Skip to main content

Chaos vs. Order in the Artistic Process






   In my art I use a lot of stuff, and by stuff I mean paper, beads, canvas, leather, wood, clay, and of course the requisite dried slices of acrylic paint. I have a wonderful work area devoted to  jewelry making, and as soon as I sit down at my work table I can dive right in to the work of making new pieces. In the artistic process there tends to be much shuffling of stuff. It is easy to  get so involved in this process that the work area becomes a chaotic mess of stuff. 



     There comes a time in my work process that I simply need to 
stop, put everything back in order, and start up again. Curiously, I  find that this brief time of setting things back in order is also the time when I get my best ideas and inspiration. It’s like getting a breath of fresh air. Once that occurs, I am eager to dive in and start the work all over again.

     I know artists who seem to thrive amidst the chaos of their work. For them it’s "the messier the better." I know other folks who won't even allow themselves to delve into the artistic process because they don't want to get messy. Somewhere in between these two extremes there is a balance, and that balance is where I need to be in order to produce artwork of quality. 


   Art is, after all, an organization of elements to bring about a visual representation. It's all about bringing order to chaos. “Art is the triumph over chaos” according to John Cheever.  As such,
an art piece can be a reflection of balance and order, or the lack thereof. 


    I derive satisfaction and grow in anticipation from the simple routine of setting up of paint, textured papers, pencils, brushes and water dish in preparation for painting. With jewelry making, as I set out of the color groups of beads, papers and paint films so all is at my fingertips, the inspiration starts to flow. The setting up process is akin to setting the stage for a great production. (Of course my cat tries to help by taking over my newly restored and organized work space. Sometimes that is a problem.) 



   At the end of my work time, I always take the time to clear off 
the table so that next time I can have a fresh start with a clean slate.
Before leaving for a weekend show, I clear the table and leave 
myself a card that says "Welcome back". For me this is all part of working in the balance between chaos and order. 

    In what order do you set up your work space? Is there a relationship between your physical set-up and the outcome of your work? How do you best function in the balance between order and chaos? 



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Winter Work

        Now that my show season is over, it's time for what I lovingly call winter work. Winter work is studio time. It's when I light the fire in the wood stove and sit down at the drawing table and/or easel, both of which are pulled close to the wood stove. It's winter work because when the weather cools off and the leaves fall, the studio is the most inviting place in my life. The warmth of the fire and the smell of the wood and the blank slate on the easel are what inspire and motivate me to work.        At one of my shows I bought this glorious coffee mug from Paige @rockbottomceramics. It sits on top of the woodstove and keeps the coffee warm for hours.  It's a studio staple.     There is purposely a blank canvas on the easel, or in this case, a smooth panel which will eventually be gessoed and painted with an expression of light through leaves. The blank canvas is self care. It's a sign of hope for my future. What will go on ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Up and Running

 Show season is up and running! Next up: One of my favorites, the Crosby Festival of the Arts. It will be held in the beautiful Toledo Botanical Garden June 28-30. I'll be in booth 178 - the Purple Zone- which is where I've been located before.       One thing I love about this event is the location. M y booth is situated close to the herb garden, which is laid out on an inviting pathway, full of life and color. I look forward to taking photos of the gardens, which will eventually find their way into my art. Here's some from last year:      I'm excited to return to the event with my mixed media collage paintings. I've been at work on some new pieces, which will also be available.  Here's a sneak peek at the latest work:        I'm still aiming to capture that path of light through leaves.  I combine paint, papers, ink, wax resist, linocut printing, colored pencils and canvas. My aim is to combine these various ma...
Post a Comment
Read more

Back in the Woods

    As Spring arrives, so does the 2024 art show season.  I am looking forward to a great new season of showing, telling and selling my art.        First on the docket, Broad Ripple Art Fair in Indianapolis. The dates for this gem of a show are May 18 and 19. I love being a part of this show because it is in a beautiful wooded venue and has a serious following of art-loving patrons. I will once again have my series "Of the Woods", which has expanded and evolved quite a bit since last year. Here are some of what I'll be showing.       The first two pieces are mixed media collage painted on canvas  and embellished with handmade papers, tissue paper and canvas. They are each 30 x 40".  The last piece is a watercolor painting embellished  with wax resist, acrylic paint and handmade papers. It is matted and framed in my signature frame. The size is 24" x 36" under glass. Which one do you like the most?  What would you...
Post a Comment
Read more