| Lewie JPD |
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 "Look at any inspired painting.
It's like a gong sounding; it puts you in a state of reverberation." PHILLIP GUSTON ...can you hear it...? (Click image to see G man in action.)
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'Creativity takes courage.'
Henri Matisse Je agree avec monsieur M. And I think the more you do it the more courageous and adventurous you become. Three brave moments in my artistic career so far: Taking LSD to see with an easel and paints set up to see what would turn out. (Turned out I could not even paint I was so 'involved' in the experience - 16 hours!) Spray painting anti-smoking and anti-corporate slogans on billboards as part of BUGAUP in the early 80's and almost getting arrested. Waiting for the perfect moment then actually kissing 'Starry Night' by Van Gogh at SF MOMA while my brother Rich stood guard.  "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Was reminded of Ollie today. Used to like his way of thinking when I was in my early twenties. Thought he had a few good things to say about being a human. Connecting with the original source - somehow, we all have to do it. And when we do -  I'd go to this cafe on Sundays to pick up a take-away coffee on my way to poker. The girl at the counter was spritely and convivial. We shared friendly banter and joking around for about 6 months.
Cut to a few weeks ago: I was eating some stir fried veges in a Malaysian place in the city on a Monday night - sitting about 10 metres back, inside, from the street. I was creating some artworks. I looked up and someone was waving enthusiastically. I could not recognize who it was. She came in. It was her. She told me her name, we bantered a bit and she left. She was wearing pink shorts and a cut-off top and I must say looked pretty good out of the work environment. A few Sundays later, I decided to go in for a sit down coffee. She was friendly at first - remembering my name - but then suddenly became quite stalted and weird. I shrugged it off. The following week I went in again and she was polite but cold - no eye contact. I hadn't come on to her in any way or put any pressure on, so it was a bit confusing. If I was younger or had invested any real emotion I might have felt upset. I was miffed and a bit disappointed but shrugged it off - went back to making my art and enjoying my coffee. She had definitely turned it on originally, then turned it off. Girls like that, I learnt from experience in younger years, are not worth the heartache. I'll still go in for my coffees on Sundays. Maybe. Anyway, this artwork is made from a photo of the alley nearby that cafe. I took it after leaving the second time. It was empty. I filled it. 
Everyday. All year. In for a swim.
Thought yesterday about how one of life's greatest joys doesn't involve money - and what a good thing that is! Swimming at the beach. How could one put a price on that? The reward and return for effort are so high. You come out feeling like a million! Leaping for joy. Skin tingling, body glistening and buzzing, face beaming.... ahhh.... I'm heading down there right now! Another artist who has taken to digital - difference is he uses an iPad and I use a Samsung Note - which is a phone. Oh, and also he's a fucking master and I'm a kid from Bondi... 
I wasn't myself. I was under the influence of a certain substance that warped reality. I never take drugs. Never have never will.
It was art. Art got me high. (...laughs like a madman - like a Van Go Go, Googy Gaga, to be precise.) 
Have u seen 'Altered States' (1980, wri. Paddy Chayefsky, dir. Ken Russel)? It was one of my favourite movies of the time. Came out when I was 19 - pretty much perfect timing.
Late teens/early twenties was an ideal time to experiment with mind altering drugs. The mind is fresh and supple, open to expanded perceptions, while the body is strong and able to handle most sensory assaults. I would always try to chose my times and places and had some good experiences. Never over did it, I was a moderate deviate.  One of the things I love most about making art is the freedom. No rules, no expectations, no demands.
It's basically playing around with shapes and images trying to make something that looks and feels good at the time. Often the easier things come together the better. The challenge is to keep making things that will surprise you - new approach, new vibe, new connections. This picture is made up of close-up shots of segments of oil paintings cut out and refigured. Thrown in there is a piece of metal machinery or something, then some colour augmentation over the top. I like how it's suggestive of many things. Art = no limits  Boy, you gotta carry that weight, carry that weight a long time...
Since I have started writing this blog a month or so ago, I have really tried to pay attention to my thoughts and feelings, perceptions and reactions in an attempt to capture what I find worthy of recording. And to try to observe 'truth' as it occurs. I think that as an artist, one is on a quest to come to understand, decipher, interpret life and then re-express it in whatever form you naturally gravitate to. I've been doing drawings and writing stories, poems and philosophical meanderings in my journals since I was fourteen. You'd think I would've had a eureka! moment by now - but no - I seem to be taking my time. Which is fine by me - I am very clear that there is no destination, just the journey. Little things along the way not only suffice they sustain and nourish. I had some watermelon this morning. Mmmm... |
ART GETS ME HIGH
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