Looking up ... dreamy field

There are times, even long periods of time when any of us may lose faith in things. Our art included. Then for no particular reason something catches the attention through some sense. In the sky in front of me, just over a year after Sage died, was this visual. Powerful enough to make me smile and whisper ~ “All right.”

More to come about Sage and his pivotal role and place in this world of art, but my message is this … the art process can be harsh and painful at times. You may know. If you disagree send me a note and maybe we can visit over coffee or ice cream. However, don’t stop if you can at all help it. I stopped creating, which was a mistake I think. I let my soul get to the point of feeling broken because I was experiencing life. Everybody has to live life.

Sage my boy

Assignments from Grams

Examples from my grandmother Elizabeth’s 1934 art class assignments. My students who see these up close and personal are always mesmerized. Inspirations from lines, patterns, saturation!

She would be absolutely thrilled knowing her works are part of the curriculum on occasion.

Invent

This particular musical contraption began as a scribble.  Jazz was playing in the distance.  The pen took over from there.  So, go ahead and invent!  There is more to come with musical contraptions.

Scribbles

A simple scribble has so much potential. A scribble heading to the trash is a missed opportunity. My hope is that you begin to see scribbles from a different perspective. If you’d prefer not to play with it, give it to someone and pose a creative challenge. Maybe the scribble will become something you want to frame. Maybe it will become an heirloom.

Better yet … bring your art pad and pen to a loved one. Ask them to make a thoughtful scribble on each page. Observe as you both chuckle over the loved one’s creative, in the moment, process. Now you have the beginnings of an art collaboration to be treasured.

Not erasable

I’ve mentioned my process of no rough drafts or retakes. When with students the requirement is to put away pencils and erasers. Only a very small percentage show fear over this thought. The point in the exercise is there are no errors, just focused diversions. We don’t want your original idea or scribble wiped away forever. It deserves to be. Take what you see for what it is at the moment. Do something different to change or adjust. Believe me. It will be amazing. More to come from this topic of process.

Continuing

“Relationship is a spiritual path that never ends.”

— George Taylor

How to work through sadness, anguish. Let’s keep it simple for now. Know your truths. Know their truths. Let it be. When necessary have Paul McCartney sing it to you. I’ll be adding more to this entry soon. For now call it forward, call it luck.