This was lovely! Thank you Heather. When you spoke about artists finding their voice, I was reminded of a passage by Sarah Manguso: “My least favourite received idea about writing is that one must find one’s voice, as if it’s there inside you, ready to be turned on like a player piano. Like character, its very existence depends on interaction with the world.” As you pointed out, emerging artists are likely to interact with the work of other artists they love or admire. And then there’s the cheeky book by Austin Kleon: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative.
So interesting. As Sarah Manguso said, there is interaction so it's constantly in change - but I realise that what you quoted made me come up with this general observation - the thing about finding your voice is, it happens the moment you listen/look at other people's work. Because you think "I'd have done that differently, I'd have..... " and whatever that is - that is the bit that is you. You don't find your own voice by sitting in isolation, naval-gazing, with a microphone or microscope or self-analysis. Among others, you automatically notice who you are. And delightfully, you also become aware of the slight differences in each person.
@@heathergregg9975 Sometimes it’s more complicated than that. I saw ancient images of ibex when I visited Malta and there was a period of time after that when I drew and painted ibex over and over. I didn’t understand why. I felt like something was wrong with me for obsessing over ibex. Then, at the Picasso museum in Barcelona, I took in his many re-interpretations of Velazquez’s Las Meninas, and I understood that it was okay for me to explore imagery that I found fascinating. I don’t know what was in Picasso’s mind, but I realized I had been working through emotions, ideas and symbolism in my own way.
I love to visit art exhibitions with you! 😁 Do you have a Voxer address where we could chat? I would like to invite you to host a readathon about art in September.
well - me and art - how long have you got?! Yes yes yes to art readathon, great idea. I've always struggled to find other people reading and reviewing art books, which is a large part of why I call myself the "silver unicorn" of Booktube. Am not on Voxer. Maybe we could link via insta or whatsapp or have a private zoom chat.
@@heathergregg9975 I love your enthusiasm! There would be a group of hosts: Lindy from Lindy’s Magpie Reads, Hannah from Hannah’s Books and Greg from Another Bibliophile Reads. It’s easier to have a group discussions on Voxer. It’s a free messaging app, easy to use, also accessible on desktop. I created a discussion group there for the hosts. Do you think you can join us there? (So far we just exchanged greetings, so you haven’t missed any discussion.)
These were so interesting and beautiful to see. Thank you for taking us along.
glad you enjoyed the trip and took time to write your personal comment - thank you!
This was lovely! Thank you Heather. When you spoke about artists finding their voice, I was reminded of a passage by Sarah Manguso: “My least favourite received idea about writing is that one must find one’s voice, as if it’s there inside you, ready to be turned on like a player piano. Like character, its very existence depends on interaction with the world.” As you pointed out, emerging artists are likely to interact with the work of other artists they love or admire.
And then there’s the cheeky book by Austin Kleon: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative.
So interesting. As Sarah Manguso said, there is interaction so it's constantly in change - but I realise that what you quoted made me come up with this general observation - the thing about finding your voice is, it happens the moment you listen/look at other people's work. Because you think "I'd have done that differently, I'd have..... " and whatever that is - that is the bit that is you. You don't find your own voice by sitting in isolation, naval-gazing, with a microphone or microscope or self-analysis. Among others, you automatically notice who you are. And delightfully, you also become aware of the slight differences in each person.
@@heathergregg9975 Sometimes it’s more complicated than that. I saw ancient images of ibex when I visited Malta and there was a period of time after that when I drew and painted ibex over and over. I didn’t understand why. I felt like something was wrong with me for obsessing over ibex. Then, at the Picasso museum in Barcelona, I took in his many re-interpretations of Velazquez’s Las Meninas, and I understood that it was okay for me to explore imagery that I found fascinating. I don’t know what was in Picasso’s mind, but I realized I had been working through emotions, ideas and symbolism in my own way.
I love to visit art exhibitions with you! 😁 Do you have a Voxer address where we could chat? I would like to invite you to host a readathon about art in September.
well - me and art - how long have you got?! Yes yes yes to art readathon, great idea. I've always struggled to find other people reading and reviewing art books, which is a large part of why I call myself the "silver unicorn" of Booktube. Am not on Voxer. Maybe we could link via insta or whatsapp or have a private zoom chat.
@@heathergregg9975 I love your enthusiasm! There would be a group of hosts: Lindy from Lindy’s Magpie Reads, Hannah from Hannah’s Books and Greg from Another Bibliophile Reads. It’s easier to have a group discussions on Voxer. It’s a free messaging app, easy to use, also accessible on desktop. I created a discussion group there for the hosts. Do you think you can join us there? (So far we just exchanged greetings, so you haven’t missed any discussion.)
@@bouquinsbooks oh right! That's great to have that group of hosts, I'm familiar with their channels already. Hope to hear your voice soon....