Coffee And Paint Drips Blog - Page 44 of 79

Thought for Thursday

“Everything is funny. As long as it is happening to someone else.” ~Will Rogers

With the excitement of the spring holidays dying down I was finally able to get back to reading some of the latest resistance beating books for artists. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp is an easy read, if only I could sit and read it.

Still in the second chapter and I think I understand the ideas she’s trying to convey. Trying to make art-making a habit by finding the right switch to flip is a valid point. Some artists’ brains click on with certain actions or stimuli. Blasting rock music, lighting a candle, cleaning the studio might do the trick for some. I have yet to figure out what mine is.

Tharp suggests avoiding certain things as part of the creative ritual. Things like not multitasking, watching movies, adding up numbers (Right brain/left brain?), and playing background music. I guess these can be distractions to creativity. There are things that could keep me from painting for sure. I am easily distracted by a great number of things.

Living without some kind of distraction though is too monastic. I like a good distraction now and then. But keeping a comfortable environment helps. Clean, with loved items, surrounded by comfortable colors helps to keep my brain in my head.

Being prepared is the big one for me, and it seems, for most artists. That’s where the question came in: Where is your pencil? Better yet: What is your pencil?

What is your tool to keep creating? Figure that out and don’t be caught without it! Tharp relays a story of someone who, as a kid, wanted a famous person’s signature, but when asked for his pencil, didn’t have one. No tickey, no shirtey! After that this guy was never without a pencil. You just never know when you will need one.

“Pick your pencil and never leave home without it” says Tharp. Be prepared! Make something be a part of the ritual to create, whether it is a pencil and pad in my purse, or a camera in your pocket.

Ideas fly by my brain so much of the time. If and when I get a good one, and I’m not prepared- it’s bye bye. While I was waiting in the doctor’s office I whipped out my rapidograph and sketchpad to doodle my shoe.

I knew where my pencil was.

Friday’s Photo on Saturday

My blooming crab apple tree in the backyard

Thoughts

“Any idiot can face a crisis – it’s day to day living that wears you out.” ~Anton Chekov

Rain, Clouds and Thinking Things

Apple is Butting In (c)2011 Dora Sislian Themelis
8×12 Watercolor on Arches paper

Lone Shell (c)2011 Dora Sislian Themelis
8×12 Watercolor on Arches paper

It’s been busy around here after the holiday and trying to get myself back on track. I finished the watercolor with the apple and moved on yesterday to the next work. The broken shell was looking at me so I did it the favor of a portrait.

Moving along at least.

Today is overcast and it’s been raining. Rotten weather like this is depressing after having warm, sunny days. The day itself isn’t so great. I’m thinking things today. You ever have one of those days that you are constantly thinking things? All kinds of things? Today is one of those.

I don’t have any time for painting today either. Maybe not even tomorrow. Maybe not even Friday or all weekend. I am looking forward to Monday.

He Was Found and is No More

Here in New York, as I believe in most of our country, we can breathe a deep sigh of relief and feel a small sense of justice that The perpetrator of the events of September 11, 2001 has met his fate at the hands of US Navy Seals and Special Ops last night.

“We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail” were the words of former President George W. Bush ten years ago when he vowed that Osama bin Laden would be found. And so he has.

It is somewhat difficult remembering those days, but remember we must. Last night there was celebration in NYC, but this time it was because a murderer was found. Unlike after September 11 when cheering hordes broke out in certain communities to celebrate the attacks of the World Trade Center and 3000 deaths in NYC.

I’m sure this is only the beginning and only this chapter has come to an end.

Apples, and Shells, and Rocks, oh my!

There’s just something about apples that I need to paint. What’s going on inside my brain that lures me in and bites me, compelling me to put an apple in my still life paintings? Weird brain.

I’m not even that thrilled with how this brand of apple paints up. Besides the paints, which I am too stubborn or lazy, or something, to add the new Alizarin Crimson and Burnt Sienna to the palette, I need to buy prettier colored apples.

At least I found time to paint, thrilled or not. Process over thrilled. May as well paint a junk painting now and then. Is it good or bad for the ego? Then again, it is my opinion.

Some times I think my work was lousy and someone else would say how they love it, so I can’t go by how I feel. Just paint and don’t think about it. Move on.

This was a twenty minute session at this point. I left it alone after twenty minutes because it was annoying me. I had to stop and get away from it. The next day I worked on it again and it looks slightly neater. I can’t think of the word to describe the finished piece other than “neater.” It’s done.

There are some elements that please me though. I really like the color strength and shape of the broken shell on the right and the way the shadow pops the lower edge. The rest is just so-so, to my eye. I think that apple is doing nothing for me. Overplayed the apple, and maybe that rock. The shell?

I think it’s time to find other subjects, but I’m not sure exactly what thing is going to feel comfortable. Other fruits are boring as well as some veggies. Maybe a fabric? Or a shiny platter? A bowl?

Maybe I need a vacation?

Thought for Thursday

“The secret of life is in art.” ~Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)

Art is About Life

I came across something online yesterday that caught my attention. It was an essay about blogging and the idea behind why people blog, what to blog about, and the blog’s main idea or focus. What story are we trying to tell with a blog? Are our ideas all over the place, or is the blog about one topic and only that topic?

Some blogs seem like an open page of a person’s diary. Other blogs are like another person’s photograph album. One blogger likes to ramble about not much of anything in particular while another writes very technical information with tedious accuracy.

This article stated that an art blog should be about art. If that’s the case then what about the life of the art and artist?

While I was pondering this essay in my Morning Pages I found myself writing that there really is no art without life. If that is true, then there is no life without art. The beauty of art and art making is synonymous with life and all it’s beauty. The two are totally entwined.

When I started writing this blog I knew there was no way I could only discuss my art journey or the process. Life would sprout up between the posts of painting and not painting. Nor did I want my whole life to be an open book to put up to scrutiny. A little life story here, a rant about my latest painting there, and there you have it.

I was watching a television show where celebrities were making art for charity in one episode. None of the stars were artistically talented. Creative, yes, but not in the painterly sense. They arranged their work in a gallery for the public to purchase and donate money.

What struck me was a patron made their decision to purchase one work only after hearing what the celebrity artist had to say about his feelings while painting it. The painting itself was really not great, but the thoughts of the artist were intriguing enough to make the decision to buy. How interesting is that?

The daydreams and ramblings of the artist are the things that make life interesting. And life is more interesting because the artist has a different view of it. Does a painting posted each day make the art blog a good one to follow? Maybe not, because art isn’t all about art.