Saturday's Coyote

If you find that you are sick of trying to find something good to watch on TV or Netflix lately and really want to be inspired, I highly recommend this interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAk4cwjvJ0A

I think you will LOVE it. I did. (With a shout out to Elena Ray for recommending it to me - thank you!!!)

Here's a new one from the steamy encaustic studio:

"Trotting Coyote." Encaustic, thread and ink transfer, 8 x 8 inches.

If you don't have time to watch the whole interview, I have cherry picked one of my favorite quotes from it:
"There is no creativity without vulnerability." ~Brene Brown

Your expression is Unique

"Consolation." Oil on linen. 40 x 40 inches. (repaint from 2012)

After several discussions recently with artist friends, I have come to realize that the most important thing an artist can do is show up, every day, in the studio, and work.

Easier said than done.

Sometimes it's pretty easy. Go into the studio, paint. But then there are those other times. Those times when you question absolutely everything you are doing, and you think there can be absolutely no benefit to society in this endeavor that is painting. I am alone, painting one picture after another, agonizing over some, effortlessly revealing others.

It is at such times - those times of doubt, when one must find other creative people who are doing what we are doing, or have done what we are doing. They can reassure. 

You can listen to a great piece of music. Your soul is lifted. You can visit a museum. You are awe-struck. You can watch a great dancer/ice skater/actor. You are transported. You can read a poem or book where something really speaks to you, almost as though it were written for you alone. Then, you are reminded that yes, there is a benefit in creative endeavors. Others are changed by what you may do, if not by something you do today, then by something you do one day.

For all of my creative friends (which is almost all of you, whether or not you admit it): keep on, keepin' on!

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is or how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open”

Martha Graham

(Martha Graham was considered the "Picasso of modern dance." You can read more about her here.)

Happy New Year!

M gave me this fantastic book for Christmas:
Wayne Thiebaud - A Paintings Retrospective. Thiebaud has been one of my painting heroes for quite some time now, but as I drool over this book, I admire him more and more.

I have been taking time to see art in person. I recently have gotten the chance to see Diebenkorn's Berkley Years at the Palm Springs Art Museum as well as a very exciting trip to Los Angeles to see MOCA. Let me just say that the permanent collection at MOCA is really something else. It would be hard to make a list of all of the works of art that I saw - all I can do is tell you about the main highlights for me. Oh, the Giacometti sculptures! Oh, an Agnes Martin right next to Cy Twombly! OOOOoooo...look at the David Smith! And then there was the effect the Rothko room had on me. I walked in and was overcome. Tears in my eyes, I felt almost like I couldn't breathe. Or maybe that I no longer had to...

Now, for all of you who pooh pooh Rothko, I am just going to say that I once felt the way you did. I once saw a Rothko painting in a book and thought, "what is all the hoopla about this painting?" I even saw one small Rothko painting in a museum once and felt the same way. But that was before I was really painting in earnest. It was also before I saw a really large Rothko in person. The thing that can never ever be explained about a Rothko painting is the presence, the physical quality it has in person. The velvety color, so deep you feel like you could dive into it. The monumental size of some of them, especially when there are several grouped together, like in that room at MOCA, also adds something to the effect they have on a sensitive person. All I can say is that I am really happy I got the opportunity to see that. (Kudos and thanks to M and C for going with me, and to M for driving in the terrifying LA traffic.)

I have to say, for someone who didn't get to visit many art museums as a child, I am happy that I have been given opportunities to make up for some of that as an adult.

Here I am, trying my best to be near Rothko. No photo will ever do this painting justice.

It is important to feed your creative spirit. That is what I have been doing. Seeing other artist's work. Visiting friends. We even got to go to a place that was wet and green over the holidays! Hopefully, all of this re-fueling will pay off in the studio.

Stay tuned for new work, opportunities to see my work in person, and an upcoming online class! Here's a teaser: the class is a painting class called "Using non-representational art to find your voice as a painter." It will be coming this spring! It's a two week class, so if you think you might be interested, let me know. (Thank you, to those of you who already have!)

(This is the blog post that took two weeks to write. I am recovering from a cold, but there really is no good excuse.)

These are Thiebaud's words, but they are precisely how I feel:

"People say painting's dead. Fine. It's dead for you. I don't care. Painting is alive for me. Painting is life for me."

Wishing you all the best for 2014, my dear readers!

What IS talent?

tal-ent \'ta-lənt\
Noun
1

a: any of several ancient units of weight

b : a unit of value equal to the value of a talent of gold or silver

2

archaic : a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal

3

: the natural endowments of a person

4

a : a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude

b : general intelligence or mental power : ability

5

: a person of talent or a group of persons of talent in a field or activity

A young boy is bored one day in class. He begins to doodle in his notebook. His father happens to see the doodles and buys him a sketchbook. Shows him books about art. Takes him to museums. Introduces him to working artists. The boy draws and paints throughout his school years. He eventually goes to college and then graduate school where he studies art. He graduates and immediately gets recognition for his work and gallery shows. Is this talent?

A young girl who is shy and awkward in school doesn't make many friends. She doesn't get good grades. She reads a lot, alone in her room, and begins writing in a diary. Her parents don't make much money, and they are too busy with their own problems to give her much attention. She makes it through high school and college without any major accomplishments. Her guidance counselor worries that she doesn't show any real interest in school or friends. She floats around from job to job. She works as a waitress for a while, all the time writing in her journal. She never marries or has children. When she dies, her journals are discovered. They are filled with magnificent stories and poems, many of which are published posthumously. Her writing is read by millions worldwide. Is this talent?

I have been reading about talent, genius, creativity and success, always hoping to gain a little insight. Maybe hoping to learn something valuable. I have yet to read Gladwell's Outliers, but I am familiar with some of the ideas he outlined in his book, particularly the ten thousand hours theory. The main thing that I have so far concluded is that there is no one thing that leads a person to succeed. Not only that, but success is defined differently by everyone. Talent is also defined differently. Many of you probably already know that I have never put much faith in talent, whatever it is.  I am a proponent of the parable of the tortoise and the hare (and that's not just because I live near them and paint them!) 

I have spent too many hours writing this post, and reading about all these ideas, and now I sit here wondering why. I suppose it's because for most artists, there is always a point in time (sometimes more than one point) when we look at how we spend our days and we wonder. "Why do I paint?" "Should I paint (write, dance, sing, etc.)?" "Is creativity important?" "Do people who aren't artists even care about art anymore?" Introspection is a big part of the creative life for me. I question everything. I doubt everything. And then I go back into the studio and paint some more. Because I don't know the answers, and making art is how I search.

"A question of Time." Acrylic on cold press watercolor paper. 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches. ©Karine Swenson 2013

"Pools of Light/ pools of water." Torn envelope and acrylic on cold press watercolor paper, 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches. ©Karine Swenson2013

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” 
― Calvin Coolidge

What do you think?

Inspirations

I just spent two long days printing monotypes.  As soon as they are dry, I will post a few of them for you.  Hang in there!

I find that I can't just create art without periodically re-fueling my creative mind.  One of my favorite ways to re-fuel is reading fiction.  I love novels, particularly those with a female main character.  That isn't a pre-requisite, but I do relate to female characters more easily.  The book I just finished reading was a collection of short stories by Nadine Gordimer.  I haven't read any of her novels, but after reading the short stories, I will add that to my "books to read" list.  I am currently devouring Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune.  It doesn't seem to matter what time I crawl into bed, I cannot seem to turn out the light without picking up that book and reading until my eyelids are heavy.  I am also a big fan of National Geographic.  I love to read it in the morning with a cup of tea. 

Another way I like to fill up the creative jar is by watching movies.  We just saw Avatar in 3D on Friday, and for those of you who have not seen it, GO!  Go as soon as you can, and if possible, do try to see it in 3D, just because it is such an experience. We also recently watched a movie about Alice Neel, a favorite artist of mine.  It is called Alice Neel (attention, Lily), and is available with NetFlix.  It was directed by her grandson, and features quite a bit of dialogue from the great Neel herself, as well as interviews with her sons.  I found it incredibly inspiring. 

Of course, the best way to re-vamp is being in nature.  I love to be outdoors, and I love to take time to examine and appreciate nature in all of her glory and wonder.  Fresh air, exercise and a few scratching quail - what could be better?  I am fortunate to live in a place where nature is right outside my doorstep.  This desert is an awe-inspiring place, unlike any other place we have ever lived.  I feel incredibly fortunate, in so many ways.  Part of my job seems to require me to observe, and there is nothing I love to observe more than this world we live in. 

Here I am at Red Rock Canyon near Vegas.  Photo courtesy of M.

The final thing I do to prepare myself for making art is writing in my journal.  It is something I have done for a long time.  I had kind of let my journal go by the wayside, until I read Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way.  She reminded me of how much benefit can be gained by just letting the thoughts roll out onto paper, without censoring or fear.  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. 

What do you do to re-fuel?  I am always curious for other ideas I can add to my list. 

Refueling creativity

From time to time, the creative mind needs refueling. The way I refueled my creative self this past week was through travel. First, a short trip to Vegas with my dear husband. We didn't go for gambling, but just to get away and be alone together. Next, we went to Reno, where his parents live. Matthias had to leave for work, but I stayed on for a few days. My in-laws took me up to Lake Tahoe, which I haven't visited since I was a little kid. I had a bad ear infection that time, so I had no memory of the lake. It is remarkably spectacular! Some of the sights:

A few photos of the edge of Lake Tahoe. I love the contrast of the blue water and the white rocks. I could have spent all day sitting on one of those rocks. Next time!
This vintage car with matching trailer we first saw in Vegas. I saw it again in Reno, because "Hot August Nights" was going on, where all the vintage car fanatics meet for a week of old cars and fun. The photo doesn't really do it justice. The inside of the trailer was ADORABLE!!! It had Betty Boop curtains and everything.

We drove through this beautiful storm on the way back from Vegas. We even got rained on a little bit!

Have a great weekend, everyone!