New Birth

The pressure was on... I had only so much time before the art show was beginning...January 27^th, I had to make choices.

I could probably make only one more major sculpture before the show. What would it be?

How do I go about making this decision? Do I stick with one of the lines of thought my work is going on or do I go into a new one? Do I go with another OT figure?...decisions, decisions.

Many years of my life I had always wanted a mentor and never really found anyone. It was so frustrating. Finally, the light went on as I began to get into David’s life. Here was a mentor! Plus, I discovered that there were a lot more of them in the Old Testament!

Each of the OT hero’s have something to offer...I had been thinking about doing one of Samson. Another physical specimen of strength, a leader of Israel for 20 years, but what a confusing leadership it was. What Chaos? Did he ever get it right?

Yet I identified, I saw some things, failures, blind masculinity, desire to succeed, successes, extreme passion usually misguided, a frustration to not only himself but to the people he was supposed to lead. Just how to present this character and his life? This week I got down to sketching ideas. Now not all my sculptures have begun with sketches, sometimes the idea was so clear I would in my enthusiasm just begin with the clay...and it would just emerge.

This one was different. I mulled over this for a few days, began sketching rough ideas in my journal, at the coffee shop, at the studio, at home, (while watching the Jets...) talking, drinking more coffee, just letting him kind of wash over me, soaking in the essence of Samson...nothing seemed to be quite right...I continued waiting for that ah-ha moment...

I’m reminded of the saying, “giving birth to an idea.” that is what it is. Like the birth of a child. Yes there is the “we plan to have a child one day.”, then there is the “Wow, we are going to have a child.” and son we are welcoming the child into the world. Then the nurturing begins, it is a process.

I was driving home from the studio and suddenly, it was there. In my mind I could see the shape and arrangement. It was so clear. There was no doubt; this was the way it just had to be. I was so excited...I came home and made the big announcement, “I got it!”

“...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Luke 2:7

Addicted?

Some of my “paraphernalia”!

With my show coming up beginning on the 27^th of January 2011, I have been pretty focused on working at the studio and producing pieces for the show. When people have asked about how my art is going, I have often responded with, “my business is interrupting my art.” This week someone responded that this was very good as one has to support his addiction somehow.

That got me to thinking, am I addicted to my art? Last night we spent an evening with another artist and the question was asked, What is your dream goal for your art? I mumbled something about that it would be in ceramics and that I just needed to create. Am I really addicted?

I went to “About.com” for a definition: “All addictions, whether to substances or to behaviours, involve both physical and psychological processes. Each person’s experience of addiction is slightly different, but usually involves a cluster of some of the following symptoms of addiction. You can still be addicted even if yu do not hve all the symptoms.” About.com Health’s Diseas and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board.

Lets look at the symptoms...

1.    Needing to engage in the addictive behaviour more and more...

OK yes, there is that, I am probably the most active artist in the cooperative at this time ...I do have a show coming up!

2.    Withdrawal happening when you don’t engage in the activity...

Like “yes” I withdraw to the studio...as much as possible!

3.    Difficulty cutting down the activity...Yea, I have pieces in several stages of their creative process...It’s tough dropping this to do payroll and prepare invoices for sure.

4.    Social activities more focused around the activity...I guess so, I am meeting other artists, curators, art lovers. My social life is me talking about art...to whoever will listen...

5.    Becoming preoccupied with the addictive activity...planning, engaging in...

I guess so...I am constantly thinking about the pieces, the problems I need to solve in their making, the direction I am going with it etc. Also, constantly thinking about what I need to create next...absolutely true.

Then there are the signs of addiction listed...but suffice it to say I have been “stashing” clay and I have been obtaining “paraphernalia” which I would refer to as “tools” to create my pieces. Other than a little “secretiveness” at times that is about it!

If I am addicted, it is the most positive “activity” I have ever experienced. It is giving me the sense that I am actually using a gift I had for many years. It is fulfilling a dream. A dream to do art, allowing my gift to flourish and grow.

I know there is a lot that goes along with that, like taking the risk of revealing who I am in the process. But regarding that, I am leaning on someone who his helping me with that in a very big way.

“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

 

"Handyman"

The final hands, the praying hands, the most difficult hands to make,

have been completed.

This has been a special week. I finished the last of the 9 hands needed to complete my present project. (I can hear you cheering...)

One of my artist friends walking by commented, “If your not careful Cliff, your going to become known as the “handyman” around here.” Chuckle chuckle.

As I’ve been moving through the creation of the hands I’ve been thinking about the many symbolic meanings hands actually seem to have. We have a lot of sayings like...

“All hands on deck.” meaning a group is to do something...

“The almighty hand of God” scary or fantastic depending...

“You’ve got to hand it to him” a compliment...

“She talks with her hands”...very expressive...maybe no talking is necessary!

“Hand-me-downs”

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”

“A left handed compliment”

“Tight fisted”

On and on we could go. I'm sure you are thinking of some...

Beyond that there are gestures. Some already alluded to in the list above. If you live with a closed fist it means something. If you live open handed it means something else.

The right hand and the left hand mean different things. Like the left hand is always something less. While the right hand symbolises power, rights, position like sitting at someone’s “right hand”. I read of a king who lost his right hand and the nation dethroned him. When his daughter made a silver hand for him to wear in the place of the missing hand, he was re-instated to his role as king.

I love the sensitive aspects of the hand and what the gestures represent, like a hand of friendship placed on someone’s shoulder. The Bible is full of references to the meanings of hands. Like the “laying on of hands” which means love, and the passing on of something from the leader, mentor, or from one person to another, such as a gifting, or a healing of the body. The 10 commandments were written by the “finger of God”. Esau’s hand was hairy and Jacobs was smooth is loaded with meaning. Jesus writing in the sand with his finger, causing the accusers to leave in silence. Pilot washing his hands before the crowd a symbol of not taking any responsibility in a decision he was forced to make by the crowd.

I love the symbol of the praying hands I just completed as you see above. Here we use both of our hands, united in purpose. Balanced in our approach to the creator giving him permission and freedom to move and act in the world around us, in the lives of people around us and in our own lives.

There is an ocean of meaning out there in the world of our hands. I am beginning to think I like being a “handyman”.

“You will make known to me the path of life;
Fullness of Happiness is in Your presence;
Pleasures are in Your right hand forever.”

 (Psalm 16:11)



The Evolution of the Hand.

The evolution of the hand.

I was excited about another thing this week. I have mentioned the “ball” and it’s development. Now, it is time to do the hands.

I know that it is still a mystery for you but I am needing to make several hands for the sculpture involving this ball. Possibly as many as 7 or 8 hands.

Hands are complicated. Many artists, even experienced ones find hands difficult to render. If you look at paintings or sculptures often the hand(s) are concealed conveniently so the artist will not need to do the hands. I know all about that, I have done it myself.

For a while I was drawing a cartoon strip and there I had to render hands all the time. I got much better at doing hands during that phase of my art.

Now, I have to do hands again. These will be my hands. The model for these hands, you understand, is very conveniently close at hand, so that makes it much easier. (No pun intended!)

Once you know the basic structure, it doesn’t seem so problematic. Measure one unit, from wrist to knuckle and compare that with the measure from the knuckle to the end of the longest finger, and you will find these distances almost exactly the same. After that it’s easy, as you can now calculate the lengths of the other fingers and also find the placing for the finger knuckles.

After having done 7 or 8 hands I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished and completed a course in “Hand 101”.

I even have two hands clutching wrists...trying to help one another.

“We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

Joshua 9:25



Selling Hurts!

One of these sold...

I am so excited, I sold 5 pieces! But I was surprised how that hurt.

I had not expected to sell much if anything at the “Open House” last weekend. I brought my “Farm Boys” to the studio to foster some interest, conversation and possibly sales. They were the only ones with a price on their cards.

On the second day, Sunday, I was sitting down to have my dinner, a cinnamon bun and a coffee from the snack bar when two women approached me and in front of everyone there to tell me that one of them wanted to purchase “Foxy David” asking how much would that be?

I groaned inwardly. I had not expected any interest in this kind of piece. I used the time to walk to my cubical to decide on a price. I was forced into dealing with something I did not want to deal with. It had all been about communicating an idea. Money had never been a part of the thinking. Suddenly, for me to do something as simple as selling, I was now forced to think the unthinkable. I had to suddenly place a value on the creation of an idea. An idea I really liked and did not really want to part with.

It turned out she was a theology student and was totally enamoured with every aspect of the piece. Its humour and the underlying serious story lines. She considered it awesome and could not wait to see it in her yet none existent office.

She agreed to let me keep it for my show coming up at the end of Feb. We decided on a down payment and she signed her cheque.

I suddenly realised that this piece that had been a large part of my life was no longer mine. Yet I knew I could not hold on to it. I thought I’d had a good idea. A fun idea and I had expressed that idea in creating a piece of sculpture. Now the piece was gone. Should I make another piece to replicate it?

In thinking about that I’ve come to realise that the idea is never gone and it will live on beyond me. Also, for me to continue as an artist, I must suffer through the “giving away” of my pieces. Only then can I “live” as an artist and develop new ideas and new sculptures to express them. I must let go to live and grow as an artist. Possibly, and this is the hope, I will have even better ideas and pieces in the future.

Also, “Foxy David” would die if he stayed with me. He must go out and have a life of his own. That “idea” must leave the nest and live out there to spread into parts of the world I could never go myself. It is to my benefit he is out there, on his own journey, telling his own story.

I was surprised how quickly the reality of the change of ownership arose. As she was leaving she turned and said something like, “I’ve been without “my sculpture “ for many months now, so another few months for you to have it in your show won’t make much difference. Just, be careful with it please, and try not to break it.!”

Why is it that it has to be pain that will make you a better, growing person...and artist?

“So ... his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.”Genesis 27:28



I'm on a High...

What a wonderful day at the studio yesterday! 

There was a lot of fresh snow on my driveway as I left the house. I wondered, if people would come out in such conditions.

I’d forgotten, these are Winnipegers!

At 11:00 AM sharp friends and strangers began to appear in our upstairs studio, pausing in the gallery viewing area, slowly moving from one display to the next. There were quiet comments, pauses to bend over and take a second look, smiles. Wispered conversations. Possible gifts being considered...Christmas of course is just around the corner.

I was putting the finishing touches on the display of my works I’d arranged in my studio when the first guests wondered by...the rest is a wonderful blur.

“Hi, remember us...we lived across the street from your kids...”

“... it's an under-glaze with a clear glaze overtop of it...

“... must have been very therapeutic...

“... oh my, you came, fantastic...”

“finally I see the real thing, been following your blogs...”

“let’s tour the other artist studios...

“...so why do the scales have that cloth over them?”

“Sorry, I’m rattling on, am I boring you?...are you sure?

“OK, time for a coffee...

People walking out with carefully lovingly packed purchases by artists saying “good-by” to their pieces...

Fellow artists smiling at one another with quiet joy at the crowds milling about...

It is so fantastic being part of a community of artists who are willing to assist potential customers find what they are looking for, directing them on to another artist’s studio if necessary...

Lunch was a quick cinnamon bun and another cup of coffee...while chatting with another new friend...

I am on a high, and cannot wait for this day to begin.

The next stage in the saga of "the ball",

though it might not look to good now,

will have to continue on Monday!

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Genesis 1:31

A Nylon on a Stick!

There it is, a nylon on a stick!

Working in my studio I’d run into a conundrum. Not unusual, but I’d wondered into another area of mystery and needed some advice.

I took a break from my cubical and sat down in the coffee area for a mental break. Another artist joined me and we began to talk. I shared with her how I had inadvertently ended up with a spaceship instead of the form of a round ball.

She agreed that the first idea I'd had, had been the right one. It would have been the artists way. But now that I’d gone with the joining of two bowel shapes, there was a solution. My heart leaped in anticipation of success.

She disappeared into her cubical, musing around her drawers and shelves, “Here is what you need”, she said, “Slap it into shape with this wooden spoon.” handing me a piece of wood stuck into what looked like a sock pulled on over the top wide part.  

I held it carefully before me. I looked at the “sock”, “Is this what I think it is?” I murmured.

“It’s a nylon” she explained brightly, “you need it otherwise the clay sticks to the wood and that would be a problem!” she explained matter of factly.

I checked to see if anyone was nearby. Of course this made complete sense to her but, you see I’m a guy! Slapping a spaceship silly with a piece of wood was one thing, but now I’d be slapping that thing (loudly, very loudly) drawing everyone’s attention from miles around and they’d be coming, artists from all their cubicles everywhere in the city, to see where that noise was coming from, curious about what I was doing, and there would be that nylon flapping and waving around, back and forth, announcing it’s presence like a flag. Me and this nylon sock! It seemed very unmanly to me...but what could I use instead? I had no idea. My own socks would leave fuzz. All other solutions seemed to melt away as useless. I was doomed.

I thanked her profusely. I made no reference to my conflict of masculine identity and kept saying to myself “I am comfortable in my own skin...”

I set up the spaceship on a foamy and began slapping, as quietly as possible. ”I am comfortable in my own skin ...” It became a mantra I mentally repeated in time to the slapping. Finally, it was done...It worked, I had a round ball.

The nylon is back with it’s female owner.

I will go about getting a wooden paddle, but about the nylon part...there has to be another option...mmmm.

^“ So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away”.

2 Samuel 10:4



Clifton Studios Winter Sale

What will I be doing in my studio next weekend?

I will be in the studio, eating from the snack table and enjoying the many guests who will be coming by.

As you come in you will enter a small gallery, showing the many clay wares of the over 20 members of the co-operative we are all a part of.

Also, you may walk through the whole floor to observe (and meet if you wish) the artists in their areas of work. It is very inspiring to see all the creativity that is happening in each studio. 

I would like to invite you personally come and see me in my studio, I’ll wash the clay off my hands, we’ll have a snack and a great chat about art.

"...Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed."

John 5:20

Cliff on Clifton

See you then,

What Have I Made?

These two halves are in the flirting stage!

Here the two have become one!

Fantastic! I am happy for them.

What have I done in my studio this week?

Once again, it is experiment time. A new challenge has arisen. I have a problem to solve. I have a piece in mind that has a large round element to it. Literally a ball about the size of a basketball! Simple right?

I know, you are wondering what I’m intending to do. No, it is not a piece about sports. But for the time being, considering the challenge, I am keeping this a secret.

I must first solve the problem of making this ball. There are probably two main ways to do this. One way would be to make a ball out of solid clay. Then, let it dry to the point where the outside is leather hard. Do the dimple test, and then cut it in half or thirds, depending on its size and scoop out the innards. The outside shell pieces left are then sealed together and there you have it. A round ball. So simple!

I have chosen, in this case to go another route. I purchased a $6.00 bowel from a discount store, near the size of the ball I needed and as you can see, used it as a form for the two halves of the ball.

What I began to realize as I was making up these halves, how “un-ball-like” these two shapes really were. The bowel I had chosen had been very deceptive. It is actually not as “round” as a ball should be! Now, I was aware that the very bottom of the bowel had a flat section so it could stand. That I would simply fill in with clay to make it round. Which I did with the first half, after it was dry enough to remove from the bowel form. No problem.

Then I levelled the edge of each half and sealed them together. Making not a ball but the vague form of a flying saucer! Even after filling in the flat part of the second half, still I was seeing a flying saucer!

While I was in the store I should have taken a second bowel, placed them together and would have seen immediately how un-round the overall shape would really have been!

So, is this now it? Can one do anything with this to make it round?

Maybe I continue with another line of pieces, having to do with “space ships”! Maybe something from Star Trek...that enemy “Warbird” was awesome...

ummmmm!

To be continued.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?...”

Isaiah 43:19

“Heat” Makes Us Strong!

Will "Lady Justice" and "The Hand of God"

be able to withstand the heat?

What am I doing in my studio today?

I am going to “fire” two of my pieces.

Our co-operative of artists are planning an “open house” next weekend, Nov. 27 and 28. You can come in, see the art displayed in the front showroom and then wonder around and connect with artists in their personal working areas.

Because of this upcoming event everyone is finishing up their pieces and the kilns are fully booked for firing pieces. About a week and a half ago I noticed someone dropped out and a kiln became available. I must have been the first to see it as no one had taken it yet. I grabbed a pen and claimed it.

The pieces, “Lady Justice” and “The Hand of God” are at this point completely dry clay. That means they are very fragile and must be handled with great care. It is called “green-ware”.

Above you see them standing in the kiln. Will they be able to withstand the heat?

This is a situation so ripe with meaning. It is because of the extreme heat they will experience that will change them forever. They will never be the same. They will become beautiful, strong functional pieces to be able to accomplish that for which they were made.

It’s the “heat” of suffering that makes us strong!

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his (or her) cry for help.

Psalm 22:24



Venturing into the DNA World.

A DNA project in process...

The "under-glaze" has been applied.

“Complicated”, “challenging” and “patience”, are the words that keep bouncing around in my head as I’ve been working on this representation of DNA in sculpture.

The “helix” I’m realizing is practically impossible to make in it’s actual likeness in clay.

But who needs actual likeness? This is art, and a representation is something that will also work.

So I’m experimenting, entering the wierd and crazy "nano-world" of the inside of a single human cell. First, I created a central hollow tube of clay curving around here and there. I wanted it to look like it is floating in liquid, like inside a human cell. This core is the “structure” on which to build the swirling helix strips and the core structure of other “balls” (very scientific in my terms eh?) of the DNA circling along with the swirls. I hope that the photo above will help makes sense of this crazy sentence.

Now, to make the strip swirls and those balls you see showing on the central black tube, the tube had to dry enough to support itself. It is only then that I could actually build all the swirls completely around the central tube. So I had to make things in sections. Doing what I could with all the braces in place, (the swirls and the balls) then when it became dry enough to take the supports away, I could continue in those rather difficult locations.

I could not lift the piece and set it upside down for example so it became quite a job dealing with the “underside” parts, making the strips smooth and continuous.  

The rest of the inner DNA matter is represented by the balls protruding from the centre core. See the first two pictures where You can see I made a lot of balls, cut them in half when they are a little dried, and painted them with under-glaze before I “set” them on that tube. Doing it that way helped give them a better edge between their color and the black of the tube. If some of the bonding clay squished out I could wipe it away quickly with a dry brush. That usually left somewhat of a smudge on the black tube, but usually away from the edge of the ball I’d just placed. I also got finger marks on the black tube in the process of setting the balls so after that was all done I had to go over the black tube and touch it up.

Then I painted the strips in under-glaze also. Everything needed three coats so that also took a while. Most of the balls also needed further coats.

The plan now is for the piece to dry and be bisque fired. Then I will paint clear glaze on the swirling stripes and on the balls. Not on the black inside tube. That way the DNA aspect will stick out with strong bright color while the inner core tube will remain a dull un-interesting black. This I hope will then be a backdrop (support) that kind of disappears while the rest stands out as the DNA proper.

And I used to think God knowing the number of hairs on our heads was impressive...

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13

"David at Rest" is Done!

"Resting David"

12 5/8" H, x 9 1/3"W, x 15 1/2" deep.

Clay bisque, patina and varnish finish.

Warning! This blog is different. I am not going to talk about technical stuff today. Today, I wish to answer a question that forms the bases of my inspiration of the art that I do. Especially the pieces I’ve done on David. I have the “Foxy David’, the “Dancing David” and now the “Resting David.” I’d like to explain, why all the David’s!

Let me begin with my birthday. Recently some very special friends came over to our house to celebrate my birthday. One of them asked me point blank, “Why do you like the Old Testament David so much?”

I found myself a little at a loss for words. I mentioned some things I admired but it did not seem complete. I felt I Had not really nailed it down. I have thought about that and I’d like to share it here, if you don’t mind.

The real reason I like David so much hangs on three things. First David was a “Real Man.” Anyone who knows his story would not argue with this. And I love the fact that nowhere is there any record of David ever losing a military battle, either with his 600 men or as a king with the army of Israel. And he fought a lot of battles! This guy was no sissy.

The second reason I like David is the fact that he is an “artist”. He wrote the Psalms. A “real man” who writes poetry and music yet. Amazing! It all began with his skills as a musician, playing and singing worship songs to his sheep in the beauty of nature. Then, later, playing to calm down King Saul who could not control his emotions of rage, anger or depression.

Reading the Psalms you find he was in touch with his feelings and emotions. He expressed them freely and sometimes used some surprising language, as a man, in expressing his feelings towards his God. It’s fantastic.

The third reason I like David is his unabashed love and worship of his God. No Shame and hesitation. To the point where when the Ark was brought into Jerusalem for the first time he danced “with all his might” practically nude in the streets at the head of the parade. His wife was not impressed but God loved it!

Let me also say this. David was not perfect! He made mistakes and as a public figure these have become well known. What I admire so much about that is how when he realized his mistake he would feel it deeply, make it right with his God, feel the forgiveness and bounce right back. He’d put it into the past and move forward with the business of life, knowing God loved him still.

In my past I have often desired to have a “mentor” in my life. Now I have one...

A further warning, I know down the line, there will be more David pieces in the making!

 “...they help each other and say to their companions, “Be strong!”

Isaiah 41:6




Right Brain Driver

Jonah driving, using his Right brain, a total disaster...

I mentioned in my last blog about coming out of my “right brain” mode. How I came rushing back to reality because my stomach was growling in hunger.

Allow me to tell you a story that will illustrate the fact that we as humans are literally “of two minds”.  A right brain and a left brain.  And that these two halves are both equally capable and complex and valuable but very different, and necessary. This is a true story.

My wife (Wilma) and I took a little holiday this past summer. We were on our return journey home from BC, driving through the northern states, when we stopped in a small village designed to look like a western frontier town. Taking a break from driving we walked up and down the boardwalk and noticed a library. Intrigued we stepped inside. We each found and purchased a book we liked. Mine was called “The New, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards. Later when it was Wilma’s turn to drive I grabbed this book and began reading. Before long, since Wilma is also an artist (writer and author) I began reading aloud as she drove. It was fascinating.

For over an hour I would read, we would discuss the subject matter, back to reading and so on. We were engrossed and lost in the subject.

Suddenly, I’m in mid-sentence and Wilma exclaims, “Hey, there are lights flashing behind me!” I glance backwards and sure enough, an SUV type patrol vehicle is on our tail with all his lights flashing!

“Wow, how long has he been there?” I exclaimed.                                                                        

“I don’t know”, she says, her voice going a few notes higher and up in volume. “This can’t be about us, I’ll turn off and see if he follows me, then we’ll know,” she moans.

Since we are in a small town she turns right at the very next street. Yup, her worst nightmare has come true, he’s still right on our tail. “Oh no, I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just staying with traffic, why is he after me?” All this while she’s pulling into a strip mall parking lot. He follows us like glue, parking behind us in a classic cop-movie pincer move. She waits moaning with her hands over her face as I’m scrambling in the glove compartment for our “Canadian” vehicle registration card.

He is tall, blond and handsome. He seems like a very nice guy. He explains how he’s been following Wilma for the last 7 or 8 miles. He explains how he noticed us because she was speeding at the time but slowing down to the speed limit. But in following, noticed that all speed signs were apparently being  ignored. Her driving did not correspond to the speed limit signs at all. So, he put on his lights so as to stop her and see what exactly the problem was. But, she did not stop. He explained how that was a problem and so had called on his backup “friends” who were planning to converge on her vehicle and force her to stop. He explained how lucky it was she’d stopped when she did as they were about to execute the maneuver to bring her to a standstill.  

Then as he’s detailing again her going under and over the speed limit randomly, he suddenly stops in mid sentence, pauses with this sudden new idea, and asks, “Do you actually know what the speed limit is?”

Wilma turns to me, horror written all over her face, in a kind of urgent whisper, “Cliff, what’s the speed limit?”

My warm and cuddly husbandly response, “He’s asking you wifeee, you have to tell him!” (Oh that hurt!)

She turns to him, “I’m so sorry, I have no idea, I haven’t done calculations from Canadian metric to American miles, and my husband was reading to me, so I wasn’t really paying attention to the speed limit signs, I’m so sorry…”

“Yes,” he smiled, “my wife also reads to me sometimes when I’m driving and it can be a bit of a distraction at times.”

Here I feel I need to chime in. Maybe a little levity will make this a warning instead of a ticket so I interject with, “And, you know what we are reading?” I show him the cover, “Right brain, Left Brain!”

He laughed and explained he was going to his vehicle and would be right back!

This incident, illustrates exactly the differences between the Left brain and the Right brain. Two ways of knowing, two ways of working out the same information. Look at the list of words below, the first word is the Left brain’s work and the second is the Right brains work: “lineal/holistic,”  “rational (or logical)/intuitive (or non-rational),”  “analytic/synthetic (meaning to put things together to form wholes),”  “objective/subjective,”  “verbal/non-verbal,”  etc.

To do the charcoal drawing of feet for the Holy Ground series I was talking about in the last blog, I had to go into my Right brain.  I had to move from a “verbal” mode into a “visual” mode of thinking.  My left brain often will resist this by arguing with me about why not do it this way, like you could measure this, name every part and aspect of what you do…and so on. Or even, resist the whole project and tell me this is a waste of time. It is the same with dancing, acting, singing, playing hockey or even a doctor doing surgery. You have to move past the instructions and into a world of intuition and natural reactions that cannot really be explained in each situation accurately enough or fast enough to make it work. Betty Edwards in her book says it this way, “…accessing the visual mode of the brain – the appropriate mode for drawing- causes you to see in the special way an artist sees. The artist’s way of seeing is different from ordinary seeing …” (pg. 55)

One learns to consciously move into this “visual” mode. Time disappears, you move your 6B pencil this way and that way intuitively to match with the whole image in a way that makes sense only to you subjectively and intuitively. Also, often it is only in this way you can move your creative work beyond the normal to a new level of originality, or level of expression in feeling or emotion or even technique. When it is all over you may not even know how that happened or where it came from. It is a wonderful place to be.

The right brain is great to go to when creating, not so good when driving a vehicle!

I had to use my left brain in calling the sheriff’s office and paying the fine with my visa card. (verbal, numbers, logic etc.)

“They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.”Exodus 39:8

The Humble 6B Pencil.

  The 6B pencil has been busy...

It was time. I had been occupied with many other things but it was finally time to begin working on the “Holy Ground” series of charcoal and graphite drawings again.

I had not done this for a while so it took some time to find and gather the materials needed. My pad of Bristol vellum, 100 lb. 11” X 14” in size sheets. Perfect for working with charcoal and pencil. I had to look a little harder for my special bag of tools to do the job. I remember going to the university bookstore nearby our place, just relaxing there and eyeing with envy all the art materials for sale. It was fun to purchase the items I needed for the task at hand. To represent something so very special to our family. And not only that but representing every family member in an individual drawing. It was a sacred moment. Each item was chosen with careful consideration.

I gathered everything at the living room table and spread it out. Checked the condition of each item, as three drawings had already been done several months ago. (there are three more to go in this series) I also gathered the resources I needed for the elements of this piece, sketches, pictures, and so on. Finally, the last item was to place a fresh piece of 100lb., 11: X 14” piece of paper before me. I turned to my pencil case, picked out the 6B pencil and began. In a few minutes I was into my right brain and gone…

Four and a half hours later I came rushing out of my right brain with a start, realizing my stomach was growling. Glancing at my watch I saw that I’d missed lunch. But since I was now out of my right brain mode, I sat back, held up the work and assessed the damage. Except for a few things, I was pretty happy and amazed. I will need to let it sit for a while to see more that needs to be adjusted.

Then, I suddenly realized that I’d used only that first pencil I’d picked up, the 6B pencil! I was so engrossed I’d forgotten about changing to harder leaded pencils.

I have to say, I just love the softness of the 6B. I can do everything at once. Molding the forms with shading, rubbing with the stub spreads the lead so nicely and very subtle shades and references can made without hesitation, or breaking the momentum of the creative process.

My 6B pencil is getting much shorter than all my other dozen or so pencils…

“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.”            John 8:6b.

Creating with a "Word"!

And He created DNA with a word...!

The trial brought something to my attention. The rapid change and development of the science of DNA. How these small nano particles in our individual cells are a whole amazing world of their own. How they are absolutely unique to each individual person on this planet.

And, I understand we are about to reach 7 billion residents on this piece of real estate floating in space! That means 7 billion unique DNA are in existence!

Nature demonstrates the greatness and awesomeness of our creator. We see this where we live and work. The night sky, the sunrises, the sunsets, the flowers in our gardens, the creatures of nature we see and wonder.

But there is so much just as amazing that we do not see.

As a child I learned that our creator knows the number of hair on each of our heads and notices every sparrow that falls. And I was amazed.

This is another level I cannot even comprehend.

As I create some crude semblance of DNA I cannot believe how difficult it is. Curving strips of clay around and around...keeping them under control while gravity is trying to press the damp clay into my table...

”For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. “
Psalm 139:13