So flashback to a week ago Sunday as in 7/18. Remember the allure of the song in that movie trailer I mentioned? Well I gave into it and bought the whole Florence and the Machine album "Lungs" (because I really have the money to spend on music). Totally worth the investment as it seemed to be the only thing that made me productive. Not only did I get the entire house cleaned but I had one of the most effective "studio" days since I started this drawing. I can't count how many times I listened to the album. There's just something so haunting about her voice that makes the music so intense in a beautiful way.
It's hard to reach that "zone out" state when making art. That invigorating place where you leave reality for a brief time and are completely engulfed in the harmony of music and art. For me the two are closely tied but it still takes the right mood and music to get there. It doesn't happen very often so it's important to soak up every minute of it when it does. Thanks to Florence and the Machine I stayed there for most of the day Sunday which produced the majority of the top right side of the drawing.
I promise this next rant connects to art is some way. The most entertaining part of my job at Athena's is watching people parallel park and fumble over maps. People watching is fun because it almost becomes an unconscious investigation into human nature. Most of the people that walk by are couples and families. What is the driving force between human connections? Watching all of the different types of interactions between couples, as well as parent-child interactions, I've found my brain contemplating the intensity of love and genetic connections.
What is it that makes these types of human attachments so strong? I have friends that I am closer to than family members yet there is still a bond there when I see them. But why? Why does sharing blood change relationships.
How do we control who we surround ourselves with? Is it simply out of our own overwhelming loneliness that we yearn to associate ourselves with others? Are genetics so strong because they are a guarantee of human companionship?
The truth is that no matter how many incredible people we seek the company of, there is still no avoiding those times when we are left alone with our actions and thoughts. I guess what I am getting at is that no matter how strong our instincts are to form bonds with others we will never fully achieve these connections. We will always be (to some degree) alone as no one can fully get inside another person's thoughts. I think each individual needs to learn to deal with this inevitable realization of loneliness in there own way.
I think this summer has made me face this awareness of human solitude. I haven't had enough alone time this past year so making up for it is a good thing. This rant was not meant to be depressing. And when I am not alone I'm insanely blessed to have amazing people in my life.
This all relates to art because it is about the figure. The figure has always been a prevalent subject in art. The viewer attempts to identify with the figure in the artwork just as they would attempt to connect with any person. It's our way of making sense of how we navigate through this thing called life. It's making sense of the world by associating with other human beings.
Another thing I've noticed working at Athena's is how people above the age of 65-70 dress. They all wear the same white sneakers, socks, and cotton shorts and shirt. Is it a generation thing or am I doomed to loose all fashion sense when I am older?
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