PoppyRow

So, today I am returning home after a glorious week in the tropical paradise that is Jamaica. I honestly think I could live here! We are staying at Tensing Pen, which we would happily recommend to anyone. The ocean is amazing, the employees are friendly, the cottages are comfortable, and a little grey cat named Princess has adopted us. I have tried to tell her we are leaving today, but she just looks up at us with her sweet pointy face and says “Meow?”

But all good things must come to an end. I leave invigorated, and inspired. I have taken countless photos, wondering how I plan to tackle them. I have a piece at home, unfinished, awaiting my attention. I’d like to finish that, but when I am stuck, I am thinking of doing a series, dedicated to this fabulous place. I like working in series, because it puts you in a particular mode of thinking, which can carry over from piece to piece. And then I like to see the work as a conversation, and a sentence can carry more impact than a single word, a paragraph more than a sentence, and a great work of literature more than just one of its chapters. Why is that? Perhaps it has to do with the idea of context. Sometimes, when looking at a single piece of art, without a title, or a blurb of explanation, it doesn’t feel quite whole. It seems to the viewer that some sort of context is needed to better appreciate what is being viewed.

I am not completely ignorant, I do realize that there are times when it is the artist’s intention for us to make our own inferences and come to our own conclusions. But placing a work within a context can do so much more than just making something pretty to look at. It says something.

If you are stuck on something, try to think about doing 4 or 6, or even a dozen pieces that relate to each other. Find something that really moves you, and try to communicate it on various levels. You could even attempt a variety of mediums. You will be pleasantly surprised when you are done, and hang them all in a row. They will be like your family members- a lot of similarities, but everyone has their own way of thinking. It can be a really incredible thing to experience.

When is it done? Pick out your photos ahead of time, write up an outline, or journal about your possible objectives, realizing all this will probably change a bit as you progress. Be flexible. I tend to be done when I am completely sick of it, but a four-piece minimum is probably a good idea to encourage self-discipline. You’ll be learning so much, and stretching yourself for the next project.