every-single-day

Theory and Practice, Intertwined

I have been reading my copy of Ted Orland's The View from the Studio Door. I, of course, love it. I like his thought processes and explanations. Even when I don't agree with him, I am happy to think through our differences in opinion.

Frida Kahlo said, "I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality." and this is the quote that stepped into my thoughts when reading the introduction of Ted's book. When he says that, "theory and practice are always intertwined", I begin to think about what paths the artists I know take, how they must see the world, if perhaps for these artists the world is not what it seems to me.
Perception and thought are so enmeshed in process that perhaps Frida Kahlo truly imagined snake like tendrils of hair surrounding her as she created the piece called , Self Portrait with Cropped Hair, her cut hair looks disturbing, which was (I suppose), her reality. I wonder at the extent that she felt emotion, I am sure it was quite deeply. Frida's "skies" had major influence in her depiction of life's events.

Also I began thinking about Koko and Michael because Ted discussed that art making is specific to human activity. I agree that humans have an edge in this department, but I think the animal/human world is getting smaller and we are having an effect on those animals in our care.
Koko and Michael learned sign language and began painting under the care of The Gorilla Foundation. Check out Michaels portrait of his dog companion.
And of course there are The Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project. Please read the small blurbs about the elephants and their experiences painting, compared to the paintings themselves.

And I think the thing that really hit home for me in this chapter of The View is the question, 'Why do we make art?'
For me? Because making art is the closest I get to meditation. My mind clears and I feel communion with the power greater than myself. I feel like I can fly, speak another language, move mountains. My problems go away, I feel clean and clear and purposeful.
I am happier making art than having made art. The object at the end of the endeavor is nice, pretty, intriguing, but over. Done.
And truly one piece of art informs the next. I love remaining open to what might happen if... I layer organza on top of cotton, coloring circles of green and orange, overlapping, resisting with wax... Solving artistic problems.
It is so like being a scientist.

Posted by Melly at June 6, 2006 06:45 AM