Art is Life
I’ve been learning to create my newer work without reference photos. All my abstract pieces are done without reference photographs. The inspiration for my abstracts comes from different things, sometimes from simple geometric shapes, lines, and color.
On the other hand, with my figurative and realistic work, I always start with a photograph. Recently I’ve been challenging myself to start sketching my designs. It’s been quite a journey of explorations and discoveries.
Not having a formal training in fine art makes taking on such challenges quite daunting (no strike that), very daunting. I don’t have it all figured out, yet. I’m still working out the best way to work this way.
Not having to start with a photo means, I create my own photos in my mind. But that means the photo in my mind is not perfect when it comes out in my sketchbook. I’ve got to keep working it till I get it right. What’s cool though is, I get complete control over my creative process.
Imperfections Are A Way of Art
The downside is: my process is now not as fluid as it used to be. Which is exactly what I want. I want my hand to show in my work. I don’t want all my lines to be perfectly straight, nor my curves perfectly smooth. My natural tendency is to get things done perfectly. But I want to let go and create more loosely because art is life and life is imperfect.
Here’s a piece I created using this new process.
Sketch (I drew several versions before deciding on this one)
Initial Mock Up
Notes Made After First Mock Up
- 2nd pot’s too tall & opening too wide
- 3rd Pot not symmetrical
- Change color of 4th pot to orange
- Change color of 4th pot’s handle to yellow
- Ensure openings are on level plane
Second Mock Up
Final Piece Completed
As you can see it takes some re-working to get it all together, many iterations, but I love the results. After all,
“Imperfections are a way of art”
How do you like your art? Perfect or imperfect? As always, I love to hear what you’ve got to say. See you in the comments section below.
Good for you Clara! I like to see the artist’s hand in their artwork. Although I like this version, there are some initial distortions in the drawing that I liked very much and would like to see in a final version. It illustrates the quirkiness of the eye/hand and makes it both unique and more interesting than the more refined version. Trusting your own hand will come with more practice.
I agree Janis. Trusting my own hand is surely coming with practice. I know for a certainty that I’ve loosened up a whole lot more than say a year ago.
Yep, I agree. Life is imperfect why should art? or anything for that matter.
Absolutely, imperfections are akin to humanity and life.
Clara, I marvel at how imaginative your work is. Great to see project after project, turning out with the same brilliance. I like it when art captures imperfection. When art is deployed into product design though (e.g. Making a new iPhone), then I like it to symbolise perfection (it can’t actually be perfect but the symbolism is enough)
Thanks Eric, I appreciate your comments. As an artist I do strive for excellence and not perfection- trying to capture life as it is. As a consumer, I see the need for products to aim for perfection. Actually, one of Steve Jobs quotes – “success is in the details”is one of my favorite mantras. For an artist though, that’s a tough balancing act- which details to perfect, which ones to allow to reflect life. For me, the ‘product-part’ of art requires attention to detail -the finishing, presentation, hanging fixtures etc.
I liket the idea here and how it is illustratedi n the artwork.
Thanks Elle.
I think a lesson can be learned from this very article which I found by the way because I feel like sometimes all that I can see are the imperfections in my art. What you’ve made me realize is sometimes or maybe even frequently you should embrace imperfections for a variety of reasons.
Thanks for sharing.