The drawings pour in
Lovely, creative, energetic drawings start my head spinning
Who knew? I thought this would be easy. Step one: Ask for drawings Step two:get some great art Step three: proceed apace. Not. Don't get me wrong, the drawings are great (the one above is by Amelia, a gifted artist). Amelia, Zachary, Marla, Derin, Asher, Jeremy, Chuck, Tripp, Katya and Lucy inspire me, excite me and honestly ... give me pause. How do I honor the original intent of the artist? How to move from inspiration to INSPIRATION?
Who could resist these owls that Katya drew? Frankly I think she was channeling my confusion in that one on the right. How do I add my vision to hers? And if I do should I interpret or exaggerate her original vision? What does my stitching add? or subtract?
Jeremy's monster looks so happy. Arms extended, teeth grinning...and yet...he is a MONSTER right? So what can I add to this marvelous drawing that brings a new level of understanding? What friendly happy monster is inside me?
Let's try this I say to myself. Zachary drew these wonderful "derpy" birds. I add a background of trees drawn from a photo I took in a local park. The trees look like a family grouping, a small tree in the center flanked by two large (parental) trees. I think the composition works ... but it doesn't feel like mine. Or Zachary's. What to do?
So why am I doing this?
I'd like to channel my inner four-year old. Trouble is, over the years, that spontaneity, confidence and whimsy has been burnished away by erasers, photoshop, and over-thinking. Inspired by my grandson's drawings I want to simplify the lines I use, explore the relationship that drawings have to emotions and plumb the depths of mystery.
Oh yeah, now I remember.