Time to show one of H.I.'s schoolgirl drawings again. No tracing, no colouring-in - just straight onto the page.
What I like so much about it is thinking of her as the serious painter she turned into - she was already one when she did this - studiously copying every silly detail of Pluto's Disney world, regardless of the indignity of it all. Painters almost always take themselves far too seriously, so when the guard is dropped it is quite endearing. I mean, just look at the expression on that rabbit's face.
Over the years I have had all sorts of different girlfriends, but I have never really felt at home with the ones who were not some sort of artist, even if in only a very small way.
Ironically, it was always the artists who were the most difficult to live with. I would become terminally bored with women who were quite happy to do an office job up until they had children, then be quite happy being a mother until they were able to go back to the office or retire and wait for grandchildren. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that sort of life - it is what most people do - it's just that I would become restless with it, despite my hankering after routine.
Painters, eh? You can't live with them and you can't live without them.
I think that there is an un-ignorable difference between people who create things as a pass-time and those who do it routinely as a job, but I don't really know what that difference is.
ReplyDeleteIt looks almost too perfect, like you took it straight out of a children's book. Artists purge themselves with too much self-criticism and doubt in their ability. Once that is out of the way I guess it gets much easier.
ReplyDeleteI know I don't always pay attention to all what you say in your posts but the post now looks much longer than when I first read it. Anyway I agree with what you say as appertains to friends. I have always felt more at home with friends who have something to do with art and I don't pick them, it just happens.
ReplyDeleteYou must struggle a bit when I don't put any pictures up then.
DeleteMost painters are a pain in the arse.
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to be so blunt, but it's true.
DeleteShe has books full of her early school paintings somewhere, and they are all of this quality.
ReplyDeleteHow can one be an artist "in a small way."
ReplyDeleteBy entering the Trelawnyd fruit and vegetable competition.
DeleteYes! I'm still marveling at the thought of those jellyfish constructed from citrus fruit & rocket, I think it was.
DeleteI'm still marvelling about how real jellyfish construct themselves.
DeleteThat last sentence more or less sums it up Tom.
ReplyDeleteWell I suppose it is all to do with compromise.
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