Friday, March 14, 2014

Making Art and Viewing Art

Art Institute of Chicago -watercolor sketch on Arches postcard by Meera Rao

"Making art and viewing art are different at their core. The sane human being is satisfied that the best he/she can do at any given moment is the best he/she can do at any given moment........Making art provides uncomfortably accurate feedback about the gap that inevitably exists between what you intended to do, and what you did. In fact, if artmaking did not tell you(the maker) so enormously much about yourself, then making art that matters to you would be impossible. To all viewers but yourself, what matters is the product: the finished art work. to you, and you alone, what matters is the process: the experience of shaping that artwork. The viewer's concerns are not your concerns (although it's dangerously easy to adopt their attitudes.) Their job is whatever it is: to be moved by art, to be entertained by it, to make a killing off it, whatever. Your job is to learn to work on your work "
~Davie Bayles & Ted Orland in "Art and Fear" 

"Art & Fear - Observations On The Perils (and Rewards) of ARTMAKING"  is a book I read often. Today as I am trying to get comfortable and not let the shingles that showed up on my abdomen consume me, I am reading it again. The book always inspires me and motivates me to keep on working. I am convinced in the end to give my best shot -as the very last sentences in the book declares: "It becomes a choice between certainty and uncertainty. And curiously, uncertainty is the comforting choice. "

Co-incidentally, I sketched the Art Institute of Chicago building while waiting for the exhibits to open one cold morning in Dec, looking out the glass window of a coffee-shop right across the road.  I was hesitant to take out my sketch kit in the crowded shop but the desire to sketch to kill time till the doors opened won over my fear.  And I am glad I gave in to the urge to draw. 

"Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgement difficult" - Hippocrates (460-400B.C) 

10 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Hi Meera, so sorry to hear you have shingles. I had them on my right side and it was not fun. They do go away eventually and hopefully you will not get the residual pain that pops up whenever it feels like it. I still had occasional pain for two years after but it's gone now.
Wonderful blog post today. I have not read that book but it sounds like I should do so. Thanks!

padmaja said...

"It becomes a choice between certainty and uncertainty. And curiously, uncertainty is the comforting choice. "
what a lovely quote you shared Meera, it sums up so may things for me.
Nice to know that you finished this nice sketch while waiting in the line.
Get better soon, hope the pain doesnt bother you much.

Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

Beautiful painting of building

thanks

Meera Rao said...

Carol, thank you! I hope I will have a easy / tolerable time with shingles! Glad you liked the post - do read the book and let me know what you think. Enjoy your reading!

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Padmaja :) slowly venturing into sketching at different places and challenging myself. Yesterday , I spent 20 mins sketching someone being interviewed on TV - that was an interesting experience!

Meera Rao said...

Krishna, thanks!

Unknown said...

That quote is EXACTLY what I needed to read this morning!! How did you know? I have that book Art and Fear, but I haven't read it in quite awhile. I think I need to get it out again soon. Your drawing of the art museum is wonderful. I love the way you create the atmosphere in your scenes so vividly. Wonderful post today!

Meera Rao said...

katherine, very happy to know the post hit the spot for you :) thanks for your support too !

Sadami said...

Dear sweet Meera, i hope u'll rest yourself well & get well soon. the vry beutiful painting u created! plse take care, take it easy. xxx sadami

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Sadami! -- I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment knowing you are having issues with your hand :0 you too take care and hope your hand will be back to normal soon.

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