Where the Wind Blows

I thought I finished this piece, "Where the Wind Blows", a few months ago for the project Operation Gaia, but right afterward, I did a stupid thing and ruined the piece.  A bit upset with myself, I let it sit for awhile.  After I got over my turmoiled emotion, I decided to attempt to fix the piece.  As I fixed the piece, I started working on it even more, putting in more hours, more marks, more effort.  I enjoy the process and love the result even more after the second finish to the piece.  Each piece is a chance to learn something new, about the art, the medium and myself.

First finish:

Second finish:

Where the Wind Blows is where the wind takes me, off to the distant land, world or universe, exploring new places, new experiences, new joy and fantastic adventures.  Where might the wind takes you?

My Participation in Operation Gaia

Each of the past 3 years, I’ve been able to participate in Operation Gaia.  For those who have not heard of it, Operation Gaia is an art event hosted by The Changeling Artist Collective and The Bird Whisperer Project to raise proceeds for the National Audubon Society through an online art auction open to the public.  During the first month of the event, participating artists create images fitting a weekly theme.  In the following month, artist can choose to donate art for the online auction.  I started in 2017 with the image “The Butterfly Effect.”  In 2018, the image was “Look up," where I first started my process of incorporating graphite powder with my pencil work.  This year was “Where the Wind Blows.”  I usually don’t have any external prompting when creating my artwork. This project gives me a chance to experience working with themes, guidelines and deadlines.  It was fun and challenging for me to come up with images to fit the themes and meet deadlines. 

This year I donated "Where the Wind Blows" gold pigment embellished Giclee print for auction.

Last year, I donated "Look Up" color pencil embellished Giclee print for auction.

In 2017, the first year I participated, I donated "The Butterfly Effect" original artwork for auction.

My Mark Making Obsession

Art for me is not totally about creating works of art.  Art for me is about mark making, the act of using an instrument, such as a pencil, and making an impression on a substrate, such as paper or board.  The artwork is incidental to this process.  I’ve heard it said that a great artist never really looks at his or her art after it is done, that the admiration for the art is in the process, not the art itself.  I’ld say the admiration for the art process is why I stare at my art afterward, and also at other art I enjoy. I look at the art not only for the art itself, but also to admire the process that created such a piece of work, each line of pencil, each stroke of brush, each dab of ink pen.  Until I realize making marks is actually an obsession for me, I never fully understand my need to create.  I never have the full image in mind when I start, only fleeting thoughts sometime, if even anything at all.  When I hold a pencil or a pen and place a mark on the paper, each mark is placed by feel.  Each subsequent mark change the image in various ways according to my mood and thoughts.  I add marks until I see things I like and tease them out some more.  Often times it is hard to know when I’m “finished”.  Sometime, there is no end.  Maybe a deadline ends the piece.  Otherwise, it might go on.

Artist at work

It has been a while since I kept this journal up to date.  I had posted this on my Patreon page and thought I'll share it here also.

My husband said this is how he usually finds me when he comes home from work, drawing in my Dark Cave.  This is one of my workstations, my Moerkle drafting desk acquired during our stay in Germany.  I love this desk.  Next to that is my digital work station where I do 32-pixel digital art for an Indie gamer and where I process all my videos.  Also in the same room is a wooden work table where I do various other things such as laying down graphite powder, ink pen stippling, sketching and attempting to paint.  I hope you will join me in this journey into peace and tranquillity, finding your own center and balance amidst the chaotic world as you watch me create.  Thank you for stopping by.