First, I would like to thank my readers for their inspiring and encouraging comments on my last post. It is nice to feel, even for a hermit, that I am not alone.
Next, I want to talk about rules. I understand there must be rules. Some folks believe in commandments, some believe that one should wait an hour after eating before swimming, some enjoy a life of anarchy. I believe that in most cases rules make us safe or even out the playing field or make life a little easier for the government of a country comprised of hundreds of million of people.
After a point, rules can become a nuisance. Rules are often used in place of simple encouragement. And, too often, rules are made just because it feels good to somebody to make them.
Each year in January, many bloggers I read chose words or statements of encouragement to follow throughout the year. They may use these words to create more art, deal with people more effectively, make more money, etc. Sounds like a good idea. I've never done this before. This year, my personal statement is: follow fewer rules.
Sure, I might get into a bit of trouble. I might lose a friend or two. I might, inadvertently offend someone who might have been willing to give me a bit of help. But for so long, I've followed too many rules in order to keep out of trouble and keep from offending. And I feel this has keep me far too silent.
The new pieces in the photograph above are part of the new me. You are probably thinking they look pretty much like the old me. Maybe I'm the only one that will see the difference. That's ok. These five pieces were made in five days. My goal wasn't speed, but just a freeing up of my mind. I wanted to get something down fast. I wanted fewer rules, even self-imposed ones. While creating is normally fun for me, doing these pieces was a joy. I actually laughed while making them. Not hysterically and not the entire time, thankfully. Sure, there was a moment of sorrow when I dropped a piece that had been painted and the board cracked. But seconds later it was in the trash and another piece was underway.
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| Destination, 12 x 12" ©2011 Kim Hambric |
Last, here is my newest piece on Etsy. Definitely a more controlled piece, but fun just the same.
5 comments:
Hi Kim,
I'm visiting from creative courage, and I absolutely love the work you made! The joy you felt while making this really shows. The color pallette is great.
Then again I think the rest of your work (made by following more rules) is absolutely gorgeous too!
See you in 'class'!
Great, Kim! Last winter, I decided to see if I could do a small piece in one day. And I did. Best of all, I really liked it. And had lots of fun doing it!
It may be that trying to follow fewer rules comes with maturing. Our ground work is done - we can loosen up a bit. Know what? It's good to lop off a few rules along the way. We spend too much time on them when we COULD be... in Hermitopolis....
i see a much lighter, freer work. good energy and 'open'. good for you...i agree. how can an artist live by rules anyhow?
Kim, the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this post was "These are different!" They are freer, less constrained, less formal. Art is not about rules, but more about things that are beyond conscious thought. One of my art professors said, "it's good to learn the rules, so you can break them later." Keep breaking them, girl!
Love the fact that you laughed and enjoyed the process, the lack of rules, etc.! We should all try this more often!
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