"Play is never far from the impress of the creative drive," Mary Oliver says, and I've been actively looking for ways to open wider the doors and windows of my creative process in the hopes that play will find it's way in.
I love that first collage (especially).... the yellow and white tile (with what I first thought might be a handcut grid overlay until I saw the source photos) immediately jumped out. Beautiful balance with the pink tones and the vertical split... pulls you right in to the words. I think fodder gathering (in this case with a camera, but it might also be just walking around and making note of things seen or culling magazines, for instance) always has its place.... yes, it ticks off all the boxes.... yes.... maybe it gives the brain a bit of a rest.... yes.... maybe sometimes it doesn't feel inspired in the moment.... but it typically leads to something later when you do sit down to move things around and play. Always love seeing your pieces.
I completely agree with you! I was just going through the motions as I was out taking photos. It was a dispassionate endeavor to stay the least. I wasn’t impressed with any of the pictures. I didn’t think I had anything useful. It was only later when I sat down to start editing and started playing that I finally saw how it all came together. I’m just slow to catch on sometimes , lol.
Good question! I suppose it's a little of both. I try to follow where the work lead, I try to give the work what it asks of me, I try to give it what it needs. I trust that it knows more than me. But also, there's only so many hours in the day. I trust that if I have served the work properly it will be gracious enough to wait for me.
Nice! My process is similar in letting the work lead me wherever it goes. But sometimes I'll not expect the work to wait for me and I'll say, "Hey, look at this shortcut to good enough. You can moan at me later if it bothers you."
The work will moan 20% of the time. At which point I'll either agree and apologise to it, or I'll tell it to quit complaining and I post it publicly in defiance. 😆
Haha! So relatable! There’s many and plenty of times I have to take a similar approach. There are pieces that feel off to me, or they feel like something is missing, and I just can’t figure it out. Or I know there’s nothing more within my abilities to do. In those cases, I call it finished and share it as a means of clearing my desk and head, so I can move on to the next.
I love your playful approach to your art! Why not is the perfect question. These collages are gorgeous, both analog and digital. How fun to switch between the two and provide your own source material from photos you took.
Thank you! Yes, I love the back and forth between and analog and digital. I’ve used analog elements and materials in my digital art for a while, but it’s only recently that I’ve though about printing out the digital creations as collage paper. It’s been a bit of changer so far. Thanks again!
thanks so much! It’s funny. I wasn’t in a great headspace that day, and I didn’t particularly enjoy taking the photos at the time. I wasn’t even happy with the I had taken. But after playing with them in teh editing process, I can’t wait to go out and do it again!
Maybe it worked so well as you didn't over think it or even care about the image, sounds like a perfect zone to be in, like subconsciously you just felt what shot was right. :)
I like the way you think! Or maybe because somewhere in there I knew I didn’t need the shot to be right, I didn’t even need it to be good, I just needed something interesting enough to work with.
We go quieter…I love the way the colors play together in that one. Duane, what’s going to happen when your sense of play ramps up alongside your faithfulness & productivity?!? 🔥💥
Thanks Ann! What I love about we go quieter is it shows how interesting just a simple juxtaposition can be. I spend so much of time working on intricate arrangements and complex layering, but sometimes just two images side beside can be even more intriguing.
“what’s going to happen when your sense of play ramps up alongside your faithfulness & productivity?” - I’m not sure but I can’t wait to find out, lol.
Your collages were fabulous as always, Duane! I loved your account of being too uptight to enjoy your play! I've come to love using cameras in strange ways. I have an entire collection of images of things I think would make great textures for collages. some I have used in some digital work, but I haven't yet printed any of the pictures out to physically slice and dive them. You're inspiring me to get back to play!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the worst at taking things to seriously. I’m so obsessed with productivity and efficiency, so quick to not try something because it may not produce ‘anything usable’. But, I’ve also hit a point where joy and wonder and discovery are in desperate need. And, I need to do things differently. It’s never too late to relearn to play, lol.
Print some stuff and get back to play stat, my friend! Do it! Can’t wait to see what you can come up with!
Love these! I love the colors of the various photos juxtaposed. They're very unexpected. Maybe it's the typography plus the photo juxtapositions, but I'm getting Vaughan Oliver vibes.
Thanks so much Art! I owe you a double debt of thanks! I wasn't familiar with Vaughan Oliver before you mentioned him. I just looked up some of his work, WOW! It's incredible! Thank you for the recommendation! And thank you for teh high compliment of a comparison to him! Much appreciated!
Some wonderful images. Unfortunately we lose our true innocent childlike ability for play in adulthood. Life and societal expectations, over decades; probably centuries has dictated so. I think as we go from childhood to adolescence into adulthood, we forget how to play. Not just in the practical physical sense, but also with our minds and creativity.
Do we ever tell a child they are playing incorrectly? No! Of course not! Play is the pure joy of ones imagination running wild and free through the landscapes of our minds.
So whether that be as a child or as an adult, as you have done with your thought provoking and superb images..be playful, be creative and find the beauty in the mundane!
Well said Dom! Thanks so much for reading and for commenting. I think you’re absolutely right. I’ve been guilty of losing my capacity to play. I’ve even been guilty of losing interest in pursuing it. But I’m rediscovering how much I need it. How integral it is to not only my work and my creative process, but to my mental health, and to my being-here. Thanks again!
I love that first collage (especially).... the yellow and white tile (with what I first thought might be a handcut grid overlay until I saw the source photos) immediately jumped out. Beautiful balance with the pink tones and the vertical split... pulls you right in to the words. I think fodder gathering (in this case with a camera, but it might also be just walking around and making note of things seen or culling magazines, for instance) always has its place.... yes, it ticks off all the boxes.... yes.... maybe it gives the brain a bit of a rest.... yes.... maybe sometimes it doesn't feel inspired in the moment.... but it typically leads to something later when you do sit down to move things around and play. Always love seeing your pieces.
Thank Amy! So glad you like the piece!
I completely agree with you! I was just going through the motions as I was out taking photos. It was a dispassionate endeavor to stay the least. I wasn’t impressed with any of the pictures. I didn’t think I had anything useful. It was only later when I sat down to start editing and started playing that I finally saw how it all came together. I’m just slow to catch on sometimes , lol.
From uptight to free flowing! The creative process is so moreish.
In that playful place, do you feel the need to temper yourself, or let the flow continue until fully satisfied regardless of how long it takes?
Good question! I suppose it's a little of both. I try to follow where the work lead, I try to give the work what it asks of me, I try to give it what it needs. I trust that it knows more than me. But also, there's only so many hours in the day. I trust that if I have served the work properly it will be gracious enough to wait for me.
Nice! My process is similar in letting the work lead me wherever it goes. But sometimes I'll not expect the work to wait for me and I'll say, "Hey, look at this shortcut to good enough. You can moan at me later if it bothers you."
The work will moan 20% of the time. At which point I'll either agree and apologise to it, or I'll tell it to quit complaining and I post it publicly in defiance. 😆
Haha! So relatable! There’s many and plenty of times I have to take a similar approach. There are pieces that feel off to me, or they feel like something is missing, and I just can’t figure it out. Or I know there’s nothing more within my abilities to do. In those cases, I call it finished and share it as a means of clearing my desk and head, so I can move on to the next.
I love your playful approach to your art! Why not is the perfect question. These collages are gorgeous, both analog and digital. How fun to switch between the two and provide your own source material from photos you took.
Thank you! Yes, I love the back and forth between and analog and digital. I’ve used analog elements and materials in my digital art for a while, but it’s only recently that I’ve though about printing out the digital creations as collage paper. It’s been a bit of changer so far. Thanks again!
That is pretty cool to switch and take it to new places; keep playing, I can’t wait to see where it takes you! ☺️🙌
I love seeing the process and the wonderful result!
Thanks so much Brittany! I definitely want to play with this process more! Thanks again!
Play is so important for creating
Absolutely!
I love those, just random pictures in the wild brought together into something very cool.
thanks so much! It’s funny. I wasn’t in a great headspace that day, and I didn’t particularly enjoy taking the photos at the time. I wasn’t even happy with the I had taken. But after playing with them in teh editing process, I can’t wait to go out and do it again!
Maybe it worked so well as you didn't over think it or even care about the image, sounds like a perfect zone to be in, like subconsciously you just felt what shot was right. :)
I like the way you think! Or maybe because somewhere in there I knew I didn’t need the shot to be right, I didn’t even need it to be good, I just needed something interesting enough to work with.
We go quieter…I love the way the colors play together in that one. Duane, what’s going to happen when your sense of play ramps up alongside your faithfulness & productivity?!? 🔥💥
Thanks Ann! What I love about we go quieter is it shows how interesting just a simple juxtaposition can be. I spend so much of time working on intricate arrangements and complex layering, but sometimes just two images side beside can be even more intriguing.
“what’s going to happen when your sense of play ramps up alongside your faithfulness & productivity?” - I’m not sure but I can’t wait to find out, lol.
Thanks again!
I always stop to read your posts. I know your words and collage will be thoughtful and to the point.
Your collages were fabulous as always, Duane! I loved your account of being too uptight to enjoy your play! I've come to love using cameras in strange ways. I have an entire collection of images of things I think would make great textures for collages. some I have used in some digital work, but I haven't yet printed any of the pictures out to physically slice and dive them. You're inspiring me to get back to play!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the worst at taking things to seriously. I’m so obsessed with productivity and efficiency, so quick to not try something because it may not produce ‘anything usable’. But, I’ve also hit a point where joy and wonder and discovery are in desperate need. And, I need to do things differently. It’s never too late to relearn to play, lol.
Print some stuff and get back to play stat, my friend! Do it! Can’t wait to see what you can come up with!
And, I agree that "Why not?" is how most creative people I know start something with a close second being, "What if?"
Those two phrases are becoming my mantras!
Love these! I love the colors of the various photos juxtaposed. They're very unexpected. Maybe it's the typography plus the photo juxtapositions, but I'm getting Vaughan Oliver vibes.
Thanks so much Art! I owe you a double debt of thanks! I wasn't familiar with Vaughan Oliver before you mentioned him. I just looked up some of his work, WOW! It's incredible! Thank you for the recommendation! And thank you for teh high compliment of a comparison to him! Much appreciated!
glad to turn you on to him!
These are wonderful images. I love the idea of why not? Why not play?
“Why Not?” - Exactly! “Just because” is one of the best creative lines of reasoning for artists, lol. Thanks LeeAnn!
Some wonderful images. Unfortunately we lose our true innocent childlike ability for play in adulthood. Life and societal expectations, over decades; probably centuries has dictated so. I think as we go from childhood to adolescence into adulthood, we forget how to play. Not just in the practical physical sense, but also with our minds and creativity.
Do we ever tell a child they are playing incorrectly? No! Of course not! Play is the pure joy of ones imagination running wild and free through the landscapes of our minds.
So whether that be as a child or as an adult, as you have done with your thought provoking and superb images..be playful, be creative and find the beauty in the mundane!
Well said Dom! Thanks so much for reading and for commenting. I think you’re absolutely right. I’ve been guilty of losing my capacity to play. I’ve even been guilty of losing interest in pursuing it. But I’m rediscovering how much I need it. How integral it is to not only my work and my creative process, but to my mental health, and to my being-here. Thanks again!