Beginnings of an art project

Hello my lovely friends. I hope that you are doing well traveling down the road of life. My path seems to beckon me to explore a variety of side streets. That is what I like to call the beginnings of art projects. I get an idea and play with it a bit to see if it is big enough to expand into a project. Taking a class such as the Creative Photo Assignment class are beautiful diversions that spark all kinds of possible project ideas. So, I thought I'd share two of them with you all today. I am really trying to make a point of posting on my blog more often. One of the projects I am considering exploring involves a daily practice. What I love about this type of project is that it helps to focus my creative energy and motivates even when I don't feel like it, to keep working. I need that now more than ever as I am seduced into just being lazy.

The second project is more of a series I would like to explore. So, I will talk about that one first. In this weeks assignment for my photo class we were asked to look at the images created by the artist Duane Michaels. Then we were asked to create our own series based on what Duane had done. Not copying him but use his process as inspiration. Well, it is hard to do that when you don't personally connect with that artist. I found his ideas and images interesting but, I didn't really like many of them. What I took away from this exercise was the idea of pursuing and idea through a series.

My little idea weaver decided on masks as my creative theme for this series. Masks have always fascinated me. The idea of hiding or covering up our true selves of course is something I have been contemplating a lot of late. So, it seemed a fitting point of departure. In this first image I started the exploration off by simply photographing a mask and creating a dramatic and very theatrical feel to it. I love this image for it's painterly qualities.

In this second image I began to ask what if's. What or whom would come after humans. Would we create artificial life forms that would eventually replace us? Would we make them to look like us? A very heady internal discussion for sure.

Next I began exploring the masks that we wear ourselves. Both our physical ones that we are born with and those we create for the world to see. Even clothing becomes our costume to compliment the mask we wear.

The idea progressed into exploring the role of masks and how they define who we are to others. How we often don't let people see the real us.

Thirdly I was interested in the darker aspects of creating masks. How can we hide our darker selves our ids/ It makes you wonder for example in this last image, what is the watcher doing? Is he observing or is there a darker thought process happening.

The next series of images are examples of the daily ritual idea I have been contemplating. A few years back I did a photo of the day kind of thing. This was just a random photo taken and posted everyday for a year. It was a great exercise in pretty much forcing me to produce some kind of image each day for a year. Admittedly there were times when I really didn't want to do it. But, I am glad I went through with the project. It helped to focus my creative energies. Presently, I am thinking of doing another daily exercise kind of project. Except this time, I want to really challenge myself to keep to an overall idea. I love the idea of daily rituals or practices. Meditation, making art or putting together a meal. So I have been trying to figure out what would be something that would hold my interest enough to make it a long term commitment. 

I have in the last few weeks been photographing something in the morning. Usually on my days off as that is when I have more time to observe. I love mornings and how quiet and full of promise they are for me. All of these images here to the end of this post are morning images. The one above the first one I took, is of my morning coffee sitting on the arm of my couch and the little bit of clutter that consumes the corner. I loved how the light fell on the little vignette.

The second image is one I took while eating my breakfast one Friday morning. Again, I loved the play of the light and shadows.

This was taken as I was getting ready to put some eye drops in that I need for my eyes. These are daily medications. I thought the view of the watch through my glasses was interesting.

This is an image of a hibiscus flower that is growing in a little garden patch at the end of my neighborhood or should I say beginning of as it is right when you enter it. I wait for my morning bus there and always love looking at these beautiful flowers and the others that bloom there. I simply marvel at how amazing nature is in all it's diversity.

Lastly is an image I took this morning. I saw how the morning light created shadows on the window blind that covers the window on my front door. The light is passing through the maple tree that is growing in my front yard. A rather simple image but, I love it.

There you have it. Some of the creative ideas I am contemplating to make my life a little more interesting. I am leaning towards the daily ritual thing but, I think I will give it a few more days of thought. I want to create a separate blog to chronicle the progress and also to write about what I am thinking during the process.

Have a great weekend one and all. Thank you for stopping by to visit. It is always a pleasure to hear from you. Peace.