Thursday, May 17, 2012

Journal explorations . . following my "inner" prompts

I decided to explore composition in the pages of a journal, adhering vintage book pages, Chinese newspaper, and old phone book pages to the journal pages, then going back and forth with acrylic and rubber stamps (homemade & retail). As I was working on these, I came across this in Ian Robert's book, Creative Authenticity (the following quotes are from  this book and a chapter titled "Follow Something Along")

"If we are to say something authentic, we need to stick 
to an idea for a while. We need to gnaw at it,
mine it, obsess over it." . . "Most of us
would do well, if we are interested and
serious about an art form, to settle into 
that thing and follow it along. And then 
find a few core ideas to express in that art form" . .


As I have been searching to find my authentic creative voice with my art, I spend a lot of time looking at others' art. First it was Tumblr and now Pinterest.
Because you can divide art into categories, I discovered that my pinterest board titled,
"symbols, script, numerals" had many more postings than even my board titled, "circles, spheres, dots, spots". As I appreciate and am drawn to so many different art forms, the amount of images I had pinned to "symbols and script", combined with Roberts' suggestion, told me that this was something I should explore


. . "You can get a lot of mileage out of
an idea that is deeply your own. You
can mine it like a vein of gold. You
can rework it." . .




. . "Working ideas along or in series
also means that you're not starting
from scratch each morning,
wondering what you'll be doing next" . .




. . "The game plan is in place.
The current piece fits into the whole." . .




. . . Eventually the inspiration may run it's course.
But when you do find something that holds you,
that you can obsess over, put your attenion there." . .




. . "In the same way, we can abandon ideas that 
aren't calling so loudly." . .




. . "Get your energy flowing where
your interest is most intense." . .






(two page comp)



My favorite and most recent page . .
more space.

The journal cover . . translation of 
"je suis moi" = "I am me"


As I progressed, it became more and more apparent to  me, that I also gravitate to a grid composition. So I will continue to just "follow the prompts" of what "wants" to be there. And I find myself becoming braver and braver in putting fewer elements on the page (pinterest board . . art with space).

AND . . I sold the painting in my last post!

20 comments:

  1. Bonjour Jann, très belle démonstration et belle oeuvre, amicalement: thibault

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    1. Bonjour, Thibault . . merci beaucoup pour vos aimables paroles.

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  2. Thanks for posting this - the book sounds interesting -- and congrats on the sale.

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    1. Hi Judy . . thank you and thanks for stopping by and commenting. :)

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  3. I love this series. I am always drawn to Asian text as a base for work. It really looks like the work was just flowing out of you!

    I have this book and it's great. You remind me to revisit it. Currently reading Peter London's "Drawing Closer To Nature"

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    1. Hi Carole . . Thank you! It's so much easier when I follow the inner prompts . . hopefully moving toward looser and less. I also want to invent my own symbols/letters.

      Love nature . . I'll check out London's book. Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  4. Well I Thought the painting in the last post was moving, Literally.

    You seem to have a very sound Knowledge in the power of Script and this series is great.

    Keep on Playing around with different text and symbols and let your wisdom flow.

    Cheers Great post. david

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    1. Well THAT's interesting, David!. . moving! I should title this blog . . "the Circle & me"!
      I don't seem to have as much resistance to experimenting in a journal. Thanks so much for your support!

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  5. What an inspiring journal Jann! So many favourites! LOVE the fifth one .... and the first .... and your favourite. This series is worth obsessing over.

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    1. Hi Robyn . . thanks! I'm learning SO much doing this . . moving toward looser with less. Feels good to just follow what "wants" to be there.

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  6. These are astounding...they are all my favorites. The wisdom of the quotes speaks perfectly of your series. Bravo!

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    1. Thanks so much, Blue Sky! Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Your favorite is my favorite...contrast...
    Congratulations on your sale Jann. You have been working a lot!

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  8. Hi Leslie . . I expect this project to help me get more minimal . . more space. And "contrast". That's a good point. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. Hi Jann--Was just visiting Leslie's B and saw your icon in miniature--immediate resonance. It was like I recognized it at some deeper level. I admire your juxtaposing the random with the deliberate. Sends my head into hyperdrive. I'm a fan.

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    1. Hi William . . So glad you commented! And thank you. I'm also drawn to the geometric pattern that is the basis for the universe. Your drawings are beautiful (flower of life and fibronacci). I'm so right brained I don't understand geometry or math. I just know I'm drawn to it . . juxtaposed with the random. You're right on! You get it!

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  10. Wow J - what an amazing collection of works - all just superb. The circles are working well as a motif. Go well. B

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    1. You're so kind, Barry. Thank you. Your words inspire me to keep going. :)) (my creating is in a contraction right now!) My best to you.

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  11. I am becoming more and more amazed at how close we are to kindred spirits.. twins almost.. I also love circles and dots and script.. AND most of my work ends up with geometric (grid) compositions... you have wonderful journal pages here!

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  12. Thank you, Donna. I'm also becoming more aware of our similarities. I'm learning much through your pinterest posts [learning and being drawn to the subtle nuance of of Japanese aesthetics . . the opposite of the "manga side" part of Japan ")]. Your visual sensitivity is inspiring.

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