It’s a good question to ask. We make the art. We are the art. What do we ask of ourselves? Are we fair in what we ask of ourselves? Do we treat ourselves / the art with tenderness and patience.
Exactly! Therapy has me thinking about and confronting my ‘expectations’ for things. My relationship with creativity is certainly rife territory. Over the years I’ve learned to let go of quality orientated expectations. I don’t expect perfection in what I make. I don’t expect to create a masterpiece everyday or any day for that matter. But, I have incredibly high expectations for what a life devoted to art means, for the kinds of purpose and change that art ‘should’ bring. This has been interesting to look at and examine.
Yes the persona of artist gets deified sometimes. The pressure that a “truly” great artist will create transcendent and revelatory work that saves us somehow. And it’s not that art doesn’t have a unique power but that as artists we don’t need to use the possibility of that power as a wedge against ourselves. We can make and have nothing come of it but the making and that has its own power.
The making itself is certainly the most powerful part of the process to me. It’s teh part that moves teh most. That feeds me. So much so that it’s sometimes difficult to give consideration to any of the other parts.
my usual question to my art is almost always - what is your message for me? what do you wanted me to know that could have been expressed only through you?
Such a great insightful question--I've sat at my desk for the last 15 minutes trying to form thoughts into coherent sentences and scratch that brain "itch" that this gave me.
What's interesting is that I've worked hard on trying to separate myself from my art--it's a part of me, and a vital part, but it's not me and not tied to my worth in any way. But it also has me thinking about all the things I expect art to do for me. I think ultimately, art asks us to simply show up .
Thank you for such a thoughtful reply! it’s a question that even after having written about it is still lingering in the recesses of my brain.
I also think you’re absolutely right! Showing up is the ultimate onus of all artistry. It’s the demonstrable recognition that there is perhaps no more potent force than that of one’s pure presence. When one’s single pointed attention is enacted and embodied.
And thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear you like the collages! Means a lot to me!
I've very often had similar questions myself, Duane. Just what am I doing? Is this worth it? Am I wasting my time? Since this isn't my job, is this just a hobby? Or maybe just mental health by another name? Is art just a fluoxetine alternative?
A former Disney animator gave me what has become the closest thing I have to an answer (and though that, the implication that I was asking the wrong questions). It's a Hafiz quote that goes something like, "...the God who knows only four words. And keeps repeating them, saying: ‘Come dance with me.'"
I think something like that is probably very close to the answer of what art asks of me and why. Yeah, it's not the most concrete or definitive, but it feels like the truth; for me, anyway.
there’s a joy-filled simplicity in that. It resonates with me in deep way - what does art ask? Come dance with me. Because it’s good. Because it’s love. Because you can.
Such beautiful balance of color. Especially love “grace and winter beckoning” and the collage with astronaut (jumps out having rewatched Station Eleven this week).
Thank you so much! I was pleasantly surprise with “grace and winter beckoning” I don’t often structure my compositions that way , but I’m starting to play with that structure more. I’m also glad to hear you enjoyed “what principles are guiding me?” I’ve playing with astronaut imagery behind the scenes quite a bit, I think there’s something really interesting there thematically, though I haven’t quite parsed out what it means. I haven’t seen Station Eleven, but the book has been on my TBR list for quite sometime, hoping to get around to it soon. Thanks again!
I so appreciate the way you think and talk and write about your art, Duane.
Station Eleven is a favorite book for me. You may like the layering and juxtaposition within it. (The astronaut reference is from the graphic novel drawn by a character within the book.) Not sure why I decided to rewatch the adaptation this week, but it also is good.
Thanks Amy! Glad to hear it. If I didn’t talk about art I probably wouldn’t talk much about anything, haha. Art and books, that’s pretty much the limit of my conversational abilities, lol.
Really happy to hear you enjoyed reading Station Eleven. I’ve been a bit hesitant to start it. I read The Glass Hotel by the same author, and was disappointed with it.
I don’t watch much. My Tv stays off most of the time. But when I do turn it on it’s is usually to re-watch something. Re-watching is one of my favorite kinds of watching to do, lol.
Thanks Brian! I was really happy with both of those pieces! Both pieces are part of my ongoing experiments in printing out AI created images and grafting them into my analog process. It continues to be an interesting endeavor, though I’m not sure I’m any closer to understanding the implications of it. But it’s bringing out intriguing and unexpected juxtapositions in the work. thanks again!
This is such a good question--and thoughtful reflection--and I can already feel it reverberating around in my own mind. Also, I was so happy to see your work and newsletter getting some attention in the most recent issue of Colle magazine (#72). Congratulations!
Thanks Lisa! It’s a really interesting question isn’t it. I haven’t stopped pondering it since it occurred to me. And thank you so much for pointing out the Colle feature, I hadn’t seen it yet, and had no idea, lol. I appreciate it!
I think part of why I like the question is that when I try to answer it for myself, I realize that art asks the best of me: presence, focus, openness, curiosity, experimentation, resourcefulness...I could go on. So the question becomes a reminder to return to art, and to return to those things in myself. It's good. Thank you.
I love this reply so much! “Art asks the best of me” - that’s precisely it, isn’t it? the emphasizing and enhancement of all our most precisous qualities. So beautifully said! Thank you!
You always have such thoughtful takes on art and creativity Duane! I've been thinking about what I can do for my art a lot and trying to let it inspire how I work going forwards
Present, patient, well. Amen to that. Here's to just enough time, in just the right way.
As with meditation, the aim is for that deep presence during the time and space you're not meditating. Perhaps the same can be said of our art—that beauty and discovery might also come from the time and space outside our creative endeavours.
It’s a good question to ask. We make the art. We are the art. What do we ask of ourselves? Are we fair in what we ask of ourselves? Do we treat ourselves / the art with tenderness and patience.
Exactly! Therapy has me thinking about and confronting my ‘expectations’ for things. My relationship with creativity is certainly rife territory. Over the years I’ve learned to let go of quality orientated expectations. I don’t expect perfection in what I make. I don’t expect to create a masterpiece everyday or any day for that matter. But, I have incredibly high expectations for what a life devoted to art means, for the kinds of purpose and change that art ‘should’ bring. This has been interesting to look at and examine.
Your responsibility? To persist. To create.
Love that! Thanks so much!
Yes the persona of artist gets deified sometimes. The pressure that a “truly” great artist will create transcendent and revelatory work that saves us somehow. And it’s not that art doesn’t have a unique power but that as artists we don’t need to use the possibility of that power as a wedge against ourselves. We can make and have nothing come of it but the making and that has its own power.
The making itself is certainly the most powerful part of the process to me. It’s teh part that moves teh most. That feeds me. So much so that it’s sometimes difficult to give consideration to any of the other parts.
my usual question to my art is almost always - what is your message for me? what do you wanted me to know that could have been expressed only through you?
Yes! Gorgeous way of approaching this! Thank you!
Such a great insightful question--I've sat at my desk for the last 15 minutes trying to form thoughts into coherent sentences and scratch that brain "itch" that this gave me.
What's interesting is that I've worked hard on trying to separate myself from my art--it's a part of me, and a vital part, but it's not me and not tied to my worth in any way. But it also has me thinking about all the things I expect art to do for me. I think ultimately, art asks us to simply show up .
I also love your collages!
Thank you for such a thoughtful reply! it’s a question that even after having written about it is still lingering in the recesses of my brain.
I also think you’re absolutely right! Showing up is the ultimate onus of all artistry. It’s the demonstrable recognition that there is perhaps no more potent force than that of one’s pure presence. When one’s single pointed attention is enacted and embodied.
And thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear you like the collages! Means a lot to me!
What does art ask?
Perhaps...Keep showing up. Stay open. Stay loose. Stay playful. Continue to be a conduit.
Totally agree, though staying loose and playful are the things I struggle with, but that, I suppose, is why it’s a ‘practice’.
I've very often had similar questions myself, Duane. Just what am I doing? Is this worth it? Am I wasting my time? Since this isn't my job, is this just a hobby? Or maybe just mental health by another name? Is art just a fluoxetine alternative?
A former Disney animator gave me what has become the closest thing I have to an answer (and though that, the implication that I was asking the wrong questions). It's a Hafiz quote that goes something like, "...the God who knows only four words. And keeps repeating them, saying: ‘Come dance with me.'"
I think something like that is probably very close to the answer of what art asks of me and why. Yeah, it's not the most concrete or definitive, but it feels like the truth; for me, anyway.
there’s a joy-filled simplicity in that. It resonates with me in deep way - what does art ask? Come dance with me. Because it’s good. Because it’s love. Because you can.
Such beautiful balance of color. Especially love “grace and winter beckoning” and the collage with astronaut (jumps out having rewatched Station Eleven this week).
Thank you so much! I was pleasantly surprise with “grace and winter beckoning” I don’t often structure my compositions that way , but I’m starting to play with that structure more. I’m also glad to hear you enjoyed “what principles are guiding me?” I’ve playing with astronaut imagery behind the scenes quite a bit, I think there’s something really interesting there thematically, though I haven’t quite parsed out what it means. I haven’t seen Station Eleven, but the book has been on my TBR list for quite sometime, hoping to get around to it soon. Thanks again!
I so appreciate the way you think and talk and write about your art, Duane.
Station Eleven is a favorite book for me. You may like the layering and juxtaposition within it. (The astronaut reference is from the graphic novel drawn by a character within the book.) Not sure why I decided to rewatch the adaptation this week, but it also is good.
Thanks Amy! Glad to hear it. If I didn’t talk about art I probably wouldn’t talk much about anything, haha. Art and books, that’s pretty much the limit of my conversational abilities, lol.
Really happy to hear you enjoyed reading Station Eleven. I’ve been a bit hesitant to start it. I read The Glass Hotel by the same author, and was disappointed with it.
I don’t watch much. My Tv stays off most of the time. But when I do turn it on it’s is usually to re-watch something. Re-watching is one of my favorite kinds of watching to do, lol.
Beautiful words and collages Duane.
Thank you! Thank you for taking the time to read and for your kind word! I really appreciate!
There’s something about staring out and doing nothing that soothes the soul. This is lovely.
I’m discovering how much i needed it, and how much I’ve neglected it.
Most of my poems come from those moments.
I'm sure! If only collage worked the same way lol
Grace and winter beckoning and what principles guide me. Wowza…
I enjoyed this essay as well. Great questions.
Thanks Brian! I was really happy with both of those pieces! Both pieces are part of my ongoing experiments in printing out AI created images and grafting them into my analog process. It continues to be an interesting endeavor, though I’m not sure I’m any closer to understanding the implications of it. But it’s bringing out intriguing and unexpected juxtapositions in the work. thanks again!
This is such a good question--and thoughtful reflection--and I can already feel it reverberating around in my own mind. Also, I was so happy to see your work and newsletter getting some attention in the most recent issue of Colle magazine (#72). Congratulations!
Thanks Lisa! It’s a really interesting question isn’t it. I haven’t stopped pondering it since it occurred to me. And thank you so much for pointing out the Colle feature, I hadn’t seen it yet, and had no idea, lol. I appreciate it!
I think part of why I like the question is that when I try to answer it for myself, I realize that art asks the best of me: presence, focus, openness, curiosity, experimentation, resourcefulness...I could go on. So the question becomes a reminder to return to art, and to return to those things in myself. It's good. Thank you.
I love this reply so much! “Art asks the best of me” - that’s precisely it, isn’t it? the emphasizing and enhancement of all our most precisous qualities. So beautifully said! Thank you!
You always have such thoughtful takes on art and creativity Duane! I've been thinking about what I can do for my art a lot and trying to let it inspire how I work going forwards
Present, patient, well. Amen to that. Here's to just enough time, in just the right way.
As with meditation, the aim is for that deep presence during the time and space you're not meditating. Perhaps the same can be said of our art—that beauty and discovery might also come from the time and space outside our creative endeavours.
I think you’d absolutely right. It’s like compositing in a way. It’s all the collected matter that comes together to enrich the soil of ourselves.