Another creating collages with our group.
I created backgrounds today.
Joe's packet of collage items.
Ken's collage work
Ken's second work.
Airy's workspace.
Airy and Aaron's collaborative collage.
Living a Tradition “What might you have in common with other artists? What ideas have concerned them? If their art has interested you, so may their ideas. Try to name those ideas, checking for resonances.” There are plenty of artists that I draw inspiration from, such as Matthew Barney, Odd Nerdrum, Paul McCarthy, and David Altmejd. They either have aesthetic or conceptual underpinnings that are similar to mine and I continually look to them for stimulation and reassurance. Reconsidering Difficult Ideas “Which ideas have you rejected in the past as too difficult to deal with? Can you name a few? Pick one. Grab it. Write about it a little, discuss it with yourself, think about it. What exactly is too difficult about it? Is it too ambitious? Too disturbing? Too self revealing? Too technically difficult? What, as you think about it now, are the good reasons for entertaining it? What are the good reasons for rejecting it? Make a list of the pros and cons.” A semi-abstract body shape lies prone on the floor while tiny clear, egg-shaped objects float overhead. The floor-ridden mound has accumulated a crystalline mass of broken windshield glass, while the end is smothered in glistening medicinal ointments. Highly-decorated straight pins pierce a cluster of dead flies as they randomly emerge from these viscous salves. I have avoid doing this project because of the high cost of all of the medicinal ointments and also afraid of how literal it may look. Is there a way to abstract part of it? Should I use a large quantity of gold tassels and ribbons? Should I incorporate used and disintegrated rubber gloves? I will revisit my notebook of personal symbols.
And on balance? Perhaps I could create a smaller hand version or even a face? It would be more doable and give me the chance to try a few different things.
Goals for this week:
Goals for next week:
Today I added crackle medium to one side of the headrest. Can't wait to see how it turns out. 
I can nurture my wish to create by honoring my legitimate self, dedicating my time to my art practice, and sharpening my technique when I don’t feel inspiration. How will I practically do this? How will I honor my true self? How will I dedicate time to creativity, when I need to address finding dependable part time work to financially support myself?
First, I will continue to schedule time at my art studio on my calendar. I can ensure this commitment, because I responsibly adhere to the engagements on my calendar. I also will continue to take care of my mental and physical health to support being inspired and energetic. This means sustaining an exercise program and augment it with weight training. Concurrently, I will adhere to weekly mental therapy and my daily prescription program. I commit to attending figure drawing sessions at least once a month, to sketch at least once a week, and to revisit my personal symbols notebook. As usual, these undertakings will be recorded in my artblog, which helps me keep focused and act as a reminder of how devoted I am to creativity. Finally, I will contact BAVC to inquire about acquiring satisfying and steady part time work that will heal my worrisome mind. It will liberate nervous energy, leaving me with even more potency to create extraordinary artwork to share with the world and myself. Goals for this week:
Goals for next week:
Today I created a collage that's different than I usually do. It was really satisfying. 
Exercise: Tameness and Wildness Together
Constructive wildness Craving for Drama - I strive to make a striking and gut-wrenching experience...one that haunts people in their sleep. Rebellion - I do not want to paint landscape paintings even though they may sell well. I want to create a fresh and difficult experience. "My goal is not to appease and comfort, but rather to agitate and illuminate places that are usually left unexplored." Sheer energy - I use my fears, sadness, and anger to motivate me. I get excited by my own work. Destructive wildness Sheer energy - I get swept up in the energy to the point that I cannot stop to eat or sleep. My mind becomes unfocused and easily distracted. OCD - I get caught up in perfection instead of allowing happy mistakes to happen. I become so focused that I ignore rich side projects. I will spend inordinate amounts of time on extremely small details that may not matter to the whole. For example, cutting tiny squares. OCD - When I discover a new medium, I hoard on it, which creates boxes and boxes of clutter in my studio. Constructive tameness - I make “to do” lists and check items off as I go. - I keep myself organized with summary sheets and inspiration binders. - I create a blog that keeps track of my progress and reminds me that I spend a lot of my life creating. - I honor an extremely low budget by having control. Instead of buying items, I construct them myself. Destructive tameness - I become so focused on my plan, I don’t allow myself to play and experiment freely. - I’m overly modest, instead of celebrating my creativeness. - I over-intellectualize my work to attempt to make it fit into the “art world”. - I criticize my own work too harshly. Wildness and tameness in dynamic balance - When arriving at my studio, sit quietly for 2 minutes. Then review my “to do” list and begin. - Take time before leaving for my studio, to pack a fulfilling lunch complete with healthy snacks. Goals for this week:
Goals for next week:
|
AUTHORTerrance Graven is a San Francisco artist whose installations incorporate sculptural elements, performance art, costumes, sound pieces, and theatrical lighting. CATEGORIES
All
ARCHIVES
July 2023
|
RSS Feed
