Category: Contemplation

Can Simple Be Too Little?

9/24/2021

Drawing 09·23·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

I continue to question with answers. Is this drawing too simple to be profound enough for my liking? I place it in my studio, I peruse it, I mull upon it, I contemplate and wonder. No answer from me yet.

Thanksgiving

11/30/2020

Drawing 11·29·2020, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

Drawing 11·28·2020, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Time off was taken to celebrate, and to ponder, the wonders of living and creativity. Time-off often translates into energy reserved, insights connected, better work produced upon return. There is so much confusion surrounding my goals. I am unsure if these are better for the Thanksgiving. In any case, here they are, two drawings made over the last two days.

Correcting Mindful Mistakes

7/25/2020

Drawing 07·24·2020, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

Drawing 07·16·2020 No.1 (state 2), pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

I returned to the first drawing made on 7/16/2020. I altered it. My present process encapsulates sitting, staring, contemplating my past work. I mindfully revisit. I ask. I question. I wonder upon betterment. Yesterday's results from this revisit/rethink process are these drawings, shown today. The one at the top of this page, yesterday's original one, looks back while moving forward (it resembles other recent drawings). The lower drawing is an enhancement of the drawing I first made more than a week ago. I am learning from myself. I am critically examining my drawings, also looking back at work done early in my career; I am looking for successes and failures. This is research. (FYI: If you are interested in my examination of my past work, go to CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ.

Righteous Images

3/7/2020

"Clever Liars" (2020 No.1, state 04), oil on canvas, 56½x45¼ inches {"Clever liars give details, but the cleverest don't!" - anonymous}

There were the Righteous Brothers. Here's a Righteous Image! More images like this will be a-coming; I have learned I relish direct, in-your-face, principled, irreproachable, and uncorrupted images. I have had a difficult time getting here. Discovering images like these is arduous; I am in the midst of arrival. Images are a-coming that will be easy to visually comprehend but emotionally and intellectually complex. These works will require the viewer to slow down, contemplate, have an extended life of involvement; living with images like these is necessary. Living with these works is like living with a mate; there is no quick way to fully comprehend the character of the being; slow, steady observation, coupled with slow steady contemplation, is required to fully understand.

"Clever Liars" is in state 4. Its needs are becoming clarified. Today it calls upon me to paint.

right·eous | ˈrīCHəs | (adjective)
1. (of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous: feelings of righteous indignation about pay and conditions | he is a good, righteous man, I am sure.
2. US informal very good; excellent: righteous bread pudding.

righteous (adjective)
1. the scriptures contain rules for righteous living: good, virtuous, upright, upstanding, decent, worthy; ethical, principled, moral, high-minded, law-abiding, just, honest, innocent, faultless, honorable, blameless, guiltless, irreproachable, sinless, uncorrupted, anticorruption, saintly, angelic, pure, noble, noble-minded, pious, God-fearing.
2. a look of righteous anger came over his face: justifiable, justified, legitimate, defensible, supportable, just, rightful; well founded, sound, valid, admissible, allowable, understandable, excusable, acceptable, reasonable, sensible.

Ruminating

8/2/2017

Drawing 08·01·2017, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Historically the latter days of summer, late July thru August, have seen me more contemplative than me sparking fresh ideas. This appears to be true in yesterday's work. First I made a new drawing (above), then I did a little fix to Drawing 07.27·2017 No.2 (below). Rarely do I go back and contemplate drawings from my past. I did yesterday. This is the mood I am in. I believe this is a gathering of energy and information prior to my next big creative period.

Drawing 07·27·2017 No.2 (state 2), pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

Reservations & Procedures

7/12/2017

Drawing 07·11·2017, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

It keeps happening to me. I wake up in a quandary, feeling unease. Then I have my coffee. I prepare the image for the day's blog. I get surprised by the high quality of today's images to be shared with you. I wake-up, I ready to go. After posting the blog I walk to the studio. Immediately reluctant, introspection and introversion hit me. I sit in the studio, look at the work, wonder a little, get up, then begin the day's work. This will happen again today. Today, however, I have the painting 2017 No.10 to finish. I know it is done. It simply needs to be spruced for exhibition. Yay! I just wrote myself through it. Now I know where I am going.

Final Evaluations

7/10/2017

"2017 No.10" (state 10), oil on canvas, 50x63 inches

Final evaluations feel impossible. They are not impossible; they are very difficult. The painting 2017 No.10 has taken a month of my time. It is almost as good as it gets. Yesterday's changes do feel correct. I believe it is time to touch up the little gaffs, then move on.

Yesterday's drawing explores freedom of movement tied down by solid forms. Interesting!

Drawing 07·09·2017, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches

Over it; Out I Go

6/8/2017

Drawing 06·07·2017, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

I am about to go out to the studio. The last 10 days feels creatively slow. In terms of painting, there has been nothing. The slowness I felt is not completely real. I have made a few substantial and innovative drawings. Yet I know I slowed down, moved back a bit to look at what I have done. This happens after a great effort has succeeded. That is the way I see the painting I am returning to today, 2017 No.9. Its success resides in its current state, but it is not the best it can be. I will work on it today. I do feel the need to begin a new painting. That will have to wait a day or two. I am over my need to step back, look, and revel in my success. I am about to use the contemplation that has occurred during the last 10 days. Out I go to the studio! Welcome back, my friend, my wellspring of creativity.