Blog
Okay, this is just a little experiment as to what you guys think. Can you match the emotions used to complete the above paintings? Choose from A) a nice dose of anger or B) a totally intuitive and blissful state of mind. I would love to hear your answers, plus feel free to add a link to your angriest creation in your responses. I'll let you know my answers by the end of the day.
Why am I curious about this anger issue? Last week I read an article by Jacob Silverman for the website, How Stuff Works. The article, "Does Anger Lead to Better Decision Making?," discussed recent studies which determined that while anger does have negative effects on health and spirit, it can also be quite useful. Apparently, anger fuels determination, boosts a singular focus, and improves analytical abilities in problem solving. Inevitably, these qualities have the potential to lead to better decision making.
So, I reflected on some of Silverman's points, the anger studies, and how anger has fueled a few painting fires in my studio. Were some of these “angrily” painted pieces failures, successes, or just "meh"s? I was definitely surprised with my own answers. (By the way, the positive anger in my studio is usually born of frustration with the work or with myself. For the most part, I try to keep the world out of there).
Funneling anger into some constructive force has worked for athletes, artists, rock bands, entrepreneurs, CEO's, civil rights advocates, etc. Most of us have the potential to use anger in a productive manner; therefore, I propose that we mindfully tap into that anger and create something with an inventive and wonderful outcome to share with the world.
Can't wait to see your responses!
Madeline
Copyright 2013 Madeline Dukes, All Rights Reserved
This afternoon, I grabbed a cup of coffee to keep my day, my mind, and my mood cranked. I went to catch up on the new work of one of my favorite artists and lo and behold, I came across an interview with the brilliant, Wolf Kahn. This lover of color, nature, intuitive painting, and mark making openly reflected on the highs and the lows of his ongoing historical journey as a painter. As remarkable as Kahn’s work is, he, like many I know, has suffered quite a few professional bumps. Throughout his early art career, he experienced deep self-doubt about his path and identity as an artist. Years later he faced financial struggle. Kahn’s ideas regarding process, imagery, and style clashed significantly with the expectations of the 1960’s and 1970’s art buying crowd. However, in 1979, that all changed. After a chance and quite unpleasant encounter with a fellow diner, the tables turned (no pun intended).
Kahn’s story is a human story, one that makes me admire his openness, his growth in character, and his work that much more. It is a wonderful example of when tenacity within the human spirit finally meets that very long awaited opportunity. I’m not going to spoil the interview for you, so here’s the link from New Art TV to Mr. Kahn’s interview. It is in two very short parts. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Copyright 2013 Madeline Dukes, All Rights Reserved
Every fall, I get itchy for new art materials, tools from the hardware store, notebooks, journals, pens, and pencils. I don’t know why I have this obsession for the fresh, the crisp, and the “new and improved” implements of my trade. Art supply stores, Tru-Value, and Staples are where I like to hang. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and have come to the realization that this “desire” may have developed during childhood(see the movies of Woody Allen and also the character, Sméagol, from Lord of the Rings).
There was that incident in the first grade where I carefully hid my best pencil. The one my mom gave me. My six-year-old self was not about to grind down or waste this pencil’s perfect point while learning to write. No, that chore was reserved for the nubs with teeth marks and no erasers. My good pencil would be used for drawing masterpieces or writing down my all important thoughts. Even then, if and when the moment called for the use of “my precious,” I would have to seriously debate the pros and cons of using that beautiful writing/drawing device.
Eventually, my teacher made me ditch the nubs and go for the protected prize. I remember my eyes tearing up as I used its eraser. No longer perfect, the pencil was now like all the others – damaged. I was heartbroken. After the teacher broke me of my pencil spell, I soon began to understand that the experience of using new pencils, papers, and crayons really motivated me to create something fantastic and new, or, better yet, to write in cursive. After all, fancy letters deserved fancy pencils. It was fun. It was magic. It was the engagement of process!
Although, now I’d like to think of myself as a little less “uptight” about defiling my new tools and supplies, I cannot help but get excited about seeing a perfectly flat, untouched, spiral bound, sketching book, a fresh tube of paint, or a clean white painting surface. The tools are so much more forgiving than I ever allowed them to be. They bring me to the easel. They let me mess up without shame. They even make sure that some of those mess ups are “keepers” on the canvas. Now my new materials are about excitement, discovery, and engagement, the parts of the creative process that I so dearly love.
(Sméagol, if you are reading this, chill out, take a jewelry class, and make your own beautiful gold ring.)
Copyright 2013 Madeline Dukes, All Rights Reserved
Artists are often characterized as loners all alone in their lonely studios doing very lonely work. Call it serendipity or maybe it's a movement, but in the past few months I've heard a lot of buzz about artistic collaborations. Artists get together and create work for all sorts of reasons. Maybe they're just interested in the social aspects of working as a team and particpating in a group. Perhaps they come together to learn or to teach each other new skills. Or maybe, the artists work with each other to promote a cause or a social message.
Recently, a friend and I decided to participate in a charity event by producing works of art that will inevitably raise funds for arthritis research. All the participating artists were paired with a child artist who suffers from juvenile arthritis. Each artist/young artist team was to create one or two pieces of artwork for the upcoming event, D'Vine Affair.
I was paired with a brilliant young lady who showed up ready to go one day, every week for approximately three months. Not bad for a thirteen-year-old girl, huh? We took a short hike, discussed nature, looked at water, and created preliminary sketches for our paintings. We talked about our families, our lives, our favorite things to do, and our deep dislikes. I taught my young artist a little bit about oils and oil sticks. Lauren taught me about owning an unwavering attitude and "stick to it-ness." I watched her work confidently through the planning and painting processes. She seemed to never grow tired, frustrated, or bored with her work. She was constantly playing with and analyzing value, shape, form, and colors on the canvas. Her focus and tenacity kept her on track until the last painterly stroke. The result? Lauren created a beautiful oil painting, "Creekside Reflections."
Her motivation and attitude touched me deeply. She reminded me that showing up to the easel is crucial to a painting career. Secondly, I learned that, yes, mistakes will be made but having a sense of fearlessness in approaching and creating the work is a necessity. Adventure is a must for the painting process. It pushes the artist through and boosts him/her up for the next "big thing." Most importantly, I learned that artistic collaborations are not one-sided teaching or mentoring events. Art collaborations are about learning from each other and working as a team to achieve a goal. Thank you, Lauren!
The eagerly anticipated and highly attended art event of the South Carolina low country is drawing to a close. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (June 7th through June 9th) mark the last weekend of this extraordinary show. Hopefully, the tropical storm will move swiftly and the sun will shine soon. Please join me at Marion Square this weekend. If you have any questions or need to meet at a specific time, please contact me on my facebook page, Madeline Dukes Fine Art or through my website contact page http://madelinedukes.fineartstudioonline.com/contact
Please join me beginning this Friday, May 24th, in beautiful downtown Charleston, SC for the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit. This 17 day art event features original artwork from 85 South Carolina visual artists.
Want to watch me paint?
PAINTING DEMO IN THE PARK, "Oil Sticks and Oils" - Monday, JUNE 3rd @ 11AM
SUNDAY PAINT OUTS - Sunday, MAY 26th and JUNE 2nd throughout the day
SEE YOU IN THE SQUARE !
