“I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort—and disappointment and perseverance.”
Vincent van Gogh
This man understood the art of art-making; the journey, the highs, the lows, the disappointments and the bliss.
That longing and desire to create things of beauty can be a very real hunger and an ache; a yearning to express ourselves through the creation of simple, elegant, beautiful things; or through bright, bold and expressive beautiful things. But that longing and yearning is there no matter the style of our creating.
I think we learn as we go along our own path just how hard it can be to make beautiful things. So often we have a sense of an idea a vision in our mind's eye of a beautiful thing, and yet the creation of it in its most beautiful form can be a path strewn with boulders and potholes.
It so often involves disappointment when we take a wrong-turn; or discover that our expression of the idea is not as beautiful as it could have been, or in the manner which we hoped for. And perseverance is needed; to stick with it, to learn over and over again how not to do something if that is what is needed. Repetition and practice until we have mastered the skill and can translate our longing and our vision into beauty.
And then, well the reward is priceless.
Vincent van Gogh
This man understood the art of art-making; the journey, the highs, the lows, the disappointments and the bliss.
That longing and desire to create things of beauty can be a very real hunger and an ache; a yearning to express ourselves through the creation of simple, elegant, beautiful things; or through bright, bold and expressive beautiful things. But that longing and yearning is there no matter the style of our creating.
I think we learn as we go along our own path just how hard it can be to make beautiful things. So often we have a sense of an idea a vision in our mind's eye of a beautiful thing, and yet the creation of it in its most beautiful form can be a path strewn with boulders and potholes.
It so often involves disappointment when we take a wrong-turn; or discover that our expression of the idea is not as beautiful as it could have been, or in the manner which we hoped for. And perseverance is needed; to stick with it, to learn over and over again how not to do something if that is what is needed. Repetition and practice until we have mastered the skill and can translate our longing and our vision into beauty.
And then, well the reward is priceless.
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| ©2013 Fiona Dempster, Wingreeguu 2012, by Shirley Macnamara |
Hi Fiona- Thanks for playing along. This was a very powerful (and true!) pondering.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie - it's always a challenge to get a quote and a photo and a colour to come together!
DeleteWhat you say about perseverance is so true, and is really the main thing that makes the difference between being an artist and not - more important than talent and inspiration, really. The piece you chose to represent the color yellow is beautiful; love the shadows of the rings on the fabric...
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharmon - I think you're right, that perseverances is key. You have to stick at it and if you're skilled and talented, then the magic comes. The piece is actually 3-D - wire ad thread suspended on sticks over chore and sand from the western desert…but still oh so gorgeous!
DeleteGreat post, Fiona, and resonates with me as I LONG to be back in the studio after a hiatus of several months during moving.
ReplyDeleteHappy day to you,
sus
Oh I can imagine that longing Susan after such a hiatus. I hope you have found your way back there, and with perseverance can create beautiful things! Go well.
DeletePart of me feels Vincent wrote this for me! A wonderful post and it is truthful about the struggle we as artists often have with our artwork. It doesn't always come easily, and work that we struggle with doesn't necessarily become our best work - but it can. Often the work that slides out of us like a breath is the work that floats highest - but not always. Creativity is fickle!
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it there at the end Susan - creativity is fickle! Some work appears as if by magic, fully formed and gorgeous; other work takes a struggle and so much effort - but can be oh so worth it. The timing was just right for this quote wasn't it?
DeleteI, too, can relate to Van Gogh's observations. And I found your "ponderings" both poetic & authentic. It's good to have such things expressed, because most people don't see/know/understand the long, often difficult, road taken to a "completed" piece. Knowing we are not alone makes it easier...
ReplyDeleteThe image you chose to accompany this quote is lovely - I'm not sure I understand what the piece is made up of/how it came to be, but I love the shadows (I think that's what they are) of the rings -> much "movement"...
Thanks Lisa. I think you are right that few people ever understand the many aches and pains that can lie behind a piece that is beautiful and finished. The worries, the set-backs, the half-attempts, revisions and re-workings. Know for sure that you are not alone with the struggle - I think Susan would agree right now for sure. As mentioned to Sharmon this is a 3-D piece with wire and thread suspended on timbers above ochre and sand. and I too love the shadow play. Go well, and persevere!
DeleteA fascinating image and thoughts to ponder long upon ...
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlton, I found this quote almost reassuring in a way; that things don't just appear perfect; we often have to just stick with it and keep trying. I know my studio sees many of those days. Go well.
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