Cecil, great read and I concur, that one needs to move from petite pieces to mid size to larger, pieces, as I enjoy the rapid and fluidity of work in the smaller sized pieces, where its an internal creative process when work on large to grand scale pieces, that one steps back and reviews what one has done, or let it sit for awhile, come back and continue on or finalize the piece! As you know the letting the pieces sit for a day or so, changes take place like the drying of the paint or the light upon the piece, natural, near sunset , or studio lights in the evening. ! But I do enjoy jumping around from small to larger sizes!
In my early years when I tried to work on larger pieces that took days or weeks to complete that I was changing from day to day and felt like I couldn’t maintain the cohesion of the image. So that is another thing that can happen. Takes a while to figure that out.
I love this reflection on shifting scales and mediums—your process feels alive and adaptable, not fixed. The idea of the Archives as a living, evolving work really resonates. It’s reassuring to hear that coherence can emerge from all the creative flux. Thanks for sharing these insights, they’re a real boost for anyone who works across different forms.
This really stood out to me what you wrote: "The goal is not full mastery in each field, but integration: finding and binding the threads that connect everything into one coherent practice." When I got divorced and had to get a "real" job.....I more or less stopped creating my art for years as my job (bookstores) filled my time and any leftover I used to recover. But I never felt I stopped being an Artist. When an artist friend told me to create whatever I could even if it meant making little pieces or how I decorated my home. Long story short, when I was forced to retire a few yrs before I was going to, I suddenly had a ton of free time on my hands. Not having made the assemblage sculptures I used to make and sell in years, I started to make necklaces, then from there made these tiny assemblages, and they kept getting bigger until eventually I was back to making my usual size pieces and haven't stopped since. When I was working at the job, I still journaled and had all sorts of ideas about my art. When I finally started to make the pieces again, I had some self-doubt as to whether or not I still had "it". Not only have I discovered I never lost it (it just laid dormant), but my work is the best ever in ideas, application, craft, etc. Lately I've thought of making some small pieces again as I just loved the intimacy of those early pieces from when I started. Excellent article, Cecil. Always food for thought long after I've read your writings.
I would love love love to see one of your collages translated into paint 🎨, side by side.
Cecil, great read and I concur, that one needs to move from petite pieces to mid size to larger, pieces, as I enjoy the rapid and fluidity of work in the smaller sized pieces, where its an internal creative process when work on large to grand scale pieces, that one steps back and reviews what one has done, or let it sit for awhile, come back and continue on or finalize the piece! As you know the letting the pieces sit for a day or so, changes take place like the drying of the paint or the light upon the piece, natural, near sunset , or studio lights in the evening. ! But I do enjoy jumping around from small to larger sizes!
Joey Z
In my early years when I tried to work on larger pieces that took days or weeks to complete that I was changing from day to day and felt like I couldn’t maintain the cohesion of the image. So that is another thing that can happen. Takes a while to figure that out.
I love this reflection on shifting scales and mediums—your process feels alive and adaptable, not fixed. The idea of the Archives as a living, evolving work really resonates. It’s reassuring to hear that coherence can emerge from all the creative flux. Thanks for sharing these insights, they’re a real boost for anyone who works across different forms.
This really stood out to me what you wrote: "The goal is not full mastery in each field, but integration: finding and binding the threads that connect everything into one coherent practice." When I got divorced and had to get a "real" job.....I more or less stopped creating my art for years as my job (bookstores) filled my time and any leftover I used to recover. But I never felt I stopped being an Artist. When an artist friend told me to create whatever I could even if it meant making little pieces or how I decorated my home. Long story short, when I was forced to retire a few yrs before I was going to, I suddenly had a ton of free time on my hands. Not having made the assemblage sculptures I used to make and sell in years, I started to make necklaces, then from there made these tiny assemblages, and they kept getting bigger until eventually I was back to making my usual size pieces and haven't stopped since. When I was working at the job, I still journaled and had all sorts of ideas about my art. When I finally started to make the pieces again, I had some self-doubt as to whether or not I still had "it". Not only have I discovered I never lost it (it just laid dormant), but my work is the best ever in ideas, application, craft, etc. Lately I've thought of making some small pieces again as I just loved the intimacy of those early pieces from when I started. Excellent article, Cecil. Always food for thought long after I've read your writings.