I love this. I wrote down my favorite lines from this article and plan to put it on a one-pager, large font, so I see it everyday. However, the most poignant words for me are “do anything that interrupts inertia”. I am a Gemini, so I not only have to do that for myself, but my other self, so I fight double inertia.
And for a different angle, composing music meant first finding inspiration, usually lyrics, listening for the melody first in my mind, finding stacked harmonics (chords), then decide what music would work best with the lyrics. I would quite often load up the manuscripts with possible renditions, then cut back, cut back, cut back, until what was left was the right tone and execution. I went through a lot of pencils and erasers, and distracted driving. You never know when inspiration will hit. 🎶
Excellent article! In the last few months, I started to add something to my art journals and that is to write out the steps (in order hopefully) that I need to do when creating an assemblage. Since doing this, I rarely have to go back and "fix" something that should've been done before a step or done too soon. This way I can visually read/see/realize how to make something so much easier which makes so much better sense than instead of going backwards the hard way to do something. Order. Works for me. I'm lazy by nature and prefer to do something easier than harder as I don't need to prove myself to anyone. I really dislike having to fix some stupid mistake that I could've/should've avoided had I just thought out the correct order of things. Thanks again for another well thought out article.
"I'm lazy by nature and prefer to do something easier than harder" That is called elegance.
An "elegant solution" is a smart, simple, and effective way to solve a problem that requires minimal effort and resources to achieve the best possible result. It is often non-obvious and can address multiple issues at once, achieving maximum effect with minimum complexity.
OK, I'll take it (was going to call it a spin but that's insulting). I don't get off on complexities.........making them or dealing with them. Simplicity has its own merit and is actually smarter. Thanks for your feedback.
Just what I needed to read today! Thank you Cecil for reminding me to just do it. START something- anything, and the rest takes care of itself.
This a great article! I’m saving this one to my CT archive. I often refer back to your saved posts for inspiration and clarity of purpose. And that really helps.
I took time for myself last night and started a new 8”x10” collage. First time I’ve worked on a collage in months. I’m going to call this “unblocked”. Feels good.
Hey Cecil! Nice to hear from you! Things are going well. I just finished a commissioned collage for an art director I work with occasionally. She loves collage and when I showed her my work she flipped out! Bought one I did for Februllage and commissioned me for a larger one.
I joined Collage Artists of America. We just had a collage social on zoom where we all did “speed collaging” - making quick studies in 5 - 8 minutes. It was a great exercise for me as I tend to get too tight and too precious with the work. When you’ve got 5:00 minutes to make collage, you can’t over think it.
I’m still wanting to work larger and use paint. It will come soon.
I know you’ve been super busy traveling the world. What else is going on?
I have been documenting all of the collages I made on the road. I am starting to make paintings from the European collages. Zach and I are going out to Knoxville at the end of the month to a fluxfest and doing a practice tour for a new country album he is working on. We'll be trying to document and post as we go here on substack and on YouTube. we should be out on the road for a couple of weeks.
I love this. I wrote down my favorite lines from this article and plan to put it on a one-pager, large font, so I see it everyday. However, the most poignant words for me are “do anything that interrupts inertia”. I am a Gemini, so I not only have to do that for myself, but my other self, so I fight double inertia.
A good reminder to keep it true.
And for a different angle, composing music meant first finding inspiration, usually lyrics, listening for the melody first in my mind, finding stacked harmonics (chords), then decide what music would work best with the lyrics. I would quite often load up the manuscripts with possible renditions, then cut back, cut back, cut back, until what was left was the right tone and execution. I went through a lot of pencils and erasers, and distracted driving. You never know when inspiration will hit. 🎶
Excellent article! In the last few months, I started to add something to my art journals and that is to write out the steps (in order hopefully) that I need to do when creating an assemblage. Since doing this, I rarely have to go back and "fix" something that should've been done before a step or done too soon. This way I can visually read/see/realize how to make something so much easier which makes so much better sense than instead of going backwards the hard way to do something. Order. Works for me. I'm lazy by nature and prefer to do something easier than harder as I don't need to prove myself to anyone. I really dislike having to fix some stupid mistake that I could've/should've avoided had I just thought out the correct order of things. Thanks again for another well thought out article.
"I'm lazy by nature and prefer to do something easier than harder" That is called elegance.
An "elegant solution" is a smart, simple, and effective way to solve a problem that requires minimal effort and resources to achieve the best possible result. It is often non-obvious and can address multiple issues at once, achieving maximum effect with minimum complexity.
OK, I'll take it (was going to call it a spin but that's insulting). I don't get off on complexities.........making them or dealing with them. Simplicity has its own merit and is actually smarter. Thanks for your feedback.
Just what I needed to read today! Thank you Cecil for reminding me to just do it. START something- anything, and the rest takes care of itself.
This a great article! I’m saving this one to my CT archive. I often refer back to your saved posts for inspiration and clarity of purpose. And that really helps.
I took time for myself last night and started a new 8”x10” collage. First time I’ve worked on a collage in months. I’m going to call this “unblocked”. Feels good.
Hey Jim, Just re reading this article and your comments. So how are things going?
Hey Cecil! Nice to hear from you! Things are going well. I just finished a commissioned collage for an art director I work with occasionally. She loves collage and when I showed her my work she flipped out! Bought one I did for Februllage and commissioned me for a larger one.
I joined Collage Artists of America. We just had a collage social on zoom where we all did “speed collaging” - making quick studies in 5 - 8 minutes. It was a great exercise for me as I tend to get too tight and too precious with the work. When you’ve got 5:00 minutes to make collage, you can’t over think it.
I’m still wanting to work larger and use paint. It will come soon.
I know you’ve been super busy traveling the world. What else is going on?
Fantastic! I can’t wait to see the new paintings!
Zach is working on a country album? Wow! There’s no stopping his creativity pouring out! Good luck with the practice tour.
Let me know about your YouTube channel. I’ll check it out.
I have been documenting all of the collages I made on the road. I am starting to make paintings from the European collages. Zach and I are going out to Knoxville at the end of the month to a fluxfest and doing a practice tour for a new country album he is working on. We'll be trying to document and post as we go here on substack and on YouTube. we should be out on the road for a couple of weeks.