Another important aspect of art is new people coming to it. Think about this: There would be no art, eventually, unless people who have not made it before step up and learn how to make their own personal expressions and then do it. In this way artwork continues to be born and refreshed generation after generation. If people didn’t find the energy to create, there would be no art.
So we come back to my private student, Betty, who is just beginning to find her vision at age 77. This entails a lot of self-discovery—just the journey to learn what her particular inspiration is can be a winding path. But by DOING her art, she’ll learn, better, what moves her.
Then there’s the practice: learning skills simply by the act of painting. There’s choosing what to paint, mixing color, learning how to move the brush on the canvas. There is no way, other than by doing it, to learn the skills that make one a painter (or potter, photographer, sculptor, writer…). Betty is doing this and I celebrate her.
I offer here an excerpt from the introduction to the book, Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland: “This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people—essentially (statistically speaking) there aren’t any people like that. But while geniuses may get made once-a-century or so, good art gets made all the time. Making art is a common and intimately human activity, filled with all the perils (and rewards) that accompany any worthwhile effort. The difficulties artmakers face are not remote and heroic, but universal and familiar…”
It is by human beings’ willingness to continue to create that artwork gets born. We need art in this world. Art is made by mere mortals, like us. We don’t have to be masters to start, and we won’t be. We don’t need to create masterworks. But we need to step up. So I’d like to encourage those of you who have not taken those first steps, to BEGIN. Any of you who have quit, please BEGIN AGAIN. And those of us who are actively creating, to KEEP AT IT! There will be no art without us, and nothing new without students, like Betty, answering the call.
Love to you all,
Jeane
Thanks, Jeane. I needed to hear that this morning!
Linda
And I needed to hear THAT. Sometimes it can feel meaningless but we must continue–one foot in front of the other–and we will find our way back to meaning. Thank you for being part of that.
You know, this touched me. I don’t feel I am a\ “real” artist but when I create my fused glass pieces I become so immersed in my vision of what I want to do and the excitement of the moment(s) that I, too, feel fused into the process. I know I will never run out of ideas and my instructor, Rae Campbell, teaches me something every time. Her knowledge of the medium and her suggestions are never ignored by me because she, like you, has become expert in the experience. I salute both of you for being both an inspiration as well as terrific teachers! And friends!
I am so glad it did and thank you for letting me know. The reason I am doing this blog is to support people’s investigations into self–mine included. I believe we are all “real” artists. Some of us find a way to spend more time accessing and learning our art. I’m thrilled you’ve found Rae. Here’s to more immersion into your vision. THAT’S what it’s all about!
Jeane,
I’m catching up on your blogs, I’ve been involved in my Father’s services and family gathering etc for the past few weeks. Thanks for your dedication to the process of creativity and your blog specifically:) I appreciate seeing it and hearing from you through it. I take it personally since I consider you are talking to me specifically lol 🙂 As do all your readers.
XOXX
Grace
So NICE to have you back! I’m very sorry about your Father, but I know he’s gone to the light, as you’ve said. And I’m so very happy you receive me directly to you through the blog. I am absolutely writing to each and every one of you personally and, I swear, you’re keeping me ALIVE! The connection to you has been very important of late, so thank you for catching up.
Again. So touching. You are really speaking to my heart. I only recently started painting and I had almost thrown in the brush already. Now I am reveling in the process again. I realize I need to come back to painting for ME. If anyone else likes it, great. If not, great!
Hear, hear! And congratulations for coming back to what’s important in making our art. Since you found these posts about Betty inspiring, I’d like to suggest three more in that same section of the blog, “Artistic Process”: On page 5 “A Little Help From My Friends”, also page 5 “Today’s the Day! Beginning to Paint (Again)” and page 4 “Back to the Studio”. Actually, when you have time I think most of the posts in that section could be supportive.