A Painter's Porn

Back and at the desk....even if not at the studio so much!

I found this video - rather like a bird's eye view of the process that I imagine Jackson Pollock used. It made me want to throw paint around, roll in it, get down on the floor with it. Just watching it got me excited - I guess this is why I paint. I love the accidental nature of paint, the slippery slidy -ness, the elasticity, the color, the shapes it makes.... Stop already!

Too long out of the studio I hear you say?? Well, it will have to do until I can get to the studio and actually paint (In my defence, I've been drawing a LOT lately - more on that in future posts).

Are you salivating too??? Then you really ARE a painter (regardless of your profession).

Why do you paint?

Video by: Johann Cohrs, Siggi Kuckstein; Editing + Compositing: Michael Koch, Michael Lübben; Music + Sounddesign: Kian Djalili; Music

Back to Earth - and taking stock

Image: Gabrielle Jones, Primitive 2005 ; Oil on Ply, 120 x 90cm

Well..it's all over. About to pack away the Christmas Tree decorations, clean up after the New Year's Celebration, tidy the guest room after departure, do the accounting I have left nearly all year until now...But first, I decided to do a little stock taking - and not the kind that means 40% off this week only!

I spent some time last night, counting my blessings - thinking about what I love about being an artist (and all the details); what is good in my life; what is good about me; and working out what I want to HAPPEN this year and what I want to DO this year. I refused to think of what I DIDN'T want to happen, or HOW my dreams were going to happen, just the WHAT. So I spent a happy hour contemplating how good everything was JUST as it IS, as well as the Dreams of what else could be. I recommend it!

Anyway,here's a few of the things I came up with, regarding being an artist:

Flexibility of hours and days work;

Creativity -it feeds my soul;

Engagement (and feeling energised by my work);

Kudos-being individual/unusual, taking the hard road and making it work;

It's different and and people find that interesting - the "path less travelled";

The people/artists I meet in the course of my work-interesting, soulful, positive people who are inspiring;

Having an effect on other people - if they enjoy my work, it can enrich their lives;

Inspiring others (especially to take a risk some time) and opening other worlds to them in teaching;

Exploring "otherness" or spirituality-the magic, the surprise, the "wow" factor.

Have you got any more things about being an artist that make you happy? Why are you an artist? Share your thoughts here