Word Tattoo

I invite you to join me on a journey to explore memories of the future.

a blog by john-michael korpal

Uncertainty ~ How Do You Embrace It?

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Things rarely happen in the time frame that I think they should. It would seem the universe works from a different time frame. I guess perspective changes when you compare 13.77 billion years to one of my months. It does place things into a little different reality… sometimes I need to remind myself of this.

 

Everyday contains an element of uncertainty. This can be viewed beneficial as it opens doors for new and exciting things to manifest. The other side of the coin of uncertainty has the potential to create feelings of doubt and anxiety, making it a very uncomfortable space to “hang out”.

 

How can one thrive in this muddy puddle of uncertainty? My approach in life is very proactive, exploring new ideas and viewpoints. Then all of this information gets sorted and processed integrating it into my everyday life. I move forward in a very “taking the initiative” manner.  But even with such a direct approach it is difficult for me to figure out or even understand how these things can be measured and by using what method.

 

The time I have to contribute to this experience on Earth is tiny in comparison to 13.77 billion years. I am less than a blink of the eye, yet the here and now is all that I have to work with and build from. This path that we walk daily leads us to uncertainty and everything that is dragged along with that and then plops us down there, alone. I accept this as fact, but struggle daily to figure out a tactic to wrap my mind around this concept. It is my understanding that the ripple effect is experienced as the ripples gently expand away from one’s presence. What happens if there is a large gap in between these ripples? Is that where uncertainty slips in?

 

For me, it feels like sitting in still pool of water (in reality it is my bathtub). There is comfort and silence, but there is also a feeling of isolation. How does one go about measuring the immeasurable?  How do I know with any certainty what affect I have in the world? How do I make that more effective for all involved?  How does one measure this with any clarity?

 

How do you embrace the uncertainty of life?

 

Study Of Nature

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In preparation for applying for future shows I spent part of my evening sorting through older images of paintings and artwork from my past. These moments tonight have helped me to draw some parallels from the past to present day, helping me gain a new perspective of how I have improved as an artist.

 

Although, I still feel a very strong connection to my artwork from the past. I have to admit, there are moments that I sit back and think to myself “What was I thinking?”  Did I really use that shade of green… and not this one or why is that eye lower than the other one?  These are thing that I never saw while I was actually working on the piece. Then there are those rare moments when I look at a painting and I think WOW, I really did created that… that is kind of cool….

 

Having the distance of time between the art and myself helps me to view my work differently. This proves to me that over time a person’s perspective can change and evolve.

One of the paintings that I really liked is something I did almost two years ago. It was my first attempts of a study of nature. Pine cones seemed to be on the ground everywhere I walked, and since my inspiration is often based on things I find in nature. I thought this would be appropriate to use as the subject matter of a painting. This painting is tiny 6in x 6in. which is very different that the scale that I normally work with and because of that was one of the most difficult pieces that I have ever done.

 

Study_of_Nature

Study of Nature, oil on canvas, 6in x 6in

So this was a good study because I learned many thing things while working on this. I learned that I would much rather work with small brushes then with larger ones, even while working on a much larger canvas, because I really enjoy the connection of the tiny movements of the brush on the canvas. I also learned that sometimes our eyes fill in the blanks and often we claim to see things that are not really there.  I learned how to work with light and use shadows to help me see the pine cone as it really were.

 

This was to be part of a series that I wanted to create one painting per week… but my timing was not good and I could not commit to seeing this develop completely.

 

Maybe seeing this piece again has inspired me to revisit that idea again. Being able to view things with a new perspective can be a really great experience!

 

 

What Did You Want To Be When You Grew Up?

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Did you continue to follow that dream, as you became an adult?

 

I can remember going through several distinct phases of wanting to be different things when I grew up. Although as I look back I do not remember the particular order that they crossed my mind…  but I do remember spending many afternoons as I escaped my reality,  perched in the tree in the backyard reading and daydreaming about what each career might be like. I would go to the library and check out  all the books that I could get my little hands on… I even faintly remember looking at the college catalogues to learn what these career choices had to offer me in helping create my future.

 

Things I wanted to be:

Architect

Veterinarian

Artist

Chef

Writer/Author

 

I think at some point my imagination became so fluid that I wanted to combine all of them together into one. (So things have not really changed much for me in this area). Even as a child I was always creating or building something, often this happened completely in my mind but it didn’t make it any less real for me. I spent most of my childhood using my imagination to explore; it was what helped me get through the difficult times and gave me a place escape to. Everything to me was a journey or an adventure. I always wanted to experience new things and see what I could learn from them.

 

 

I remember in kindergarten building with the big red bricks that were stacked in the corner of the classroom. These were boxes covered with corrugated paper that had the pattern of red bricks printed on them. I would create forts that had openings for windows and doors. I remember I would always build the walls as tall as I could reach. I also loved using large boxes (from a refrigerator or washing machine) and creating a little rooms for me, a place where I could hide and allow my mind to explore.  I would imagine that this was my office or loft and I had many things to dream into existence.

This mindset also carried over into my two favorite toys … my Lincoln logs and Lego’s. I loved anything that I could use to build/create.  When I would drag these out of their boxes I would always try to create the biggest building that I could, but often I would run out of pieces so the buildings never had roofs.

 

Lincoln Logs

 

Then in high school I took a “test” that was to help me to determine the profession that I had the personality to excel in.  The top two on the list  were working in the clergy and being a mortician. It seemed the career coaching had failed me, what I really wanted to do was to be a chef. I wanted to open up a small coffee shop and make fabulous specials for lunch everyday. Create a yummy soup of the day and healthy vegetarian sandwiches and of course wonderful desserts. I wanted this to be a place that people could come together and relax and enjoy, giving them a safe place to explore their imaginations and share their ideas with other creative people. I also desperately wanted to be one of these artist that would have ideas to share. Creating a space for individuals to always be surrounded by creative people that enjoyed learning and experiencing the world through their eyes and imagination.

 

It was interesting while writing this and exploring all of the things that I have wanted to be throughout my life and then compared to the ones I have pursued. I realized that even now at 44. I still have not decided what I want to be when I grow up. There are just so many choices!

 

Connecting The Dots

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I remember when I was a little kid how excited I would become when I explored a new coloring book and found a “connect the dots” puzzle. Each time trying to figure out what the image was … sometimes, I was surprised that I could figure out the image before I started, other times …not so much. Then I would grab a pencil and start connecting the dots to expose the image that would magically appear before my eyes. This would then give me something new to color in, something that I drew with my own pencil.

 

Forty years later and I am beginning to experience growing pains and some anxiety as I move deeper into my world as an artist as I continue to connect these dots. I realize that my life has been a “connect the dots” puzzle all along and each event constituted a dot in which I connected a line. Through the years these symbolic dots have created an outline of the image of my life to date… I question how many of these dots were carefully chosen and how many randomly fell on my page and I wonder if it really matters.

 

The difference, forty years ago I was creating a dinosaur or a butterfly and now the dots that I am joining are creating my life, my future. As I move forward I try to imagine and wonder what the complete picture will look like.

connect the dots

 

I realize that I do have some control as to where these dots land and that there is a method to the randomness. I must admit there is a part of me that finds great comfort in this and an even larger part that is terrified by this concept.

 

I question how I can be prepared without placing limitations on what I choose to put out into the world? How can I stay focused and still see all possibilities available? How can I be certain what is the “correct” choice, how do I know if it is… or not?  I am constantly re-inventing elements of my life, editing as I explore and learn new information. I try to step back and picture in my mind how my life will look to me…but it has been suggested to me by some, that I the question I should ask myself is how does it “feel”, not how it looks.

 

How does it feel to me ” now” or how will it feel to me 5 years from now? Should it feel different?

 

So these are questions I do not have the answers to…yet, as I sit here with my pencil in hand… and my box of symbolic crayons. Waiting patiently for another dot to appear!

Emerging Buddha As A Universal Icon Of Peace

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I am very fortunate to live in Chicago, because everywhere that I look I am surrounded by art that inspires me. Not just in the museums or galleries, but also in the architecture of the buildings and the gardens… and even the street art you might stubble upon as you walk down the sidewalk.

Ten Thousand Ripples

 

As I was riding my bike home this evening I had my first opportunity to view two of the Buddha Heads that are part of the Ten Thousand Ripple Project in Chicago. These are just two of the one hundred sculptures that Indira Johnson created. These sculptures are of an emerging Buddha as a universal icon of peace and spirituality, inviting people to think about how they can find peace in their own lives and their communities. This project has been on going since 2012. The ones that are pictured here are located in Uptown, just south of the bank on Lawrence and Broadway. These two sculptures rest as they quietly watch the neighborhoods daily happenings reminding us that that peace and compassion is obtainable for all.

 

Click here to view video about “Ten Thousand Ripples”.

 

Their presence made me smile as I took in a deep breath and enjoyed the moment, reminding me that I need to slow down and enjoy all the different expressions of art that surrounds me. I think sometimes we get so lost in our schedules and appointments that we miss out on all the beauty that surrounds us everyday.

 

It was such a beautiful evening and seeing these made it even more of a magical night. This makes me want to search out more of the Buddha Heads in the city. If you have been fortunate enough to locate more of these, could you please list their locations in the comment section below? I would love to go check out more of these… sounds like a field trip in my near future

Buddha Head Chicago

ARTIST…How Do You Promote Yourself To The World?

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We are all part of a community of artist and we have the ability to help each other be the best that we can become. We all have the ability to create!

 

So with this in mind several days ago I created a message to send to some of my favorite Facebook artist inquiring about what techniques they use to market themselves, using social media platforms and other on-line venues (e.g., Website, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr)  (my shameless plugs).

I want to take this opportunity to share with you seven of the things I learned from their responses. They are listed here in no particular order. Please feel free to share this blog with anyone you think might benefit from this information.

 

I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone for their input and help!

 

1.The one thing that was consistently expressed is that there are no hidden secrets to creating the perfect online presence. The best thing that one can do put all of your info out there in as many places as possible and cross your fingers and hope for the best.

 

2.Try to engage people using social media. Comment on their posts, and respond to their comments on yours. FB is all about relationship-building.

 

3.Run a SEO scan on your site via statscrop.com. It’ll give you a greater perspective on things you can tweak on your site. Also, make sure your site is registered or submitted with all of the major search engines so you get a higher return in search results.

 

4.Whenever you’re blogging, reach out to a few key twitter followers and request a retweet if you know their reach can better connect to your desired audience. Also doing a bit of digging in twitter for # hashtags that relate to your post is a good thing for increasing reach. Be sure to tweet and post links to any publicity you’ve received.

 

5.One thing that has helped has been showing work, handing out my cards like candy, and participating in open studios, and going to all the openings around town that I am able to

 

6.Becoming active in art leagues and artist guilds are great ways to give back and to network.

 

7.Build relationships with fellow artist and share links on each other sites and blogs to increase visibility.

 

So the main thing is to keep putting your self out there online and in person over and over.  The internet has changed so many things in the art world that we are at a point where we are able to create new rules and methods for presenting ourselves to the world as artist. It is a great time to be an artist! If there is anything that you have found beneficial in marketing or ways to increase your visibility. Please feel free to add them to the comments below.

FISHY FISHY…

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The cool rainy weather is not working in my favor lately during “studio time” as it is not conducive for oil paint to dry. So as I work on this piece I have experienced moments of working effortlessly for hours and then days go by and I sit in the chair across from the easel watching it…almost as if I am waiting for the moment when the central fish turns his face to me and starts talking. I am certain that there are great insights he wishes to share with me, maybe even some ideas of how this painting will move forward. I sit and wait…attentively.

 

I always find it fascinating stepping back and watching as the paint dries, as it matures the colors change slightly and the intensity of the paint deepens, as the glossy glare of the painted surface becomes less and less. The image below is proof that a wet canvas does not always photograph well. I include this only as a tease to give an idea of what I have been working on in the studio. But is not the best representation of what the canvas looks like in real time… as I said, it is a teaser.

 

The big chunky elements are in place and details are added when I can as I work around the areas of wet paint, which I have to admit, is a challenge.  The next step is to work on the red rocks in the landscape and drop in some more details. This will be the focus for this upcoming Monday, as the canvas should be dry enough to accept more paint without blurring the colors together. I will keep you posted as this processes evolves…and who knows there might be another canvas started to work on during the drying periods of this one…one never knows!

 

Lets have a little fun here…

A contest to name the central brown trout in the painting…any ideas?

If you have a good name for him/her, please post it in the comments section below.

I might turn the answers into a future blog post.

 Trout 5-23-13

The Recycled Self ~ Looking In The Mirror Of Introspection

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The past three weeks have been about fine-tuning everything necessary to apply for art/gallery shows. So far it has been a month of exploring how my artwork informs my psyche and exploring the image of myself reflected in the mirror of introspection. I have asked myself endless questions and spent hours writing about myself in first and third persons about my artwork and how everything is interconnected. In retrospect, I learned many things examining my body of work as a whole and then breaking it down into smaller subcategories and then seeing how things changed again as I view each as an individual piece. The questions include the few I have posted below, but in total there were more than 45 of them.

 

How is my artwork similar? Different?

Is there a common theme or elements that are presented?

What is it I want people to walk away with after viewing my artwork?

How has my artwork evolved over a particular span of time… years, months, and weeks?

How does the artwork affect me and what feelings do I associate with each one of them? (In a group setting and as an individual piece)

How has this reaction changed as time passes?

 

Now, I am certain that you would love for me to answer all of these questions for you, as it would allow you great insight into my artwork.  (Maybe that will be a topic for future blog posts.) The one thing that I can comment on is that I have discovered that everything evolves or recycles itself. In one form or another, it goes through full phases until it returns back to where it started… but yet it is forever changed. I have come to understand that my artwork has the ability to constantly inform me so new growth can take place. Over time I have been able to create a copacetic relationship with my artwork. Even if at times we fight with each other…all is good.

 

Although, the most radical thing I have learned this month is the value of the “question” and the correct way to ask it. This knowledge has changed my approach considerably as I have modified the techniques I use to ask people questions. The answer is not always as important as the manner in which it is presented. It is more vital to ask the correct question that will facilitate the answer be in a form that can be utilize as nutrients for growth in my artwork.  I also use questions to help inform me personally about my artwork and how it is perceived through the eyes of others. This helps me to determine if I am effectively communicating my thoughts and ideas through the use of my chosen medium.

 

I want to make it very clear that I am not trying to make a person feel one way or another with my artwork or that I even have any control over that. The most important thing for me is that the individual experiences some type of reaction; any emotion that is expressed is completely up to the individual.  I am even comfortable with the fact that some people will not like my artwork and that is ok, not liking something is still a reaction and I welcome that. We all have diverse likes and dislikes that is what makes each one of us unique!

 

I offer my artwork as portals that peer out into a different world, one that is free flowing from a constant state of imagination. I want to give the viewer permission to explore and observe in a unique manner that they may not have chosen to investigate otherwise.

 

This is my personal goal as an artist.