Volpius

Weather Station

Are you happy as an artist right now?

It's difficult to answer questions regarding happiness, but I definitely feel lucky. When it comes to making art, I find producing artworkis more about the steady accumulation of effort, as opposed to states of mind or emotion. Some days I question my practice, feeling compelled to throw in the towel, but stubbornness keeps me working.I know from experience that the balance between certainty and uncertainty is precarious as best--a new day and a fresh pair of eyes can change everything. In an article from the New Yorker, MalcolmGladwell talks about 2 kinds of creative people. The first is affiliated with precocity--where genius comes at a young age, everything clicks at a particular moment in time (i.e. Orson Welles makesCitizen Kane at 25). Gladwell defines the second as a "Late Bloomer". The practice of a late bloomer is rooted in experimentation. Thus, it is only with energy and time that a question is solved. Cezanneexemplifies this latter group--producing his most accomplished paintings at the end of his life. I'm hoping that I'm a late bloomer, as my practice tends to embrace sweat and labour. I always thinkthat my next project will be the best. Here's a link to the article if you're interested: gladwell.com 


Who do you really admire in the art world right now?

Recently, I have been inspired by thework of Maira Kalman. Last March, I had the pleasure of seeing her retrospective, "Various Illuminations of a Crazy World" in Philadelphia. Kalman seems to poetically navigate the space between diary,creative non-fiction, illustration and design. Her work illuminates hope, joy and humour, but not without the knowledge of tragedy and heartache. One of my favourite lines in the catalogue written byIngrid Schaffner is "joy is where you find it--usually on the shelf right next to sadness". Another favourite, but not specifically art-related is "This American Life", a radio documentary that has...