hi Maritza, i always love reading your newsletter so I've had this issue hanging out in my inbox for a couple weeks, waiting for a smidge of free time to read it. As always, I love what you have to say. Personally, I think you should trust your meandering way, and let Moose and Slushie correspond with you, and continue to let the yin and yang of your creative leanings pull you in one direction and then the other. I really feel you are on the right path.
And I wanted to mention that I paused when you wrote, "I want to share beauty and wonder, and I don’t want to trap anyone. / Then again, I want (my work) to be seen. OMG. I’m that kind of artist." It reminded me of an exchange I had with Mike Lowery on Friday (an interview that hopefully will be posted on the KCU Youtube channel soon!). He talked about how illustration is fundamentally a *communication* art, unlike fine art, which doesn't necessarily need to prioritize communication in the same way.
I have always loved art, but in particular I've always loved illustration art -- usually much more than I love fine art. I think that's because I'm a person who highly values communication with and between human beings. I think we shouldn't apologize for valuing that. In fact, I think the world needs a heck of a lot more of it!
One of the quotes you shared that made me particularly happy was Indira Ghose's observation that "conflict is a constant in human society. // Civility is how we manage conflict. It’s not about whether we disagree, but *how* we disagree." Again, this goes back to the joy of communication -- one of the most delicious things about reading is when you read someone else's words and feel that sense of YES YES YES I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY -- I'M NOT ALONE!!!!
Ooo I’m so glad the threads came together and made some kind of sense! It made sense in my head, but that’s not always a guarantee haha. I like this path I’m on with Moose & Slushie. Hopefully I can figure out the best way to post/share the short comics I write along the way. Figuring that out is not intuitive!
I look forward to hearing that exchange with Mike Lowery! I think you’re right about an aspect of what’s different between illustration and fine art… sometimes in the latter, it’s possible to obscure meaning and have that be the point. Or it can be a vague “experience.” I enjoy illustrations and stories that have little puzzles built in, but that’s probably no surprise coming from me! Still, there certainly needs to be a path to understanding and connection, and there needs to be things communicated from the start because otherwise the story is flat!
I’m glad you enjoyed the quote too! It’s fun how it’s possible to take in disparate media and find a through line in them. I felt in these things there was something about how different ideas and people come together and good can result.
haha I should reply here not just IRL like when I saw you the other day! Yes I would like to sell stuff on my website... I need an assistant or something...
hi Maritza, i always love reading your newsletter so I've had this issue hanging out in my inbox for a couple weeks, waiting for a smidge of free time to read it. As always, I love what you have to say. Personally, I think you should trust your meandering way, and let Moose and Slushie correspond with you, and continue to let the yin and yang of your creative leanings pull you in one direction and then the other. I really feel you are on the right path.
And I wanted to mention that I paused when you wrote, "I want to share beauty and wonder, and I don’t want to trap anyone. / Then again, I want (my work) to be seen. OMG. I’m that kind of artist." It reminded me of an exchange I had with Mike Lowery on Friday (an interview that hopefully will be posted on the KCU Youtube channel soon!). He talked about how illustration is fundamentally a *communication* art, unlike fine art, which doesn't necessarily need to prioritize communication in the same way.
I have always loved art, but in particular I've always loved illustration art -- usually much more than I love fine art. I think that's because I'm a person who highly values communication with and between human beings. I think we shouldn't apologize for valuing that. In fact, I think the world needs a heck of a lot more of it!
One of the quotes you shared that made me particularly happy was Indira Ghose's observation that "conflict is a constant in human society. // Civility is how we manage conflict. It’s not about whether we disagree, but *how* we disagree." Again, this goes back to the joy of communication -- one of the most delicious things about reading is when you read someone else's words and feel that sense of YES YES YES I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY -- I'M NOT ALONE!!!!
Ooo I’m so glad the threads came together and made some kind of sense! It made sense in my head, but that’s not always a guarantee haha. I like this path I’m on with Moose & Slushie. Hopefully I can figure out the best way to post/share the short comics I write along the way. Figuring that out is not intuitive!
I look forward to hearing that exchange with Mike Lowery! I think you’re right about an aspect of what’s different between illustration and fine art… sometimes in the latter, it’s possible to obscure meaning and have that be the point. Or it can be a vague “experience.” I enjoy illustrations and stories that have little puzzles built in, but that’s probably no surprise coming from me! Still, there certainly needs to be a path to understanding and connection, and there needs to be things communicated from the start because otherwise the story is flat!
I’m glad you enjoyed the quote too! It’s fun how it’s possible to take in disparate media and find a through line in them. I felt in these things there was something about how different ideas and people come together and good can result.
Thanks for all this!
"different ideas and people come together and good can result"... the world needs this!
Yes! Sell your stuff on your website, that would be so cool!
haha I should reply here not just IRL like when I saw you the other day! Yes I would like to sell stuff on my website... I need an assistant or something...