office :: southwest corner


office :: southwest corner Originally uploaded by dressform.

for corners of my home . i'm so happy we decided to paint the office charcoal gray. it's a tiny little space and so i like the dark color.... plus we have a lot of metal furniture in there so it's all matchy matchy :) you can click on the pic if you want to go to flickr and see all the notes i made....

trying to move onward thru the rest of this week. garbo so appreciates all the good vibes and kisses you sent.... it IS a neck thing. we're hoping that the giant doses of steriods and muscle relaxers we are now giving her will prevent the necessity of surgery. that and no more neck leashes, tug of war [sadness!] or funny fast jerky head movements of any kind.... paws crossed! and i'm trying to get thru my list.... i can't change what i can't change so instead i grade grade grade [there's still those taxes taxes taxes too]... with some drawing in between. it's been a bit rough getting back to it. i'm finding i have to chew on the pencil for a bit longer than i had to before my break.... but it's nice to be back in that routine. tomorrow... the dark doily.... heh heh

so... thoughts on talent that have resonated with me....

:: it's innate - waiting to be activated
:: it links up the heart, mind and eye
:: it's not something that can be quantified per se [it's like taste how do you define that?]
:: it's the ability to soak up different impressions and being able to convert them into some kind of art...painting, cooking, singing... maybe talent is a catalyst?
:: discipline and passion are also part of the equation... together they can become talent

hmmm. so if there's a will there's a way? one of my favorite teachers [quite well known and respected in the artworld] used to say something along the lines that he thought was a B artist, but because he had an A+ work ethic he was considered a B+/A- artist overall....

when i was at the CCA undergrad review i realized that the school was full of talent - recognizeable skill - but that all the work didn't exhibit "talent" [or longing, desire, interest, thought, passion] and i thought about how another friend likes to talk about her students that have facility [they draw or paint well - it comes easy to them]... i like that... because it doesn't discount the ones that don't have it so easy. they can still have talent, but lack facility.

can you nuture and thus further talent? can you over or under water it? can skill stand in [the idea of if you practice something hard enough??]? can you spread it too thin? or is it elastic, plyable, moveable, moldable?

got a bit inspired today... went to the hair raising show at the ICA this morning before school. whip-up just mentioned this show a few days ago too....

paula santiago
paula santiago . a lot her work uses her own hair and blood... creepy, but also captivating.

but what i really liked was this:
blanche ida hardy
a victorian hair crown.... yes... there is an eeeww factor, but it's also incredible crafted. such detail. such care.... i love when you have a simultaneous reaction like that - love/repulsion... curiosity/tinge of disgust.... that's good stuff to me!

Comments

Anonymous said…
oh just catching up and was upset to read about Garbo - hope she is ok

that's a great drawing of her too - didn't realise your Hubby was artistic too

i'm sending you a hug from Scotland!
mati rose said…
i'm loving your further analysis on talent!
Anonymous said…
oh garbo - still sending her good wishes - and calmness (if possible - know she is a wiggly love)

love how the charcoal grey makes the office matchy - really pretty.

and talent - I don't think you can over water, but totally can underwater - even if the skill comes easy.

that hair crown looks so beautiful.
good luck with grading.
Anonymous said…
Since I am generally an over-achiever, I can resonate with the distinction between facility and talent. Practice, practice, practice of a craft can certainly help one to become more skilled at it.

Taking refuge in the routine (grading papers)of life helps one to get perspective on other troubling things sometimes...and it keeps other things from piling up....GOOD IDEA!

I love the chance to view the various corners of your home....Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us!
Robin said…
Your corner of your home is great - I like the deep grey walls and neat bookcase. Hope your puppy feels better soon.
Jan Halvarson said…
hope garbo's neck heals fast so he doesn't injure it further. crossing paws here too.

interesting thoughts on talent. i've been throwing it around those questions, such a tough one really. i had a drawing teacher in art school who said drawing was 10% talent and 90% practice. which at the time really threw me for a loop - i guess because i thought you had to have talent to be able to draw - because i knew how difficult it was for me and how easily it came for others. i know a little girl who can draw beautiful stylized animals without any effort at all. so what does that say? i think it is innate for sure; but just like some people are better at math than others, or better at learning languages - that part of the brain is more open/practiced?
Anonymous said…
I LOVE the metal furniture. I once saw this huge collection (small bookcase, file cabinet and large bookcase) in NY at the flea market and wanted it so badly but had no way of transporting it. Now, I wish I did buy it...

Kisses to Garbo!
andrea said…
oh, lots of stuff:

love the peek at another one of your corners. so good, so many yummy little details.

sending garbo warmest wishes.

I like the idea of talent as catalyst.

I'm fascinated by the hair piece. wow.
Lovely post Lisa..so nice to see in your home, I <3 it :)

Yes..the subject of talent is a really difficult, and huge one to discuss (I like you are doing it though!!)...I think what you were saying about it being rough to get back into drawing after the break rings true with me...I do think it is all about practise in a way. You can be talented..and then appear less-so if out of practise at displaying it (your talent)?? So maybe it's not the final display, but the original source of ideas that is what dictates your 'talent' potential?

Hope you are having a good weekend and that Garbo is a bit better yet!...hugs, xx
Anonymous said…
another beautiful post!! love the gray wall color, your thoughts on talent and the work of Paula Santiago! thanx :)
Anonymous said…
what a cool post (and I hope garbo is okay)

talent-wow. what a cool bit of writing. I do think so much is just about putting your head down and just working. don't you think? I seems there is so much raw talent out there, but the dedication is what can really make the difference, and that's the hard part? not sure-but what a cool discussion.
lisa solomon said…
natalie... thanks for the garbo well wishes and the hug!!... yeah, hubby is artistic too, although he tends to hide it...

thanks mati... it's such a contemplative subject, you know??

wendy... yes! she is wiggly, but the muscle relaxers have totally been curbing that tide! isn't the hair crown neat? thanks for the luck! need it!!

pat - over acheivers UNITE! :) yes, practice does often make you more skilled.... i wonder if there is a fine line though - as though you can tell what comes from practice and what comes from the elusive talent....

hello robin... thanks for your kind comment! i just checked out your blog... i'll be visitng again!

jan... LOVE the idea of part of the brain being more open/practiced... and that it can apply to different arenas. that is so good...

karen.... i was lucky enough to inherit the metal furniture from a friend. i have another stack of 3 of those cases. they are so great [i think they belonged to the army at one point....] you'll find a set for yourself someday!!

andrea.... :) thought you might be fascinated w/ that hair piece....

abigail... love the idea of "original source" [can't help but think of original sin... which makes me smile!] garb is doing better... starting to decrease the steroids :)

hello maditi! i'm so glad i could introduce you to santiago's work....

amy.... yeah, dedication... the head down... moving forward... a big part of it i think.... it's such a complicated equation. no easy answers!

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