Escape to the cabin.
It's been quiet around here. I've been reading about a simpler life and Agnes Martin. She took solitude to the extreme by moving to the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. I see value in her methods. It can be hard to do your own work when you're constantly surrounded by other people and their ideas.
For my own art, I've been working on contrasting organic shapes with rigid structures and then layering on vibrant colors and gradients. I've also happily discovered airbrushing again! I've found it really useful for covering complex shapes with paint. Airbrushes are also great for creating gradients. I actually painted my first gradients by hand (I don't recommend it).
Matt and I headed down to the Oregon coast last week for some RnR and quiet cabin time. At the cabin, I had a lot of time to mull things over, sketch, and come back with a bunch of new ideas to work on.
Artwork in progress based on lichens.
Artwork in progress based on lily pads.
- I discovered Lisa Corine Davis from The Art of Making It documentary. I love her wonky grids, organic lines, and new rainbow palette.
- Devan Shimoyama paints drag queens and other queer people. I like an artist who isn't afraid to embrace glitter and rhinestones in their art.
- Alma Thomas didn't paint seriously until retiring from her 38 year career as a public school art teacher. Her abstract paintings cover themes from her garden to the moon landing.
- I enjoyed A Simpler Life from the School of Life book series. The book shows us areas in our lives where we can reduce complexity. The book was inspired by the Wittgenstein cabin ( I could get a lot done there).
- I'm currently reading Agnes Martin: Her Life and Art. It's a deep look into the world of a reclusive artist who struggled with mental illness but flourished with quiet persistence.
- I also enjoyed the short documentary about Martin With My Back to the World.
- I've been learning some Spanish via Duolingo and Spanish language shows. Two innovative shows that are half in English y mitad en español. Los Espookys y Acapulco.
I can’t imagine that I could have worked anywhere as I do here. It’s the quiet and, perhaps, the wonderful scenery; I mean, its quiet seriousness.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein
At night the intellect goes to sleep and gives inspiration a chance... that is the part of the mind that's responsible for artwork. It’s not an intellectual process.
—Agnes Martin
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