Hello guys, this is my ninth article at Odyssey. Thanks for reading. As of right now, I need to study for one midterm and write three papers that count as midterms. It's pretty stressful because never have I ever had to stretch my time for assignments that count for thirty percent of my final grade. However, I try to carve out time for some self-love and for my hobbies. I have been reading a book that helps me with my dreams and then I have one project I am working on as a result.
1. Book I am reading
For all the artists out there, I recommend reading "The Artist as Culture Producer", written by 40 artists on their journey in the post 9/11 art culture. I found it at the public library while I was writing a 10 page paper. Thanks to this book, I got distracted and did not finish on time. THIS BOOK IS SO INSPIRING OMG I wanna make art everytime I read a line. Each artist had a different journey: some knew that they wanted to lead a creative life and others did not know how to lead one. I am reading all the experiences without having to go through them myself. It is helping me formulate a plan for my own dreams.
If I say I am not committed to art, then you know I am lying. I have not even finished a bachelor's degree but I know which grad school I want to go attend to pursue an M.A. It's Cranbook Academy with the legendary Elliott Earls. He has a series on youtube (Studio Practice) that exposes the principals that drive an art and design studio. Don't watch the series because I do not want his channel to get popular and mainstream.
I highly doubt he would ever be popular since he does not follow the common skits vloggers have--he has small clips of his family and his process in between segments of instruction and teaching, all while his electronic music plays in the background.
He is definitely avant-garde and formalist, which I love. You see, I make more research for art-related fields than any other. It confuses me because I particularly enjoy my philosophy and history class. How are these classes related to art?
Perhaps because these classes talk about ideas people have been thinking about for ages and I want my art to be about ideas (conceptual art, maybe???), even though I generally create art that focuses on color and forms (formalist art). I will stop blabbering about art concepts now because I may be boring you, something I do not want to happen.
2. Piece I am working on
A current piece I am working on is a collage, with the main forms being people from Medieval Italian art. This piece will be different from the rest of the collages I have been making because I will be borrowing elements from the past to simplify a concept: duality.
When the final product is up, I will post it on my Instagram @ basiacdno
3. Next project in mind
I want to write a play that compromises of philosophical ideas, such as free will. A modern play that takes ideas from Greek plays. I am all for making the public think, or to enlighten the public. Philosophy is so great it should be modernized and publicized for everyone at all stages in life to understand. This topic should not be reserved from scholars and college students. Everyone can benefit from introspection and abstract arguments. Seriously, these arguments make your brain more elastic and mature.
A play will make the topics much more relatable than a song, or a picture. I find that painting a concept leaves the work open to interpretation. Sometimes I do not want my concept to be misinterpreted. Writing seems much more straightforward. Although, if I am trying to meditate on my feelings, I pick up a pencil and sketch. My feelings can hide behind the veil of ambiguity.
However, theater is another area I want to experiment in. Theater and film are two fields I want to get started on. I have experience writing screenplays, video editing and recording. Next, I will be finding a community on campus that I can collaborate with and at the same time, receive the emotional support to being and finish a creative pursuit.
These are my thoughts on my art journey. My goal is to get more serious and committed to this goal. My new year resolution was to be more art each month and find people I can make art with. Unfortunately, I have allowed myself to forget these promises.
Luckily there are three months left in this year. I can still gain more followers on my Instagram account and make at least five more collages and paintings before the year ends. Some days I feel like I should focus on a more known path, like law.
But when my boyfriend asked me where I see myself in five years, I told him in an art studio, feeling more confident in this art journey. I did not say law school. I said I see a smiling girl with the warm orange colors of the sunset shining on her face, walking in a cobblestone city, smiling to a person behind her.