Hi Class,
How are you all doing today? I know it's Wednesday and I'm breaking my studio time to check in and chat a bit. Happy to do that!!
I've posted up a new assignment that some of you may find a bit "confusing". I want to assure you that that is the point. Up to now I've been spelling things out...as best is possible. Most of our assignments have been pretty directed with explanations and demos. I've been slowly shifting to a more self directed phase of class. Meaning it is up to you, sort of.
Or more up to you. The whole point is to be creative right? That's what we will be doing, being creative. Of course like any kind of freedom it comes with a bit of consternation. That would be not having directions that are clear. It's really odd but we LOVE directions! We LOVE being told what to do and how to do it. BUT think about this question for a moment:
How can you develop creativity, a creative mindset, if that's all you do? Expecting to be told what to do and how to do it.
It's a conundrum to be sure.
To be creative invites risk. Risk contains the unknown, you have to take a chance. What is at risk? Failure. We all want predictable clear outcomes that are positive. However to be creative, to engage in creative thinking you have to take a risk.
One other thing....
Risk also has another, kind of unexpected, side to it. That would be vulnerability. To risk is to be vulnerable and embrace failure. Think about it as telling someone that you love them for the first time. I mean when you really feel it. You have to risk, be vulnerable and accept failure, rejection.... OR success! That person loves you back.
Fun isn't it?
But this is the core of art. Vulnerability, risk, rejection, failure, rejection, success.
I'll still be doing some demo videos, I'm working on a color pastel demo for you. However my videos will mostly be technique ones and not illustrations on how to do the assignment.
So when you start working on the new assignments, look at them a bit differently. Think about risk and creativity. Think a bit "backwards" about them. Step out and take a risk, don't worry I'll be your net. I'll catch you and applaud the risk you took. Then I'll watch you soar!
I’m now going to quote Annie Dillard. This is from her amazing book (which means READ IT) Pilbrim at Tinker Creek. For me this quote sums up the nature of risk.
Go up into the gaps. If you can find them; they shift and vanish too. Stalk the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock-more than a maple- a universe. This is how you spend this afternoon, and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow afternoon. Spend the afternoon. You can’t take it with you.”
― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Thanks and carry on...stalk the gaps…risk everything.
Brian