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Acknowledging Uniqueness, Gifts, and Giving

Larger Tree - Digital Painting - 2004

I noticed an article today in an RSS feed and it corresponded quite a bit to something I was thinking about. Not being one for coincidence, I figured it would be appropriate to share.

The article "Connect With Your Strengths" is about acknowledging who you are - recognizing your gifts and utilizing that strength. I am not sure I am in tune with everything said, but that is ok.

The connection to me, is that I am deeply aware that I am my own biggest fan. This is not to say there are not many other people in my life who like my work. But when I produce a music album, I am certain that I listen to it much more than anyone else. The melodies speak to me directly.

On the one hand, I think it is rather narcissistic of me. On the other hand, if I don’t like it, than what is the point in sharing - unless to prove oneself right (that it’s no good) or perhaps learn something from the process. 

I would never advocate liking one’s work no matter what - but I do believe that one must appreciate the work that one feels good about. And sometimes in the communication of creativity it is enough to be simply communicating with oneself.

See Also

• Connect With Your Strengths
  Acknowledging one’s uniqueness
• Free Download info on Outhouse Studios site
  Information about downloading no-loss image of tree above

Shared Aesthetic, Process, Unique, & Sameness

Meaning - Digital Painting 2006 - Larger Meaning

We hear all the time, you can find anything on the internet.  It amused me one day that I should do a search for meaning on google. Not really expecting to find enlightenment - which I suppose could also be searched for - but curious.

So as I write this and if you eventually find this from such a search - you will find the above painting which I did quickly.

The title is not really suggesting that the work is so profound, but I will offer this. The piece is completely about the process, it is about using motion that is uniquely mine given my physical attributes and limitations. It is about using a language and aesthetic which are completely shared.  It is about the view from my perspective.

We are unique in our bodies and the same in our shared culture and spirit.  Meaning can be found in the differences as well as in the sameness; but if too different or too the same - there is little if any meaning to be found.

See Also

• The Artistry of Traditional African Sculpture
  Discussion of shared aesthetic crossing cultural lines
• Excerpts from Metaphors We Live By
  Shared aesthetic search yielded sayings about love and therefore life

Art and Pain Relief, Art as a Place to be Oneself

View larger Manipulated Color Play - Digital Painting 2006 

Yesterday or the day before, I came across an article which struck both as an important realization and also something obvious.  That art might be useful in the reduction of pain and in self realization does not seem particularly new to me.  That such results are not tied to the results of the artwork but rather the process itself also seems like a given. But then again, I create a lot. I recognize the difference in processes. Certain things yield different types of results.

For instance, what one gains by a free flowing kind of art vs a controlled intentional type of art are different. But either way, the process  gives results whether the finished piece results in anything worthwhile or not.

The connection with the article which in some ways seemed delightfully obvious to me - is that I had just finished a piece which I approached with abandon. I wanted the feeling of painting - seeing the colors overlap - finding joy in the movement itself - yes moving the mouse quickly with a flourish is quite enjoyable to me - no corrections just flowing - and then play with the medium - flipping things and turning sections and copying and pasting and then selecting another area and moving it just so.

A great deal of fun and refuge and meditation - I like the results, but then again I wasn’t trying and I am ok with changing my mind about it.

See Also

• ABC News: Better Living Through The Arts
  Discussion of pain relief and therapy through the artistic process
• American Pain Foundation | Pain Monsters: Art Therapy and Chronic Pain
  Art, Chronic Pain, and History
• The Healing Art: Patient, Express Thyself
  The Language and Beauty of Art in Relationship to Pain Relief

Creating from memory - true to experience

Cactacious - Digital Painting 2005

This is a  painting from memory of the Joshua Forest Parkway  on US Highway 93 between Kingman and Phoenex, AZ - more specifically, the section where there are both Joshua Trees in the foreground and the Saguaro Cactus on the slopes behind.

The Joshua Tree had a big impact on me. They look like they are from another planet - tree-like at the bottom - they are spiked with ferocity.  Not only do we need to be careful or distant, but it seems they need space from themselves as well - as they do not grow close together.  They are also very slow growers and can get up to a 1000 years old.

I keep saying that I am more concerned with feeling than literalness of what I am painting.  Though I am fairly true to the landscape and look of the two species, some of the colors and specifics of the scene are created to be more interesting to the eye.

With that said, I still believe this is a piece mostly about recording/recognizing a really wonderful experience and keeping alive some of the feeling.

See Also

• Simi Dimbah Steel Sculptures
  Sculptor clearly influenced by desert and Joshua Trees
• The life cylcle of Saguaro Cactus
  additional link from in text with more info on cactus
• Joshua Trees
  Mojave National Preserve - tells additional info from link in text about Joshua Trees

Getting around creative blocks, obstacles and results

Sometimes when one goes to create, one is confronted by one’s own obstacles. We can have the wrong attitude, feel tired, feel unenthused, feel anything but creative. The question is what we choose to do about it.

We can give in and put off the creative project - and wait for the right mood or inspiration. We can look around in hopes of seeing something which will inspire, trying things which have worked in the past - taking account of the world around us.

We can also choose to approach things from a completely different place. This might mean a number of things.  For instance, in going about writing this article, my normal methodology was feeling stale - doing some specific searches and finding enough similar articles to be able to write my own twist on the common themes. But today I write from me - and hope to make the connections afterwards - and if not - so be it.

For creating a work of art, a piece of music, article, etc. might necessarily speak to the community it comes from, but shouldn’t always be a reaction. In fact, what is more unique is what comes from the attitude of not giving a damn.

And that is what brings us back to the beginning. Much of our being uninspired or unenthused is about our attachment to the results. It is ok to do something lousy - perhaps like the sales philosophy of every missed sale bringing one closer to a made sale - bad results are ok too.

The only true way I know to get over the stumbling block of being uncreative is to not give a damn about the results. The results may still stink, but you nevertheless will have been creative and that is the process - focus on the process and the results will come.

See Also

• Media Monitors Network: Indigenous People’s Folklore and Copyright Law
  Extensive discussion of creative collective vs individual creativity
• Mountain Union College: Environmental artist brings her colorful concept to Stark County
  Unique envirnmental art using yarn
• The Arizona Rebublic: Art space grows in front yard
  Unique art by untrained house painter
• Herald.net: Salvage Sisters turn trash to treasure
  Three women create anew from some things old