The Art of Making Art

Outer world, inner world of painting

The Art of Making Art

 

First,

you gather,

and it feels like suspense,

like a great mystery.

You search for clues

among your paper and paints,

and all those canvases

stretched tight.

 

Don't think,

just gather.

Colors are moods,

ideas float like bubbles

in the water bowl.

 

Gather atmosphere.

Breathe.

 

Deep blues, sepia,

add cad orange for energy,

or choose cerulean, lemon yellow,

and alizarin crimsin.

 

When you reach for your brush,

you'll know.

 

Ride the wind,

set your mind free,

you never know

what will drift in through an open window.

 

First color,

throw it on!

Swirl in clear water,

brush stroke once, twice.

Paint slides against white,

subdues it, blasts a shape

never seen before

toward your open mind---

Don't slam that window!

Don't catch that wild bird.

 

Fluttering wings take flight.

 

Let her soar,

let her coast each thermal

toward outer blue.

After each flight she returns,

settles on your shoulder,

whispers where she's been.

 

You move your wrist wildly,

her stories shake you.

 

She's all about heights,

mountain tops,

escapes,

the straight-down dive and rise,

the quick rock and roll.

Now she's soft, and silent, soaring

over meadow grass and trees,

tasting the sweet tart of sour cherries

stolen red after red.

 

Feel the momentum,

the constant rise of knowing

there is nothing better

than what will happen if.

 

All experiments are fruitful

and multiply.

 

Remind yourself once or twice

to step back, get some distance,

grab food, eat while you pace.

 

Look how shape and color dance!

Balance may not be required,

this is not school,

there are no tests.

This is your inner world flung forward,

skimming over the roar of your own rhythm.

 

Your fingers know this beat by heart,

let them loose, let your muscles play it out,

every stroke, every flick,

every long, smooth pull

of that brush

takes you closer to the center

of something you knew long ago:

 

You are strong.

 

And it feels dangerous, heady,

you are sometimes lost,

and sometimes found.

 

Embrace your mistakes,

hug them,

kiss them hard.

 

In the end

your canvas displays the record

of your journey,

the flight of your desire,

the release of your anxious perfection,

 

and it feels like relief.

 

Reviews

[Justin Tobey]

Beautiful piece!!! As an artist myself, I can completely relate to everything in this poem!!! That creative suspense, as inspiration builds in you; the release and emotion behind what others see as simple colors; and the relief when you finally release the building tension behind your eyes. Breathtaking! :D This one's going in my favorites for sure! Loved it!!!

[Emily B]

This is brilliant. You've taken something in which you are gifted and made us all feel as though we can channel the same sort of inspiration. Amazing. In between the ooooh's and aaaaaaaah's I kept thinking of all my artist friends who really need to get their tails over here and read this for themselves.

Lovely as ever.

[Mr Dennis Paquin]

DANG!! That was fantastic. I am an artist and have even taught it... God i wish I had this then to offer my students. As it is i am left with jaw open... How did someone get into my head like that? The poem pulls at me to grab my easel and brush and let go of my inhibitions.

Remarkable work!

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Very well written poem, beautiful work, thank you for sharing. Debileah