I’ll start today’s Blog with a short explanation of why I painted a big metal can.
About a month ago I challenged my older art students to paint the very reflective object you see below, done in acrylic. Each struggled in their own way… questioning their skills on a few occasions. But ultimately, they all produced surprisingly great artwork. After the project was over, I realized I had failed them in one very important regard. I hadn’t painted this can myself; I had not shared in their struggles, and I had not provided them with an example painting to work toward. My finished painting (also done in acrylic) is the result of that conclusion. In my student’s defense, this was no easy task. Reflective metal can be a serious challenge. And I have yet to achieve an acrylic gradient or blend that looks as nice as what I’m capable of with oils. In retrospect, I might have reconsidered such a tough subject, had I tried it first. I now plan on painting everything I put before them (in the same medium), whether done along side them in class so they can observe my techniques, or at the very least, painted in advance so they have a finished example to study and learn from. Lesson learned. And I hope I’m a better teacher as a result. Now on to the sillier portion of today’s post; part one of a story I wrote a few years ago while trying to better recognize and understand the subtle differences between the aware mind and the human ego. I’ll share the last two parts in future posts so I don’t drown a single blog entry with too much info (advice given to me by a dear friend who pointed out he 'didn’t have endless hours to read my rantings’). :) My Dinner with Ego Starring: Satori as 'Consciousness' And Introducing: Persona as 'The Ego' Part 1: The Meeting of Mind When I first contacted Persona, he seemed very distracted. His full attention was not on our conversation, but he concurred it was time to reconcile our differences. We decided to meet at a little Thai restaurant on the corner of Reverie and Bane. He pointed out it was the hip, new place to be seen. We would talk over dinner that evening. I wasn't worried about time. I decided the restaurant was close enough, a walk would be pleasant. I grabbed my essentials and headed out the door. One of those great summer storms had just ended; the kind where the rainfall is light, and the sun still shines through breaks in the clouds. A damp, earthy smell mixed with that of hot, wet pavement. Car tires splashed through puddles on the road. Shapes of light and color danced within glistening water beads resting on leaves. The moment was perfect. I arrived at the restaurant energized. A taxi pulled up moments later. A very focused man hurriedly put away papers and ended what appeared to be a tense phone conversation. He then forcefully threw the taxi door open and stepped out... right into a puddle. His aura of confidence was temporarily overshadowed by frustration at the undeserved damage done to his expensive, designer shoe. Once clear of the taxi, he turned to face me. I experienced an odd sensation when our eyes met; like looking into a mirror, but the reflection holds a different expression. I moved forward to greet him, and without hesitation he gripped me in a power handshake. "Satori. It's a pleasure." His expression didn't match his words. I returned his greeting. "Persona. It's nice to meet you face to face after all these years." "We have a lot to discuss. Wouldn't you agree?" "I believe it's long past due." He nodded his agreement "Indeed. Lets head in. I'm starving." He reached out and pulled the door open for me. Inside, the restaurant was wonderfully decorated: Several patrons were already seated in wicker chairs at dark, wooden tables. Rich tapestries of burgundy and gold hung from the walls. Intricately painted ceramic lamps provided soft light. And teak elephant carvings adorned the window seal. Traditional 'puppet-theatre' style, Khruang Sai music resonated quietly through the room. And the smell of curry and fresh basil coming from the kitchen was utterly mouthwatering. Persona hadn't noticed. He recognized an old acquaintance at a nearby table, struck up a conversation, exchanged a few pleasantries, a few business cards, then rejoined me as we were about to be seated. The host selected a table by the window; a perfect vantage point from which to watch the setting sun. Our waiter arrived shortly thereafter. He was a middle-aged man; thin and agile, with a warm smile and rich accent. He offered us menus, pointed out his favorite entrees, and left to get our drinks. The moment had arrived. What to say first... I hoped to start with light conversation; to break into the dialog slowly. I wanted to make this moment comfortable for both of us. Persona had other plans. "No more playing around." he said. "I think this game has gone on long enough." to be continued…
0 Comments
|
AuthorHello everyone. I'm Justin Mackay. I'm a creative soul, an explorer of life's mysteries, and a big fan of all the beauty in the world. If you're just here for the paintings, then head on over to my Art tab. If you wish to delve deeper into the odd thoughts of a pondering mind, then this is the place for you. Archives
February 2018
Categories |