Originally this was a comment that I made in another post that was a response to a comment from Elizabeth Roper Marcus that I have developed here into an essay.
The way you describe the hand’s “signature” as both a record of self and a mystery even to its maker feels so true—not just to drawing or painting, but to any creative act. I love the idea that the line is always telling the truth, but not always to the person drawing it. There’s something both humbling and liberating in knowing that our habits, hesitations, and moments of surrender end up woven into every mark, whether we notice or not. Thank you for articulating the weird, elusive dance between intention and intuition so clearly.
These early pieces of art you made are absolutely stunning. You used the word - trance - but not a trance like state. I knew an artist whose abstract art I greatly admired. (I am sure he is deceased now.) I never saw Charlie creating one of his art pieces, but his partner described Charlie as being in a trance-like state when he created his art.
Excellent essay and the visual examples of the art you've produced to highlight this are all incredibly beautiful, lyrical and musical, moving in many ways...literally and emotionally for this viewer. As an assemblage artist I see my "hand signature" in the objects I find myself attracted to and in the themes and meanings of the pieces as well as putting it all together. Thank you for another wonderful article.
The way you describe the hand’s “signature” as both a record of self and a mystery even to its maker feels so true—not just to drawing or painting, but to any creative act. I love the idea that the line is always telling the truth, but not always to the person drawing it. There’s something both humbling and liberating in knowing that our habits, hesitations, and moments of surrender end up woven into every mark, whether we notice or not. Thank you for articulating the weird, elusive dance between intention and intuition so clearly.
These early pieces of art you made are absolutely stunning. You used the word - trance - but not a trance like state. I knew an artist whose abstract art I greatly admired. (I am sure he is deceased now.) I never saw Charlie creating one of his art pieces, but his partner described Charlie as being in a trance-like state when he created his art.
Excellent essay and the visual examples of the art you've produced to highlight this are all incredibly beautiful, lyrical and musical, moving in many ways...literally and emotionally for this viewer. As an assemblage artist I see my "hand signature" in the objects I find myself attracted to and in the themes and meanings of the pieces as well as putting it all together. Thank you for another wonderful article.