The Big Art

or, keep your eye on the prize

I did something different for this week’s planner page and tipped in a sheet of toned paper rather than white. The first thing that went on it was the image in the upper right that I wish I could give attribution for. I found it on Pinterest without the artist’s signature or any attribution and followed several links to dead ends. If you know, please let me know in a comment!

I am completely entranced by this image and have been wanting my work to go in a direction like this for some time, but haven’t been about to break out of comfortable habits to make something so very different. So, there’s my inspiration. I randomly stuck on some bits of torn magazine and art paper as I was on a phone call, all very unconsciously, only being aware of creating a balance as I pasted. The neutral palette is not usual for me, so that was fun to see. I rather like it. A few scribbles later, when I looked down, there it was, my mantra for the week:

Don’t Lose Sight of the Big Art

This page is telling me about marching methodically toward my goal and not losing sight with distractions. In my case, I know for many of us, social media is a huge distraction... and time suck. One of the two reasons I am using this Substack platform is that it gives me a place to document some of the work that I’m doing without comparing it to others’ or getting the niggling urge to check to see how many people “like” me... see that’s a problem right there: I said “like me”. not “like my work”. But that’s so often how it shakes out; that even in some small way, we come to equate the hearts and thumbs-up to self-worth. (I’m interesting in your thoughts on this. Do you ever feel similarly, or do you engage differently with social media? Leave me a comment) I just can’t with that anymore! It was making me feel bad and have doubts and even think about taking up a new “hobby”.

But this is no hobby: it is a compulsion.

I’m not posting the big work anyplace for now. That will be seen IRL at some point. What I’m sharing here is the sketchbook, the scribbles, and the thoughts that might turn into things. They are the back of the envelope scratchings that I will collect and sort and pull from to make the Big Art and I hope you’ll be around to see that as well. If you’d like to see my recent work, you can find it on my website.

As always, I thank you for your support and encouragement as I make my way on this journey.