It’s not easy to observe that as I approach 700 in this series of 1000, the way I put images together has not changed fundamentally since I started doing digital work ten years ago. Hopefully there is some noticeable maturity and sophistication in the results of my creative process, but I have to admit it’s a disappointment that there haven’t been major breakthroughs in the way I work. There have been some interesting techniques I’ve developed, and I’m happy to have those in my artistic quiver. I also look forward to more explorations in the time-based work that has come out of this exploration.
But the initial desire I had for the Weekly Press was to find fundamentally new ways of working within the confines of 2 dimensional art-making. My mistake, I believe, was in putting too much faith and focus on the process and technique, and not enough on the thought and philosophy behind the images themselves. The latter is really where the meaning lies in my work. The method of creating this work adds only a little to the overall meaning, even with the references within the imagery to the digital process.
So, learning from that, for the next 300 in the series, I think I’ll try shifting focus to a wider exploration of images; things I avoid, things I don’t like, or do like but haven’t taken the time to do them. I’m finding it easy to be lazy. It’s time to put a little more effort into it.
Are you on auto pilot too?
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Or as the great jazz musician Sun Ra said, “Play what you don’t know.” Or, as I heard Anthony Braxton paraphrase, “wake up every morning a play something you’ve never heard before.” Easier said than done.
There can be comfort in continuing old ways of doing… I find lately that the familiarity of the process gets me back to the work when I have been pulled away from the work by life: appointments, responsibilities, etc. But it is difficult for me to explore a new process when the outcome of an old process results in a beautiful product… then the familiar process continues to be rewarding. New processes for me come when I explore new media, which I have not attempted lately. Maybe it is time for that!
Lately, I’ve considered it a victory just getting up every morning. So from there, the thought of creating something at all is a milestone.
Yes! Thanks for that reminder. It’s helpful to remember that the map you have to all that is familiar can lead you to places you’ve never been, or haven’t seen in a while. Exploring a new medium is a great way to cross over into unexplored territory.
And be prepared for schools to be wrong. This morning on the radio the guest, Oppenheimer related a story about getting a paper returned with a word corrected. The teacher substituted the word “pacific” for his word, “specific.” He took it to her and said the word he wrote was the word he wanted and used it in a sentence. The teacher said there was no such word as “specific,” the word was “pacific.” In school you can be merely marking time, or worse, unless you find the right teachers. Same goes for out of school.
Hi, Bruce
Perhaps some of your dismay comes from playing the same “tapes” in your head. No easy way to get around this, I think. Maybe you should explore animation–still two dimensional (unless motion itself is a dimension). We are such creatures of habit, even when it comes to creativity. Try “jostling” your day, doing things at different times, and see what comes of that.
Good luck!
Liz
These are great ideas, Liz. Thanks!
Just hearing the word auto-pilot gives me the willies, and yet it happens to me! Your observations on your work Bruce, are insightful and very honest. I am reminded of Diebenkorn’s NOTES TO MYSELF ON BEGINNING A PAINTING….
1. ATTEMPT WHAT IS NOT CERTAIN. CERTAINTY MAY OR MAY NOT COME LATER. IT MAY THEN BE A VALUABLE DELUSION.
2. THE PRETTY, INITIAL POSITION WHICH FALLS SHORT OF COMPLETENESS IS NOT TO BE VALUED-EXCEPT AS A STIMULUS FOR FURTHER MOVES.
3.DO SEARCH. BUT IN ORDER TO FIND OTHER THAN WHAT IS SEARCHED FOR.
4. USE AND RESPOND TO THE INITIAL FRESH QUALITIES BUT CONSIDER THEM ABSOLUTELY EXPENDABLE.
5. DON’T “DISCOVER” A SUBJECT-OF ANY KIND!
6. SOMEHOW DON’T BE BORED- BUT IF YOU MUST, USE IT IN ACTION. USE ITS DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL.
7. MISTAKES CAN’T BE ERASED BUT THEY MOVE YOU FROM YOUR PRESENT POSITION.
8. KEEP THINKING ABOUT POLYANNA.
9. TOLERATE CHOAS.
10. BE CAREFUL ONLY IN A PERVERSE WAY.