Here are some sketches from my journal. Some are old and some aren't. I'm trying out different ways of working in my journal for an upcoming workshop that I am teaching and it seems very apparent when I'm trying to be someone other than myself. Let's see if you can tell which ones I'm talking about.
Who would dare to venture a guess on which ones are 'you'? What if I'm wrong? However, for fun, I venture the following: the first one, although you write about family on it, and I have seen you do birds before, this piece is brighter and less full of Jamie chaos than what I've seen of yours before. The second one reminds me of your kids series, so that fits. The sketches of people and puppy (I'm assuming that's Gertie?) I remember you doing such sketches while sitting in church with you, and the last, well, it's a full-figured lady, which in my knowledge of your artist-life, is your first love. But I'm guessing that you think this is not you because of the humour you put into it. I can almost hear you in my head saying, "I don't do funny." Well, it is you as a person if not what you usually put in your art. Meaning I can picture you having a good laugh about it, but then feeling like it doesn't mean as much to you as your other pieces, so why do funny art? Isn't the point to communicate something meaningful? I don't buy this sarcastic, ironic contemporary turn.(this is you talking). Now I'm pretty sure I'm right on this (now this is me talking): the one which is probably most you is the Ash Wednesday one. It's full of connected images and words, expressing doubt in yourself and your meaning. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteDon't hate me if I'm wrong. And anyway, yes, you should be comfortable with your 'muse', but there's nothing wrong with trying new things. Usually when I try new things they come out the same as the old things. Or just bad.