Autumn
is the transition from the bright and productive summer to the bleak
but restorative winter. I hope that autumns journey will bring you the
gift of joyful insight, deep clear feeling, perceptive awareness,
conceptual and creative perspective, and artistic all encompassing
inspiration. Enjoy natures masterful art.
I participate in Flickr.com an incredibly huge (6,000+ uploads per minute) photo sharing/storage community. The site has an interesting feature called Explore, which uses "interestingness" to pick 500 photos per day that are the have the most "interestingness" on that day. For more explanation see Here
These are not necessarily the best on Flickr technically but with all the photos being uploaded being one of the chosen 500 is an accomplishment.
Why does this give me a boost, well isn't that why we do our art? (at least a little). Is my first and foremost reason for doing my creative expression is not recognition, it is to evoke and move people whether I ever know if I have or not, but hey it feels good to get a "way to go, good job". We all need a little boost like that on occasion or we begin to doubt that we are moving anyone. So today go out express yourself through your chosen medium and don't forget to give an occasional "way to go, good job" to a fellow sojourner on this path of expression.
Over the past few days I have had the opportunity to view some fantastic art in a medium that I don't normally think about using. Scare crows. Our botantical gardens (here in Huntsville, AL) annually sponser a scarecrow trail with entries from local businesses, schools, organizations and individuals. I found some incredible pieces of art this year and wanted to share for your enjoyment.
Click on the thumbnail for larger view.
I find it interesting how people react to titles of photos and have come to the conclusion that the title can cause an unwarranted bias on the picture. The title I use for the above photo on my flickr site is "When you look into the heart of a rose" and one of the commentators humorously finished the sentence by saying I see nothing but the bugs. They were kidding being funny however it really made me do some contemplating about the titles we put on our work. Now titling is not always my strong suit simply because sometimes I am just too lazy to think through the best title, but lets explore for a moment what purpose the title serves. In the past titling art work wasn't that crucial because the observer say the work before the title, but in today's digital age it is more likely that the observer will see the title before the work because it has been pulled by a search engine so if the title isn't interesting or if it is offensive then that observer may never make that click.
So what makes a good title? In my humble opinion the best titles evoke the same stirring as the piece of art however finding that perfect match is really difficult sometimes. This subject doesn't just end with art though it spills into every moment of our everyday lives. Names of businesses, products, communities, pets and most importantly children. Ultimately your title (name) is all that you have, so when someone speaks or hears your name does it stir thoughts of hard work, loyality, honesty and respect or does it cause thoughts of disinterest, laziness, dishonesty and disrespect. A rose by any other name?
As
I was thinking this morning an old thought came by to visit. Am I
overlooking my next inspiration or opportunity because I am looking for
the familiar. We all do it unfortunately, expecting the next
opportunity or inspiration to be packaged the same as the last
resulting in us missing a great opportunity or inspiration that was
right in front of us. Years ago I wrote the "parable" below for a
friend who could not see the incredible opportunity in front of them
because they were looking for the familiar. Today don't miss out on
the next inspiration or opportunity because you are looking for the
familiar.!
It’s always been an open door.
(© De Olkiewicz)
I
had been at a point in my journey in life of transition. I had just
been through a season of simply sitting and drinking in the wonders of
life and all that surrounds us and now I could feel the gentle breeze
upon my heart stirring of a new season ahead and could sense it was
time to get up and walk ahead. As I picked myself up, a self that was
strange and different from the self I had always known, and began
walking steps, steps that were shaky and unfamiliar, I found myself
looking for the opening to the next opportunity in life; I was looking
for the open door.
As I slowly walked steps still shaky, self still strange, it wasn't
long before I paused for a mere second at an open window. I glanced at
it, even thought I heard my name whispered from inside it but then I
quickly moved on, because it had always been an open door.
As I walked more, steps began to become steadier and self became more
familiar I paused again, this time at an open gate. I looked at it,
even thought I saw what looked like the faint outline of my name on its
post yet I quickly moved on, because it had always been an open door.
Now as I walked, steps were stable and self felt more natural, I paused
for a brief moment at an open box. I stared at it with some intensity,
even thought I felt a stirring in my heart that it was for me, yet I
moved on, because it had always been an open door.
Time had put much distance now between the unsure steps and the unknown
self that I had known as i walked away from that quiet season that was
all about simplicity, the step now was sure, the self a confident
companion, again I paused this time at an open flower. As I admired the
beauty of it, I thought the fragrance seemed to be solely meant to
perfume my life but I moved on because it had always been an open door.
Steps now were strong and self was an old friend as I continued on and
I found my self standing before an open field, freshly plowed its depth
wide open to the world. As I breathe in the air of anticipation and
expectation that leapt forth from it I know my heart was stirred, yet I
continued on because it had always been an open door.
Finally the season of night began to close around my journey, the step
weak from time the self weary from life, as I found myself about to
close my eyes and enter into the sleep of death, I wondered why I had
never found my next opportunity, because it had always been an open
door.
There is nothing wrong with comfort it is a wonderful thing but I am realizing that it can hold back creativity. In my recent pursuit of being true to the artist I was meant to be I have discovered that the "comfort" of doing things easily (which most of the time meant going to the store and buying what I needed) stifled my creativity and my inventiveness.
Recently I have wanted to improve my lighting set up for photography however there is not really enough money for necessities so I certainly couldn't buy a new set up. I was forced to use my inventiveness and creativity and I have managed to come up with some new lighting options for only a few dollars. A fellow photographer raised the question has digital created a generation of bad photographers who can post process anything to look good? Has it become easy to "point and shoot and review" then delete or say oh I can fix that in Photo shop rather than to get the great shot straight out of the camera.
I for one believe you have to have at least a good photo to start with to make a great one with processing tools, but I think he has a valid question. In the past it was expensive if you had to shoot 3 rolls of film to get one great shot, thus you were more creative, careful and attentive to details before and on every shot. Yet on the other hand, programs like photo shop allows some to explore their creative and the artist within that would not have had it not been for the program. As always "great" art is subjective, yes we can measure technically if it is correct, however it can be poor technically and move people and be great art.
I think we as artist need to evaluate our comfort and see if it is holding us back. Do you strive to improve on your weak areas as an artist (and a person) each day so you can create a masterpiece or are you comfortable with just repeating what you are good at? Our lives and our art are like the wonderful handwoven rug, the front shows the completed product however if you turn it over you see knots and changes that helped to create the masterpiece.
Strive to make today a masterpiece in your art and your life!
I've been in a bit of a creative rut lately, I think it is because my new job is so physically draining. I love the freedom of being a "starving artist" but it is exhausting right now. So I have been pondering how to get out of my creative rut and I think I have figured it out. When we get in a rut whether creatively or in life in general we tend to not see the trees for the forest. In other words it is usually those things that are either around us everyday that we are not seeing or paying attention to or a passion that is near and dear in our heart that we are neglecting. I went shopping with my youngest daughter yesterday and it spurred my creativity, she is so into bright colorful and beautiful clothes and jewelry! As she and I walked around the stores and she found wonderful things to try on I found my creativity and my artistic eye being renewed. So if you are in a rut take a moment to see if you are paying attention to those little things that bring you inspiration! Have a wonderfully creative day.
As an artist I have talked of us being historians, and this past Sunday I had the opportunity to put my artistic historian skills to the test, to capture and tell the story of a tragedy . What was a wonderful Sunday afternoon at the an airshow turned tragic as a thunderstorm ripped through the airport mangling tents and throwing objects around. A child lost his life and many others were hurt, you can read my account and see the pictures at Story
In the moments that followed the storm, my first thought was how could I help but there many trained paramedics and rescue personnel on the scene so I turned to recording the scene with my camera. I tried to take pictures that convey the emotion of the story as well as the story itself. I left and when I arrived home I uploaded the pictures and sent them to a couple of local news station and then decided to write a small summary and submit it and some pictures to Ireport.com.
Monday came my fifteen minutes of fame, CNN called and wanted to use my pictures and account on their website and TV. Suddenly my little story and pictures were easily assessable to the international stage. At last count the story was viewed over 42,000 times but my thoughts were had I been an artist in this. I believe I got the answer to the question when I looked at the comments and people were disagreeing if it was disturbing and tragic, because part of my definition of art is that it makes people think and discuss.
For me this came at a very strange time and provide validation to me you see I am down to my last few dollars and still have not found a job. The tragedy obviously put things in perspective as far as counting my blessing and being grateful but it also came me hope and belief that I do things well and would be valuable as an employee.
Today let your family and friends know how much you love them.
The sharing of joy, whether physical,
emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers
which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared
between them, and lessens the threat of their difference. -Audre Lorde
As artist we are ambassadors for our world and our lives, conveying the similarities and the differences to others in a somewhat non threatening way. One of the best bridges is joy. Capturing the expression of joy in a piece of art is a special moment, for the language of joy is universal. In every culture, joy is prized it is a sign of prosperity, of self contentment, of peace if only for a fleeting moment. It can open doors because it shows that moment of simplicity and vulnerability.
Joy is important in all lives without there is a depth and dimension that is missing. Today capture a moment of joy in your art and live a moment of joy in your life.
