Stories !!
So this is a work in process, but I think found a subject I am interested in. I have been thinking about how much I enjoy drawing the human face in my own way. I have doodles here and there in my sketch book at lunch. Just the other day at work I was having a conversation with my good friend Rich Owen. As I was trying to discus how I felt when I started to draw the old lady. I told him that the sorrow displayed in this woman’s face just enthralled me. I found the expression so gut wrenching but yet beautiful. As I was painting this woman I started to feel for her. I thought about how much it really suck when you are so old that you loose your memory and you mind slowly. I found it very easy to draw the woman’s face.
It was at this juncture that I realized I felt the story the picture displayed before me. I started to think back to my Anthropology class and my Text and Imaging class. I felt the Betty Edwards “Aha!!!” moment.
I love to hear about stories of peoples lives. I love to hear about the trials and tribulations of life and how they made it to where they are today. I remember in my Anthropology class my teacher used to explain that when listening to a story it is important to listen to the story as told. For instance the main accounts of the story may be true, but memory may fail about the finer details of the story or the story may be exaggerated to keep interest. I think of a particular time when one of my college teachers told us of a time when he lived on his own he used to take all the labels off his food cans and just write chow on all of the cans. This way he would be surprised about what he was eating that night. I never found out why exactly why, but the why is not important. What is important is the two sides of the story telling coin. Now here is my Epiphany.
Like the human brain there are two side of the story ! The actual account to the true events, or left brain and the right side in charge of creative exaggeration or day dreaming. This is what I have been looking for !!!! It just came to me!!!! My paintings I have been trying to make are about part truths and part fiction. Now I just need to find some whopper stories that cross the lines of fact and fiction!!! I love this idea the more and more I think about it!!!! What do you think ? Comments or questions are welcome.
