Going a Totally Different Direction is Striking Out on One's Own Path

I've just read my posts over the last six months and have found a telling comment in most of them where my art work from the Life Book program has been posted.

What I've said in most of those posts is that my piece took off in a different direction than the lesson. Apology? Excuse? Justification?

What it reflects is that I approach the lessons as a launching pad to explore techniques and create a piece that reflects the lesson concept, even though it may not imitate the art instructor's piece. THAT IS OK! I think I've believed that it wasn't -- but no longer -- my unique voice is already coming through.

So, what I commit to from now on -- is to NOT SAY that my piece went in a totally different direction than the lesson (because each one will). I WILL start acknowledging my take on each and every lesson is my own distinct voice!

Comments

Introducing 'Kaleidoclown'

For fun, I've drawn one of my own photos (yes, I was dressed in a clown outfit) and added a wild and crazy background to accompany it for today's practice effort. As part of sketching the piece, it was split into four sections with two opposing diagonal lines. In terms of color choices, I've worked with color gradations for some shape sections. Can you believe, there are five major shapes in this effort? There really are -- circles, squares, trapezoids, triangles and spirals. I think the substrate is Biengfang Watercolor Paper (140 lb.). The materials used were Ohuhu markers, Micron 01 pigment ink pen, some red Stickles glitter glue for the nose, and a white Posca pen (for white dots on the face and to highlight eyes) and a yellow one (for yellow dots in the center of the flowers on the hat). There was no intention in working on this piece other than to have fun...and based on how it looks, I'd say well done!. One thing I learned is that blending with the Ohuhus i

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

'The Creative Act', published just this year (2023), is filled with pearls of wisdom! I've done one read-through without marking up the book. But I will be re-reading it to digest it much more fully. With so much in the book, I sometimes felt like I was hearing familiar voices communicating similar thoughts. That includes art course instructors, Ardith Goodwin and Louise Fletcher; words spoken by Goenka-Ji when leading Vipassana meditation retreats; and books by others. Some of those authors include Brene Brown, John Cleese, Lynda Barry, David Bayles & Ted Orland, Cat Bennett, Austin Kleon, etc. Without a bibliography or reading recommendations list, I'm really curious about the breadth of reading done by the author. What/who were his favorite books/authors? How did he develop his insights into the creative process? The book is well-suited for marginalia. If you're wondering what that is, it is writing in the margins to restate what you've read,

New Project in Progress

I'm working on a new project with multiple layers and shapes of different colored organzas. It is an interpretation of lighting on an ice rink...from a show I recently saw. There is a lot more stitching to do, but I like how its coming along. I'm learning organzas are not easy to work with especially when you layer them and have overlaid edges. The fabric also tends to ravel easily. This post also linked to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .

Cay Denise

Search This Blog