In a slump
Well this
is not the first time I’ve been in a slump. This is however my first go at
slumping the sculpture clay in the mould that was producing my paper thin slip
cast porcelain vases.
Maybe this
is more like it. I know most will like the thin porcelain best. When too many
express they like what I’m doing I get nervous and veer off on another road.
By exposing
what I do publicly I commit to what it is I’m doing. There is no backing down. This
was Number 1 and I’m not sure about the fingers I have wrapping around the form
but then I’d rather they be there than not be if that makes any sense at all.
This way of
working will slow me down. The firing is creeping up on me and I have a pile of
obligations to fulfill over and above life’s ongoing maintenance.
My buddy
Dennis Allen said on FB he couldn’t draw a bath. How many amongst claim we can’t
draw. How embarrassing it would be to confess we can’t read or write but people
are so willing to admit they can only squiggle or doodle but never draw. How
much time do you spend drawing? None, because you claim you can’t do it.
Here is
Tony looking for the heart of Saturday night with a wee shot of tequila and
lime, a book sadly called “Drawing for Older Children and Teens ( A Creative
Method for Adult Beginners Too) and a table full of pencils, quills, magic
markers and my favourite four hours of radio on Saturday night. Vinyl Tap with
Randy Bachman, Saturday Night Blues with Holger Peterson and Apropos with Jim
Corcoran.
There was a
time when I would clean up and jump in the car rush to the end of the road
thinking it’s Saturday night I have to go out and find the heart of it. This is
what everyone else is doing. What am I doing tonight?
Turn around and go home there is a very creative evening awaiting you.
I draw, I
write, I make pots, I read, I listen to music, I cook a nice meal, I treat myself to flowers and usually a nice top
shelf drink or two. It’s Saturday night and I look forward to it.
Dennis my
friend- try drawing on a Saturday night. Don’t let anyone see what you’re
doing. Be alone with your art. Be a four
year old child again except allow yourself a wee nip. Squiggle, doodle, look,
make marks , and treat that time like it is a total luxury to be enjoyed. Seeking
excellence is one thing, seeking perfection according to others is a sure way
of not making anything creative at all.
Comments
I noted a few excerpts that are relevant to what you are writing about and had passed them along to family and friends. Here is a cut and paste form one of those emails.
From the Lynda Barry book "What It Is"
[ L.B. TWO QUESTIONS - IS THIS GOOD? DOES THIS SUCK?
I'm not sure when these two questions became the only two questions I had about my work, or when making pictures and stories turned into something I called work. I just know I'd stopped enjoying it and instead it became work.
When I was little , I noticed that making lines on paper gave me a certain floating feeling. It made me feel like I was both there and not there.
"..... when drawing: one line led to another until they somehow finished. I never felt like I was trying, and the drawing itself didn't matter too me much afterward.]
The next few pages went on to explain how she went from the freedom of drawing in the moment to having her work dominated by the TWO QUESTIONS.
For me virtuosity in any medium or with an instrument in and of itself, while admirable, doesn't deliver the goods.
Speaking of delivering the goods, I may have time today in finding the font of your wishes... can't promise for sure.