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Is an artist's style determined by how the artist paints over a life time, or by the subjects they choose to paint and draw? Is it determined by the surface they paint on or the medium they paint with? Is an artist defined by the way they apply paint to a surface or what they apply the paint with? Is success measured by the amount of money, fame, exposure an artist receives, or the words of praise or ridicule heaped upon them? If there was no audience for your work would you still keep working away making art? I don't know about the rest of you, but I will paint, draw, carve, etch, and sculpt in whatever medium I choose without regard to fame, fortune, audience or reward until the day I die. Probably not sensible, but producing satisfies my soul. I don't think anyone wants a painting of a lizard, tarantula, spider, frog, or snake on their wall, but for some reason I like these critters and I like to paint them. I also like to paint roses, but I don't want to be confined to painting flowers, fruit or still life's all my life. Today I worked on a Moonlit Chameleon and it is almost finished. It is in Gouache, and I had a great deal of fun painting it. I love the patterns and raised surfaces that defines a reptiles skin, the glossy reflective shine of a Turtles shell, and the pattern on a Leopard Frog. I have been painting frogs for 40 years, and for some reason even sculpted a Frog Prince waiting to be kissed. I guess I'm a foolish romantic in a cynical shell. Hopefully other people in this world will like seeing some of God's less lauded creations, and will enjoy their perfect, simple elegance. Keep working, painting, and enjoying your creative life even if it sometime is a struggle or financially unrewarding. Remember, if you have your tools, your skills, and a surface to work on you are a rich Artist indeed.
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4 comments:
Well maybe it will let me leave a comment this time!
Hi Annie. I, too, love all your strange critters and find them well worthy of creative and artistic energy. The chameleon reminded me of an old poem I wrote called Lizard Woman, so I am enclosing it here for your blog.
LIZARD WOMAN
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer
The world above
Sings in her ear. Her scaly skin
Soaks up warm rays,
While one eye envisions
The entire milky swirl
--gas clouds, rock clusters, star swarms--
Spiraling in the company
Of our sun.
The other eye is alert for danger.
Below
Her sun-dappled branch
The cave or crevice await
That flash of a moment when
Safety
Cool, moon-governed shelter
Is required.
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
She has learned to thrive
In dry places. She can
Drink her fill
From a leaf. She knows
the uses of shade. She can
Bask, traversing freely
Between
The light and dark worlds.
The mysteries:
The fly’s erratic flight,
The beetle's hidden havens,
Coyote's sharp bite
She knows. She is one for whom
The loss of a tail
Is a teaching.
A woman could do worse
For a guide.
She could cling to your sweater,
Bask above your left breast, or
Ride your ears, a pair
Of whispering, gold and green
Familiars.
Lizard Woman,
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer,
Guide our travels, inspire our works,
We who glow with your same
Iridescence,
We common-place agile women who have
Too often camouflaged our souls
To survive,
We wild, celestial creatures
Who amid a swirl of stars
Cling to
A gnarled branch
A green jewel
A spinning stone
Equally spoken to
By earth and
By fire.
-Yakshi
3/10/93
Hi, Annie! I, too, love your creatures and critters. Your chameleon reminded me of my Lizard Woman poem, so I'm enclosing it here.
LIZARD WOMAN
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer
The world above
Sings in her ear. Her scaly skin
Soaks up warm rays,
While one eye envisions
The entire milky swirl
--gas clouds, rock clusters, star swarms--
Spiraling in the company
Of our sun.
The other eye is alert for danger.
Below
Her sun-dappled branch
The cave or crevice await
That flash of a moment when
Safety
Cool, moon-governed shelter
Is required.
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
She has learned to thrive
In dry places. She can
Drink her fill
From a leaf. She knows
the uses of shade. She can
Bask, traversing freely
Between
The light and dark worlds.
The mysteries:
The fly’s erratic flight,
The beetle's hidden havens,
Coyote's sharp bite
She knows. She is one for whom
The loss of a tail
Is a teaching.
A woman could do worse
For a guide.
She could cling to your sweater,
Bask above your left breast, or
Ride your ears, a pair
Of whispering, gold and green
Familiars.
Lizard Woman,
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer,
Guide our travels, inspire our works,
We who glow with your same
Iridescence,
We common-place agile women who have
Too often camouflaged our souls
To survive,
We wild, celestial creatures
Who amid a swirl of stars
Cling to
A gnarled branch
A green jewel
A spinning stone
Equally spoken to
By earth and
By fire.
-Yakshi
3/10/93
Hi, Annie! I, too, love your creatures and critters. Your chameleon reminded me of my Lizard Woman poem, so I'm enclosing it here.
LIZARD WOMAN
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer
The world above
Sings in her ear. Her scaly skin
Soaks up warm rays,
While one eye envisions
The entire milky swirl
--gas clouds, rock clusters, star swarms--
Spiraling in the company
Of our sun.
The other eye is alert for danger.
Below
Her sun-dappled branch
The cave or crevice await
That flash of a moment when
Safety
Cool, moon-governed shelter
Is required.
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
She has learned to thrive
In dry places. She can
Drink her fill
From a leaf. She knows
the uses of shade. She can
Bask, traversing freely
Between
The light and dark worlds.
The mysteries:
The fly’s erratic flight,
The beetle's hidden havens,
Coyote's sharp bite
She knows. She is one for whom
The loss of a tail
Is a teaching.
A woman could do worse
For a guide.
She could cling to your sweater,
Bask above your left breast, or
Ride your ears, a pair
Of whispering, gold and green
Familiars.
Lizard Woman,
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer,
Guide our travels, inspire our works,
We who glow with your same
Iridescence,
We common-place agile women who have
Too often camouflaged our souls
To survive,
We wild, celestial creatures
Who amid a swirl of stars
Cling to
A gnarled branch
A green jewel
A spinning stone
Equally spoken to
By earth and
By fire.
-Yakshi
3/10/93
Hi, Annie! I, too, love your creatures and critters. Your chameleon reminded me of my Lizard Woman poem, so I'm enclosing it here.
LIZARD WOMAN
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer
The world above
Sings in her ear. Her scaly skin
Soaks up warm rays,
While one eye envisions
The entire milky swirl
--gas clouds, rock clusters, star swarms--
Spiraling in the company
Of our sun.
The other eye is alert for danger.
Below
Her sun-dappled branch
The cave or crevice await
That flash of a moment when
Safety
Cool, moon-governed shelter
Is required.
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
She has learned to thrive
In dry places. She can
Drink her fill
From a leaf. She knows
the uses of shade. She can
Bask, traversing freely
Between
The light and dark worlds.
The mysteries:
The fly’s erratic flight,
The beetle's hidden havens,
Coyote's sharp bite
She knows. She is one for whom
The loss of a tail
Is a teaching.
A woman could do worse
For a guide.
She could cling to your sweater,
Bask above your left breast, or
Ride your ears, a pair
Of whispering, gold and green
Familiars.
Lizard Woman,
Sun Seeker, Shadow Lover,
Chameleon Color Changer,
Guide our travels, inspire our works,
We who glow with your same
Iridescence,
We common-place agile women who have
Too often camouflaged our souls
To survive,
We wild, celestial creatures
Who amid a swirl of stars
Cling to
A gnarled branch
A green jewel
A spinning stone
Equally spoken to
By earth and
By fire.
-Yakshi
3/10/93
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