• Sometimes it’s best to keep your mouth shut, so your foot doesn’t fly in and kick you on the roof of your mouth. This thought crossed my mind today AFTER I had made a comment to the art gallery lady about a certain show (the work, by the way, I loved, but whatever I said came out kind of wrong because it was met with a tight, “Looking at art is subjective.”) I gave a mumbled apology and fled, but now feel completely stupid; this is a gallery that is near my office and I go in often, and had even hoped to strike a friendship with this woman.
Now what? (Rhetorical question, btw, I’m not looking for an answer. 😀 )
• Someone ordered the above “Redhead at the Beach” print recently and I remembered how much I liked this particular one. I think I did it in 2005, when I was just beginning the Girls series that really helped solidify my art-making “career.” Around 2009 I moved on to other things, but the girls still pop up every once in awhile (kind of thinking they’ll be in a children’s book before it’s all over).
Anyway, recently I’ve come to think of drawings and paintings to be like “conversations.” Some are fun, some not so fun, but they all help us learn about ourselves and others. Some conversations end up morphing into larger projects; some perhaps are springboards for other conversations; others, most perhaps, end up stored in the back of our minds as “memories.”
The art I create is similar. Some works end up being shown; some are springboards for other art ideas; others, most perhaps, end up in a stack in my studio. (“Memories.”)
It’s helpful for me to think of it this way, that the DOING of the art is the most valuable part, just as the actual talking part of a conversation is the most valuable.
What do you think?
carlasonheim.wordpress.com 
I agree! (And I want to see a children’s book with the Girls. Also the Giraffes. Perhaps the Girls Meet the Giraffes.)
Carla,
This was just what I needed today and I think you hit the nail on the head exactly, thanks for being so timely in your insight. I always look forward to your next email — even though I’m really behind on my drawings class and have a bunch to do! lol
Patty
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Good point, the doing of art is the important part. Yes, I agree. Regardless of how it comes out, doing it is usually the thing. Memories too. I did a picture once that upset someone on FB so much that ever after if I do something that I feel in any way will upset anyone, I put it on Flickr with a link to it. The one that upset my friend was the first in what turned int a series that dealt with a difficult, dark time in my life.
But doing that series was like a conversation with myself that kind of put some things in perspective.
Art, a wonderful thing, from any angle.
OH, Btw, I ordered the animal book. It should be here in a few days.
Janet
I also agree. What I like most is the DOING, when everything becomes concentration, time flies away and peace is at my best… and suddenly I see it. It’s so healthy to risk and be part of something, a conversation or whatever you are risking for… if you think and keep the thought to yourself it will only exist for you… whereas expressing your thought and message will strengthen not only yourself but others. So thanks!
Art is like “conversations”. I love this concept. You have my mind thinking.
Totally agree! Most of my artwork can be found in my “memories” pile! 🙂 i’ve always loved your GIRLS series. Such beautiful work. Your e-course (the art of silliness) is the first e-course i ever took, and i loved every bit of it. Wonderfully talented and generous to share so much… xox
Carla
You are a special person. I will hazard a guess you may have heard this a lot. Ah well. We all are. Art and conversation are buddies. You bump along and some days are more interesting than others.
Love yourself, the rest is gravy!
Love your last sentence, “Love yourself, the rest is gravy!”
Great way to look at life.
I love what you wrote about how some paintings being springboards and others being memories. Helps me define my work and not get too precious about it!
I think that gallery owner needs to lighten up. I think you should not worry about whatever it was you said. I think, too though, that, yes, art IS subjective. No need to say it crabby though. Right??? Jeez.
I think you’re right on.
Wear a wig and moustache next time you visit the gallery 🙂
Making is fun and a learning experience even when the end result isn’t perhaps what we have hoped for. I like that giving yourself permission to maybe-get-it-wrong or even most-probably-totally-stuff-this-up-royally gives you more freedom and you get to choose what you keep, share or disgard. Then try-again-a-bit-different or never-ever-go-there-and-never-mention-this-again.
I love your girls series, their wide-set eyes and how they gently interact with their surroundings.
i like the art is a conversation too. Since starting my sketchbook back in November it is so interesting to go back and look at all I drew and I remember why I drew what i did and so on….
I also love your girls — girls and giraffes sound like a fun book! I’d love to see the pictures.
Maybe the gallery owner was having an off day, but…she is in the business of selling art, it was not in her best interest to have you walk away feeling so uncomfortable.
I like to make art for no better reason than I CAN!! I, too, think of it as a conversation, though, like most conversations in my Life they are with myself. yet I am often conversing with someone else, if only in the dusty little belfry of my mind.
writing has always been like that for me. I could sit down and write and look up and hours have gone by in a blink.
this is largely why I love the Year of the Giraffe. already I have shifted from comfort with wordiness to a genuine comfortability with drawing. I notice that if I approach it with the same sureness that whatever “results” is okay with me
I am glad you shared about your gallery experience. you brought me some perspective on something completely else and, well, let me just say I appreciate the shift in perspective.
have a BEauty day!!
I love talking about art, looking at art and making art. I think all of it breeds conversation and conversation breeds art. It’s all kind of intertwined. Love the redhead at the beach 🙂
I love the surprise of whatever I end up ‘creating’. I don’t want to know when I begin what the end result will be … again, kind of like a conversation, you don’t know how it will end. I hope you continue your conversation at the gallery.
As I have gotten older, I have become more comfortable with the sometimes awkward random comments I make! Sometimes people need to lighten up – especially art gallery owners. Art should be fun, not to be take too seriously. 🙂
I think that’s very true — I have seen that in my writing as well as my art & good or just average or bad it’s all fodder for the next piece-
By the by -Carla I love & enjoy my 3 red headed girls -at the beach, on a turtle & lying in front of a turtle!
I still remember how excited I was to find you and your art — the girls were beautifully framed & keep me great company in my study!
Thanks
I LOVE this…The colors too!
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http://www.suemarrazzo.blogspot.com
Thanks!!!
Definitely a children’s book. In addition to the girls though, do one with the wonky animals and a story about accepting differences!