Imagination Defined

"Objects of Affection Series"

To me, imagination is the conceptual stage of an idea or a new way of viewing traditional or typical realities. Imagination might continue to dwell only in one's mind or it might be birthed to fruition through the process of creativity.

Although most artistic endeavors such as music, art and dancing are enhanced through the use of imagination, it can also be applied to many aspects of everyday living such as cooking, gardening, decorating, housekeeping, fashion and making love, to name a few.

Sometimes, it is stimulating to do mundane tasks in a new way by using one's imagination to be more creative. For example, I have a friend who is conservative in her political persuasion, but imaginative in how her home is organized and decorated. From the way her paintings are hung to how clothes are separated in her closet, she is extremely imaginative in how she handles her household, doing everything in fresh yet simplistic ways.

In art, imagination is delightful to behold when an artist presents material in unexpected ways that are uniquely his own. Two artists who immediately come to mind are Fernando Botero and Pablo Picasso. Botero's portly people are recognizable in his paintings, drawings and sculpture, while Picasso's cubist renderings are his own, no matter how many times his influence is apparent in the work of other artists.

I believe that we are all artists and that we all have the ability to imagine, however, I also believe that some of us choose to leave our imaginations in the conceptual stage rather than bringing it forth.

The Writings of Robert Henri

Robert Henri was both an artist and a teacher who passed away in 1929. His book, "The Art Spirit" has been read by me countless times and utilized as an "art bible" of sorts. His writings are important to me because of their timelessness, and because I have often thought about many of the things he writes about. Here are a few excerpts from that book:

"An artist has to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. It is no easy job because it is not a present-day habit of humanity. This is what I call self-development, self-education. No matter how fine a school you are in, you must educate yourself."

"But few are capable of holding themselves in the state of listening to their own song. Intellectuality steps in and as the song within us is of the utmost sensitiveness, it retires in the presence of the cold, material intellect......"

"Great works of art should look as though they were made in joy. Real joy is a tremendous activity, dull drudgery is nothing to it....The drudgery that kills is not half the work that joy is...."

"Do not let the fact that things are not made for you,that conditions are not as they should be, stop you. Go on anyway. Everything depends on those who go on anyway."

"It's not that the juries don't mean well or at least think they mean well. but it is simply that art cannot be measured."

"If you want to be a historical painter, let your history be of your own time, of what you can get to know personally - of manners and customs within your own experience."

"No nation as yet is the home of art. Art is an outsider, a gypsy over the face of the earth."

"The only sensible way to regard the art life is that it is a privilege you are willing to pay for."

"Seldom has the great art or great science of the world been paid for at the time of creation. It has been given, and in general has been cruelly received. You may cite honors and attentions and even money paid, but I would have you note that these were paid a long time after the creator had gone through his struggles."

The Joy of Imagination

"Gratitude"

There is one component I have found present in most great art, and that is the use of imagination. To me, this is what makes certain art engaging, vibrant and original. Whenever I view a work of art where the artist has chosen a fresh way to approach even the most mundane subject, I feel excited.

A fresh approach might include a novel way of rendering line, texture, color, pattern, perspective or even the subject itself. A never-before-seen subject rendered in an original manner can truly be called a work of art.

When I think of what contributes to imagination in art, three vital characteristics come to mind: Development in the fundamentals of art, having a point of view and commitment to developing that view and being broad-minded in one's thinking. I am hard-pressed to see how having a narrow perspective in everyday life would allow an artist to be imaginative in her work. It helps to think "outside the box."

As an artist who, for several years, rendered technically correct, well-done drawings and paintings in the manner of millions of other artists, I could not understand why my work was often overlooked.

I had no voice, no point of view and no idea what I wanted to paint. For me, this was a good point from which to start because I eventually learned that art must be more than technical skills and more than the dictates of the market. Once I clearly understood this, among other important details, I was able to begin working as a continually developing, evolving artist. The paintings presented on this blog have recently furthered into broader renderings, which are still recognizable as my work, though in a different way. This is simply imagination at work.

As a practicing artist who is also imaginative in most aspects of my everyday life, I have sometimes been called "eccentric," "different," and even "hard-to-pinpoint." Whenever I'm labled in this way, I don't take it personally. I simply realize that some prefer a life within the confines of a box -certainly not conducive to imagination.

In my next post, I will say more about imagination relative to my definition of it pertaining to both art and life. Your thoughts, please.

Four-Month Itinerary

"Rather paint the flying spirit of the bird than its feathers."
Robert Henri

July, 2009/ Studio Work - Finally, I have begun the new body of work which I have been longing to start for an entire year now. The supplies are waiting, the drawings from my sketchbook have been selected and I am in the correct state of mind to proceed. That state of mind being one of having reached the point in life where I realize there is no sublime way to be when preparing to spend long hours in the studio. You take the bitter with the sweet, which often exists side by side. I accept that great moments continue to blend with heart-wrenching ones - which is the state of my life almost every day. When I am painting, it is difficult to concentrate on darkness.

August, 2009 / National Kidney Foundation Auction

September, 2009 / Featured Artist: Strathmore Artists Newsletter

October, 2009 / Open Studio Show

Art in Words

"Angels in Flight"

In two recent volumes of poetry, there are paintings whose messages refer to the poems. For each volume, I have created a handbound prototype of the book I wish to publish. Ironically, only two of the poems were actually created to reflect the subject matter of the paintings. They are "The Compassionate Sun" and the poem below, "Of My Body, Forgiveness." For all the other poems, I was able to find paintings that referred to each one because all my themes fall under one umbrella (see sidebar explaining what my paintings are about).

As the poetry and paintings inform each other, this is particularly so of the one below. I believe that the body is essentially forgiving, having found this to be true time after time. However, it takes persistence of focus to achieve a constant mind-body connection. Whenever I become distracted with too many priorities on my plate - as it were- this issue of spiritual struggle presents itself once more........

Of My Body, Forgiveness

Please forgive me and let me view

With kindness this imperfect form

Please allow me to know you

And protect you from harm

Forgive my arrogant absence of you

Yes, let's commit to this relationship

As solid equals rather than enemies

As lovers locked in friendship

Bound in trust by mutual amenities

Forgive my sad suspicion of you

Let's choose dialogue rather than war

Two as one committed to health

As I listen rather than ignore

Your legacy to me of infinite wealth

Forgive my dangerous distance of you

Forgive me, loyal body divine

For daring to desecrate what is mine

Forgive me, perfect body complete

Forgive me as we belatedly meet!

copyright 2009, Georgette Jones

What Grows in Your Garden?

In the garden of my backyard grows tiger lilies, roses, vinca, white snow, irises (fading fast), lavender (also fading), and several new babies with elusive names. All these lovelies are a joy to behold.

For whatever reason, I am not drawn to flower designs on fabrics or excited by seeing them in magazines. However, the pleasure of seeing real flowers, especially in a garden belonging to me, is just another reminder that there exists something higher than myself.

When I am looking at real flowers, I feel peaceful and removed from the often chaotic world of responsibilities and issues needing attention . At times when that other garden - the garden of my mind - is overflowing with seemingly too many things to handle, I go to the garden of my backyard.

In the garden of my mind, there sometimes grows doubt, floundering faith and hesitation. At this point in my life, I realize that developing spirituality is not static. There will sometimes be struggles between what you believe to be true and what this dream world tells you is real.

It is at these times that I need to go to the garden of my backyard for remembrance and renewal. I remember who I am, and I renew the thoughts growing in my mind. Today I choose to grow in the garden of my mind hope, unwavering faith and decisiveness.......

It is Courage

To arise each morning with anxiety

And still dress yourself well

Eat a good breakfast

Then drive yourself there

Is not only strength

It is courage

Knowing the state of the world

The state of your own life

And still function well

Throughout the day

Is not only competence

It is courage

Doing the work with all it takes

To handle the concerns

The myriad of duties

And do them well

Is not only excellence

It is courage

To continue to live

Your life well

And to love well

Under all circumstances

Is simply this:

It is courage!

copyright 2009, Georgette Jones

Here and Now

Here and now, you will ignore me

As though I am not an artist sincere

As though you will never adore me

For the prolific work presented here

You will scandalize me

You will ostracize me

You will stain my name.

When I die, you will speak my name

Praise my gifts as though you cared

For me when I walked this hard earth

Offering esteem never before shared

You will recognize me

You will eulogize me

You will speak my name.

Strangers will come as friends

Stand tall and tell my story

At this time of final amends

They will sing of me in glory

They will verbalize me

They will idealize me

They will speak my name.

Finally, my creativity will know

The highest energy from appreciation

As favor upon me death will bestow

In a plethora of posthumous validation

Death will elegize me

Death will prize me

Death will shout my name.

Yet, here and now I want you to see

How I want my living to be

Here and now, why not recognize me?

Accept the gifts I offer you

As I struggle to walk this cold earth

Why not a salute to help me through?

Here and now, please humanize me

Here and now, please actualize me

Here and now, please speak my name!

copyright 2009, Georgette Jones

Art in Nature

As late spring eases into early summer, more often than not, the inspirations for creating art are: The Japanese maple in my front yard, which provides shade for the newly-planted white begonias residing under it; the abundant variety of trees lining almost every avenue of the city; the lovely Huron River showing glimpses of herself in unexpected places; the colors of nature endlessly flaunting themselves in hues of green, purple, red, yellow and blue; the clear sky; the fresh air......Can anyone deny that a Master Creator dwells among us?

Being among nature stills my inner self, while stirring my passion to paint. How does viewing nature make you feel? What do you like most about nature?