I could easily blame too much summer fun and too many days away from the work table for this fiasco. I'm not sure where I went wrong and if I can bring these fragments alive again. I made choices that resulted in problems that I corrected only to become a catastrophe and that led to desperate rescue attempts that became for me, a fit of frustration . From high levels of anxiety, I reached for the scissors and began cutting away and this is what I've salvaged. Now what? I'm going to the movies today (Blue Jasmine) to get away from myself and when I return I will look at this again. I do know I'm still interested in the series about ancient gardens so it must be a matter of next steps.
I remember years ago sitting in a coffee house with my artist friend and mentor Josie (an Abstract Expressionist who worked in a large format) and on occasion she would look at me with serious eyes and say "Mary Ann, I need a breakthrough" and I would nod and agree both heart and mind. My friend died several years ago but I still hold to her advice and determination. I miss her and so fondly remember those coffee dates that could go from serious art talk to outrageous laughter! Oh well!
Tell me how you pick up from getting lost?
tidy the studio; wash things up, move them around...usually that's all it takes. If not, turn things upside down, hide them from myself so that I come upon them in unexpected places. Prop them up so I see them with fresh eyes a few days later....start something else while I keep an eye on the problem child. Go have a glass of wine, make a pot of soup....Gee that's quite a list! You can tell I have this same problem!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your 'fixes' as we agree on several, especially the wine, studio clean up and my favorite is to put 'it' away for awhile and start new projects. I was feeling alone out here....thank you for the rescue comment!
DeleteLovely blog and wonderful artwork.
ReplyDeleteI just keep working. It's like walking a path; I keep going and eventually I end up somewhere. Although doing the laundry and baking bread helps me find myself along the way.
Maggie
Maggie, I like that...just keep working! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI go for long walks, potter in the garden, cook up something without following a recipe, play play play music, stare into space, dance like crazy, sleep, tidy out that cupboard that I threw stuff into for the last 6 months.......and one day, a little idea breezes in.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, Your advice is a work of art...you had me at 'stare into space'...I can do that!
Deletereally like the circles in thi s piece. I always feel lost really or at least for the last 5-10 years. chronic. but playing with some paints or other materials, just to play. sometimes that opens a door.
ReplyDeleteYes, play is good and for me unfamiliar materials helps!
DeleteSo with you in this dilemma MaryAnne.
ReplyDeleteBlue Jasmin's a good move and I love the you are doing an ancient garden series. Wow... so LOVE that!
Your friend sounded delicious ... a lot to miss thats for sure! Sometimes the things I have had the trickiest time with, when left along for however long, have magically transformed at some point.
The again.... sometimes one sorts our the tension or problem in the next work... its a universal story I reckon. Lovely to visit you again.... quite a loooonnnngg time without internet was no fun!
Sophie, So glad to see you here with your good words...thank you. Blue Jasmine was a perfect movie choice and I agree with leaving a work alone as it does allow magic to happen. Actually magic hasn't happened for that piece but I'm back working and that is always good!
ReplyDelete