For one whole week I carried the articles in the bag, trying out the usual locations to read them in perceived comfort of cozy familiarity: my home, “my” café in Lincoln Square, “my” café in Evanston, my very own art studio. The articles remained unread, a burden I eventually brought to April’s apartment…
The way I do illustrations (or drawings in general) is rather simple: I rely wholeheartedly on inspiration - I read an article to be illustrated, and likely by the end of the reading a composition had already taken shape in my head - I make a small doodle on the side of the page, a reminder of that illustrational solution. Whenever I get time the final drawings are finished, scanned, and sent off. There is hardly anything that stands between an article, an inspiration, a drawing and a scanner.
Yet this time the week was full of reluctance and fears. I walked into April’s home without anything to show for my willingness to finish the project. We sat down, drank tea, and as she began her weaving I took out the papers from my bag and began to read; her old rocking chair, the dimmed light, the peace of her room in the evening, the enthusiasm of her hands weaving near me… I finished reading and the shadows of ideas were already roaming in my mind, the inner peripheral vision able to spot the figures and reflections.
The drawings were all finished the following day, yet the thirst continued - I returned to April’s and was now ready to draw her shoes: a project postponed even longer than the illustrations - now was the time… The next day I went straight to the printshop and didn’t leave until I had a satisfactory print of that etched plate.
From day to day I walk in reluctance and denial, projects postponed, prolonged, or simply avoided. Occasionally these pedestrian fears are blown away mightily by inspiration. I love it.
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Peter Atkinson said:
It’s that moment when the inspirational push overwhelms the resistance of the flesh that true artistic joy and creativity reign. I love that moment. It doesn’t matter what you’re creating, or how incredible it is. It’s just the fact that you are creating that makes it so enlivening.
November 19, 2008 @ 6:41 pm