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It's June 10th and there's a windchill... it's 59 out, but feels like 53. Did I mention it's June 10th? I thought the weather in zone 5 was not allowed a windchill after the full moon in May. It's June 10th. No more windchill, ok??
Speaking of June 10th, it's insanely bright in the wee hours during this time of year which is nice since I'm usually awake in the wee hours. It might as well be light out. Tomorrow is the youngest lamblet's b-day (It's also aif's b-day. Happy early B-day, aif!!!) and since today is the last full day of school, she took her b-day treat with her today. She decided that she needed Dunkin Donut Munchkins which was fine with me. Our school still allows homemade treats so I was actually happy I didn't have to crank out 24 monkey cupcakes ala last year. Munchkins it would be, but I knew I had to get them first thing... I wanted them to be fresh and wanted to get them before the run on donuts began. Since Grizzled and I were wide awake by 5... did I mention it's insanely light in the morning during this time of year... we ventured off to the DD to make sure we scored enough Munchkins. I expected a line, I forget that not everyone is wide awake at 5:30. I was kind of worried ALL MUNCHKINS WOULD BE GONE!!! I forgot we had an advantage by being early risers. There were only 2 other cars in the parking lot, one of which was a police car... there oughta be a law...
But enough about Munchkins... I'm currently working on some sketches for some paintings. The ideas for these paintings came about during a side conversation and actually have nothing to do with the final subject matter. Anyone looking at the final work will have no idea what the initial seed looked like or what the initial conversation was about. The final paintings will be images of a metaphor, but no one will know but me (well, and a couple of other people). It had me wondering though if as science, etc, advances, if there might be a way for us to find out. Could you grind up the painting, put it into a solution and then break down the componentswhich would also ultimately reveal the original inspiration?? Wouldn't that be interesting? Pretty soon museums and galleries, etc, could show not only the original work, but the original idea that led to the final piece. Who knows what you'd see! And I wonder how many of the original seeds would have absolutely anything to do with the final piece? I'm guessing very few. And of course, ultimately the original idea means nothing to the viewer because the viewer is the final "decider". The viewer is the one who decides what it means to them. The rest may be interesting, but doesn't really matter.
Still... I can't help, but wonder if the original idea that led to these paintings will affect how I go about them. Will they look different than had I approached them with a different thought in mind? Will that original thought be perceptible on some level that we aren't aware of?? Will there be some cell, somewhere in the viewer's body that can pick up on the subtle path from start to finish? Or does it just matter that they are finished and connect with something in the viewers mind...
I'm finished. End of non-post. I need to find a sweater.
I suggest you get an Ombudsman.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Is that like a mock turtleneck?? :)
Yeah, that's all I need, ZRM! Look what it did to 3B's! There will be no ombudsmania around here! Besides, I'm not even posting.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 02:33 PM
"Our school still allows homemade treats"
Does that mean that you know of schools that don't allow....home....made...treats ANYMORE?!
What??!!
Oh my God. Would that ever be a shame. Is it like the razor blade in the apple syndrome?
Glad ya got the Munchins. Great party treat idea!
And I'm with you on the weather, too. It's chilly here. My plants (and body) needs some warmth.
Posted by: blue girl | June 10, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Yes BG- unfortunately, I do. Some of it has to do with allergies and some of it has to do with fear that someone will do something crazy whether on purpose or not... "I thought it was ok to leave the egg salad sandwiches in the back of the car... the sun wasn't that hot...".
My eldest lamblets always wanted rosettes so I'd be frying like mad the day before and hoping not too many crumbled or cracked. Munchkins were a welcome option. :)
Bring on some warmth! I don't need 89 degree weather, but would love some bone-baking upper 70's.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 03:18 PM
I prefer calling it the Ombudsgeddon.
I fear one of those guys is Zardoz.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 03:43 PM
BG. Not good enough for ya any more? No more BG at the Empire. Sad. AG wept.
Peanut allergies are so common these days, I can see why schools need to be a bit more careful. I can't bring myself to blame them for that.
Of course, I understand in Ohio, it's part of the Survival of the Fittest system you have in place....
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 03:45 PM
ZRM- you could see BG 24/7 if you did the facecrack. She NEVER SLEEPS! Just link, link, link and then link some more! :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 03:58 PM
I do have the Bookface. Just don't do anything with it, except using it to track down a friend of mine in San Fran.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 04:15 PM
LOL!!
ZRM, I totally gave you so much love last week! You were so cool and I shouted it out to the world! Well, I shouted it out in your comment thread. Same difference.
Oh man, regarding the homemade stuff. Of course there's always a good reason for it, but it just seems so not right. Let the little sh*ts swell up! lol Just kidding, of course. I would never want one of the precious, little sh*ts to swell up even one time.
And just so you know. I'm swearing a lot now. A LOT!
It's my new thing.
Posted by: blue girl | June 10, 2009 at 04:18 PM
I'm swearing a lot now. A LOT!
Now Blue Girl is truly blue..
As for the swelling up... it's one thing to get hives, but another to have your throat close up and too many kids have that issue.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 04:32 PM
You're right, BG, I am sorry. You and Jennifer went above and beyond, and abashed zombie is abashed.
You didn't actually, you know, SHOW UP at my bloggo or anything, but wevs....
BG and Sir Jen are hereby HONORARY ZOMBIES, entitled to all the branez they wish, and will be the LAST of the breathers to be et.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 04:39 PM
And just so you know. I'm swearing a lot now. A LOT!
See what Facebook does to you. Stick to 3Bulls.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 04:40 PM
ZRM- BG is swearing a lot now... you should have said, "Stick to 3Bullshit".
Just sayin'
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 04:43 PM
To get back to the other subject you were writing about: to me all that really matters is the work of art, the doing of the work and then the appreciation (if any) of the work. I think people like to point to one thing that kicked off the work, but I wonder if that's because we're always trying to make sense, to understand the mysteries, when actually we really don't know where the art came from.
Oddly enough I was thinking of this is terms of something we were talking about the other day, like how the hell did Barry Gibb write and record "To Love Somebody" when he was only 18 years old? Sure, his manager stuck him in a room and asked him to try to write a song for Otis Redding, but that doesn't really explain how the song happened. Shakespeare wanted to get a new play up every season for his company, but that doesn't explain Hamlet or Macbeth. I love the mystery of art, it's something the professors can never explain.
Posted by: Dan Leo | June 10, 2009 at 04:45 PM
You didn't actually, you know, SHOW UP at my bloggo or anything, but wevs....
What are you talking about?!
I totally read that awesome post about influences in music and made a huge stink about you AT YOUR BLOG. IN YOUR COMMENT THREAD.
And dammit, if your post would've had a "Like" button, I woulda clicked it.
Posted by: blue girl | June 10, 2009 at 04:48 PM
I love the mystery of art, it's something the professors can never explain.
I agree to a point. I don't really care where an idea came from if I like the end piece, but... coming from the other angle, I wonder if I put more into something when there's an idea? Do I approach it differently than I would when merely trying to capture an image??
Don't know.
But, back to the mystery... that is one thing I like about ending up doing something from something you never expected. I think a lot of times people try to force an idea (especially if they're feeling in short supply) and forget that they can come from very random directions.
Thank goodness Arnold Schnabel is an open book! You know where it's coming from! :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 04:51 PM
And dammit, if your post would've had a "Like" button, I woulda clicked it.
Yeah ZRM! BG's busy swearing and doesn't have time for your needy neediness! Get a damn "Like" button, will ya!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Have fun with the paintings.
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | June 10, 2009 at 05:07 PM
merely trying to capture an image??
MERELY?!?!?!?
Posted by: Monet | June 10, 2009 at 05:08 PM
I totally read that awesome post about influences in music and made a huge stink about you AT YOUR BLOG. IN YOUR COMMENT THREAD.
O, I was talking about the Zombee Luv day. Music day was something diff.
Damn it.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 05:10 PM
BG's busy swearing
Holy crap! You totally nailed it.
I think a lot of times people try to force an idea (especially if they're feeling in short supply) and forget that they can come from very random directions.
You nailed that too! That is so true. And what I've been feeling now for months. So closed up. And stilted. I need to find the 18 year old Barry Gibb that lives inside of me and then set him free!
Posted by: blue girl | June 10, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Inspiration is a funny thing. In research it is strangely double-edged. You can have an incredibly creative thought (hypothesis), but it can actually be wrong. Scientists have ruined good reputations trying to force a good (wrong) idea. I wonder if you can have wrong inspirations in art. Is it purely the process that matters, or can inspirations lead to bad art? Can artists continue to pursue bad ideas and become trapped? Is art so relativistic that there are no bad ideas only bad reactions? Is a urinal good art by Duchamp and bad by fish? Or must it be good and bad by both?
Posted by: fish | June 10, 2009 at 05:17 PM
I need to find the 18 year old Barry Gibb that lives inside of me and then set him free!
I didn't realize BG was so...
...creepy.
Posted by: fish | June 10, 2009 at 05:20 PM
So closed up. And stilted.
See! A little swearing goes a long way to greasing the creative gears! :)
AG- I will and usually do... even if I'm swearing at them.
Monet- you of all people should know what I mean, but since I know this isn't really Monet and know this person doesn't really like Monet... well... nuff said.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 05:21 PM
I wonder if you can have wrong inspirations in art.
Yeah... in this economy it's called, "Won't sell".
I think Duchamp benefited by his time. You wouldn't have the same benefit.
Seriously though, I think there is more leeway with art than with science. I also think the art world takes itself way too seriously.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 05:26 PM
BG- Barry would like his 18 yr-old self back...
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Oh, I know science has to be more precise, and there is a clear right and wrong (at least eventually). I just became intrigued with the idea of "wrong" inspirations, and whether they can exist.
Posted by: fish | June 10, 2009 at 06:07 PM
fish:
yes.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 10, 2009 at 06:11 PM
I just became intrigued with the idea of "wrong" inspirations, and whether they can exist.
As far as art goes, I'm guessing all inspiration is good or "right", but some are better than others or affect more than others. Even if something is only good for one person, the person doing it, it's still good, isn't it?? Even if it's butt-ugly?
I know at times I have started something, certain it was fabulous, only to find out, my idea was not leading the project, my ego was. That gets me into trouble and in the end, usually has worse results... even if the project isn't overtly "bad". Maybe ego-led things are "bad" while inspiration-led projects are good no matter what. If you have to feed an idea to someone in a horse pill instead of a compact gel cap, chances are, your ego is leading the project...
I was laughing while reading some of the conversation above, thinking about things that aren't done as well as one would like, or with the intention of being "serious" and yet serving a purpose and living on well past their preconceived times, when I thought of that silly fairy on a unicorn... done originally as a fast ad-on for my lamblets b-day party and now, forever immortalized as one of fish's avatars... not at all what I had thought of when making it. To this day, I'm still surprised when I see it pop up in comments. Is it great? No, but it has lived on in it's own funky way and past the point of its original intention. :)
And now, to concur with ZRM...
fish:
yes.
Sometimes people are creepy. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Ok... who brought the jello mold!
Thank you. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 10, 2009 at 06:56 PM
I'm what?
Posted by: creepy? | June 10, 2009 at 09:56 PM
Maybe like false prophets, there are false inspirations.
Posted by: fish | June 10, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Who brought the zardoz?
Posted by: fish | June 10, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Dear Creepy (the forgotten dwarf)...you're only creepy when you're birthing an inner Gibb. :) You also fit right in with us other forgotten dwarfs...
Needy, Snappy, Teasey, Nuts, Zardoz,etc, etc, etc.
fish- yeah, that sounds right. I was thinking on that last night and was thinking no true inspiration can be "bad" since it means "influence of God". People might interpret their inspiration the wrong way or it is just false.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 11, 2009 at 06:06 AM
I was thinking on that last night and was thinking no true inspiration can be "bad" since it means "influence of God"
clarification needed....
I'm not saying any whacko can say they were "influenced by God" therefore what they have done must be good. You know what I mean... inspiration is supposed to be above the realm of humans, but occasionally, humans are open to it.
So yes, I agree, in a rambling kind of way with the "false" inspiration. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 11, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Page 2 comments are like after dark, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2b1D5w82yU>NSFW
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | June 11, 2009 at 09:38 PM
Page 2 comments are like after dark, right?
LOL! Don't encourage them! They need no help!
And dammit!!! I can't believe I clicked on the link... and on a full stomach. Blarf.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 11, 2009 at 09:57 PM
LOLzers.
I hope to get a fishy high fin out of that.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | June 11, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Definitely the high fin...
Posted by: fish | June 11, 2009 at 11:20 PM
thanks for the bday wishes! hope it's warmer there now, or i could send you some of this warmth
Posted by: almostinfamous | June 12, 2009 at 04:06 AM
I wonder if you can have wrong inspirations in art.
I'll bet you six dogs playing poker you can.
Posted by: Brando | June 12, 2009 at 09:03 PM
But those six dogs have had nine lives and everybody knows them so they must have hit on something.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 12, 2009 at 09:07 PM