Art Acknowledges Your Intentions

I have become intrigued by what I once called 'weird interaction' with my art. When I'm having a bit of trouble getting my colored pencils to mix well with the surface - or with other color layers, I say little things, like 'c'mon! Blend' or, 'smooth... dammit.' And it works - I achieve the effect I'm after.

I also have a habit of keeping art I'm working on near me at all times. I literally carry my drawing board around the house so I can just stare at it sometimes - making mental notes of what I need to do. And I sleep with it too - leaning the art up against the wall near my head. When I'm having difficulty with a particular passage, I'll dream about it - and in the dream, I'm 'fixing' the problem. The next time I work on the drawing, I will see efforts made in the dream - in the actual drawing. This is not to say that the effect is 100% noticeable. I would say maybe 3-5% noticeable. But had I not heard something on late night talk radio - I could have scared myself shitless should the effect had increased, or I woke up to find a drawing completely finished.

Apparently, 'matter' responds to 'intention!' Scientists have done experiments to test this and found that concentrating on one object (of two) definitely affects the one receiving this 'mind vibe.'

What's even creepier is the 'Yogurt' experiment. Separate dollops of yogurt appeared to respond when its counterpart was being eaten! But that's another topic. (Eeuw).

I do this too, but I think it would be better if I put it away for a few days and got a fresh look at it. I wonder what my partner must think with me carrying it around like a puppy all day.

One such test was done at Princeton not far from where I work. A computer was set up to make random coin flips and when people tried to influence the outcome they changed the results beyond chance.

Jane

When a painting is not working, I sometimes have to turn it to the wall because I can become obsessive about it.

I will leave it turned away for one or two days. Then often when I am outside I will suddenly think of what I have to do to fix it.

Usually it is when I am not looking at a painting that I get the idea of how to fix it. A vision of the whole thing working as an energy machine will come to my head. Then I go to work to make it approach that vision.

I have a bunch of colour sample strips on paper taped up together on my wall. Once these just flashed at me in the corner of my eye and gave me an idea of how to give the painting more action.

But I almost do a work to achieve a specific visual or technical effect. Keeping that in mind gives me a compass.

New ideas come by working and reworking the painting. Then when some of the old parts that have been rejected remain beside the new parts, and new ideas present themselves.

Dilettante, the mother theresa of art

Two things... will introduce the other below. First, -Solving- a problem is different than -fixing- a problem. The latter implies that an error ocurred. I've been told that realistic work requires planning. There is no room for errors.

Second, I heard Picasso say, 'The painting paints itself.' I hate to admit it, but in some stages of the art process, this is true, and should be exploited. However, good common sense should step in to say 'enough is enough.' One one hand, a painting - painting itself can become quite creative. On the other hand - if it is not controlled - the end result can become utter nonsense.

The trick, imo, is to create a balanced relationship between you being the painter, and the painting being the painter. Gotta take turns. Perhaps then, a painting can 'fix' itself - responding to intention. A thought: If errors are made, question your intentions? Lol.

Whatever method works for you. I've seen light appear in my drawings where I did not put it - and it strengthened the result. Same for shadows, colors, etc. But I don't consider this phenomenon a 'fix.'

Eeeuw. Now that's an instance of a painting giving birth. Lol.

What's that supposed to mean?

All works of art require planning, otherwise why do them. A good work of art is not therapy. It is the execution of a specific idea.

Yes, after the basic shapes are put on the painting itself will say when it is through, although this is an illusion. It is really the painter judging whether the painting 1 says what he wanted and 2 is a good work in and of itself.

Yes, when the work achieves the desired result and when doing anything more to it is either a repetition of something already done or detracts from it.

Just trying on my new signature