I’ve been thinking a lot lately about learning and discovering specifically in my creative pursuits and especially as I age. I’m asking myself questions…whether it’s a photograph, a piece of clay, or a rust print…What do I want to express in my art? How do I want to spend my creative time? Is there a creative process out there that I’ve yet to discover that will make my heart sing? Even though I’m not one for a guiding word of the year, this word “discover” seems to have found me.
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Here’s what I know for sure. I love nature bits. I love anything with rust, as well as vintage ephemera. And there’s eco dying – it’s feeling like a child again waiting for those sweet little bundles to be cooked and unwrapped. (And who doesn’t want to feel like a child again as they age!) There’s the love for the worn, the weathered and the imperfect…of course the sabi of wabi sabi. Oh, and grunge. Grunge has a place in my heart too. It’s interesting because most all of this has been a love of mine since I was a child…growing up on the farm, collecting pods, leaves and pieces of rust (I thought they were gold bits) and then cherishing and saving many sentimental items collected during my childhood and from my family’s past. Objects that are now 50 to 100 years old.
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I also know this for sure. I want to explore many of the arts. I’ve been dabbling in making my own art journals, getting a little more serious in collage by taking some on-line classes, incorporating slow stitch in my pieces, continuing to work at eco printing using various dyes, including rust, as well as playing with various image transfer techniques. And I can’t forget my true love, photography. There’s always something to learn and discover there…especially as I continue to embark on self portraiture to document my aging process. So far in all of this there’s been some epic fails and some successes! But, I feel I need to really stretch myself in order to figure it all out. So that’s my “discover 2020” plan.
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I recently came across an article titled Lucy Liu on Making Art to Find a Sense of Belonging. In the 1980’s her first love was photography and collage. But over time Liu experimented with other arts such as painting, sculpture, silkscreen and textiles, as she found she couldn’t quite express what she wanted with her photography. With painting, she discovered that her work didn’t have to be realistic or exacting, or meet certain expectations. “Everyone has a different format for how they want to reveal what they are thinking, or what they are seeing, to the audience. I just had to let go of the audience and just started thinking about what I wanted to see.” She traces so much of her work back to her childhood and her love for discarded objects. As a kid she started picking up things she found in the rubble of razed buildings in her neighborhood. “I had a shadowbox I would put them in; it came to the point that it was too many things. People did not understand why I would stop and pick up a doll head off the ground; they were disgusted by it.” (Oh Ms. Liu how I can so relate to this!) “When I would see something on the ground, I always feel badly for those items because they feel like they once had a purpose, once had a home, and they no longer being utilized, they were discarded.” (Oh, how I can relate to this too!) To this day she continues to add to the collection…always traveling with a ziplock bag.
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I set another goal for myself in “discover 2020.” Two blog postings a month. I’m on a roll! And speaking of writing…that’s another topic to explore.
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UPDATE: Well this very well intentioned GOAL of two blog postings a month did not happen.
However, the goal of “discovery” of various art mediums did and I learned so much during Covid lockdown.
Thank goodness so many artists jumped on board and offered on-line training sessions.
I love that we can educate and inspire each other. Your last two posts have been must-reads for me, and I am grateful that you are my teacher and my friend. I’ve decided that this decade of my life, the sixties, will be about discovery, curiosity, and questioning. Seems like we are on similar journeys!
Well miss Donna, I can say for sure that you totally inspire me! Yesterday I sat down with a glass of wine and reviewed your photo book. WOW. As my dad would always say..What a labor of love! There’s no way that I could pick out favorites because there are so many, but I want to first say you did my hometown of Roanoke very proud. Excellent images. I adored the pairing of the fruit blossoms with the image of your mom. That just went straight to my heart. And of course the sunshine spreader…we certainly need more of those. He was perfect. And I’ll end with the green beans because I was taken back in time to my days of growing up on the farm. Even in the final throws of Alzheimer’s my dad still would sit and break beans. Thank you taking me on various little trips. Thank you for ALL of that! And yes, we are so on a very very similar journey and I’m thrilled that along the way our paths crossed. Sending you love and hugs. xo
Oh, we certainly share a love for the same sorts of things but that is no surprise, right? There are so many directions I’m interested in going but at the same time there’s this need to keep it all as simple as possible. As long as it’s fun and all the collected bits get to play and we continue to learn and
* discover * we are good … love you to pieces!
No surprise at all sista! And I totally agree with your thoughts on simplicity. I think that’s why I’m hoping that I settle on something that just takes my breath away and I can reduce in the supply department, ha! Yes, all that matters is that the collected bits get to play. Love that and YOU!❤️
I suppose “all of us” at this stage in life, Robin, are in this place of discovery, even if in different ways, because we all seem to be resonating with your words. You’re the one verbalizing it for us, so…THANK YOU.
To find Lucy Liu in perfect sync with you is the added bonus of this post because Astrid and I LOVE her, especially in “Elementary,” one of our favorite series. To read that “Over the years, Liu has maintained her art practice, despite the rigors of her filming schedule; particularly, her work on the acclaimed series “Elementary,” made me really sit up and take notice. I totally see her with new eyes from this day forward!
It makes me realize that we really don’t know people like we think we do! No wonder…since we are still learning who WE are! DISCOVER is a good word for all of us. I also find that LISTEN is finding me. In that regard, I may be a bit behind in this process?! (sigh)
Don’t ya just love having an actor that has so much more going in their life than just acting! I loved that article and especially knowing she is just as human as any of us! Thanks always for your kind words…and let’s all keep discovering and listening! Hugs to you both! xo
I love your passion for everything you do. You find beauty in everything, and are always searching for the next hidden treasure. I love reading your thoughts on aging. As you know, Bro and I are living our full-time RV retirement dream, and it leaves little room for collecting or gathering anything that is not a necessity or used on a daily basis. However, I find as I age, I need less and less, and l love living a life of simplicity. I find as I age I’m torn between two feelings… I love having the opportunity to spend the entire summer exploring a state I’ve never been to as we work camp our way around the Untied States, but at the same time, knowing we will always be back in my beloved Arizona, with my family, and friends, and the familiar feelings of of being “home” even though “home” is wherever we park our motorhome… Thank you for sharing your thoughts on aging. I look forward to each and every post. Love you MORE!!!
Thank you so much for your sweet words. What I love about your art is that you can take it anywhere you go. Your creativity in the kitchen amazes me. No recipes, just knowing and tasting and creating. I totally get what you’re saying about your beloved Arizona…the older I get the more I want to nest. In all honesty the travel back and forth to Roanoke has taken its toll…and just coming home and being and creating is filling up my heart big time. LOVE YOU FOREVER.❤️
Another fantastic post that touches my heart Robin. There is so much here that describes the things I also love – things that have been well used and loved, touched again and again, or perhaps even discarded and left to the elements to work their artistic magic. From a selfish perspective I love your new goal of two posts a month – maybe someday I’ll work up the courage to set a similar goal for myself.
Oh yes Nancy…finding the discarded that’s been left to the elements is the cherry on top of the pie for sure! That’s why I love your photography so much! I always look forward to your postings and if I can help with increasing those postings then that’s a win for me! Thank you so much for your comments! xo
It is amazing how much I can relate to this post, Robin. “How do I want to spend my (creative) time”… Aren’t we lucky to even have this choice. In my case being creative means also being creative in my mind, thinking about projects I like to do, going out on my bike rides and look around and stop if I want to take the picture at the right moment with the right light.
Creative people see a lot of things. In our building we have a container room for garbage disposal and “re-usable-things”… man alive, we need a bigger apartment for I always see a second or a third life in things.
Lucy Lui is such a gifted person, I feel almost lazy next to her and believe me, I am on the go most of the day. Lucy is an inspiration and I had to smile with the thought that came into my mind, she almost has not time for acting/directing, for she has “other things to do”.
Life on it’s own is one big discovering adventure and we are the lucky ones that notices and try to use it. And that we meet people that inspire us. We never have a dull moment.
Oh, I couldn’t agree with you more Astrid. We are so fortunate to have choices! I acknowledge that daily in my thanks.
Ha! I felt the same as I read and discovered more about Lucy Lui. She is an energizer bunny for sure! Thanks to you both for telling me about her series. It’s definitely on the “must watch” list!
Love how much we are on the same page! Safe travels across the pond…they are so blessed to have your skills and creativity for two weeks! Hugs and love!❤️
Oh Robin this post melted my heart:) I so resonate with your desire to discover and all of the ways your heart wants to express itself;
here’s to you discovering just exactly what makes that beautiful heart of yours sing out loudest! And thanks for this sweet inspire.
– Jennifer