Working Deep

I have a gift.  You may think it has to do with artwork, and you'd be right.  But art is only the vehicle.  My gift is helping others retrieve and decipher their own personal symbols, and helping them display them. These symbols are like breadcrumbs.  The kind of breadcrumbs that are left in fairy tales which lead the way back home.  Home to authenticity.  So I spend a lot of time with my own symbols, and with others who do this deep work.  Right now, I'm digging deep into Extreme Journalism with Juliana Coles in her Altered States class.  

   

 I won't explain these pages.  It would take too long, and they have meaning for me only.  If you see something in them that you recognize, that message would be for you, not for me.  

Just as it is easier to build a house when you have the right tools, art as communication is easier and more effective when you can reach into your bag of acquired skills and pick out what you need on the spot.  I spend lots of time working hard and playing hard to hone my skills in every medium possible.  

Drawing everything in sight is a good, daily habit.  With a time limit, no erasing.  Use a dedicated sketchbook.  It's good for the eyes.  

Learning to see is the mother of all skills and this skill comes with drawing.  Everyone is good at it and no one is good at it.  That's the beauty of learning to see as an artist sees.  What's good is that you develop it.  What's bad is not trying.  Other than that, there are no goods or bads.  Drawing is a tool, not a value.  Tools are neither good nor bad.  They are useful.  My advice is to keep as many on hand as you can.  Keep them clean and sharp.  

As for this particular drawing, do you see the bottom of the Liquitex gesso bottle?  See how flat it is?  That's a trick our minds play on us.  Our minds tend to flatten objects where the base sits on a table.  Try drawing a coffee mug.  You really have to look twice, or more, to get that you've flattened the bottom of the cup when it's really curved, just like the top.  It's the table that is flat. The mind filters out a lot of what the eye sees so it won't be bombarded with more information than it can handle at one time. Consequently, where cup meets table, the mind says flat.  But look again, because what's really there is a curve.  Now look at the masking tape.  See the curve?  When you learn to see with your eyes and not your mind, you draw the curve.

Comments

[sharon]

learning to see with our eyes, as an artist sees, and not with the brain...daily sketching - a must add to my routine. excellent post, as always, barbara!

did you know? the brain makes no distinction between reality and imagination? if you can think it, the brain behaves as if it is real...

love the journal page. rich with symbols that resonate in my brain.

[Rosie]

Barbara, what a brilliant post. Firstly I am deeply envious that you have time to go deeply into your journals - but I don't say that to be mean, I just flit about too much and squander the time I do have!!
There are such gorgeous colours in that spread, which the foxgloves attempt to dominate... and I have said before (to Hermine, I think), that you are an advocate for practising drawing every day. I really should get round to doing that - I can make time for that wherever I am!!
I love your bold colours and it is my dearest wish that we shall meet, sooner rather than later!
Take care,
xoxoxo Rosie

[Rita Ackerman]

This is beautifully said and illustrated. What a great lesson in life and in art. I plan on getting back to my sketch book. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration.

[Alberta/Kathy]

I love Julianna Coles workshops. I did two last summer, and I still use her techniques in my mixed media paintings. Your journal spread is a stunner.

[Birgit]

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

Your post is so thoughtful -- and so true! :)

Greetings from Munich,
Birgit

[Anja]

I'm again totally excited about your fantastic art work. You are so multi-talented, thank you for sharing your talent, I enjoy most visiting your blog.
Have a nice week,
Hugs from Nuremberg in germany,
Anja

[QuinnCreative]

Your journals are wonderful and your words are filled with wisdom. We do not find meaning in life, we make meaning in life. And you are truly making meaning. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us.

[BertaArt]

Love that idea of drawing everything in site, need to practice that more often...Thanks for the great blog.