Readers
Path Through Life
Copyright by Lynn Bridge
18″ x 12″
Today I am making a departure from my usual blog style, if that is even possible! This is my first day as a student in an online class co-taught by Alyson B. Stanfield at http://artbizblog.com and Cynthia Morris at http://journeyjuju.com, the title of which is “Blog Triage: Maintaining a Healthy Artist Blog”. Catchy title, huh? The format of the class is medical- the graphics are reminiscent of the Red Cross and the terminology refers to ‘patient’ and ‘doctor’. I hope to be a successful patient; in other words, one who participates in her own well-being. So far, I’m being dutiful, which is why I’m doing as the doctor ordered and putting my homework on my own blog. Today’s assignments are to identify my target readers and also to identify what I expect to gain by writing my blog. I have certainly given this some thought over the past few months, and I welcome the chance to share with you my freshest thoughts today. Please feel free to visit the ‘comment’ section at the bottom of this post and offer your own thoughts to me and to my other readers!
Above, I posted a collage painting I made six years ago, which explores the pathway through life. It is full of detail, choices to be made, potential detours, mystery, and uncertainty, even threat. We each face the prospect of finding our own pathway, but sometimes do not give much thought to the possibilities and implications of traveling the various side roads. Frequently, fear takes hold and keeps us on the path we know best. Often, habit clutches us and discourages exploration. ( There are times when I feel as though I am on a toll road with few exits, and I have no choice but to stay in my lane and keep the accelerator pressed to the speed limit.) My target audience is the group of you who wants to consider various roads, looking at each in more detail, and who makes intentional choices. I hope that by exposing my thoughts about my prosaic life and how those thoughts lead to a rich creative life for me, you will feel encouraged to act in ways for which you think you are not equipped, to make mistakes along the way, and be satisfied living with the disasters as well as the triumphs of living the intentionally creative life. I take my lesson from the toddlers who are unselfconscious in their stumblings and trials, but who use each bit of information gained to build a functional life. I hope that by identifying my feelings and ideas as directly as possible in writing, I can grasp an essence of human experience that will make my artwork live for others besides myself. I hope that, in addition to making my future and reflecting on my past, I can live like the animals, in the present, and settle in to what lies there each day.
The Song of the Canyon Wren
Copyright by Lynn Bridge
7 1/2″ x 9 3/4″ x 1″
I’m visiting from class…love your collage works!And, I really enjoyed reading your ruminations!
Hi, Classmate! Thanks for visiting from across the waters. I am looking forward to our next 4 weeks of class.
I really like your work. The textures and color really do sing. They make me want to see them in person!
Hi, Karen; we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next 4 weeks, won’t we? Thanks for reading the blog and for your kind words.
Lynn, I love your art work! I am a big fan of collage, there is so much you can do! And what a great writer!!! See in in class!
Hi, Dora. I love collage, too, although I have not done very much myself- I like other people’s work. Thanks for your comment and, yes, I’m looking forward to the next 4 weeks of class!
Lynn: Nice tie-in! After reading this, it sounds like you’re going to teach me (the reader). You’re going to help me explore various paths. Is that the case?
Ha-ha-ha, funny lady. I don’t know if you’re going to learn anything from me, but I’m definitely hoping to find out some things from ya’ll (Texas-speak for the plural of you). 🙂
I love “Path through Life” as an illustration to day one of our class! Great start on the homework!
Thanks, Hannah, my brain thrives on metaphor. I am concerned about finding the tipping-point at which my ‘ruminations’, as Tracey called them, become too many words for my readers.
Hi! I enjoyed your post and love your art, too!
Claudine, thanks for the encouragement!
I love both of your works. They are beautiful.
Good luck on your online class.
If I’m not mistaken, you look like a cat. Awesome!, I’ve never gotten a comment from a cat before- I’m very honored. Thank you for your kind comments; now I’m going to show your picture to my cats!
Lynn,
I adore your gravatar and the collage you posted with this entry. AS a fellow collage artist, I’m always fascinated with how our images reveal more than our conscious minds can articulate. I also like what you say about mistakes. Recovering perfectionist that I am, I’m always reminding myself that they are part of the design.
Hi, Hannah. Thanks for the kind words about the collage- I really enjoyed doing it. I would do more collage, but there is such a big issue with copyright and the legality of most of what a collage artist might naturally do that it gives me a headache just thinking about it! And isn’t it the truth that perfectionism really works against you in most cases?!?! I, too, am a recovering perfectionist.
Love your work Lynn. Great design style.
Thanks for visiting, Lanie. Thanks for the encouragement!