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Friday, May 13, 2011

"Safari"

I imagine other people will create darling caravans of cuteness for this week’s Illustration Friday challenge, but I hear echoes of the old Japanese guy I used to work with telling me “You not cute!” Once in a while I did cute just to prove him wrong, but I don’t feel cute today. It’s dark and raining, AGAIN. Besides, I made this art this week, and would like some suggestions for what to do with it. I’ve been making a series of square, graphic things with the computer based on my nighttime tv doodles. I feel kind of compulsive about it, but I don’t really know what to do with them when they’re done.

Maybe this art is kind of like “safari” because I was thinking about Homer’s Odyssey when I was making it. It may not be the same thing as packing everything you own on a camel, but Odysseus basically had a nautical safari. The moon phases show the passing of time, and the suns show multiple days and seasons.

In a different way, isn’t “safari” a lot like questing? I don’t always know why I make the art I do, I just know it’s compulsory. I may not be after elephant tusks or Jason’s Golden Fleece; I just know I’m searching for something. Maybe all of the comments of “You not cute” or the judgments of others who try to identify me into a neat little box have created a need for me to make square art? It seems like people who try to put me in a box often have lists of things I “should” do too, and that just makes me contrary about their suggestions. Why don’t people say what we “could” do instead of “should” when they’re handing out advice? “Could” is full of possibilities. “Should” is full of restrictions, and I don’t want to live in a box someone else created.

Vive la différence!

25 comments:

  1. Great post and the imagery is so lovely and calming!

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  2. Great brain 'wave' illustration and I agree with replacing 'should' with 'could' or 'might'.
    Keep going!

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  3. Great post! "You not cute" made me laugh out loud! For what it's worth, I have drawers and sketchbooks full of things that I have done that I don't know what to do with. As artists, we do them anyway, I suppose. I like your "square" graphic image--you COULD do more (actually, I think they are so good that you SHOULD ;) )!

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  4. I see this as a series of bias relief ceramic border tiles circling the room four feet from the floor, the only colour in an open bathhouse by the azure sea. Long white flowing curtains billow in the salt breeze and white-robed virgin attendants of undetermined sexual persuasion dispense wine from large, ornate jugs. The desert is now behind us and that damned ship on wheels that we dragged across the dunes for fifteen long weeks is sitting in anticipation of being released on the waves.

    See what this "could" mean? lol

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  5. Thanks everybody! Elizabeth, I think I'll HAVE to make more of these for Rand's ideas! LOL Um, gee, I'm not sure how those virgins broke into my bathhouse?

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  6. Awww, that old man was wrong. You cute! You very cute. :D Everything about this square graphic is very pleasing, from all the perfect geometric shapes to the colors. I love the phases of the moon! And the whole thing looks embossed or engraved. It's gorgeous! I'd love to see this as a serving platter!

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  7. Thanks Bella! Maybe the work I used to do for ceramics is coming out?

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  8. Heisann.... once again you're right. Could is a better word!
    And what could you do with your square artwork...? for the moment I really don't know... they're so cute... reminds me of warm summer days by the sea which I love so much..
    Have a nice weekend ;:OD)

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  9. Oooh...i really like this! a great take on the word and has such wonderful depth :D

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  10. I'm not sure what should be done with it, but I do know that I'd like to have it on my boring, blank wall at work (they've repainted, and I've been a little slow to redecorate). I really like it.

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  11. Like the idea of a nautical themed safari.
    By comparison, the words "could, should and would" all seem hopeful after continually being old what one can't do!
    Wishing you an adventurous week- and that's an order! Ha ha, just flexing the commands! ;o)

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  12. Thanks everybody! Maybe I'll hang it on my own wall since I've taken down a lot of pictures lately and it's time for me to redecorate too. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

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  13. Blogger really spat the dummy, I am late with my comment this week but better late than never! That really is a great sea faring "safari" Linda. You "should" hang it on your wall but I am not so sure about the redecorating; one of my very least favourite chores. Replace that with you "could" redecorate, that way you get the chance to change your mind ;0)
    Hope your weekend was great,
    Jane x

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  14. I went visiting today and printed this out on a friend's bigger, better printer. (Thanks Korki!) Now all I need is an appropriate frame, cut a mat... I guess I am redecorating :) Thanks for the comments!!

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  15. Caravans of cuteness. Ha! Guilty as charged!

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  16. Beautiful! So wonderfully earthy!

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  17. Beautiful the colours you have selected give this piece a beautiful vibrancy.

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  18. Thanks everybody! I did hang my print of this piece. I like the brightness on a dark wall.

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  19. I bet this looks great framed and hanging on a wall. Love to see it in a frame. You SHOULD post a pic :o) (just kidding) Great post! love the embossed look of the leaves! So cute.... er I mean cool!

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  20. Hey Linda, I'm voteing for a floor in a rich man's villa in pompei, a little bit of ochre and you have the job. It reminds me of ttthat repeating roman wave pattern, the one where the negative space is the same as the positive...

    Great connections you have made between Odysses and Safari :) What a mind. Good minds make great jumps and sometimes they have a logical connection.

    I no cute either. I started this weeks prompt with girl on baby elephant and pith helmet - and put a pet rat on her arm :)

    see you

    hope some of what I wrote is making sense !

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  21. Don't you always make sense Andrew? Maybe I should be worried that I think so? lol

    Thanks for all the comments!

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  22. Great post as usual, like your box of your own creation, Its dark and raining here too, but your bright and sunny illustration has cheered me up:)

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  23. Thanks Amanda! Glad I could spread some hypothetical sunshine :)

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