GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
I have to say, I am really enjoying working on the file folders. It is bringing me tremendous amounts of joy. So, in between my more “serious” paintings, I am continuing to explore what is possible on these surfaces. “Untitled File Folder Drawing“, 18”x12”, pencil, charcoal, spray paint and acrylic on file folder. © 2020 David Limrite
“The impulse for making art at any level must be dictated by your inner conviction only. Not what ‘they’ like”
Anna Held Audette, The Blank Canvas
Get Your Motor Running
As an artist, nothing gets my motor running like having a meaningful project to work on.
I define a “meaningful project” as an idea, concept or subject matter that makes me want to create images that explore the many possibilities inherent in the idea, (technique, media, subject or surface). My file folder drawings are a great example of this.
A meaningful project gets me in the studio and encourages me to draw and paint. It is a project that excites me, inspires me and motivates me to take action and create often.
I usually go to bed thinking about my project, and wake up in the morning thinking about and looking forward to working on it. I often wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts, experiment ideas or solutions about the work currently on my easel. This requires me to to jot down my thoughts, because, I don’t know about you, but my ideas are fleeting and if I don’t write them down as soon as I have them, I will forget them. For sure.
Here’s the thing. When I have a meaningful project to work on, I am a much better and more productive artist. If I don’t have a meaningful project, I feel lost.
A meaningful project does not have to be complicated. Some of my past meaningful projects have included paintings of bird wings and drawings of roses, neither of which had a deep concept.. These projects meant something to me and I absolutely loved working on them. I have worked on many other projects that were much more conceptual, including a project that I am currently working on entitled “Human Interest”. And, I love working on these types of projects as well.
All of these projects were (or are), on some level, meaningful to me. And that’s all that matters. Your project only has to be meaningful to you. But I will tell you, if your project is meaningful to you, and you pour your heart and soul into it, it will be meaningful to us.
I encourage you to dig deep and find a meaningful project that gets your motor running. And, more importantly, gets you into the studio. Day, after day, after day.
There is no greater feeling than to be working on a project that is personal and meaningful.
Best,
David
P.S. I met up with some badass creative women down at the O.K. Corral Art Barn where we explored new artistic frontiers. We even robbed a stagecoach or two before we put up our horses, brushes, paints and canvases. Don't know who the non-mask-wearing, non-social distanced hooligans are however.
From the bold, intrepid, mask-wearing artists:
I feel the safe and inspiring artist environment that David creates helped me to become more confident and more expressive of my inner soul.
I loved the creative, different assignments that you gave us. It helped me evolve in my art practice and have more and more fun.
I was continuously challenged to do things that made me nervous and uncomfortable. I transformed from a stiff style of painting, clinging to rigid approaches that I made up in my mind, into fluid, freedom, expression, more joy painting, taking risks, and learning from failures, overcoming fear, and adding new tricks into my arsenal.
I liked the opportunity to explore and play instead of focusing on anatomy and precision.