Art, Getting Busy

There are those days when someone passes by me whilst I’m at my drawing pad and exclaims, “I can do that!”

Graphite on card stock

I smile and keep drawing. After about a second, because I don’t want to lose the moment, I give them a pad and some pencils.

“Oh, no I couldn’t.”

But you just said your could. Give yourself this little gift, this precious time. Draw!

Some of the materials I favor are readily available at most office supply shops or even pharmacies. I chose them for that reason–wide availability.

Among my supplies I have A4 (8.5 x 11)  paper in white and a few colors, some A6 (4 x 6) plain index card stock, a few color pencils, #2 pencils, and blank journal books.

Then I scoop up my satchel and get busy.

I can do that.

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Art Me, Materials

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Art Me, Materials

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I am surrounded by Art materials.

Art comes second.

Design comes second.

Imagination, inspiration, and the “Muse-action” thing comes second.

The Artist comes somewhere further down the line.

For me the materials come first when I’m making things.

For an example: I shall make a fish.

Do I want to make a fish? Sure.

What sort of fish?

I get what I call a bin of organized junk for making assemblages.

So then I tinker, putting stuff together for a trial run, a look-see.

That looks like a fish.

It’s a clip used to close food wrappers. Look, I have seven of them. A school of fish.

Still it’s got that fish look to it.

Here’s a fin. Then I’m off to the races.

I process the fish with tools on-hand use collected materials to create a fish. And then there six fish. Less junk more Art.

The subject fish could have been painted in oils, scratched out in charcoal, or knotted with embroidery floss.

Art, limited only by time and by space and my energy. Material is everywhere.

Happy Art,

Lemuel

c. 23 January 2019

Art Me, A Sharp Saw, Patience

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Art Me, A Sharp Saw, Patience

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I was young. I watched a muscular carpenter rip through a large plank in four pushes of the saw.

Later I discovered it is patience, not strength that makes the smoothest cut.

Good saw work is about more than where I begin, but more at where I finish.

Funny how a saw lesson helped me to do better in my studio—everywhere really.

Happy Art,

Lemuel

c. 21 January 2019

Art Me, Sell from Stock

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Art Me, Sell from Stock

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Doing anything that costs my time should be done at a good level as in:

a.) a design that is appealing to the senses—pick one

b. ) it has some (sane) plan of completion—a deadline

c. ) mainly I have materials, tools, and space ready for use

Okay so far.

Here’s what happens:

A. The work goes in a slightly skewed direction, still appealing, so-called “design-on-the-fly”

B. I’m done —deadline is two days away

Or

I’ve got to be done—deadline is two hours away

C. I’m out of titanium white? Yep, all other normal shades of white are out too. What have I got on-hand that’s “not normal”?

Pink!

Joyous adaptations,

Lemuel

c. 18 January 2019

Art Me, Jazzy Work

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Art Me, Jazzy Work

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I realise over-thinking a piece squashes the juice right out of me. I am drained.

When I create deliberate plans, or even make stacks of “immaculate” sketches the projects are dry and tend to fall flat.

Juice is life to Art. It is vitality, a little risk, some zest with a side of the un-known.

I always need to jazz up my work. It is part of my intention. I do this for no one but for me, especially me.

Is jazzing it up just avoiding ruts? Who works best just avoiding something?

Pink paint pen, I’m looking at you. Meet my friends.

More energetic Art,

Lemuel

c. 16 January 2019

Art Me, Influence, Approval

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Art Me, Influence, Approval

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I found a failing on my part a while ago, measured in years.

I sought approval of my Art works. Sometimes even of my concepts.

I did not know how I would finish my work. So how would or should anyone?

Trouble was supportive people know how to be fans.

Bad advice from fans sounds like love or positive criticism.

It is neither. Supportive people try too hard for their own motives.

That did not help me.

Keep the people.

Show what I have completed. Then it is too late for their help.

Good Art,

Lemuel

c. 14 January 2019

Art Me, Fear

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Art Me, Fear

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OK,

Fear is a liar.

“Safe ways are the best ways.”

“Artistic Risk is harmful, likely to end badly.”

“Stay the course, better the half-loaf.”

“Don’t fail.”

“I’m not good enough.”

My Experience has shown people ridiculed horribly when innovating, making the “non-usual”.

“They” will laugh.

All Lies.

Happy Art,

Lemuel

c. 11 January 2019

Art Me, the Finished, the Good, and the Still Seeking

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Art Me, the Finished, the Good, and the Still Seeking

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In a plain direct I say, “Never give up.” Keep clearly in my mind, it is necessary to change course to gain an advantage or to avoid the dire mistake of completing Art that is ‘wonky’.

So it may look like ‘giving up’, even feel like “I’ve quit.” I call that “still seeking” Art because that is the process.

The idea is always to finish a work, to meet or best my deadline, to give my highest effort.

I know, production only to make something hurts my heart and dulls my creative impulse. Sometimes finished is better than ‘perfect’.

I can walk away for a short time, a few minutes or after lunch. Bring a sketch pad back and set to work re-directing the project. I keep trying, still seeking.

Be gentle. We all have those days of few successes, and we many have hatched an ugly duckling or several.

My work area is not large enough to furnish repose for ‘un-finished’ master-pieces and my usual work of requirements, promises, and personal vital interest.

Sometimes small is a lucky situation. Sometimes it’s okay to start over as the better choice. Sometimes I finish a piece and it’s out the door because of the expectation of others.

Sometimes what I make just stinks. I’m still closing in to finish everything I start.

But, I’m not a 3-D printer.

Happy Art,

Lemuel

c. 09 January 2019