Hello, Everyone,
I wanted to start a blog long ago, this blog. To archive my artistic growth and have an online presence, this Kloster Kreations was and still is my first attempt at a public journal. During the time of these sporadic posts I was experiencing my first life without everyday guidance. These adolescent years formed into perspectives that still remain relevant today.
Now, I am excited to write again, at least a little bit. To summarize some of my personal journey by focusing on the last year. The following is in particular a reflection on creating and teaching art.
I am a "paint and sip" Contract Artist… The company, whose name I am not going to mention, tells all of us to separate this position from our personal work, but I am what I do, wholeheartedly.
As a painting and drinking Art Instructor I provide a casual class in the form of a party at local restaurants and wineries here in Seattle, WA. These experiences have been so influential, as is typical for anyone undergoing a change of environment. More so, because I have adopted a new voice. It’s not a traditional classroom, also it’s not beneficial as a motive for my illustration career. Though, I am like a little kid again with a microphone, I’ve slowly seized a new perspective of life, and complementary, art.
My empty classroom, before the party
Something about art appears to be so secret. The process and results often elude the everyday person. The secret is hard work, like any other profession. As an artist, it has always been easy to disappear into my own world. Thus, making my art more introspective and secretive. To the contrary, as an artist, I have an inkling to connect with others on a visceral level.
Through transformations I have found words, in general, inadequate to describe my true intentions. Pictorial works are a means to appeal to a mass of people without words. A set of eyes on a canvas can transcend this written language, as well as, for a moment capture the attention of a visually instantaneous culture.
I embrace what makes me different, though I fear judgement. Strangers online, whom I may never meet, this classroom has been provided to me and is completely at will. Through it I have learned to value the opinions of others on a new level. Whether critics are with or against me, anybody formulating an opinion in any sense is acknowledgement, and I have grown to thrive on this.
Halloween illustration, Volume One Magazine, 2011
For years, as a volunteer illustrator at two magazines, all of my art was greeted with such cheer and I was so happy to give it away. Almost all of it was a great success only because it was not challenged. With freedom to experiment on my own terms and dabble in mediums to further find that I loved the labor, my compositions and subject matter were only as important as the editorial deadline. I was growing but drifting about trying to relate to my communities. I always wanted other people to acknowledge their artistic value as a critic. Independently, I would only steer my ship to not embarrass myself. Criticisms via comparison were the “whose who” and a critique that did not mean much to me.
People are so stoic about the things that really move me. I wanna protest! I want to go on about current events. War, education and environment are all worthy material for a canvas, but so many peers fear no consequences in metropolitan, U.S.A.. I wish to one day find a voice that gets people interested in what I consider issues. I’ll talk about how this relates to my art, but that’s a future story for a another post.
Today, my post is about expectations being a short path to disappointment. Haha, there’s no negativity in here. That is my advice. In reality there is something new going on outside of your zone, right now. You can not see all the parts of this big picture. You may stress or even want to give up. Totally cool, you can choose to participate or not in any event. It’s interesting to note that the stress center in the brain shares it’s space with the excitement center. So consequentially, you can determine if an experience is positive or negative.
Snippet of new painting in the works
In my class a “Master Painting” is displayed to inspire, sometimes multiple paintings. Then, encouraging my students to deviate from that path, I tell them to “follow your heart”, and for them to tell me only what they love about it. "It" being some natural landscapes, maybe some architecture. As oppose to struggling for trees and mountains to look just like the example, I try to remind them to think of how amazing trees are!
Impossible?!
When first discovering drawing and painting classes I refused to use any reference. Painting everything from imagination, in reality, it was all from my memory. I was decent at figure drawing but wanted to sketch awesomely with no model in sight. As well as, describe environments or landscapes that recalled a moment I was inspired by the sun, an expression, a story…
Now, I still talk about my drawing professor who said, “Ian, every mark needs to mean something.” I was like, “Yeah, ok...”, because I wasn’t actually listening (though it stayed with me all of this time) and it took until now to understand. It’s discovery!
Someone discovering painting with me!!
Each decision we make, aware or unaware, has an energy and emotion caught in it and it's so exciting to experience something new. Through keen observations of the world around you and by allowing imperfections we can work from memory to explain the missing parts. Closer to what our brains' process will tell us is the truth. Especially, when we can see the mistakes. As an everyday person you naturally become a problem solver and leave your mark behind. Do it with confidence and these marks will stand as a final thought without limits. Empowered with your discoveries, share and we learn together. Don’t hesitate, because to draw a straight line you gotta go for it!
Oh no, are those lines straight?!
We are our own worst critic, always wanting to go back into the background of our accomplishments. Our expectations do not inform our results. The ability to learn and make decisions is such an enormous positive that's all around us. The steps to create a painting in two hours are profoundly tied to everyday victories. In a supportive environment all of us will find it exhilarating to simply decide to change our horizons, our light and our mood.
In painting we can make the impossible happen. There by not being impossible after all. By choosing to participate we learn to embrace the chaos and let go of the passing events. It’s not forfeiture of control, but a feeling that says, “This was the best thing that I could have done, right now.” Don't just look, move. Because your marks were made in confidence they will hold a truth of what you really meant to say in that fleeting moment. It doesn't need to be perfect. You can move on. Everyone, including myself, seems to relax during the short voyage. Secretly, our brains are quietly putting the puzzles of our day away while our hearts and minds are content with creating.
Close up of an adventurer
I wanted to showcase here that life is art and art is hard, just like life. That we are all such capable people, I appreciate the power in others and that our opinions are a kin to searching for truth; so, we really should love ourselves more. My discoveries aren’t about me and as this task has unfolded I would remember that people inspire me.
I want my art to inspire. My art is part of my language and my language has always wanted to help my neighbor. Many of us want to leave a better world behind, to make a mark and have it appear to give more than we take, but we are too wrapped up in our own little worlds. I have the perspective now to show off my mistakes and then we can appreciate each other better. To become better we must accept that life provides fleeting opportunities and that these opportunities are a stage for very positive moments to be caught up in our memories. Make your marks thinking of the positives and we will recognize you for your strengths.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory."
-Leonard Nimoy
I want my art to inspire. My art is part of my language and my language has always wanted to help my neighbor. Many of us want to leave a better world behind, to make a mark and have it appear to give more than we take, but we are too wrapped up in our own little worlds. I have the perspective now to show off my mistakes and then we can appreciate each other better. To become better we must accept that life provides fleeting opportunities and that these opportunities are a stage for very positive moments to be caught up in our memories. Make your marks thinking of the positives and we will recognize you for your strengths.
"Heart and Mind"
-Leonard Nimoy
