Monday, October 11, 2010

Art is a Solitary Thing

Art is a solitary thing. Or so it seems.

I spend countless hours thinking, pondering, considering, all before I start a new piece. I turn it around and around and upside-down in my head, and then I might or might not make the piece. Sometimes just making it in my head is enough. Other times I’ll take it through to fruition, only to make another version, and then another. And sometimes it comes out right the first time.

The next step would be for the piece to find its way into a gallery. Which is exactly what happened to Wishful Thinking, a piece I made this past summer.

Lori Johns invited me to exhibit work in her gallery, C. Emerson Fine Arts in St. Petersburg Florida, and so Wishful Thinking was moved from my studio and out into the universe. Scary business, as I have mentioned in previous posts. Akin to running naked in public when one bares their soul for all to see.

But sometimes in that move out into the universe you connect with other people. It is then you realize that art isn’t solitary at all. Possibly the work was made in solitude, but that doesn’t make it solitary, rather it becomes a path to other people. Art can open a line of communication that might otherwise not happen. It brings you together with people, not apart from them.

It’s a very cool thing to experience.

Thank you, Luis, for your insightful post. http://art-taco.blogspot.com/

7 comments:

Shared Visions Art said...
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Shared Visions Art said...

Kim
I just started reading your blog and I think it is very interesting and also functional. Why doesn't anybody comment? You have some unique ideas and I think your subject matter is provocative.

Kim Radatz said...

Leslie,

Thanks so much!

I don’t know the exact answer to you question, but my assumption is that I haven’t marketed my blog well enough. Nor have I posted consistently enough. Hence the reason for taking our shared workshop with Alyson Stanfield regarding marketing techniques for artists.

I enjoyed the workshop so much, and learned so much, that I have signed up for the Blog Triage Workshop as well. I am actually doing the self study program as the online class’s timing doesn’t work with my schedule. But I plan to sign up for other online classes in the near future.

In case you or anybody else might want more info, here is the link to Alyson and ArtBizCoach: http://artbizcoach.com/

Thanks again. I look forward to more conversations with you!

Have a creative day!

Robin Pedrero said...

I LIKE how you think and create outloud!! Thank you!!

Martha Marshall said...

Yikes, Kim! I have missed your last couple of posts because I'm not sure I'm subscribed. I'll rectify that situation immediately.

As I mentioned in an email yesterday, I always love reading your blog. I know others will too. It just has to get on everybody's radar screen. Look at me -- one of your loyal friends and big fan -- and I managed to miss these posts. Well, not again!

Congratulations on that show. I love the piece and so wish I could see it in person. Good advice about just getting the work out there. Feel the fear and do it anyway, right? ;)

Kim Radatz said...

Thanks, Robin. I'll hope to see you at the FMWA opening on the 19th!

Kim Radatz said...

Absolutely, Martha.
Feel the fear and do it anyway. Forge ahead in low times. Life is too short, work away!
And you have certainly are a great inspiration for getting work done at all times as you are one of the most productive artists I know!