Making Art About Life
This is one of my drawings. It isn't meant to be a finished piece - it's an idea in progress, with some text straight from an old book and a translation I did ages ago, and a bit of collage. For major pieces I hand-draw the typeface and use it more thoughtfully. But it gives you a bit of an idea of the type of work I do. Yep, it isn't realistic - I appreciate realism but it isn't my natural voice. It isn't drawing from life; it's drawing about life.
When I decided, a whole month ago, to start a large-scale charcoal drawing, I didn't really know what I was going to do. There were a few vague landscapes in my sketchbook that might have turned into something. I figured once I stood in front of that blank paper, something would happen. Well something did happen: the terrible fires in Victoria. My family and friends are all safe, so I'm very fortunate, but this has hit very close to home. I have friends who were working in the State Emergency Service there, and a neighbor who went to fight the fires. My mother's house was covered in soot, and smoke hung around our place for days. We've been in tears many times reading the stories in the newspapers.
I know several artists who have begun making images about the fires - that's how artists deal with things. We process the experience through our art. At first I didn't think I would. I've done paintings about fire before, and it wasn't really a topic that I wanted to deal with. But over the last few days, a composition started to come together in my head, not so much about the fire itself but the aftermath. The loss of objects, memories, and the work we invest in our homes. Lives reduced to ashes.
To be quite honest, for a while there, I was beginning to think that I was no longer an artist. I rarely draw for myself these days. So rediscovering my artistic voice through this work is exciting. I just wish the inspiration might have been something beautiful, and not something so deeply, deeply tragic.
Comments
I am glad to hear you and your family are okay. I am also glad to hear that you regained some of your artistic mojo. I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Charcoal would so be the perfect medium for artwork about fire. With a bit of earthy red and orange obscured behind it somewhere.
Non-realism can often be far more impactful than realism, especially in this media-overloaded-era. Do show us what you do next! Even if you think it’s not going where you’d wanted it’s interesting to see the development process.
Thanks, Connie. It feels good to be making some art for myself.
Rai, I agree – I’m very conscious of the connection between medium and meaning. I’m not sure if there’s actually going to be any red in it – at least not in this particular piece. Cold white ash.
I’ll post photos as I go.
I’m so glad you & your family are safe and sound. Also wanted to let everyone down there they are in my prayers as they go through this awful time. I also read every thing you write Helen, you are well loved in Phila. Pa.!!!!!
Thank you so much for giving insight into inspiration, even though it is from tragedy. I appreciate your website and your work, and wish you and everyone in Oz the best
Hi, Helen. I’ve been getting your newsletters for about a year now, and they’ve offered some excellent inspiration and tips.
I appreciate you sharing this personal experience with the world. I just want to say thanks, and that although the inspiration may be tragic, so many artists devote their time to finding the darkest subject matter and kind of force it in their art, to be edgy. When we express the tragedy of real life, I believe we make real art, something to which all people can relate. Only by addressing difficult subject matter can we begin to heal, so it’s actually a good thing to focus on the more difficult aspects of life now and then.
I hope all that makes sense. I’d love to see what you come up with.
Thanks Nancy, Perele and Joe. Australians have been really touched by the generosity and concern of our friends around the world – people from all over sending donations and good wishes. It’s amazing.
You’re right about forced ‘angst’, Joe. It actually made me hesitant to embark on this piece, as these days I prefer happier subjects. I thought about some of the really awful stories – you can imagine some of the terrible things being told – and certainly don’t want to ‘go there’. But the ideas I have about life, memories and objects kind of mesh in with this experience.
I bought the paper yesterday, and have some thumbnails sketched up, so I’ll keep you posted!
Yes mem….may God bless you….