New Year Resolution

I come to write December’s post, mind not yet clear, too many ripples and eddies in the wake of so many summer and autumn words … must settle, look ahead … and there it is: a vast expanse of white space … I page down, again, and again, nothing below the cursor but potential, possibility …

And so the New Year ... Time to settle, reorient, reboot … time to RESOLVE: “In the white space of the new year, I will either: (1) Begin a new personal artistic practice of some sort; (2) Or act as an Art Missionary to a child in my life!”

So, dear reader, might you … and here are some suggestions to make it easier:

Cave painting

If you resolve to learn and practice an art, especially if it will be your first serious such effort, you might use January to explore the many, many options – there is so much that others do that you can learn: assemblage, ceramics, collage, computer art, drawing, jewelry, macramé, painting, photography, sculpture, sketching, and more. Your library will have more books than you imagine – just leaf through them and note what resonates with you. The internet will have more yet, so do look there, but a book in hand generally communicates the feel of an art more immediately than jumping through a series of internet hyperlinks and search results.

Willendorf Venus
sculpture 22,000 BCE

But don’t stop there, talk to people – tell friends of your resolution, they will often know normal, everyday practicing artists who will be happy to share thoughts and experience with you. And don’t pay any attention to the artificial and insidious distinction in some minds between fine art, folk art, and craft. Unless you have it in you to be Van Gogh, Picasso, or some other such genius, it matters not a whit – and I guarantee that 99.6% of all fine art snobs are nowhere near that kind of genius. Do what moves and gratifies you, and do it for that and for no other reason.

Easter Island sculpture, 1500 CE

Once you have chosen your personal art, you need only dive in. Start with books and librarians, internet, friends, friends of friends, classes [many are offered at little expense], etc – and perhaps join or attend Angola Regional Artists’ Guild meetings, free to the public, usually the second Tuesday of each month [except December] at the Angola Carnegie Library, 6:30-8:00.

Picasso, collage 1912

Diving in, don’t expect to be “good” anytime soon, and don’t worry about it, just get wet. Experiment, muck around, explore, and get better each year without worrying about the months between. The good news is that immature and technically poor works can still be enormously gratifying. The creative experience is far more important than the end result. I promise you this is true … The problem though is that so many people are too insecure to tune in to and to value their experience, hence are crushed by the devil INGE: “It’s not good enough.” Of course it isn’t good enough, but that doesn’t matter … you WILL improve, so just enjoy the creative experience, not to mention all the new acquaintances and friends you will meet along the way. And know that This is your one and only, individual, original, real life – so superior to mass market entertainment or Cyberspace!

Robert Frank, photography 1954

A final note on these directions: look for books and classes that emphasize experimentation with the medium over technical skill. A really great example is “Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media” by Heather Smith Jones. This is a wonderful book, even if you have no intention of painting, for its emphasis on exploration and mixed-media integration into projects. I can’t explain that satisfactorily in this post, but ask for it at the library, request interlibrary loan if necessary, or buy it on Amazon [often very low prices on many used books in excellent condition].

Now, if instead [or in addition] you resolve to be an Art Missionary to a child in your life: make a written list of potential enrichment activities and pencil in 4-6 approximate dates for action. For example, art-related birthday and Holiday gifts; a trip to local or regional gallery or museum in March; summer art camp at local library in August; an overnight with Aunt Julie [who practices collage or whatever] in October; etc. And consider giving your special child a copy of this list as a Holiday or a New Year present – this will help keep you on track.

Contemporary, popped up from a Google Image search on Child Art

There are other Missionary activities you can do together. A well-known local artist I know watches YouTube “time lapse” art videos with a special thirteen year old [just search Google on time lapse art]. Or search Google on any word, but instead of a Web or News search, do an Image search and see what comes up … which often leads to other interesting sites to explore … good time together!

Sometimes I’ll send an experiment to a grandchild in the mail: for instance, once I colored a blank paper with crayons, mixing red, orange, violet, yellow, blue, and green lines into an abstract sun, field, and sky … then severely crumpled the paper several times, unfolded the crumples, and cut a large circular disk out of the page. The result was a really interesting mix of texture and volume effects. Just trying to communicate to a 9 year old that there are no rules in Art except to Experiment and Explore!

That's all for now ... Thanks for your company throughout 2011, and please do consider taking that New Year Day polar bear plunge [the new Art or Art Missionary resolution]: it may be icy cold at first, but such new waters are always invigorating! And best wishes for a brave New Year, with all my heART!



Stephen Rowe currently serves as the Angola Regional Artists’ Guild publicity chairman and welcomes correspondence of all sort per StephenRowe.OriGraphics@yahoo.com