I’ve been digging much more into the “whys” of my art than actually making as of late. I tend to convince myself that this is ultimately productive, but I can tell I’ve also been shying away from making. I think I make art that I want to see, but on the flipside, maybe I wouldn’t make art if I saw what I wanted to see out there.
The biggest exploration I’ve been on has been reading. It kicked of with a reading of Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Reading that book is what put the final nail in the coffin of my social media presence and internet usage. More on that is sure to come once I can get a handle on expressing it.
I’ve also been dipping my toe into books about art and about artmaking, but few have resonated as well as You Are an Artist by Sarah Urist Green. I really enjoyed how the prompts were focused on “experiments” on specific techniques and motivations. Even though I met some with hesitation, they consistently pointed towards something worth looking into.
I’ve also been interested in exploring new media. I’m currently taking a programming class, and I’ve always thought that making a video game would really appeal to my kind of creative outlet. I tend to gravitate towards projects that feel more like work than relaxation, so I often don’t resonate with portrayals of art as a spiritual experience. It’s inherently emotional because it is always in the context of humanity, but that’s not to say that I use it to meditate at all.
I’ll be back again soon to dive more into the effects of Digital Minimalism on my life and work, and I may have some work to share as well! Thanks for stopping by!
Rebecca Lugo 