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