When my son came home and saw this pear, he said, "I liked the stuff you were doing before better, like the gnome." The tone of voice was important here. Like an art critic who was not a fan.
The perils of visual art are that everyone (readily) has an opinion. Some more vocal than others. I guess that is true with all the arts, but with music or dance, when it is over it fades away. And then a 3 foot by two foot drawing really stays. I would like to say that I didn't care. After all, I did enjoy doing the pear. I loved the stem the most, or actually the place where the stem meets the pear fruit. But I am no saint, my feelings were hurt. I had kept it hanging so he could see it when he came home. Excited to show off day seven. One week. Only 51 weeks to go.
My response was, "I have 358 more days, I can try all kinds of things in that time." Or something like that. I knew it didn't matter what he thought, and, when I do commissions and get stuck he almost always calls it as it is and is very helpful. I have trusted his eye. He said that he has been around his school art teacher too long. That when his art teacher doesn't like something he comes right out and says so. No sugar coating. I come from a different philosphy. A "don't hurt peoples feelings because artmaking can be a vulnerable place" philospphy. The "find feedback that keeps them motivated, asks questions and learns more" philosophy.
The truth is, Shea was probably sensing the struggle I have been having with this project and the whole "what do I draw?" pain and the newly emerging "this is a BIG piece of paper to fill with oil pastels and smudge with my tired fingers." And on the other side of the coin, 10 minutes later I didn't care (so much). I liked my pear. It is not going to win any awards, but it turned out okay, I enjoyed doing it and I got day seven under my belt. Speaking of belts, that is one reason I love pears as a subject matter, they are very sensual in shape, my full figure drawings almost always have a pear shaped body. Small waist, big hips.
I think I better close up shop. I am off on a whole other ramble....
The truth is, Shea was probably sensing the struggle I have been having with this project and the whole "what do I draw?" pain and the newly emerging "this is a BIG piece of paper to fill with oil pastels and smudge with my tired fingers." And on the other side of the coin, 10 minutes later I didn't care (so much). I liked my pear. It is not going to win any awards, but it turned out okay, I enjoyed doing it and I got day seven under my belt. Speaking of belts, that is one reason I love pears as a subject matter, they are very sensual in shape, my full figure drawings almost always have a pear shaped body. Small waist, big hips.
I think I better close up shop. I am off on a whole other ramble....
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