Miles Davis once said - 'learn it all (talking about music theory) - then when you play - forget you know it' (I'm paraphrasing)
yes - there is a 'visual artist's take on this as well. play as if you are a child - with all of this theoretical knowledge underneath. easier said than done! mm > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Mike Craghead > Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 1:12 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [MD] Painting > > > Peter Corteen wrote: > > Hi Mike, > > > > I think 'accident' is an important part of painting. As I > said, when > > doing that painting, I found it impossible not to think or > plan even > > though that was my intention. I tried to make an > unpremeditated mark > > but as soon as it was there it suggested a meaning and this > > unavoidably informed the next mark. > > > > You could say there are no accidents in human doings, only lack of > > attention. You could say there is no good or bad, only ignorance. > Hi Peter! > > Tricky, isn't it? Planning not to plan; trying not to try; > intentionally > doing something unintentional. > > Maybe that lack of attention can be helpful: Maybe the way to "get > there" is to take a page from Douglas Adams, who says that > the trick in > learning to fly is to throw yourself earthward, then allow > yourself to > be distracted at the last moment so that you forget to hit the ground. > > Perhaps if you do the equivalent of that with painting, you can > "accidentally" manage to paint that mark without "thinking" about it. > And what shows up? Maybe brilliance, maybe garbage, but certainly > something to start with: a smudge of pure Dynamic Quality. > Then you can > tune your intellect back in and add the static framework that can > magnify the dynamic inspiration and deliver something "Great." > > Same deal with "method acting:" you manage to modify your emotional > state to such a degree that you are behaving "truthfully," saying the > lines as written (static), but exactly as you would say them > if you were > really the character thinking them up (dynamic). > > Or with music: the song is already written; crafted, static. > Then, the > performance: all dynamic (hopefully). > > I'm out of areas of expertise, but I'm sure that anyone could expand > this to their own realm... it's been called "flow" and "in > the zone" and > a bunch of other swell names... but it's all the same > creature, isn't it? > > Mike > > > > > > On 26/09/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> Hi Peter, Marsha, et al > >> > >> Peter said: > >> > >>> "I recently did a painting where I deliberately > >>> tried not to think or plan as I worked, that is virtually > impossible > >>> to > >>> > >> do > >> > >>> but at least you can hold the intention; the result was quite > >>> > >> interesting > >> > >>> but now I know I can knock them off like that any time I question > >>> it's value." > >>> > >> Mike says: > >> Art is about balance, between the nuts and bolts > (technique, medium, > >> static quality) and the inspiration (emotion, dynamic > quality, etc). > >> If the balance is off, the art is low quality. If the goal > is to get > >> cash, your whole process is fueled by "how to make money," so it > >> becomes an almost entirely cerebral and "without soul." > But if you're > >> too far in the direction of "just letting it happen," > nobody but you > >> is going to get much out of it. Of course it is a "perfectly valid > >> way to work," but fewer folks will see it's value, unless > the artist > >> "accidentally" conveys some static quality during the > creation of the > >> work. > >> > >> Mike > >> > >> > >> -----Original message----- > >> From: "Peter Corteen" [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:55:57 -0700 > >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Subject: Re: [MD] Painting > >> > >> > >>> Hi Marsha, > >>> > >>> can an artist's work be any good if the intention behind it is > >>> driven by > >>> > >> the > >> > >>> $? > >>> I don't think so, but in some cases yes. And of course > artist's have > >>> to > >>> > >> make > >> > >>> a living. > >>> > >>> $ is obviously not so important for you and that must > afford you a > >>> rare freedom of mind. > >>> > >>> I only ever sold one painting, a commissioned portrait; > so $ is not > >>> so important for me either. Still I could not give them > away, unless > >>> it was one that I didn't value > >>> > >> but > >> > >>> in that case I'd probably paint over it. > >>> > >>> Many years ago when I was in the Gurdjieff 'work' I > remember reading > >>> in > >>> > >> one > >> > >>> of their revered books that people must pay otherwise they won't > >>> value > >>> > >> what > >> > >>> they've gained, and I think there is some truth in that. > Of course > >>> there > >>> > >> is > >> > >>> payment in kind but that's even better. > >>> > >>> You mentioned intuition, I recently did a painting where I > >>> deliberately tried not to think or plan as I worked, that is > >>> virtually impossible to > >>> > >> do > >> > >>> but at least you can hold the intention; the result was quite > >>> > >> interesting > >> > >>> but now I know I can knock them off like that any time I question > >>> it's value. The great part of my experience in the world insists > >>> that there > >>> > >> is no > >> > >>> value (in that painting) because there was no consideration. But a > >>> > >> growing > >> > >>> part of me (I hope) says that really that is a perfectly > valid way > >>> to > >>> > >> work. > >> > >>> Also, I taught Alexander Technique in the past and a continual > >>> problem I > >>> > >> had > >> > >>> when working on people was that I should not charge them > because I > >>> was > >>> > >> not > >> > >>> 'doing' anything for them - this is difficult to explain > unless you > >>> have some experience of the Alexander Technique which is > about 'non > >>> doing'. > >>> > >>> Changing winds, the only evidence of life? > >>> > >>> > >>> Regards > >>> > >>> -Peter > >>> > >>> > >>> On 24/09/2007, MarshaV <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>> > >>>> Hi Peter, > >>>> > >>>> I only destroyed my 'personal journal' after my husband > died. My > >>>> art journals and sketch books, I destroyed last > February. I think > >>>> you might be right that it was ceremony, and probably in both > >>>> instances. I like creating ritual and ceremony. They may be > >>>> conscious or unconscious. It's making an idea a more substantial > >>>> > >> event. > >> > >>>> About the paintings, they are shadows of the experience, > so I have > >>>> relatively no problem parting with them. Of course > there are some > >>>> I am attached to more than others. Those I do take to the > >>>> Goodwill, I take with the hope that they find a good > home (wherever > >>>> that might be). With me it is all about the experience of > >>>> painting. > >>>> > >>>> I would prefer not to link $ with my painting. Most of > my life was > >>>> directed towards making $. Much of that was for very good > >>>> reasons. But the winds changed and I find myself > moving in another > >>>> direction. Some of this direction is dependent on > intuition rather > >>>> than thinking, so it is difficult to find the words. > >>>> > >>>> But who knows, the winds may change again. > >>>> > >>>> Marsha > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> At 04:14 AM 9/24/2007, you wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> Hi Marsha, > >>>>> > >>>>> the way you describe getting rid of your journals and > sketchbooks > >>>>> > >> after > >> > >>>> your > >>>> > >>>>> husband died sounds like you were ceremoniously > stepping forward > >>>>> with resolution to a new life and throwing them out was > a way of > >>>>> making > >>>>> > >> sure > >> > >>>> that > >>>> > >>>>> there was no going back on your decision. I think that > is partly > >>>>> how > >>>>> > >> I > >> > >>>> felt > >>>> > >>>>> when I threw my stuff away. > >>>>> > >>>>> I am glad to hear that you didn't throw away your paintings > >>>>> though! > >>>>> > >>>> Giving > >>>> > >>>>> them to Goodwill sounds like a good idea but not one I'd be > >>>>> capable > >>>>> > >> of > >> > >>>>> having myself. The only honourable option open for me > is to try to > >>>>> > >> sell > >> > >>>> them > >>>> > >>>>> - on E bay if necessary. I think giving them to Goodwill is to > >>>>> > >> undervalue > >> > >>>>> them. > >>>>> > >>>>> Regards and thanks for your reply. > >>>>> > >>>>> -Peter > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> On 21/09/2007, MarshaV <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> At 11:21 AM 9/21/2007, you wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> Hi Marsha, > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> do you know why you destroyed your journals and > sketchbooks; of > >>>>>>> > >>>> course > >>>> > >>>>>>> that's a rhetorical question and only for you to answer for > >>>>>>> > >> yourself. > >> > >>>>>>> I have destroyed journals too in the past mainly because they > >>>>>>> > >>>> contained > >>>> > >>>>>>> private/embarrassing stuff and I got fed up of holding on to > >>>>>>> > >> them. I > >> > >>>>>> don't > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> currently keep a journal now, probably because I know > I'd write > >>>>>>> > >> stuff > >> > >>>> in > >>>> > >>>>>> it > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> that I'd later want to throw away. Now I wont write anything > >>>>>>> that > >>>>>>> > >> is > >> > >>>>>>> throwawayable. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> The subject of your email was 'Painting'; if I recall > you don't > >>>>>>> > >>>> usually > >>>> > >>>>>> sell > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> your work, so you must have many 'works'. I'm in the same boat > >>>>>>> > >> and > >> > >>>> have > >>>> > >>>>>> many > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> items from many years ago that hold I on to, I gaze > at them and > >>>>>>> > >>>> wonder > >>>> > >>>>>> about > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> improvements but I practically never go back and alter. I'm > >>>>>>> > >> destined > >> > >>>> to > >>>> > >>>>>> lug > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> all those canvases around for the rest of my life; a labour of > >>>>>>> > >> love? > >> > >>>> Will > >>>> > >>>>>> my > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> son have to throw them away for me after I die? > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> regards > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> -Peter > >>>>>>> > >>>>>> Hi Peter, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I'm not sure, but I wanted to know what it would be like not to > >>>>>> > >> have > >> > >>>>>> them. These were my art journals, sketchbooks with > poetry. My > >>>>>> personal journals I burned a year after my husband died, on the > >>>>>> > >> date > >> > >>>>>> of our anniversary. A couple of months after that anniversary > >>>>>> > >> date I > >> > >>>>>> woke up and took all my clothes (everything) to the Salvation > >>>>>> Army. I had become quite unglued. Not sure why I > destroyed the > >>>>>> stuff more recently, curious maybe. It was a tea party, an > >>>>>> > >> emptying. > >> > >>>>>> I do identify with the stacks of paintings situation. > A couple > >>>>>> of years ago (maybe less, maybe more) I took a bunch to the > >>>>>> Goodwill Store. But I have again many, too many. I've giving > >>>>>> some > >>>>>> > >> away. I'd > >> > >>>>>> love to give more away, but to whom? I'm not sure who > would want > >>>>>> one. I told my son that when I die to take them to > the Goodwill. > >>>>>> Maybe some will find a good home. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Very much a labor of love. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Thanks for writing. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Marsha > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> On 16/09/2007, MarshaV <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> Greetings, > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> A few months ago, I destroyed 15 years of > >>>>>>>> > >>>> journal/sketchbooks. This > >>>> > >>>>>>>> morning I started a new book. Thank you. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> Marsha > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>> Moq_Discuss mailing list > >>>>>> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > >>>>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > >>>>>> Archives: > >>>>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > >>>>>> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>> Moq_Discuss mailing list > >>>>> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > >>>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > >>>>> Archives: > >>>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > >>>>> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > >>>>> > >>>> Moq_Discuss mailing list > >>>> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > >>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > >>>> Archives: > >>>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > >>>> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > >>>> > >>>> > >>> Moq_Discuss mailing list > >>> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > >>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > >>> Archives: > >>> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > >>> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > >>> > >> Moq_Discuss mailing list > >> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > >> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > >> Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > >> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > >> > >> > > Moq_Discuss mailing list > > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > > > > > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.0/1049 - Release > Date: 10/4/2007 8:59 AM > > No virus found in this outgoing message. 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