You have to be brave to make art. Not think about the consequences. The times when you feel like you are working in a vacuum. No one to say you are okay, doing the right thing. Just believe all alone, trust, that you are. It takes bravery. Or stupidity. You be the judge.
One of the people who came yesterday for Studio Rally asked about those times, those places in a painting, when things are good but not quite right. Do I leave it or take a chance that I might ruin it by working into it more. My answer: I never let anything go that isn’t quite right. That’s the fun of it, taking risks. Making choices. I have more to lose by not working into it to get it to be what I feel is right. The ultimate goal is to make it feel so right that it is not possible to understand, see how it happened. And that often takes simple blind trust, bravery.
Posted by leya at May 30, 2004 11:08 AMHello Leya, I just wanted to drop a note and tell you about the orchid. The old plant is hanging on but up on the flower spike a new plant has started to grow. It is so very tiny at this point I will leave it as it is and see what happens.
I also read through your notes. I like the part about diving in. Painting can be very risky and overwhelming all at the same time. I guess I am not telling you anything new. I hope the flooring smell has improved and you can get out from under the mask but what a great shot.
Posted by: Brian Sloan at May 31, 2004 04:36 PMThanks for fixing my orchid, Brian. Glad it is still alive.
The smell of the rubber matting is definitely less, almost gone. Now my studio just smells of paint (which is much more satisfying but not much less toxic)!
Posted by: Leya at June 2, 2004 04:14 PM