Improvisation Reflection:
I can not say I was excited to take on this project. For me, art is everywhere. In the litter on the ground, a discarded pen lid and a dropped button a used-up roll of paper or string. I see art in the pattern of leaves and needles make laying on the ground and patterns in varied sizes of people dappled in colour as they walk to and fro through crowds. So, for me, I didn’t think there was anything to dislike when it came to art. Once I really thought about it though I did come up with some works of art, styles, and artforms that I do avoid.
Colouring inside the lines reminds me of grade school and has hidden implied meanings of goodness and pleasing the viewer. I do not agree with colouring inside the lines. Creativity cannot and should not be confined. I think this is why I am not a fan of Matisse’s style of line. Exploring his mark-making through mimicry of his was not enough. Reading his, Disruption of Taste article transformed my view of his work of what he was doing whilst creating his art. I have a new understanding and appreciation for his art and art processes.
I avoid working with bright pink and reds for a colour palette and I also avoid using colour as symbology. I’m not sure why. I normally stand in defiance of stereotypes and make fun of cliches. It was very difficult to use bright fluorescent pink as the main colour of my work. I also do not like to use felt markers. After this exercise, I still do not like to use felt markers. Using the blue to represent the man disgusted me but I did it and got it done. In the end I rendered a piece of artwork that I appreciate.
The next step of controlled alteration was difficult. How often do we paint over or cover up a completed work of art? All that effort was destroyed. Though it was hard at first I did enjoy flinging black ink on the surface of my finished artwork. Liberating. What was not liberating was taking it further and creating a new work of art. At this point, I was done. I like to think it was from exhaustion from the exploration but in reflection, I think I just did want to start over. I had enough.
However, burning it was not difficult. Mixing the ashes of my burned artwork with bee’s wax was fun. Creating a statue of a dancer is a nod and respect to Matisse.
As difficult as this improvisational project was, I did enjoy most of the process. I learned some valuable lessons in letting go and exploring through processes to embrace differences in style.