Nothing like looking at a scan I’m about to post, to give me a struggle with the rule I’ve made for myself not to engage in self-critique or deprecation on these posts. There are obvious things I see that I would push farther, or should have backed off on, before I would feel good about presenting this to other eyes. But. This is how far I got, and it is just what came up. It was another day, and I went into my studio, and I made some art. That is what it is, and it is enough.
I do like stones.
In studio for several hours, but never got around to addressing a blank page. Instead, I worked on this commissioned pet portrait, and upgrading the felt advent calendar my mother-in-law made (new buttons and embroidery numbers)
The years of habit don’t let go easily; though it was a relief not to push myself to fill a daily page, it also didn’t and doesn’t feel quite “right”. I think I will continue for a while to hold myself lightly but observe carefully. I don’t think I’ve found the right balance yet!
I so quickly fall back on the old feeling that I don’t know what to make, and have nothing to say, so nothing I do will be of any value. That is precisely the path that led me to stop making art altogether for so many years. My commitment to make something every day provided a way around that block, and showed me how illusory it actually was. So I’m a bit surprised to find how strongly it hits even now, if I give it half a chance!
inky roots.
But also, here’s what I’m working on in my studio:
and here’s what I have on display this month at Harmony Collective – Artist Gallery:
A new year. I want to try shifting my practice a bit, to allow for more time to work on longer term projects, and to maybe push some of the old pieces further along. I’ll try to still confront a blank page every day, and to post something here every day, but I may not post the daily exercise. It might be (as today’s is), or it might be something else I’ve worked on in studio that day. We’ll see how it goes – and I’m looking forward to it!
pushing it along. very happy to be back in the studio, but also happy to not confront a blank page every day for now.
The pieces are all painted, and here they are placed in the frame another cast member built. Sadly the Yule piece got left at home by mistake, so is not in this picture. I’ll post another of the complete wheel later!
Yule made it into the wheel, well in time for the show. Sorry I didn’t get a pic with the good lights on it, but you get the idea…
I didn’t get around to a daily art today because I’m trying to get these props done in time for the Welcome Yule! show this weekend. They’re the spokes of a Year Wheel, which will fit into a standing frame to illustrate the cycle of the seasons and the festivals associated, based on Celtic traditions.
I don’t usually get to work on big things, so this is fun. But it is eating up all my studio time for a few days!
Some days my drawing is really more like running scales than playing a melody. I’m holding a place in my life for my art.
This is my periodic reminder, mostly to myself, that I am not really posting what I think is “good art”, I am posting evidence of my daily practice.
Last day away from home. Here’s an ibis from a photo taken at City Park. The photo was very small and blurry on my phone, so I made up most of the face and it’s probably not anything like a real ibis. But if realism is what you want, you can look at a photo.
I haven’t played with Artificial Intelligence generation of images, but I see a lot of of them going around lately. It seems to me that art is just human intelligence synthesizing images of what we see, with more or less fidelity to the mores of visual perception.
catching up with the house and the jobs after more than a week away…and still making sure to have time for good things in life. So, tired in studio and feeling no particular creative urge. Sometimes adding scribbles of discontent is enough to allow me to feel finished enough to let it go, and get my sleep!
eyespider 