The Discovery and Expression of Art

When we discovered Cubism, we did not have the aim of discovering Cubism. 

We only wanted to express what was in us.

- Pablo Picasso

Violin, 1995, Pic Michel

Picolin, 2012, Pic Michel                                             Facing Death, Pablo Picasso

Sometimes students say they "don't know how" to draw or paint. I am generally thrilled with this information and tell them to keep going.  Recently a student suggested that I was supposed to be teaching her. I agreed, and I was. There are 250 million ways (at least, how many people are in the world?) to artistically interpret a subject.  If I tell students how to do it, I am limiting them to one way.  If I let them go long enough, they begin to discover what they don't know.

This is what artists teach, patience and appreciation of the artistic process which is exploration, discovery and expression.  There is really no right or wrong when this is the aim of one's work. Getting comfortable not knowing is simultaneously becoming more able to explore and discover the subject and media and bring them together through artistic expression.  

This is why I enjoy so many media and love most what I know least. I work to find what I don't know. It is an adventure. When we let go, all sorts of things come through, sometimes consciously, sometimes without our knowledge and our lives are filled with surprises and wonder.  

Earlier this year I was working on an abstract relief sculpture of a violin.  It was reminiscent of a layer painting I made almost 20 years ago, but when I looked at the sculpture from a distance I discovered hints of a Picasso self-portrait right in the middle of the composition. After seeing that, intersecting cubist colors across the sculpture was a blast.

Picasso's quote speaks to the beauty of art, not as a style or technique but a way of life.  Whether we're painting or just going about the day, the lessons of art makes not knowing a beautiful thing.

  

Mural Mania

Murals are one of my favorite ways to work with community. At the beginning of the school year I  had the pleasure of working with teenage girls on a 5-panel mural that lines the hallway to their residential recovery program.  We are now ending the school year with a mural project at The Children's Home of Cincinnati in the new Wainscott Building for Upper Schol and day treatment programs.  My community projects start with planning.  I held two brainstorming sessions with representatives from both programs at The Children's Home. I asked the kids what they would see if they could break through the walls of black and white existence. The mural draws on Dorothy's transition from her black and white world to living color in Oz.  Each of the elements in the sky were chosen to correspond with the ideas from which the little flower (representative of every child) draws its strength. Murals, whether they are the work of Diego Rivera or Robert S. Duncan, and even moi', are most powerful when they connect us to an idea, community or purpose that empowers and motivates.  It's more than paint, it's planning and partnership. See what I mean, watch the Bridge Mural video here.  See the completed Children's Home Mural here and learn more about murals for home and business.

Beginnings and Endings

What exactly is finished?  I'm not sure it exists because it seems there's always more.  I finished a book and now must set about getting the word out.  What a change of channels.  It's also time to bid projects and wonder if I will like the ideas I have now when I'm actually supposed to deliver the goods.  Then again, there are those paintings which I wish would take a lot longer than they do, which is why I started writing books.  It takes longer. In a painting the way an eye observes the composition is so subtle compared to the word-by-word composition of a book. Whoever came up with the idea of completion just didn't get the whole premise of change and its inevitability.  If I followed the idea of completion then I would have stopped as an illustrator way back when, or a painter, or teacher.  I like change, but it sure can be exhausting in the illusion of getting things finished.

The True Creative Process

One of the things the practice of art does better than anything else is to make the practitioner aware of the process. I am a big advocate of getting off the path, to stop looking for the next new thing, to be in and fully appreciate each and every moment. Sometimes I do that well, sometimes it seems like I have a long way to go. When I seem to be entertaining thoughts of the latter, I find it is because I am having expectations about what should be happening, and where I want things to go, that is being in a process which is counter-productive to true artistic and life expression. The only process that works in art is the one in which I am in the moment. When I hear that little voice in my own head, or outloud in the studio indicating the art is not where it should be, I know the path is covered with worry and effort that is not required and only serves as an obstruction to fulfillment and effortless bliss. As an artist and teacher it is so vital that I not react to these proddings of ego and worry and just be wherever the work has taken me. This is what I love about what I teach and practice. Art lets us appreciate the whole process of manifesting, not just the start and finish.

photo courtesy of freeparking at flickr.com

Staycation: Exploring Creative Terrain

 

Whenever we think of vacationing we enter into a fantastic state of mind through which we imagine what things could be like. Too often we expect to find those imaginings waiting for us in the real world if we could just get away from it all not realizing that we already did. Vacations require free time and plenty of money when our plans include staying in hotels or condos, travelling by plane or cruise ship, and driving long distances. When we're through we have our pictures and memories, not very different from how we started out.

For years I have found myself imagining my vacations but seldom taking them. When I do get away, I often find much of my time spent was better dreamed. I am finding I really love what I do. I can paint or write myself anywhere, anytime, having the most extraordinary experiences without setting foot outside my studio, remaining available to my old dogs and cat, and sticking with my preferred diet rather than breaking all the rules and paying for it later.

Many people are imagining staycations this year. I have a suggestion: travel light, the light of your imagination, explore the terrain of your creative self. Then you'll be able to experience creating beautiful vistas any time you choose.

Daytime hours now available for individuals and friends. For more information call Pic at 513-549-4607.

With No Expectations

The greatest challenge facing any newcomer to The Heart Studio is getting comfortable with not knowing. Many have little experience making art which applies not only to the types of media but how to use them, what to create, and how that will develop from start to finish. Even if someone is able to vision the final product, being comfortable with the process that leads to it can be difficult.

Practicing art is not about knowing what to do, but being comfortable not knowing. I can teach how the media works, but there are myriad ways to do so. It is that process of discovery that makes art so much fun and it is the mastery of that, not so one knows, but the mastery of not needing to know that is art's greatest gift. Without that underlying challenge, there would be nothing new. Artists would take the safe route, producing rather than exploring, contemplating and allowing themselves to be surprised, always seeing things the same way.

My digital scrapbook, Nature Spirits, is composed of photos I took on a walk through Clifton Gorge. The process was about seeing not what was obvious (i.e. a tree, stone, water) but what was in the space between my expectations and the nature I was viewing. What came was first seeing faces in the structure of stones and trees, and later allowing shadows and light of leaves and the rushing waters in contrast to their dark undertow to also produce faces.

The studio should be a worry-free zone where one can let the mind go easy and let the heart explore. Then you can do anything. Give it a try!

The Creative Difference

I recently worked with a professional team who laughed as they agreed they were not very different from some of the challenged youth I also work with. Fortunately the team was not as resistant as many others both young and grown can be when they come up against an unfamiliar project during our workshop.

It is the perspective that we’re “up against” something, or insecure “not knowing” what we’re doing, that makes the challenge. With practice we find that we can use our creative abilities to get through and accomplish just about anything. Once we have successfully broken through the belief that they we’re not creative, we are empowered to perceive challenges not as problems, but as works in progress that can be appreciated at every phase through to completion.

Our ever changing world makes growth and development an ongoing challenge and people our most important focus. The ever popular question is “why am I here?” More importantly the question could be “what are we doing here?” For better or for worse we're creating. We create opportunity and obstacle with our perspective which is our creative ability in action.

The insights noted in this video montage from recent creative workshops with youth and their mentors demonstrate how creative practices can enhance and positively reinforce life skills that empower individuals in both educational and work environments.

Rite of Passage

I get to do some of the coolest work most of the time. I have been blessed to be able to do so because without it, my ideas and need to create would drive me crazy. Creative energy requires outlets through which it's light might be best utilized. I meet a lot of people who don't feel that they are creative. Sometimes I pause and scold them for creating such an untruism. The Truth is, everybody is creative and creating all of the time. Too often we are all a little too willing to accept the worst, doubt that it will get any better, and spend much time nurturing a creative work to the point of its full potential. That is why so many are finding themselves challenged in so many ways to do exactly that. A lot of things about which we had grown complacent are disappearing and we are finding a need to step up and take new, vital action to bring about something better. It is a rite of passage during such times.

I recently facilitated this reflection workshop for some local freshmen who performed service hours for various local non-profits. They spent the morning stacking cans of food, sorting clothes, holding hands with children who have health challenges. They were a part of something greater than themselves, and found the gifts needed by so many including themselves. They shared those gifts in writing, and enfolded their writing in cloths which were laid into the shape of a labyrinth to symbolize their rite of passage. I was humbled as I listened to their words and saw how their creative energy had been channelled through these outlets. May we all trust that we will also be so gifted as we find the outlets through which we may share our creative energy.

What We Know

They say you are supposed to write about what you know. In addition to the metaphysical lessons and mystery that run through Gold Lame', is a thread about something that has also inspired me to make more than one painting on the subject: the needs of and caring for abused and neglected children.

My personal life was absolutely changed when I started working with kids. I didn't have an education degree and I was so moved by my first experiences as a guest artist with a summer art program, I was willing to do anything to continue facilitating the impact I saw art make in the lives of challenged kids.

I was asked to facilitate art projects with mentally ill children. Most of these kids had been severly hurt verbally, emotionally, physically...abandoned. This work taught me how forgiving kids are, how much they need to believe they are loved even when all evidence goes against that, how creative (and trouble-prone) they can be when trying to deal with the challenges life started handing them before they were old enough to speak. It made me stop playing my sad story, and it made me stand up for them.

Gold Lame' tells the story of two people who, as children, experience abuse and neglect. One wears it as a wound, the other bravely matches it with his wit and imagination. I was actually asked to care for the pet snail of a young boy who disappeared with his mother. The snail arrived in a shallow container. I continue to hold snail space for children, so I do write from what I know.

I don't think I had any agenda while writing these characters other than to honor the brave children I have known. There have been quite a few and I am grateful for the difference they have made in my life.

And Away We Go!

Gold Lame' (that's le-mayy) has a Narrator, a character who keeps its finger on the pulse of the story and who sometimes has a bit of an attitude. Originally the Narrator's job was just to give the reader a heads-up when the channel changes from one story line to another. This happens in print most often by leaving a little extra space in between sections. Our Narrator inserts a little phrase which reads, Pause, pause, pause... in print. When it came to putting this in the audio book I chose a voice that made the Narrator sound a little like he was talking into a shell. Take a listen to his haughty attitude: http://www.cpicmichel.com/pause_pause_pause.mp3 The Narrator tends to interrupt, provide background information, and also narrates a documentary film on how things work on "the other side ". Now that the book is finished I think I finally know who the Narrator really is. It doesn't surprise me that I might not have known before since the book pretty much wrote itself. But now, I think I figured it out. I wonder who you think the Narrator could be. You'll have to finish the book to have the best guess which of the characters is also masquerading as the Narrator.

Count Down!

I’ve always been interested in things some folks might consider other-worldly, like Numerology. Believe it or not a Greek mathematician named Pythagoras adapted the Chinese system for determining the vibrational frequencies of the sound of one’s name and birth date to determine the qualities of the person and their life. Numerology runs in cycles from 1-9 years with 1 being the year of new beginnings. It’s for this reason that I have chosen October 26, 2008 to be the release date for Gold Lame’ which interestingly has the number 3 (communication) as it’s name vibration. And, when I account for the (that’s le-mayy) subtitle I’ve added in the last few weeks the number is a 5 which accounts for the curious humor of the book. Put it together and it’s an 8 (fruition) which is a very appropriate number for both the book and me. Cool coincidences. I would never have looked at the numerology for the name if I hadn’t used it to calculate the release date. So, I hope you will join in the book release celebration and visit the website (link in upper left corner) before October 26 to retrieve a special code to use in check-out. Look for Gold Lame’ to be posted on Sunday, October 26! I hope to see you at the new HeArtStudio Store!

Stray Hair

When it comes to audio recordings and sentence structure, I am sure there are those who might shudder at the work I am deeply satisfied to have produced, much the same as a realist might raise a questioning eyebrow at the work of an abstract expressionist. For me the writing and recording have been about artistic expression and I feeling fine allowing for the occasional stray paintbrush bristle (hicough, sound spike) that ends up imbedded in the “paint” of my recording.

As I have completed the recording of the audio book and am tweaking the 8th chapter of the master copy, I remind myself of the “viewer” A painting is never finished in my humble opinion. It is constantly reviewed and recreated by the consciousness of the observer. It is my belief that this will be so with Gold Lame’, that the places I might still feel need a little work will be embellished and improved by the imagination of the listener or reader. It’s a partnership I love to engage and am happy to be doing so through so many mixed media.

Image: Multifaceted, Acrylic on Canvas, 30"x30" © C. Pic Michel, 2008

Doing Things the Hard Way

The best part of this whole process to-date, is learning that something I thought was a liability for me is actually my greatest love. I tend to do things “the hard way”. Recently I realized “the hard way” and the creative process are one.

I learned this one day when an art student told me the creative process was “too hard”. I’d heard it a million times (at least 50 times from Sanchez). He spent weeks insisting her couldn’t draw or paint even though he was doing a fine job. One day he handed me the paintbrush as I was encouraging him and said, “You do it.” Rarely have I altered a student’s artwork. I encourage the struggle with learning how to do various things. Eventually, if we give up the struggle, what we need comes through. This can appear to be quite different than what we originally expected and, like Sanchez, we might miss the beauty of what we’re doing.

When I first wrote Gold Lame’ I had no idea I would publish, or self-publish it, or produce an audio recording with full character voices and all the learning that was required. As a creative, I enjoy the struggle (most of the time) and noticed the stories I tell myself. I like this one: each day, whether or not it was good enough is relative to what I intended to do. I could tweak this thing forever, but it’s time to let it go. If my intent was to be creative, then it’s good enough.

photo: one of my pet snails...it's a long story

Lucid Dreaming

Whenever I paint, little stories go on in my head. These might be about what I’m working on, but just as likely I am developing characters and scenarios that reflect something I believe. I can spend an entire session without benefit of background noise as I am my own background. Fortunately for me, I believe some pretty entertaining stuff. Like our entire waking life is actually a dream no different than the dreams of sleeping life except we tend to believe we are in control of one while we rarely remember the other. Which dream-type is “one” and which is the “other” varies among believers and gets particularly interesting when the believer believes s/he doesn’t believe in the duality of one or other.

Right now for me one and the other are unpublished and published (read "posted" online). It’s a semi-lucid dream as I tweak the soundtracks for the last chapter so I can file the copyright, get an isbn # , while simultaneously testing and setting up accounts from which the downloads will occur, preparing ads and announcements, and taking care of some details for my parent’s 50th anniversary party this weekend. Shew! Somewhere in here I’m still teaching. Yesterday 2 tracks of my master simply disappeared. Thankfully I “printed” them to mp3 last Saturday and I still have the source files. Hopefully things will continue to move in an overall positive direction!

fireworks photo courtesy of Rob Cook

Not Just Clowning Around

I’ve had a busy summer on art projects with kids at local youth agencies, and in Lower Price Hill. We told the stories of our lives and designed t-shirts about non-violence using plaster hand sculptures, collage, video, and photography. Jojo, a character in Gold Lame’, is based on my experience with many of the children in groups like these which take place in low income and special needs environments. These unexpected projects may have set me back a bit on audio book production, but the work with the kids was very gratifying. I just have to accept Labor Day weekend as a (very ambitious) possible new launch date. That would work well with the fireworks and parade scenes in the book. But even if I don’t make that, there’s always the election theme by which I could choose an alternative date. Doing this work is all spec so it has to be prioritized in line with eating and paying the mortgage. But it also has to be a priority all it’s own as there’s not much sense in eating or having a place to live if not for doing something you love.

Clown photo courtesy: www.flickr.com/tinfoilracoon/1458825969/clown

Hrim on Dreaming Soundbite

15 years ago, I read my first book aloud – as an adult to another adult. We were traveling from Cincinnati to Florida for the winter art shows. We took up reading aloud as a form of entertainment. Tom Robbins’ Skinny Legs and All was the perfect book to send us off on our trek in a 350 Chevy van stocked with paintings, towing a 21 foot camper. I still remember how the retirees would come out to watch me park the rig. They didn’t think I could do it. I was surprisingly good at maneuvering that thing into place on the first try. There’s a traveling theme including an elephant in Gold Lame’. Some of it takes place on the back of a telepathic elephant. When writing “a deep, booming male voice” for Hrim (pronounced Hreem) I wasn’t expecting to record it into an audiobook. The Audacity software offers a good opportunity to modify sound. Have a one-minute listen to Hrim discussing Dreams with Amelia.


Elephant photo courtesy of : www.flickr.com/photos/exfordy/123900378

Fourteen Voices?

I have found that the best time to record male voices for the book is early morning. As I was struggling with the voice for a character named Hrim, it struck me that there are 7 no, 8 male voices in the book. Some of them belong to the same character but it changes. In contrast, there are "only" five female voices...six if you again count changes to voices. Like Tetta, she has one voice with an Indian clip and another that is totally USA countryfied. So there's 14 characters in one book...what was I thinking? Obviously not about recording it some day. A few friends offered to be the voices for me, but I have been having fun (albeit slow started) getting these voices to contrast enough to let the listener slip into them. I have a log history of reading books aloud. The only audiobook I've ever listened to is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. Fisher Stevens is the narrator and during that text he produces hellish she-demons and little girls in an over the top humorous way that compensates for the fact his voice sounds nothing like a little girl's. I don't suppose anyone really knows what a male elephant is supposed to sound like when he's thinking, so I hope however it works out will be satisfactory enough. If you're just tuning in, catch up on the Gold Lame' link and listen to the audio book sample.

Gold Lame'

Many people are closet artists. They make a living doing one thing and make it worth their while by enjoying painting or making pottery as a hobby. For more than 30 years I have made a living as a visual artist while I have been writing in the background. I work with quite a few writers, poets, and actors all of whom have taught me how richly challenging these crafts can be. I have tended to keep my short stories and novels on the shelf, so to speak; with the excuse that I didn't know enough. Thing is, everything I do is self-invented, so the excuse really doesn't hold water. I've been exposing my creative expression to public scrutiny for so long that I decided my writing shouldn't be any different. When I decided I wanted to be a professional artist, my dad told me he thought I was a better writer than artist (see... that kind of scrutiny). Today I'm hoping he was at least half right.

I have been crafting Gold Lame' for 4 years. Given that there are references to political elections as well as summer picnics and fireworks as background for the mystery to unfold, I thought this was as good a time as any to finally let it go and see what happens. I have implemented the techno-skills I have developed over time as well as some new learnings to do this on-line in ebook and audiobook format with plans to eventually get it printed in perfect bound.

While I'm completing this process I am working on building a community of people who like the idea, want to support the process, and might even share it with their friends. So I have started this blog, posted previews of the book, and made a video trailer.

I am having a lot of fun getting to know the web-world in a whole new way and I'm hopeful that this venture may be a way for many others to enjoy these experiences too. So I'll be covering the book here, but also posting adventures in social networking.

If you don't know what Stumble Upon is, check it out. You join for free, download the toolbar which automatically shows up in your browser, check the categories that interest you, and click the stumble it button to be transported to cool sites recommended by other web travellers. This can be quite fun and interesting. Pandora.com is a cool website where you can start your own radio station that will play your favorite music...really cool. Facebook is a lot friendlier than I thought it would be and I have reconnected there with old friends.

The book samples I have posted are copyrighted with a Creative Commons license (one of those things I've learned about) which encourages sharing as long as everything remains the same. So feel free to print it out, send links to whomever you wish. The ebook has more pages in it than the audio book so, if you like what you hear you can read more.

I hope you'll become a part of this growing community and subscribe to be a part of the process and find out when the full version goes up. Thanks for visiting and sharing in my adventure!