More Randomly Speaking....Defining Moment

Time again for Randomly Speaking....random things I've read, seen or heard that inspires and helps me (and hopefully you!) in the artistic process.

I love it when I read or find something that identifies and expresses exactly what I am feeling when I am at a loss. What's my problem? AHA .....I just read it. I found it the June issue of Art Calendar.

I have expressed being in an unsettling creative funk and ebb of artistic motivation over these past weeks. After reading several hitting close to my mental home articles in the June issue of Art Calendar, I am no longer at a loss. I can definitely see and say part of my creative paralysis stemmed from trying to create work based on WOULD this sell ( I dunno), do I think this would SELL, who would buy this, rather than just creating for ME. A little self-censorship. I am also guilty of occasionally defining my success based solely on sales. A change of thought process is due and in effect.

Thanks to a profile about featured artist Melissa Peck, I read and recognized my problem. Nothing random at all. It was all there. A few highlighted quotes from this fantastic article:

"When I was the only one I was creating for, that's when I tapped into what makes me unique, which is the thing that makes my work sell........It was such a gift to create for me."

"What I mean is to continue creating for me and not imagining who would be buying my art. By setting aside what I thought I should be painting and doing what I found most exciting I have stumbled upon
something that is uniquely me."
Melissa Peck

"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art." Andy Warhol


I do feel so much better after having read this entire issue. Now I'm done stroking the keyboard and off to picking up a paintbrush. For me.

If you could HEAR a painting....what would you see?

I think it is safe to say that when either creating and/or viewing a work of art, our initial sensory response is to FEEL it. Understanding and appreciating the creative process, the emotional state of mind, and color selection follow. But HEAR? Allow me to indulge and share with you.

In March I attended a concert performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This particular concert was entitled Portrait in Seven Shades with music composed by Ted Nash. It tells a story about seven painters; not through words but through music. The paintings were not displayed as a backdrop so we had to visualize on our own as we listened and heard Mr. Nash's describe his process and musical interpretation and inspiration. I bought the CD! and had it autographed.

Here is a YouTube sampling:


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I am also pleased and relieved to say that my funk is starting to lift and the wind in my creative sails is back. Music helps.