and one bunny. And put them on a postcard to advertise. The originals will be double matted, as will the finished product sent to customers.
Boy, it feels great to have an actual direction again!
Despite the fact that I’m planning my debut on the streets of Manhattan, I still am looking for a steady job. Had an interview yesterday that went well….but I am wondering if I’m giving off signals that I just don’t want to be doing this anymore.
Anyway……
Managed to get some of my little prints matted, and they look great. And somehow, blurry as all hell this morning, I managed to finish “Tiger in the Jungle”.
Okay, now that I’ve got your attention…..
Here’s an update on “Tiger in the Jungle”. It’s coming out lower key than I intended, but I expect when I go over it with the blender, it will pop. Also, I’m at a very tedious point, the background. It would be good to listen to my iPod during this…but I lost the charger. Dammit.
Also, I did an art show, doing portraits. Had 13 customers. So, I know in the right venue, this works. Here’s my partial set-up.
And, as usual, I’m itching to get started on the new picture. When the Twin Towers were standing, twice a year, the sun would set between them….kind of a World Trade Center Solstice. I once tried to take a picture of that with a film camera, and a zoom lens, but it came out terribly blurry. And now, the opportunity is lost forever. *sigh*. But that’s what I intend to do with this drawing.
By the way, I was kidding about the meaning of life being rain puddles. Everyone knows the meaning of life is 42.
The word perspective can mean a couple of things. First of all, the problem I had with Scraggly Weed, and getting the straight lines all wonky. Nearly did it again on Tiger. This time, I caught myself in time, before I really made Hannako’s face asymmetrical, and a general mess. An eye by the nose, and another one half-way up the forehead, would not have been good, except if I wanted to draw a monster. I wanted to draw a cute cat. So, this time I hung it vertically, and it made a load of difference.
Perspective is also how you view life. Right now, I’m feeling more optimistic…have made the decision to set up my work near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, even if it means investing money from retirement savings. At least, I would have some money coming in.
So, see you on the streets of Manhattan!
My intention in starting “Tiger in the Jungle’, was, as I did in “Pocket Paradise”, was to treat each leaf as a small meditation in itself. However, stress over money and unemployment does not facilitate a particularly Zen state of mind. So, I’m taking this very slowly. Otherwise, I’m going to end up with messy, sloppy leaves.
I received my sales tax certificate, yesterday. That means, I can legally set up selling my work on the street. I do have some items I need to buy first…..a four foot table, mats, tarps, and more ink cartridges. Since no job seems to be forthcoming to pay for these…..Ouch, my retirement account.
So, here’s a glimpse of the progress of “Tiger in the Jungle”.
