Light bulb moments: Those clarifying flashes when something that puzzled you suddenly crystallizes and is understood; The lights go on in your brain. I had one of these today, over such a simple thing that you will laugh. But it meant a lot to me to unravel this thread.
I journal - - a lot. I don't even remotely consider my blog as a journal. My journals are full of pictures and ideas and collaged bits of things I like, and they are there for lots of reasons: Because my fingers need to move, because everyday I need to indulge in direct contact with media, because thoughts on art must be recorded in either words, or images, often both. . . there are lots of reasons. All the reasons have to do in some way or other with art. Often these are images I want to develop or record. Often these are techniques I feel like working with or want to develop. Often it's about wanting to use a particular color, or combination. Sometimes its because my hands just want to make a shape, or a flourish, and need somewhere to put it. And then there are the other times- -the times when I have a concept that needs to be worked out visually, on paper, often symbolically in ways that may be universally grasped, or on the contrary, might be known only to me.
The first set of reasons almost always look like "art" when they're finished. They look like the ubiquitous art journal pages that could as easily be ripped from the books and stand alone. But the other kind of journal page - - the concept development page - - that's a different animal. It more closely resembles a list with supporting pictures than a resolved piece. It's more "diary" page than art journal.
And here's where I get to digress a moment and talk about blogs: Among artists, there are two distinct types of blogs. The art journal which catalogs resolved pieces and resolved ideas, and the art diary. Yes, the diary can incorporate resolved pieces. It is, after all, a chronicle. And yes, the art journal may back up a bit and share what led up to the resolution. But they are distinctly different, and if you take the time and go blog to blog, it's pretty easy to see - - it will jump right out at you - - which blogs are which.
My blog is not a diary. It's purpose is not to tell you what I did, what I'm doing, or what I'm thinking about, on a regularly recorded basis. You may learn these things from visits to my blog, but there are no continuing sagas. What you learn about me from my blog is learned from the stories I tell, when I tell them, pieced together with other stories, when I tell them. It's all about art, and it's the art that contains my stories.
Art diary blogs directly tell what goes on, and they do it with regularity. The art is there, too. In fact, it chronicles the art as well. And it's told in the first person. Blogs like mine are told from the third person. I may start my sentences with "I", but the "I" is reflecting on something learned, some purpose that engaged it, or something already completed. The "I" in my blog does not set as it's purpose to tell you directly what I ate, what my plans are for the day, how my family is or who is sick. If you learn these things, you got it from me indirectly, through another story. See the difference?
OK, why is this important?
It dawned on me today that working journals, no matter how artistic, are still working journals. It doesn't matter if they could sell as art. It doesn't matter if publishers tell you they are art. They are primarily a means of categorizing thoughts on art so the thoughts can crystallize. They are necessary. They are artistic craft.
The other art journals--the ones that begin with "because I want to . . . work with that color, write with this hand, see what these words look like in pink italics, play with that medium. . .these have something different in common: They are not necessary. They serve no purpose other than the pleasure of their creator. They are recess. They are play. They are crafted art. They may in fact, have developed from ideas in a working journal. They may lead to pages in a working journal. But in and of themselves, they are different. And they look different.
Why is this important?
I'm not entirely sure. When it was still a question, it gnawed at the back of my brain, and now that it's been resolved, the gnawing is gone. Maybe it has to do with layout, and placement. It may in some way be tied to the difference between journalism and literature. Both are necessary and valid. Both are connected by words, paper and pictures, but with separate applications, each needing and deserving its own space. Maybe I want to see some kind of separation. Maybe there's this instinctive thing inside me that sees two art journal pages depicted in a magazine that screams: "Hey, wait a minute! They're not the same thing! Both are valid, but they don't belong together - - they each deserve their own space."
The real answer is, "I'm not sure". But I'm liberated from the question, and that matters.
In answer to your question, "So why did I need to read this?", I can only answer, "Well, maybe you didn't. But then again, maybe you did. Maybe somewhere down the line, something like this will matter to you and then you'll start one rung above me on the ladder. Perhaps not with your own answer, but at least with mine as a starting point."
As far as the TIF challenge is concerned, this is where I am today - - a working journal page. It occurred to me how excited I am with the March of Dimes concept, but how bored I am with the prospect of making lots of circles, no matter how pretty. So it was back to brain-storming the concept. It's not completely resolved, but for certain, there will be more than pretty geometry involved. More than mere rows of pretty circles. And It will look nothing like the page above. Those doodles are just the concepts.
And one last thing to leave you with. . .I spent part of the weekend at a Chinese New Year celebration, so here's my fortune cookie wish for you all: May you profit greatly from time spent pleasantly.
I know just what you mean by having a question in your head that you have to answer. Your thought process was interesting; thanks.
Posted by: Kay | February 12, 2008 at 03:24 PM
What an interesting Q & A session... I'm not sure how I feel about all that, but you always say the most thought-provoking things...
I enjoy what I do and I like to share the creative process - including the mistakes I make - I think it makes me more 'human'!! I'm not just a creative little robot, going from challenge to challenge.
I love what you write, when you write and sharing your arty thoughts with us is so generous.
Love your blog and my face always lights up when I spot a comment from Barbara Hagerty! :)
Posted by: Rosie | February 13, 2008 at 01:58 AM
interesting thoughts
thanks for sharing
neki desu
Posted by: neki rivera | February 15, 2008 at 09:26 AM