‘If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.’ – John Cage
[image_with_animation image_url=”3394″ alignment=”” animation=”None John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher, and artist. (Wikipedia)
Cage studied Indian philosophy and Zen Buddhism in the late 1940s, and the I Ching became his source reference for life, using the guide as a random chance generator, as well as philosophical reference.
Between 1979 and 1982 Cage produced a number of large series of prints: Changes and Disappearances (1979–80), On the Surface (1980–82), and Déreau (1982). In 1983 he started using various unconventional materials such as cotton batting, foam, etc., and then used stones and fire (Eninka, Variations, Ryoanji, etc.) to create his visual works. In 1988–1990 he produced watercolors at the Mountain Lake Workshop. [image_with_animation image_url=”3397″ alignment=”” animation=”None Choice
“Chance Operations” would seem a haphazard process, but these are structures, a series of strict rules that remove choice from the artist. Choice is what most artists most value. If you let go of choice, what remains in your artworks?
Freedom
Ever get stuck with your painting, unsure of your next move to the point of anxiety or frustration? This kind of painting can be good for busy minds, or Option Paralysis. It is what it is, every answer is good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3xLEo1z8RQ” el_aspect=”43
[image_with_animation image_url=”7482″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Every day, librarians across America are called to respond to book murders. Each homicide case is tragic, but there are few cases more heartbreaking …
Excerpt from Mitchell Albala’s Book: Simplification and Massing The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hoffman At a recent workshop, …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9888″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Wordsmith Studio Found poems are the literary equivalent of a collage, often made from newspaper articles, street signs, graffiti, speeches, letters, books, online texts …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9121″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Pictured above: Gamblin’s recycled Torrit Grey, a different color every year Oil paints have a bad reputation for being toxic, and many of the …
John Cage: Chance Operations
[image_with_animation image_url=”3394″ alignment=”” animation=”None John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher, and artist. (Wikipedia)
Cage studied Indian philosophy and Zen Buddhism in the late 1940s, and the I Ching became his source reference for life, using the guide as a random chance generator, as well as philosophical reference.
Between 1979 and 1982 Cage produced a number of large series of prints: Changes and Disappearances (1979–80), On the Surface (1980–82), and Déreau (1982). In 1983 he started using various unconventional materials such as cotton batting, foam, etc., and then used stones and fire (Eninka, Variations, Ryoanji, etc.) to create his visual works. In 1988–1990 he produced watercolors at the Mountain Lake Workshop. [image_with_animation image_url=”3397″ alignment=”” animation=”None Choice
“Chance Operations” would seem a haphazard process, but these are structures, a series of strict rules that remove choice from the artist. Choice is what most artists most value. If you let go of choice, what remains in your artworks?
Freedom
Ever get stuck with your painting, unsure of your next move to the point of anxiety or frustration? This kind of painting can be good for busy minds, or Option Paralysis. It is what it is, every answer is good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3xLEo1z8RQ” el_aspect=”43
Ruthie teaches art classes at Seattle Artist League. Click here to sign up for drawing, painting, pottery, and more!
Related Posts
Book Murderers
[image_with_animation image_url=”7482″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Every day, librarians across America are called to respond to book murders. Each homicide case is tragic, but there are few cases more heartbreaking …
Mitchell Albala: Simplification and Massing
Excerpt from Mitchell Albala’s Book: Simplification and Massing The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hoffman At a recent workshop, …
SAL Challenge: Found Poem
[image_with_animation image_url=”9888″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Wordsmith Studio Found poems are the literary equivalent of a collage, often made from newspaper articles, street signs, graffiti, speeches, letters, books, online texts …
Non-Toxic Oil Painting
[image_with_animation image_url=”9121″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Pictured above: Gamblin’s recycled Torrit Grey, a different color every year Oil paints have a bad reputation for being toxic, and many of the …