The Incomplete Artistic Endeavors of a Gen Xer

Inspired by Marumiyan .

Ode to a moment in abstraction. Honestly, I cannot take this seriously. This is in league with photographing a paint spill. But we all have it in us, right? The ability to make something out of nothing. This is the imagination at its best. Perhaps, many love abstraction due to the way it can launch the imagination. Although abstraction can be really beautiful, I tend to think it's a lazy art. And to wobble even further on the subject, lazy has its beauty too...think sleeping figure. With the above, I actually spent quite awhile on this, adding in and taking away. However, one would not know this unless I confessed. The general response of abstract art is, "Oh, my kid can do that." Which is true, and often the kid can do better. I prefer the balance of abstraction and representation, but now I am entering the cynical waters. When I hear myself defining the visual, I tend to loose site of the visual goal. Which is, to convey a feeling visually and without words.

Drawing in Photoshop is my new obsession. Before my graphic design instructor died of the H1N1, he encouraged myself and other students to learn to draw with the Wacom pad and pen. It is a strange way to draw, but he claimed after about 30 hours, it wouldn't be so bad. He was sort of right. The eyes are staring at the screen and the hand is on an electronic pad. I suppose there are many areas in my life where I don't 'watch' myself completing a task, but it's certainly not a normal or comfortable feeling. The tricks that Photoshop offers are endless. I am making myself post something every day until my 30-day trial period is done, then I will download Illustrator. And if ambition proves to be on my side, perhaps InDesign as well. If anything, this is a humbling experience, similiar to when I took a drawing course with my right hand. At the very least, I am saving on paper? Hummmm, not sure if I buy into that arguement, as it is, if I am lucky, this computer ...