A Few Things I've Recently Discovered
1) Needlepoint stores sometimes carry the most luscious threads. I picked up these beautiful hand-dyed silks at a shop in Connecticut. Now I just have to sort out in my mind what I want to do first.
2) Thoughts on art can appear in the most surprising places. I just finished a wonderful young adult book called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I'd like to share the feelings expressed by the 14 year old protagonist:
I draw because words are too unpredictable.
I draw because words are too limited.
If you speak and write in English, or Spanish, or Chinese, or any other language, then only a certain percentage of human beings will get your meaning.
But when you draw a picture, everybody can understand it....
So I draw because I want to talk to the world. And I want the world to pay attention to me.
3) I am not a natural watercolorist. In an effort to fill up some of the pages of my Sketchbook Project journal (which lie blank, save for the first page which reads, "It's Here, Now What?"), I bought a watercolor pad and tried to create some color washes. Man, I can't even do that. My first effort was very stripe-y and lame. My second effort, a forest of trees, was so bad my youngest thought a [four year old] neighbor had painted it for me. Finally, I spent an hour just trying to paint circles, my favorite shape. I ended up with some circles I'm not too embarrassed with, but this is exhausting! I clearly need practice.
4) I'm now certain the word I've chosen for next year is just right for where I am now. More on that later...
2) Thoughts on art can appear in the most surprising places. I just finished a wonderful young adult book called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I'd like to share the feelings expressed by the 14 year old protagonist:
I draw because words are too unpredictable.
I draw because words are too limited.
If you speak and write in English, or Spanish, or Chinese, or any other language, then only a certain percentage of human beings will get your meaning.
But when you draw a picture, everybody can understand it....
So I draw because I want to talk to the world. And I want the world to pay attention to me.
3) I am not a natural watercolorist. In an effort to fill up some of the pages of my Sketchbook Project journal (which lie blank, save for the first page which reads, "It's Here, Now What?"), I bought a watercolor pad and tried to create some color washes. Man, I can't even do that. My first effort was very stripe-y and lame. My second effort, a forest of trees, was so bad my youngest thought a [four year old] neighbor had painted it for me. Finally, I spent an hour just trying to paint circles, my favorite shape. I ended up with some circles I'm not too embarrassed with, but this is exhausting! I clearly need practice.
4) I'm now certain the word I've chosen for next year is just right for where I am now. More on that later...
Comments
Love that quote about art. Especially the idea that when you draw, everybody can understand it. I think even the most abstract work can touch a synapse in the brain. Whether you know it or not.