In with the New - Out with the Old

And out with the Old
I’ve never been a fan of indoor plants. The idea of them just seems counterintuitive. But this little bit of greenery caught my eye. A Sensitive Plant. Hmm. After a brief get-to-know I discovered, yes, this is a very sensitive plant. You touch it, even in the smallest of ways, and it’s moved.

Harsh words don’t affect it. Honestly, I tried. Did my best to convince the plant it was insensitive. I spoke harsh words with a soft tone. Then progressively more terse. I also called it blue. Then I said it was red – and, even yellow. I threatened to withhold water. Nothing. It was’t phased. Perhaps it recognized a lack of sincerity in the delivery. Probably knew I didn’t really mean it. I’ve taken this plant in. It’s new to me, a new responsibility. It deserves nurturing.

As for the box of Manischewitz Matzo Farfel – well, I must admit I have no idea how I got this, or when I got it. I do know it went round and round in my lower carousel cupboard for at least 1o years. All the while wrapped in plastic. I also know I chuckle when I say these words aloud in my head – Manischewitz Matzo Farfel, Manischewitz Matzo Farfel. Now, combine the idea of Manischewitz Matzo Farfel with a Sensitive Plant – well, can’t get more curious than that.

Actually, I did find purpose in the Manischewitz Matzo Farfel. And, I’m content to say, it’s is no longer a part of my life. Just had to get rid of it – DeCollected. It’s a symbol for the old tired stuff we continue to hang on to. And, the Sensitive Plant – obviously, it’s a new leaf.

Searching for Something - More or Less

A moment in-between
My it’s hard to do simple. There’s so much weight on what’s there and what’s not. These pictures are an attempt to depict one little moment. Actually (I’m thinking) it’s the space in-between two moments – a “before” implied and an “after” realized. A picture of resolve. I’ll not be so silly to say I’ve found it. But I am looking.

Before and After

Familiarity with these things is clear. It’s the everyday. Caps in the bathroom, a refrigerator. We’ve all seen them. Seeing them anew was more of the challenge.

Moment of Realization

These are exercises in being brave. Trying not to think so much. Recognize a curiosity and put it out there. That was the contest. Rationalizing the why, after the fact, is much more of a challenge – almost a burden. I’m wishing it wasn’t necessary. But, alas, I suppose it is. I’m sure I’ll keep looking and I’ll be damned if I can’t stop thinking. If I figure it all out I’ll let you know…

TicTac / Foe

More about things
Who can argue with the power of things depicted – whether in purely formal terms or simply based on our initial perceptions things depicted are inextricably linked to our experience and our feelings.

Here, on the one hand, we’ve got a giant ovoid TicTac. Who can argue? It’s smooth and rounded and makes the breath smell minty fresh. And, it has a familiar greenish coloring. It will never be imposing.

On the other hand we’ve got a totally creepy scary alien thing poised and ready to whack the hell into somebody. Taken separately we’ve got two things relatively boring. The TicTac by itself, so innocuous in form, would just sit there doing pretty much nothing. Sure it’s a friendly little thing, comfy even, but it just doesn’t say much. However, given the opportunity to partner with something totally unlike itself, it really rises to the occasion.

The scary alien thing, shown just as it was found and with no professional “styling”, would be pure science fiction all by itself. Of interest to some but not for the reasons intended here.  Examined together, well, now we’ve got drama. Whoa. Scary alien thing is taking over. With the odd angles, gestures, expression, and even the accessories, they all make for an imposing package that can’t help but be intimidating. Pretty little TicTac now has a formidable foe. Scary alien thing has nothing to be afraid of though. His visual adversary is a mere blob. What’s to fear? Is there no doubt he could lick this TicTac?

In summary, things generally are as they seem. They can’t help themselves. If things aren’t looking good, well, they probably aren’t. Not looking doesn’t change things. Stare straight away at things and assess their character. When things are seen in tandem – in a bigger picture – do your best to understand the relationships. Always see things for what they are. Know they’ll always inform each other. They just can’t help themselves.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

Things and no things
Honestly, there’s no actual compelling reason to partner these objects – other than a yet-to-be-defined intrigue in a recess of the mind. I’m purposely avoiding the logic. Logic, for me, is stifling. Rationale, Rationale, Rationale. It’s paralyzing. It gets in the way. I don’t want it. Get it away from me. There’s no free-spirited discovery in logic. Forget the questions. Don’t rely on answers. Just throw up – and throw out the carefully conceived plan. Jump and dive. If there’s an on-off switch for logic I’m going to do my best to turn it off. Perhaps it might be wise to install a dimmer switch. Dial it all the way down when necessary. Let intuition be the light. Power-up only in retrospect and only when you must. In this, I believe.

Diane Gannon's Blouse with Buttons #1

Mother-made
This post is a heartfelt nod to the important influence of a mother. Mine. The works shown here are perfectly crafted mother-made things. Definitely works of art. She’s completed quite a few of these, all beautiful variations on her theme – hand-trimmed, brown paper dress patterns stitched together honestly and with sincerity and laid comfortably over natural burlap. The buttons, collected over the years (and also gifted to her by friends familiar with these works and her need for buttons), add a wonderful and conceptual touch. They defy the “picture-ness” of a traditional 2D wall piece by being placed on the exterior of the frame and glazing.

There’s a definite intuitive quality here. She’s breaking the rules probably because it just feels right. And the buttons do add a strong element of interest. One could write an essay on the significance of buttons, but it’s not necessary. We all understand their importance. On these works we’re comforted by their familiarity, delighted by the color, and intrigued by a clever repurpose.

Diane Gannon's Blouse with Buttons #2

I’m not sure my mom is accepting commissions at this time. But I could ask. She makes these for the pure joy of creating. An effort I applaud. I know this joy – and I know where I got it.

Still Life #2 - the "after" version

It’s the Process Stupid
It really is. It’s about little bits of evaluation. The big picture is all well and good. Yes, it has its place. But you can’t think big picture and rest on the snapshot you’ve just imagined. Things are going to change, but only if you’re brave enough to delve deeper. Implement. Accept changes, embrace them. You’ll never get anywhere if you think your original and clever preconception is the creative effort. You just can’t predefine a work of art, or design, or a poem or a song – much less a creative life. In doing so you’ll miss the unexpected lessons along the way.

It’s in the discovery where the real art is. And this discovery is one small step at a time. Simply lift one layer to see what’s underneath. You might think you know but you really don’t. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you try to imagine all the layers. You’re pretending you’ve done the hard work. You must move yourself to witness the potential of a next layer. It must be experienced. That’s progress. And, that’s the process. Simple as that.

Still Life #1 - the "before" version

I actually enjoyed the picture above before choosing to experience it again – and again. I could have stopped, moved on. No big deal. But, I realized this composition was just the first layer. So, the process of  creative play called me to action. A ton of labored overwork was not what I was feeling. I needed to complement – not compete. The finished expression is not meant to be the end all be all. It’s probably one of an infinite number of creative layers possible. But, for the time being it felt right. An improvement I believe. And, maybe even a nicely resolved final composition. I might return to it. Add another layer? Possibly. Nothing grandiose. Just a touch. The natural elements have all the perfection necessary. I simply wanted to enhance. I needed to contribute another layer – mainly to reveal potential.

Bouncy Balls Masquerading as Globes

Artist Finds Two Bouncy Balls Masquerading as Globes Trying in Vain to Hold Up the World
I know I’d post more imagery if I hadn’t set a precedent for myself to write about the the thoughts and ideas behind each picture. Certainly the challenge to write is fulfilling, or rather, the resulting words are. But, the task is, at times, a relatively tall bump in the road – one that’s sometimes difficult to drive over. At times I want to simply (well, not always simply) make images that have (or should have) depth and meaning that the viewer should be able to extract on their own terms. No hand-holding, no persuasion on my part. Just a picture of things that have a relationship to each other, obvious or not. This is, perhaps, the real power of artistic expression anyway. It’s a luxury for an artist to have the opportunity to provide justification. And, it might even be a crutch. The rationale is nice to have but it’s not absolute. Fresh interpretations might never be realized because an artist has already explained things. So, in the interest of new thoughts and fresh perspectives I’ll post pictures below with nothing more than a little title and a headline. The words chosen might point the way but they don’t tell the full story. The full story is an open book, not yet written – and co-authored by all.

The World Interconnected

Artist Appropriates Other Artist’s Work Because He Realizes Other Artist’s Work Can’t Help but Appropriate Other Artist’s Work

Carron Little Portrait

Artist Spends Afternoon at Friend’s House Talking About Art, Finding Inspiration Inside and Out, And Wittingly Creates a Portrait of  the Friend and the Experience*

*Read more about Collaborative Portraiture here…

Confluence, of Time and Place

Capturing Experience
Lately, I’ve found enjoyment in imposing a few constraints in my image explorations. The works derive solely from studying a singular time and place – whether it be a time and place associated with and belonging to a person or a general time and place that I intuitively believe will be fertile ground for meaningful finds. I refer to the resulting imagery as “finds” rather than “subject matter” as I have no idea what it is that will prove intriguing. There is no “one” subject. I think this distinction is important. In this distinction is the mystery and, perhaps, the root of the creative process – at least it is for me, and possibly for others. This process, or quest, is a personal hunt for potential. The limitations you’ve self-imposed is your framework. It’s your idea. Without the frame there is no point. Within the frame – omg – there are no limits.

Fortunately, there’s a massive appetite in our world for that which you feel is frameworthy – be it written words, pictures, or thoughts and talks. We’re all framers really. We do it everyday. In order to be understood we must frame our thoughts and ideas in a language that allows others to be intrigued – and possibly to find some understanding.

The pictures below are results from imagery I found at the Chicago Flower and Garden show. Now this event might seem like a perfect representation of the idiom “it’s like shooting fish in a barrel”. Flowers and Gardens – oh, that’s nice. Yes, nice and pretty is fine, but the expected is not what I look for. My quest is intent on seeing things from a different angle. I look for potential. Not just pretty flowers already impressive on their own. The potential, for me, most often comes in combination with other things. For me, in creating these studies nothing in and of itself is so unique that it can stand on its own. It takes a connected quality, in combination, born out of visual curiosity.

Six Finds at the Flower and Garden Show

These pictures are six of many I found that day. I didn’t know I would be combining these “selects” specifically into the composition I made. I just felt they had potential. I brought all the photos to the studio and started studying. I then looked for relationships in form and texture, while staying aware of what they actually were in real life – butterfly wings, the crown of a child’s head painted onto glass, a succulent plant (don’t know the scientific name, don’t really feel it matters, although I’m open to learning), leaves and branches also painted onto glass. All of these things are authored by some other artist, physically and spiritually. I feel I’m paying homage to the originator and extending the expressive merit of each thing by appropriating their potential. This, in my own small way, is my quest for artful living. We’re all simply looking for meaning, trying to discover bits of what we don’t already know. This is the real creative process. And we all have this potential.

An Unconventional Portrait in Place

A Natural Collaboration – Continued
The work pictured above was a pleasant opportunity. A rare experience lately.

(This is the second post in a related topic –  reading it will be more meaningful after having read this)

Don’t get me wrong, as a designer I enjoy what I do. But, all too often a project’s time requirements far exceed the client’s and designer’s expectations. I know other designers also face this situation. It’s a common phenomenon. When it happens in my world, I certainly accept a fair share of responsibility. Somewhere, in the throes of design and production, things go awry. Pinpointing fault and responsibility is so very troublesome. Has the project’s scope changed, and if so, when. Or, was there just a misunderstanding of what was expected. Or, perhaps, was the initial estimate of time necessary to do the best job possible simply too conservative. Most often it’s a combination of mistakes, without a clear game-changing event, that makes the design process so challenging.

And then there’s the matter of client influence. Client-driven design. They know best. Even when they don’t. It’s a delicate dance that designers must accept. We do out best to achieve solutions that satisfy carefully conceived strategy. We aim to please. But compromise, due to time constraints, deadlines, and lack of trust, are accepted by designers as part of the process.

The Unconventional Portrait

Fortunately, working on the artwork above – a commission – lacked the downsides of  most client and designer projects I’ve been involved in.

I have a client that stressed trust in vision from the start. My client would be disappointed if there was compromise traced to their influence. Designers as artists recognize this trust at the beginning of a working relationship – and they find it freeing. I can honestly say there have been no compromises with this piece. How it measures against other artworks I’ve done I’m not sure. I’m pleased with the result, however.

What is most interesting to me about this project is the hybrid “design vs. fine art” nature of the task. It has all the traditional parameters – client input, client needs, client money – that all design jobs incorporate. But, it also has the free-spirited creative purpose that a personal, artistic effort offers.

Is this opportunity an anomaly? I certainly hope not. Does it exist because it makes sense for me at this point in my creative life? I think so. It draws from all my experience as an artist – and as a designer. And, it was a ton of fun. I want more of it.

I’ll follow up with details on the actual art-making process.

A Recent Work, Realized

Oh, Loathe the Thought
It pains me to acknowledge him – The Doubt Monster. Who is this nasty thought? This creepy creep that creeps into being so ruthlessly, so consistently. Just as you’re feeling a hint of confidence, he waddles in from over there to sit on your head – like a lump. He’s never a rock solid lump. More like a soft, misshapen jelly filled doughnut. Bad for you all around. You shake your head this way, then that. He blobs to one side then the other. Movable, yet immovable.

You try to remind yourself that you’ve done interesting things in the past. You’re highly capable. But, no. The Doubt Monster cares nothing about the previous. He’s only interested in what your about to do. And he’s going to do his unlevel best to block the path. He loves to get in the way. He’s mean, that ugly lump.

And then there are those times when The Doubt Monster clones himself, partners with others (others who don’t give you the answers you’re looking for), and takes residence on their head too. He’s like bacteria. Just an ugly, classless, unscientific organism that thinks he’s a genus. Now, you’ve got to decide: is The Doubt Monster working through them?, or do they just not get it?, or – perish the thought – you don’t.

Fortunately, I’m here to say there is relief (maybe). It’s only temporary, however. It’s in realizing that idea. Putting it in writing. Getting it out there. Yes, the process is important. You’ll always find some solace in process – because “in process” moments of relief will occur courtesy of wise choices on your part. But these are just little victories along the way. The Doubt Monster still looms – large.

The final product is where the fruit is. This is your relief. The Doubt Monster wields little to no power at the finish line. It’s because he can’t argue with what you’ve done. But, rest unassured, he lies in wait. He’s looking for his next opportunity to make you think doubly hard about what your about to do – darn it all.

And, knowing this, acknowledging it’s important to think – to think all about it, The Doubt Monster could even be, and probably is (it pains me to say) – important. That lousy lump.