Janet Kaiser on tue 16 may 00
Becky,=20
Your quest has thrown up some interesting results. Surprising (or not?) =
how many have (so far) shared inspirations. Markedly Georgia O'Keefe, =
Art Nouveau and Celtic imagery.
I have come to the conclusion my list shows just how much of a split =
personality I have. Or I am just letting Libra rule me. I wanted to =
share my influences without naming artists, makers, eras, cultures, but =
it was too difficult a task! So I have changed the course a little and =
have thought about *inspirations* - Please excuse the long list in no =
particular order:
My Mother (the sadly missed biggest, single influence and inspiration)
Alphabets - simple through over-the-top embellished
Blue and white
Doorways and gates
Running water and water falls
Doodles
Life drawing
Flowers - especially catkins, blue bells, primroses, foxgloves, poppies, =
honeysuckle, ferns, convolvulus, passion flowers and fungi
Other natural wonders like: ears of wheat, fircones, sea shells, sea =
weed
Old trees, forests and woodland
Faces of old people
Ripples and rivulets in wet sand
Melodious, harmonious music
Unconscious humour
Hoar frost and snow
That special quality of light you only get on clear, cold, sunny days in =
the late autumn and winter
Watery sunlight shining on apple or berry trees silhouetted against dark =
storm clouds
Most ceramic, carved wood, bamboo, woven Folk Art (European, African, =
Asian, American, Australasien...all epochs)
Fabrics - from silky, sensuous to coarse, rough
The night sky
Sunset and sunrise
Sun shining through storm clouds, rainbows and reflections on the sea
Full moon reflecting across the sea.
Rocks - mountains, strata, rock faces, rock pools, rocky streams, =
beaches and rocky coves
Wood - especially drift wood
Birds - especially crows, jackdaws, herons, storks, birds of prey, =
bluetits and robins
Wild animals - especially hares, badgers, fish, whales and dolphin
It is probably quite transparent which art I personally like and can =
relate to most from these. The question of whether the styles, makers, =
artists, etc. have influenced me with their interpretations in various =
media, is a bit like the chicken and the egg... Which came first?
I wonder when you say you are not influenced by the origins but more by =
the art, is that true... strictly speaking? Does the interpretation not =
underline a deep regard for the objects/subjects being presented? The =
maker/artist has only communicated something to you through their =
artistry, which you fully understand. A meeting of soul mates, which =
naturally transcends all ages, cultures and geography?
I notice from your list that you are greatly influenced by repeated =
patterns in their many guises. This is not necessarily divorced from the =
natural world. Symmetry, repetition, juxtaposition and rhythm are all =
natural phenomena. It is no wonder really, that the desert does not =
naturally appeal to you. Although my idea of a desert is probably wildly =
inaccurate! I just know there are no elephants nearby to inspire you!
Kind regards
Janet - Where it dropped 10 degrees this evening and the outlook is wet =
and windy judging by the falling barometer reading.
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
TEL: (01766) 523570=20
WEB: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
Mroczkowski on tue 16 may 00
----- Original Message -----
From: Janet Kaiser
To:
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 8:06 PM
Subject: Inspirations (was sharing influences)
Janet , I like your last 3 paragraphs and the questions they pose. I am
enjoying the "influences" that others have shared so far. I began to think
about my own influences of which there are just as many as the rest of you .
Here are some questions that I have .
1. Are we defining "influences" the same way we define "inspirations"?
I am moved by many things and some I have formally explored in one medium or
another, but others are just more reasons I am happy to be alive and in
control of all my five senses.
2. Are we not as individuals as well as artists the sum total of all
of our experiences both good and bad? Are'nt these the real meat of the
tomato? This is why the chicken and egg question came to mind for me too. I
have formally studied fine art(and include clay in that catagory, thankyou).
I have travelled,
I have been to hundreds of museums around the globe,monuments,ruins
temples,cathedrals.When I am influenced /inspired by a particular
artist,work of art,thing,etc. how can I separate the sum total of all that
I've experienced before being drawn to it?
Just for the record, here are some of the things that
influence/inspire/amuse me:
Elephants! Since age 3. I love their wrinkles and quiet grace which seems to
defy their mass.
Steel Suspension Bridges. I grew up in Pittsburgh and there are alot of
bridges there. I like the way they frame the surrounding landscape and the
linear perspective as you drive through them.
Forests,trees, woodland scents
Gardening,flowers
Travel-( good thing I did it in my 20s before babies,mortgage,and debt!)
Babies and toddlers-they are clean slates unencumbered by pollutants of
adulthood: hate,fear,greed...
My chidren;their creativity,humor,learning,exasperating behavior...
Demuth,Burchfield,Matisse,VanGogh,Picasso,O'Keefe
Minoan,Minton,McCoy,MimbresJapanese,Italian,Iranian,and more...
decaying factory buildings
good song writers: Dylan,Joni Mitchell,John Prine,Cole Porter,Puccini
JK Rowling's first three-anxiously awaiting number 4(Harry Potter)
ruins,temples,cathedrals;especially Notre Dame and St.Peter's Basilica
This passage from Dr. Suess: "Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever
walk with 10 cats on your head ?Did you ever milk this kind of cow?...If you
have'nt tried these things you should. These things are fun and fun is
good."
Sorry for rambling. Judy Huppert
>It is probably quite transparent which art I personally like and can relate
to most from these. The question of whether the styles, makers, artists,
etc. have influenced me with their interpretations in various media, is a
bit like the chicken and the egg... Which came first?
>I wonder when you say you are not influenced by the origins but more by the
art, is that true... strictly speaking? Does the interpretation not
underline a deep regard for the objects/subjects being presented? The
maker/artist has only communicated something to you through their artistry,
which you fully understand. A meeting of soul mates, which naturally
transcends all ages, cultures and geography?
>I notice from your list that you are greatly influenced by repeated
patterns in their many guises. This is not necessarily divorced from the
natural world. Symmetry, repetition, juxtaposition and rhythm are all
natural phenomena. It is no wonder really, that the desert does not
naturally appeal to you. Although my idea of a desert is probably wildly
inaccurate! I just know there are no elephants nearby to inspire you!
Kind regards
Janet - Where it dropped 10 degrees this evening and the outlook is wet and
windy judging by the falling barometer reading.
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
TEL: (01766) 523570
WEB: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
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Janet Kaiser on thu 18 may 00
Judy,
To answer just one of your questions: I suppose I took "influence" to be the
effect a person/s and/or their work has on me, my perceptions and ultimately
my own work. Those characteristics in my work which can be attributed to
some sort of third party - either individually or collectively. The squiggle
of the handle? Obviously Art Nouveau, William Morris. The interlacing
design: Celtic or possibly Persian. The colour combination? Barney Newman or
Marc Rothko etc.
Certainly all external influences seen, admired and learned, not ones
created from within me alone.
That is why I changed to "inspiration"... because my list excluded
individuals, styles, etc. I wanted to get at the primal and not external
sources which are inherent in my work and specifically mine alone. That
creative spark which comes from the soul, the head, or wherever. As in
"divine inspiration".
It follows that "inspiration" is primal and more an inner reaction to an
external force or "dasein" (anything existent or being) which often results
in "original" creativity, totally unrelated to what others have produced
over the millennia. Not necessarily a sudden, brilliant idea or the spark of
genius of course! Just nothing or very little obviously influenced by
others...
I think of Turner as the best example here. Changing from the formal,
Italianate painting so admired in his day, to the work his contemporaries
thought showed his descent into madness and senility. A totally new way of
painting, which he is most admired for today... His inspirations were light
and the elements latterly, whereas his early work was the product of
influences such as his teachers and the preceding generations of European
and English Masters and their styles.
Golly! This is difficult to explain in simple English! But I have done my
best.
Kind regards
Janet Kaiser - Also a Harry Potter fan impatiently awaiting Book IV :-)
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
TEL: (01766) 523570
WEB: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
> Janet , I like your last 3 paragraphs and the questions they pose. I am
> enjoying the "influences" that others have shared so far. I began to
think
> about my own influences of which there are just as many as the rest of you
.
> Here are some questions that I have .
> 1. Are we defining "influences" the same way we define
"inspirations"?
> I am moved by many things and some I have formally explored in one medium
or
> another, but others are just more reasons I am happy to be alive and in
> control of all my five senses.
> 2. Are we not as individuals as well as artists the sum total of all
> of our experiences both good and bad? Are'nt these the real meat of the
> tomato? This is why the chicken and egg question came to mind for me too.
I
> have formally studied fine art(and include clay in that catagory,
thankyou).
> I have travelled,
> I have been to hundreds of museums around the globe,monuments,ruins
> temples,cathedrals.When I am influenced /inspired by a particular
> artist,work of art,thing,etc. how can I separate the sum total of all that
> I've experienced before being drawn to it?
>
> Just for the record, here are some of the things that
> influence/inspire/amuse me:
>
> Elephants! Since age 3. I love their wrinkles and quiet grace which seems
to
> defy their mass.
> Steel Suspension Bridges. I grew up in Pittsburgh and there are alot of
> bridges there. I like the way they frame the surrounding landscape and the
> linear perspective as you drive through them.
> Forests,trees, woodland scents
> Gardening,flowers
> Travel-( good thing I did it in my 20s before babies,mortgage,and debt!)
> Babies and toddlers-they are clean slates unencumbered by pollutants of
> adulthood: hate,fear,greed...
> My chidren;their creativity,humor,learning,exasperating behavior...
> Demuth,Burchfield,Matisse,VanGogh,Picasso,O'Keefe
> Minoan,Minton,McCoy,MimbresJapanese,Italian,Iranian,and more...
> decaying factory buildings
> good song writers: Dylan,Joni Mitchell,John Prine,Cole Porter,Puccini
> JK Rowling's first three-anxiously awaiting number 4(Harry Potter)
> ruins,temples,cathedrals;especially Notre Dame and St.Peter's Basilica
> This passage from Dr. Suess: "Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever
> walk with 10 cats on your head ?Did you ever milk this kind of cow?...If
you
> have'nt tried these things you should. These things are fun and fun is
> good."
> Sorry for rambling. Judy Huppert
>
> >It is probably quite transparent which art I personally like and can
relate
> to most from these. The question of whether the styles, makers, artists,
> etc. have influenced me with their interpretations in various media, is a
> bit like the chicken and the egg... Which came first?
>
> >I wonder when you say you are not influenced by the origins but more by
the
> art, is that true... strictly speaking? Does the interpretation not
> underline a deep regard for the objects/subjects being presented? The
> maker/artist has only communicated something to you through their
artistry,
> which you fully understand. A meeting of soul mates, which naturally
> transcends all ages, cultures and geography?
>
> >I notice from your list that you are greatly influenced by repeated
> patterns in their many guises. This is not necessarily divorced from the
> natural world. Symmetry, repetition, juxtaposition and rhythm are all
> natural phenomena. It is no wonder really, that the desert does not
> naturally appeal to you. Although my idea of a desert is probably wildly
> inaccurate! I just know there are no elephants nearby to inspire you!
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