Making Marks

Virtual Communities

Robert Genn, author of the bi-weekly newsletter The Painter's Keys , offers a free service of listing artists' websites and contact information. At first I decided against listing there because I thought it was for painters. However, he lists artists who work in all media. It's a valuable contact point and is a great place to surf "eye candy".

Genn's newsletter is often about painting in oils or acrylics, but he also discusses myriad topics that apply to all artists. I have archived his pieces on "Pattern language", "The nature of serial process" and "Terminal creativity" among others. While I'm most interested in his writing that is about overarching artistic dilemmas, I have learned some about painting landscapes along the way. His perspective is both helpful and practical.

All kinds of communities have emerged as the Internet developed, and Genn's efforts embody some of the better qualities offered on the web: a concrete, specific sharing of knowledge; a place to see what other artists are doing; and an archive of various thoughts from other artists. This coherent presentation of serious topics is an invaluable resource.

Artist's Way Lessons

Last September I joined a group who was committed to working through Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. Many of the exercises were designed to help artists who felt stuck or ineffective, and I couldn't relate to that feeling. I've often felt I had an abundance of ideas and a dearth of time to execute them. However, I did most of the exercises, and the most valuable has been the Morning Pages. I have been writing them for the past year with great success. For me, the pages are a concrete tool to help me get some ideas, problems, issues, and patterns onto the page. I tend to live in my thoughts, which can lead to in-action while I process and process. Writing every day has been a powerful way to see new alternatives, and push myself to think of other solutions that I just wouldn't get to if I weren't writing them down.

I found the Morning Pages a terrific way to record inspirations, write through problems, and create clarity on some issues. The surprise to me has been in the creativity that explodes out of the writing. I've felt very successful in achieving goals in the past, but the satisfaction I've gotten through writing about my creative process has brought out even better ideas. As I look back over the past year, I've seen development in my skills, and the Morning Pages have helped me make connections between ideas to make the content of my work even richer.

Inspiration and integration

As a cooperative gallery member, I sit the gallery once a month. Often I spend part of the day closely looking at other members' work and recording inspirations.  I often note color combinations, the use of a pattern in a background or how a piece was framed. The house box to the left was partially inspired by a deep coral and turquoise color combination I saw in Lunaria Gallery. I'm fortunate to have frequent opportunities to see good and great art in person and on the web.

I know that historically many artists lift ideas from each other, and outright copying is used as an instructional tool to this day. A friend told me of one of her art assignments: to replicate an Impressionist's painting. She painted a good facsimile and cut it up to rearrange the pieces because she was so uneasy about bringing another artist's work in as a finished painting. While I'm frequently influenced by other artists, I feel slightly uncomfortable about it. First, I don't want anyone to feel ripped off. Second, I want my work to reflect me instead of someone else's aesthetic.  My goal is to integrate the inspiration into my own work. I find that integration revealing itself in fits and spurts as I work on new pieces. It's exciting.

The Planning Stage

For me, the big things take a lot of planning. Right now I'm planning for my other job, teaching. While I know that will pay off as the year progresses, I'm missing time at the art table. Simlutaneously, I'm vaguely aware that my subconcious is chewing on something. . . the preplanning. . . maybe an inspirational dream. . . maybe a new color combination that sings. . . maybe an image to incorporate into my work. . .

I'm often quite impressed with how the brain works. Even with all of the newer technology that maps out thought processes with super-cool imaging, I haven't seen documentation of how creativity physically or chemically happens. How can the synaptic magic of connecting old patterns and a spark of a new insight to create something new be captured? All I know is that I'm grateful I finally think of the right color to bring a piece together. (And I hope I can get the same kind of inspiration in the classroom to achieve our highest and best there.)