On the Other Side of the Brain

These are what I call my Weirdies. This is Art Creation in it's purest form. ( Colored doodles gone wild). Over the years I have often had very little time to do my art or the space for that matter. Since art is what I love I quiet often make do with the time and constraints I am found with. Another artist told me " I paint on anything if I do not have a canvas available. ( We were poor at the time ). Just find a piece of wood in the trash and paint." I took that to heart and in the ensuing years it has stood me well. There is always an excuse for not doing something artistic. Materials, space, place, ideas the list is endless. The other part I have added to this is where my paintings and art quite often come from. A "true" piece of art requires planning, preparation, proper materials and time. Even if the idea comes from the great beyond it still requires the aforementioned considerations to make it all work to the highest level of art. Most of the art I do that I consider my best requires a long process. I love the process and I love the results. However As I said in another blog I work full time at a day job and drive an hour each way. I also have a whole bunch of other life things that demand my time. Therefore I developed the "Weirdies". I should say they developed me.

This is the "PROCEDURE" for Weirdies. First empty mind! NO Ideas!!! Stare at the end of the pencil and forget everything else! Now put the pencil on the paper! Move the pencil! Watch the graphite as it goes on the paper, canvas or what ever. Lets not even worry with the medium. What ever is at hand, in my case that's allot of stuff, just start putting it together! As the pencil moves the idea will come. Trust it no matter what it is. Hmmmmm that looks vaguely like a hand, face, space ship etc. etc. Let the pencil develop it. Stay out of the way! See where it goes. Mine are almost always people of course but anything is good.

Now the fun starts! Once the initial concept is sitting there grab additional media!

The one and only rule of Weirdness is there are no rules. You are allowed to tweak the concept but please refrain from changing it into what you feel if "others" see it. ( Def: Others- a judgemental group of unknowns that will send me and my self esteem straight to Hell if I do not meet their unknown expectations.) Most of the following are first drawn then inked and then colored.

Do not fall for any preconceived color theory or composition, proportion or what wine will go with this? The best advice is be a kid. OOOOOOooooo that color looks pretty lets put it there!

The Lady at the top was first met while on a flight from Dallas to Tucson. I stick the music in the ear and draw. Water color pencils are fantastic for mobility. After I got home I did her on a larger sheet of paper using ink, water colors, acrylics and chalk. 5" x 8" I think.

This one is an art card size. Now there is an ideal way to do quick weirdies. Art cards! Love them!!! This person needed the stars! why? Just seemed fun!

This wild women is ink, water color pencil and water colors. 5"x8"

Most often the proportions are exaggerated and not very "text book" correct. We are going for freedom here! Not perfection.

She is wild though Right? It's the feeling that we are trying to transmit. Abandon, power, a unpredictable devil may care person.

" What you'd say buddy?" "You ready for MY WORLD?"

Get the idea?

This lady is also 5" x 8" ink, acrylics and water colors.

She came out one day and speaks of her confidence and individuality. Proper and unconcerned in her environment. I also like to not finish the whole picture. I mean, do what you want or like and then it's done! Remember no rules.

Bob's Blast. This one is a very good example of just doing. What ever where ever. I like this one.

Not only are these great fun and fill the need to create when the world conspires to squash the urge, they are also mentally and creatively expanding. This is where all the ideas are played with. I "see" so many things that are used latter as parts and pieces of the more "completed" art pieces. You can never practice to much! I knew an artist that had worked on the same three pieces for years. That is no lie. They were trying to get it perfect and got lost. I saw those same pictures a year latter and they had changed a little and the gripe about perfection was still the same. This is fine for some but not for me . Exploring the unknown and then bringing it "in " to others, well that's just way......... fun!

Keep exploring

Tucson Gem show !

Well it has been a fast and furious week. We have been attending the Tucson Mineral and Gem Show. For those that are not aware what this is, well let me tell you. This is the worlds largest show of all items under the sun pertaining to anything closely related to the sale of beads, jewelry, tools, glass, fossils, minerals,art, artifacts and much more. All this stuff that you can't live with out comes from all over the world to this show. We have met people, all of them nice, from every corner of the earth. If, for some unknown reason, you wanted to walk the whole show, in the two weeks it is here, you simple could not do it. Football field sized tents abound. Hotels are completely filled with vendors. Smaller venues filled with show tents are to numerous to mention. The size and magnitude is beyond description. Traffic is also challenging but not impossible.
I have stood and stared at dinosaurs skeletons and dinosaur replica's in full size and color. Some fossils are thirty feet long or smaller than a quarter. T Rex? Seen him. There is even an alien skull! The real thing I'm sure. Piles of pearls and precious jewels filling hotel rooms. Minerals that I would swear are from a different planet and some are. Artifacts from Egypt, Rome, China, etc.etc. Metal jewelry art, Glass jewelry art, Fabric art, art, art, art. No paintings or large sculptures though. Totally unbelievable!
So far this year we have spent 6 days shopping. First the overview of the vendors. We have many that we have dealt with for years. Price and quality comparison. Then the purchases and carry, carry, carry. I am at least 2 inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter with legs of steel.
Now you may ask what does all this have to do with art? INSPIRATION !! Yes, Ladies and gentleman the mind is completely filled with all the wonderful colors, styles and endless possibilities. This little red doohickey will look so perfect with that other dark brass .... oh wait! look at that! what a color for a ....... my god! who ever would of thought those items would work.. The creative part of my brain goes into overdrive. All the old clutter is thrown out and a renewed feeling of "anything is possible and it will be GREAT!" is infused into my creative soul.
And then there is the entrepreneurial spirit. Big companies all over place but the mom and pop vendors are there in force. These people come here to sell and buy all sorts of unusual items. You get to see, meet and talk to these artists and vendors that are making it work. They are all a great bunch of people willing to take the time to talk about their love and how they make it work. This alone makes the long, long days worth it. The tricks of the trade are freely given. There is no class or book that can even begin to encompass the experience of what these people know.
Yes it has been a long week. I love going each year and maybe one year you will see us selling there. Stop by say hi. For now there's art to be done and we are preparing to start a store on ETSY. More on that latter. So much to do and so little time to ..... what the hell we will just do it all!
Stay motivated in what you love. Do not let anything stand in the way. After all, this is not a dress rehearsal. This "is" the time and you have it. Use It!