Oh, the tension of a deadline. I wish I could say that it was a tension I enjoyed. It isn't. And yet, as my November show approaches I am filled with creative tension. I know that I must complete the work for that show and it must be complete soon. Really soon. Like, tomorrow soon.
In order to have time to send my images to my production team they need to be in transit by Monday morning. I'm close and I know I'll make it but I'm really ready for this body of work to be done. It takes a couple of weeks to turn electronic images into metal prints and get them shipped from California to New York, unpacked, signed, repacked and delivered to the gallery. I like to leave a few extra days in case there is a glitch. I've learned it's always best to expect a glitch then just be pleasantly surprised if there isn't one.
However, there is an upside to this kind of tension. That upside is what tension does to the thought process. Take for example this image. Just a few hours ago it was in its raw state, uncorrected and only the top half was actually there. There was no torn paper falling away. But, as I was working on it I felt it lacked an element of drama. It seemed too static. I suddenly wanted more TENSION in the image, more ACTION. And then, just like that I knew exactly what it needed. Paper falling away.
That's how it works sometimes. I don't really understand how this tension-aided, intuitive thought process works. I just know that tension in the art making process often yields good art. The image isn't titled yet and it isn't proofed yet. It may get a bit of adjustment here and there but essentially this piece has come together for me. This morning all it had was raw potential. Tonight it fits squarely inside the body of work it is a part of.
In order to have time to send my images to my production team they need to be in transit by Monday morning. I'm close and I know I'll make it but I'm really ready for this body of work to be done. It takes a couple of weeks to turn electronic images into metal prints and get them shipped from California to New York, unpacked, signed, repacked and delivered to the gallery. I like to leave a few extra days in case there is a glitch. I've learned it's always best to expect a glitch then just be pleasantly surprised if there isn't one.
However, there is an upside to this kind of tension. That upside is what tension does to the thought process. Take for example this image. Just a few hours ago it was in its raw state, uncorrected and only the top half was actually there. There was no torn paper falling away. But, as I was working on it I felt it lacked an element of drama. It seemed too static. I suddenly wanted more TENSION in the image, more ACTION. And then, just like that I knew exactly what it needed. Paper falling away.
That's how it works sometimes. I don't really understand how this tension-aided, intuitive thought process works. I just know that tension in the art making process often yields good art. The image isn't titled yet and it isn't proofed yet. It may get a bit of adjustment here and there but essentially this piece has come together for me. This morning all it had was raw potential. Tonight it fits squarely inside the body of work it is a part of.
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