‘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
Lendy is on a little trip in Maine, so I asked her to send me art. She sent me some text messages from the museum: Ashley Bryan. He is heroic. (…) It’s not just the wretched tale of slavery. It is his curiosity and headlong approach to art. He made books, puppets, prints, paintings, collages. …
[image_with_animation image_url=”8071″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Drawings by Ruthie V. I received a very nice letter today. It’s about line, and how one League artist improved her quality of line – not by thinking about improving the quality of her line directly – but by checking in on her level of engagement with the drawing. …
Yesterday I posted my sketches; some fun ideas we are exploring in “Abstracting the Image” on Thursdays. Each week we’re taking a masterwork and exploring it with approaches inspired by contemporary abstract painters. The purpose of this exercise is to be able to lean on, and learn from the composition of the masterwork, while exploring …
This robot was designed to have human-like focus. It looks first at the subject, then at the paper, and wiggles its little robot arm to make marks with a Bic pen. From this, a portrait is produced. It’s normal to assume that creative work is an emotional process, but observational drawing is more like this studious robot …
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!
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Ashley Bryan
Lendy is on a little trip in Maine, so I asked her to send me art. She sent me some text messages from the museum: Ashley Bryan. He is heroic. (…) It’s not just the wretched tale of slavery. It is his curiosity and headlong approach to art. He made books, puppets, prints, paintings, collages. …
A Drawing is a Record of Your Engagement
[image_with_animation image_url=”8071″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Drawings by Ruthie V. I received a very nice letter today. It’s about line, and how one League artist improved her quality of line – not by thinking about improving the quality of her line directly – but by checking in on her level of engagement with the drawing. …
Pontormo, Student Sketches
Yesterday I posted my sketches; some fun ideas we are exploring in “Abstracting the Image” on Thursdays. Each week we’re taking a masterwork and exploring it with approaches inspired by contemporary abstract painters. The purpose of this exercise is to be able to lean on, and learn from the composition of the masterwork, while exploring …
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This robot was designed to have human-like focus. It looks first at the subject, then at the paper, and wiggles its little robot arm to make marks with a Bic pen. From this, a portrait is produced. It’s normal to assume that creative work is an emotional process, but observational drawing is more like this studious robot …