I love this quote from Margaret Atwood. I just did a quick digital piece to go with it. Sometimes it's important to just have fun. For much of my teaching career I was in the art room with elementary age students. I have to say that was a real joy- a gift really. To everyday see the world through the eyes of children made my life so fresh. Then when I taught at the university it was not like that at all. I still loved the students but the pressure to make " high art" from the department took the joy out of it. I also saw how some art professors used their art professor status to crush students. Why do some people get joy out of making people feel bad?
So back to the quote-I have been called child-like on numerous occasions and to me that is the best thing to be called. I have learned to have fun in the studio again- making art for fun and for friends is so wonderful. I am blessed to have a group that I share mail art with and we do it because we love to do it. I have a T-shirt from Fred Bab that says "Go to your Studio and Make Stuff". I intend to do just that...
I forgot to mention the imagery is from Marsha Jorgensen. She is Tumblefish Studio.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel as you do, Terry. Doing art just makes me feel alive. In retirement I have the luxury of not having to deal with employment politics anymore. It sure is nice. We are blessed to have your art to inspire us. I love the vibrantness of this piece.
ReplyDeleteI never understood why professors had that need to crush peoples dreams, until years later when I realized it was about the need for power. I also realized it was just "their" opinion and for me opinions are like many thing "it's like a ball, you can catch it or your can let it pass you by." Stay young, stay creative and stay hungry. I am so glad we have our creative group. I enjoy it so much.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful spread. Enjoy.
Thanks guys- It is nice to have such a great group- it motivates me and we provide such good support for one another.
ReplyDeletei agree. when i am in my studio and feeling child-like, i know it will be fun and i will enjoy what comes. the opposite happens when i think i need to create more sophisticated art, to be more 'innovative', to use colors like so and so, etc. creating becomes a drudge. you piece pulls me in to want to look and look more anymore. i love the quote you chose. thank you for visiting my blog. we have two good friends in common-- john and brian! aren't we lucky to have them in our lives?
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