INVITING PARTICIPATION
Guess who is featured in the October/November issue of SLO Life Magazine? ME! Honored to be included and thrilled with the article and layout. Very well written by Jeff Al-Mashat. Click here to read the article © 2020 David Limrite
“What moves people of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.”
Eugene Delacroix, Artist
Inviting Participation
Although I don’t ever create my work with the acceptance and positive reactions of other people in mind, I do find it useful to create work that invites people to participate in it or with it.
No matter how hard I try to make a picture that steers people to observe or think a certain way, I cannot control how people will react or respond.
In my attempt to create work that invites participation, I try and make work that encourages people to react. To think. To question. To wonder. To ponder. To get emotional. To be curious.
Sometimes, I will only hint at a narrative and leave it open for interpretation. Or sometimes, I include mixed messages. Or, I leave part of the story out and unresolved. On purpose.
Whatever it is that I do during the creation of a picture to invite participation, I keep these 3 things in mind:
1. I do whatever I can to attract people to my painting and pull them in to explore all that it has to offer.
2. I try and keep viewers involved in the picture long enough to see and discover everything I want them to see or discover.
This could involve moving the viewers eye from one area of the painting to another, with either detail, color, line or shapes. I try and use some kind of thread that ties all of the areas of the painting together.
This allows the viewer to see everything, fill in the blanks, and complete the picture. Which could be a different experience for each viewer.
3. Lastly, I let the viewer go. I don’t want to trap them in the picture by including too many elements or an over abundance of detail.
This means that I leave a space, or an empty, or simple area, where the viewers eye can rest and then exit the picture when they are ready.
By considering these 3 ideas, my hope is that the viewer will have had an interesting and enlightening experience with my painting, whether they like it or not.
Best,
David
Quotes from the Create Anyway Collective (12-week program, currently in progress):
"It still feels seems unreal being part of CAC, but I really appreciate being part of the group and how much encouragement you both give to us. David, I really appreciated your coaching, and it will be good to have another look [at my piece] tomorrow. Jordan, I am very impressed how you are able to handle any situation that arises and be there for someone helping them through whatever the issue is."
~ Elizabeth Dagg, Scotland, CAC Artist, Week 6" Another great coaching session today. Food for thought throughout the day as I worked in the studio. Thanks!!!"
~ CAC Artist, regarding the weekly Artist Coaching Session, Week 9"How does he do it? David has the ability to critique any media at any expertise level. In the CAC, he has helped artists with painting, ceramics, wood sculpture, mixed media and drawing. Attendees range from beginner to commissioned artists. Amazing. I had my critique today. SO HELPFUL. I'm excited about what I learned, the changes I can make to improve this drawing and apply it to the next piece."
~ Jan D., Arroyo Grande, CA, CAC Artist, after her Bonus Critique Session, Week 9To learn more about the Create Anyway Collective or to get on the Wait List for the next CAC program, click here.