So, I recently put some of my artwork in a couple

of local shops here in Colorado.

 

It was a bit scary at first I have to admit because for

 me showing my artwork is a little like baring my

 soul to the public. My art is really the inner most me

and all my life I have been pretty shy especially

 when I was a kid. Art was a way of expressing myself

without having to talk to people even though

 few saw what I did. Shyness over the years has been

 no fun at all and at the ripe old age of forty- jpuphein

 I am finally getting over it – kind of…

 

The people I have met in the last few weeks at

the Fort Collins Nursery and at the White Lion Shop

in Lyons have been really great to me.

Thanks to my best friend Joyce I have met other people

 I now consider friends. Doors are opening and I like it.

 

 I have stuff in my head that has been stirring around

 in the ‘attic’ for years but I guess there is a part of me

 that isn’t sure how it will be received by

 the welcoming committee when it gets into the real world.

You can put all the lipstick on the pig you want to

but in the end she’s still a pig.

Using that analogy if you look past the exterior you will

find a reasonably smart animal so forget the lipstick.

 

I put a lot of thought and hard work into my art and with

 some of the pieces if you look past what it actually is (junk)

 you will find a lot more. In pieces like Mira, the Null Ship

 and Moment – (a work in progress) the theme is based

 on time and how important our thoughts about it are.

To me the more you understand the preciousness of time

 especially in the presence of another sentient being

 the more you will valve everything you do and

the things they do for you (seen or not).

What better subjects to create art from

-         Time, Love, Will, Desire, Humbleness and

things of that nature?

 To me there are worlds of artwork

 in these words and infinite ways to communicate

 powerful messages through them.

 

 The human condition has never been riper for art.

 

From the ungodly wars we are fighting to

 global warming to the mapping of the human genome

 we are in an age that is redefining course of humanity

 by the second or maybe I should say in Planck time.

 I have often thought that a person could change

 the course of humanity by throwing the proverbial stone

in the right pond.

Particularly now-a-days when the most ridiculous stuff

 goes viral overnight.

 

The lemmings still run.

 

Oh wait, gee… did I get off the subject just a bit?

 

Back to the subject at hand.

 I hope there is a way that I can continue my art.

 I think it is important. Not for me but for everyone.

At the risk of sounding somewhat arrogant there are things

we should think about in our everyday life to

 help us keep grounded or maybe keep our foolish prides in line.

 

Don’t you agree?

 

Have something physically in front of you to glance at

 here and there to remind you of your role here

in this earthly play is not a bad thing.

That is why I think art is important- maybe keep you in touch

 with your God or whatever you believe in.

Art is something that is supposed to stimulate your mind isn’t it?

 

Maybe [also] it should keep you awake in the moment.

Something of which I have a hard time with because

I get so caught up in thought much of the day.

 

I Googled “definition of art” and this is a tiny part of what came up:

 “It has been defined as a vehicle for the expression or communication of emotions and ideas, a means for exploring and appreciating formal elements for their own sake, and as mimesis or representation. Leo Tolstoy identified art as a use of indirect means to communicate from one person to another.” I like that – it’s so true. And I guess I am hopeing to completely overcome my shyness garbage through my junk art- that’s kind of funny isn’t it?  Ha, wait… I got it! I will become a master of communication through junk. (Oh brother! I think I’d better go take a cold shower – he thinks to himself.)

 Getting in the zone (to create artwork)For me mornings are the best to create artwork ideas. Usually I have to sketch them out because my mind is going a million miles a second.  Late at night about the time I want to go to sleep something starts stirring in the brain also. I often wondered if it was the relaxed state of mind I am in when this happens. But lately my mind has been on overdrive could it be the time of year or maybe just my bipolar disorder flying its course. Usually this is the time I just want to snap but I have kept it under control. I think as long as I have a creative outlet and I’m not interrupted I am O.K. Yesterday I worked on a piece of sculpture I haven’t worked on for literally years. I got mad at it a while back and didn’t know what to do with it. The piece is very heavy (I even dropped it once carrying it down a flight of stair where I used to live)- very strange but it finally came to me in a flash of inspiration what to do with it and now I know… exactly how to finish it.If you an artist of any type (and you know you are- we all are in our own way) and you know your project isn’t going well leave it before you mess it up! Come back to it ONLY when you know exactly what you are going to do or you have peace about working on it- that is my recommedication << (my new word ;-)  Getting back to the “Zone” as people like to call it. I find that sometimes you have to romance yourself into the zone. Seems strange for a male to say that but right now I can’t think of any other way to put it. What I mean is coax yourself into feeling like you are ready to be creative. For me it is thinking about the project and what I am trying to achieve, the message in the piece, or just being totally spontaneous. Music really helps for me. To each his or her own but I like Techno, New Age, Country, Rock and Roll and all kinds of other stuff but if I hear a certain song-  that can really help the mood towards the creative zone. If you have ever been in the zone you know how cool it is. Sometimes its like you crawl inside the piece and blast yourself outward in a frenzy of expression. There is no outside world you just become the piece and the tools you are working with- its really kind of magical.Eat some chocolate or something you love. This also helps get you in the mood. I like getting inspiration from other peoples artwork too- nothing better than to see someone else’s genius workIf you have any thoughts on this subject DO SHARE!  And thanks ahead of time for the input.