ARCHIVES: January 2011

the bluebird of snappiness
Chugging along

It's funny, or not so funny, not really ha-ha at all, but for the past few years, both the gregorian new year and my birthday year, my years have begun with worse than a whimper. I get sick, throw up, feel like crap, annoying things happen, bad things happen... And then this year, something different happened. The first few days of 2011 were the same old same old, yes, but halfway through the first week of this year, stuff straightened out. I'm not going to go into details... there's too much detail and I can't remember half of it at this moment. But it's as though something shifted.

It's not all hunky dory, but I'm still moving forward. Which has become so much easier now that my feet are healing. They are also near frozen at this very moment, but that's a given in January, working in a thin-walled sun room and all. The sun is down. Maybe it's a moon room. A cloud room. A frost room.

A lot is getting done. Creativity is happening. Paintings, both representational on panel and abstract on paper, are coming along. It's pretty good work. You'll see it soon. Poems and essays are getting written, photos are being cropped and organized, hats are being crocheted, and new stuffed critters are coming into being. I've got a few good design projects at this time, and internet teaching is going well.

Earlier today I finished a painting of this blue bird creature thing. Not a great painting, no real breakthroughs, but a good little painting, nonetheless. The abstract work is what is pushing me right now. Otherwise, real breakthroughs will happen when I have a studio with some elbow room; more work going on at once, and larger pieces to boot.

Not complaining though. I do what I can with what I've got. That, and continue to dream. And quadruple my efforts for some real change. These first few weeks have already proven that things can shift for the better on nothing but one thin dime.

posted January 22, 2010

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creative fun from almost nothing
States of Being - Curiosity

Curiosity is defined by the persistent quest for knowledge. A curious person wants to know things, not out of nosiness or intrusiveness, but for the sake of understanding the world. Someone with an actively curious frame of mind will seek different ways of viewing and comprehending things, and will not simply accept the surface presentation of whatever it may be.

Curiosity is an impetus to continued growth as an artist. What about this, what if I try that, what if I look at this some other way? How about if that shade of green is slightly different, or if this tree bends the other way, or if it is dusk instead of the middle of the day, or if I use six lines here instead of five over there? What if I made frames out of clay instead of wood, or if I add wire to my weavings. Curiosity keeps pushing the imagination and gives life to continuous variation.

Having a robust curiosity is the benchmark of a true artist, in my opinion. And despite the rumors, curiosity is a sign of intelligence, the same as asking questions is a sign of intelligence. Those who demonize curiosity, are those who do not want you to know more about the world around you.

Do art that is about asking questions. Don’t give away any answers, but leave the meaning open-ended, so that viewers may come to their own conclusions. Create curious work. Use interesting materials, show new ways of looking at things, take an unusual approach to your medium. You are not looking to create confusion. Do not make a mess. Just make something a little odd or open-ended, whether in meaning, material or aesthetics.

Curiosity guidelines

• Regular portrait:
Show something mysterious or unusual in the background. Place a curious expression on the person’s face. Have them wear something unusual.

• Challenge portrait:
Do a straightforward, no-expression portrait with a plain background.

• Regular abstract:
Create a composition that is neither overly simple nor complex. Have at least one element overlapping another, and include a twist (use your own definition of twist, whether visual or in meaning).

• Challenge abstract:
Do a color field piece. Have a minimum of 90% of the surface be one relatively solid color.

• Craftwork:
Use three contiguous colors (from the color wheel) such as green, yellow-green and yellow, and one other color that is complimentary to one of the three, such as red-violet. Have the piece appear to be one thing, while functioning as another, such as a vase that is really a pillow. Curious, yes?

Every month a new creativity lesson is posted. See the archives for the full series. See September and October 2009 for further explanation on how to use the exercises.

Creatively Unblocking Creative Blocks
Author: Alexandria Levin
ISBN: 0-9743267-1-2
Published by Painted Jay Publishing
www.paintedjay.com

posted January 7, 2010

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snappy new year
Overdue for a really good one

It's day three of the new gregorian calendar year and all I want right now is a nap. It could be because I am somewhat busy with all kinds of projects, a few of them even paid. Or it could be because I was woken up once again at some unearthly hour this morning by our upstairs neighbor. And then the sun poked me in the eye a whole bunch, just to make sure I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon.

We hung out with a few friends on New Year's Eve, and the subject of resolutions came up. I'm happy to say that I can walk again, about a mile at a time now before the pain sets in; therefore I know I will be getting more exercise no matter what. And anyway, I prefer the word 'goals' to 'resolutions'. The difference is one of getting better as opposed to correcting something that is deficient in oneself.

So, I discussed goals. There are goals you have complete control over, such as; I will write a minimum of twelve really good poems this year. I can do that. And there are goals for which you have some control over, and others for which you have none, but are still possible somehow and you really, really, really want to have them happen.

Funny thing. I felt absolutely no need to make any goals concerning the creation of artwork. That would be like setting a goal for eating fruit, or wearing a sweater when it's cold. It's a given. Not an issue. I'm going to paint and that's that.

posted January 3, 2011

All images and content ©2009-2011 Alexandria Levin