Okay. So upon rereading my Far From Perfect, post I am struck with a combination of both shame and scrappiness. Not that the things I listed are untrue, but they are definitely one-sided – my exhausted, frustrated, doom-and-gloom side. In reality, there are manymanymany good things to balance the bad out – like making time to do fun things with my children, like making time to be creative again, like making time for hot baths and cool music and tasty food and amazing friends. Though this week has been far from ideal in the sleep department, I have managed to grab a few larger bits here and there, and as such, have gotten a bit more perspective. Thank goodness.
I just have to keep reminding myself that I’m pretty much in “survival mode” right now (i.e. make sure we are all fed, watered, dressed, sheltered, and safe…period), and that I can’t possibly do everything – even at the best of times. With that frame of mind, I picked up Kelly Rae’s book again and forced myself to get past Chapter 1. So what if I can’t get all introspective and dreamy right now? Who the heck cares? It doesn’t mean that I can’t still learn from the book, does it? No. No, it does not. In fact, I’m using it like one might use a cookbook, and it has inspired me to try out some new techniques – even if they’re not necessarily in the spirit of self-discovery and personal growth, as the book had intended.
Taking Flight, by Kelly Rae Roberts.
I’m actually mid-way through working on a collage right now, and I’ll be sure to post the results when I’m done. But it’s been exceptionally freeing to just set myself aside for a bit, and focus on somebody else’s work. This process actually reminded me of one of my first year art classes where every week, we would have to copy a well known artist’s work to the best of our abilities. We would have to chose a piece, analyze the materials used, how the marks were made, the “feel” of the image, etc… and then try to duplicate all of it – even the signature. Standing on the shoulders of giants and all that. It was a great way to practice without having to concern yourself with being “original” or “creative” or whatever. Here are a few of the ones I did, paired with photocopies of the originals.
Van Dongen
Gustav Klimt
Pablo Picasso
Unknown
Egon Schiele
So, yeah. It’s been a breakthrough of sorts. It’s gotten me working again without me having to stretch too far beyond my capabilities, and it feels good to just play. Not that I would ever fully adopt someone else’s style as my own and try to profit from it, but it is a great feeling to admire somebody’s work and then to be able to create something similar that you enjoy as well. There is an irony to all of it, however. I was just reading Kelly Rae’s blog the other day. She just recently had a baby and has had to set aside her artistic endeavours to embrace motherhood full on. Fancy that. It’s been a tough journey, though, as it turns out that baby True has recently been found to have INFANT ACID REFLUX. Ah, universe. You and your wacky ways.
