Lola Jovan Art Musings and Random Thoughts

Awaiting Myself on Both Sides

7/1/2024

Awaiting Myself on Both Sides

"Awaiting Myself on Both Sides" - oil on clayboard panel, 14 .25vx 18.5 inches. (click on the image to purchase)

“I am the shore and the ocean, awaiting myself on both sides.”
― Dejan Stojanovic, The Shape

I am the solid ground of the shoreline, the. mountains, the rocks, cliffs and loamy forest floor. And I am the tempestuous, ever-changing ocean, sometimes with rip currents and sneaker waves and other times glassy and warm against the feet wading within it. We don't have to be one thing or the other - we can be both.

We live in polarized times - black and white, one way or the other, you're ok or you're not.

But really we are ever-changing beings, growing and transforming with each day, each experience and every thought and interaction. It is really alright to wake up one day and be the mountain, and another day the ocean. We are many-layered, complex beings, expansive and ethereal.

I've spent a long time trying to put myself in boxes that no longer fit (or did not fit in the first place). This includes creative boxes - trying to make the things other people think I should be making, or that the market says are hot, or that my skill level feels comfortable with. Oh no OH NO!

Do you find yourself sitting inside those boxes, too? Let's bust out together.

About the art - I began with a happenstance series of inspiration images generated by the AI bot (I love when it surprises and delights me!) and then choosing the elements within those images that called to me. I sketched directly onto the clayboard with walnut oil thinned oil paint, then began building the layers. To achieve the effect of water, I applied many light layers of glaze drawn across the clayboard horizontally with a wide rubber wedge. Lots of drying time between layers! Resisting the urge to overly define (what is the dark rectangle in the upper left? The viewer's eye gets to decide) - walking away before mucking about too much.

It's time for the July Reader Giveaway! Leave a comment on a blog post this month and be automatically entered in the drawing for FREE ART! Woot! Your participation helps me, helps others and adds some sparkle to the universe. Thank you!!

9 Comments

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Lola Jovan

Carl Stoveland link

7/1/2024 09:49:57 am

What a great reminder of the non binary nature of all the things we are. At any time not all of them are going to be great but some bits will be operating on a higher level. The language is a great framework for the painting and I love how much room you you gave us (the viewers) to explore and decide the story of the painting for ourselves.

Also good reminder about all or nothing syndrome. That’s what I call it at least. It has crept in to my personal life a few times, but as an artist I’ve managed to not be defined by labels, mediums or trends. Artistically if it pleases my senses in someway I’ll go for it agnostic to mediums. It’s taken me time to climb from my self limiting boxes. I refuse to go back. 🙂. Thanks as ever for the great art and the thought provoking writing.

lola

7/1/2024 02:40:27 pm

Carl!!! "All or nothing syndrome" - oy! That resonates. You are such a HUGE role model for following the muse (regardless of medium) and going where your senses take you.

Thanks so much for the feedback on this piece, and for your encouragement on the accompanying writing. That means so much!

Your comment is of huge benefit to me and to readers - plus you're entered in the July Reader Giveaway! Tadaaaaaa!

Carl Stoveland

7/1/2024 10:16:31 pm

Hah! I paint for an audience of one. That’s ok though. It makes me happy and I get to teach new artists, travel and sell a piece once in a while. No complaints here.

Lisa Cartier-Gruen link

7/9/2024 12:09:51 pm

Wow and WOW on this one! I think it’s one of my favorites, ever!

7/9/2024 05:02:23 pm

Lisa!!!! No way! Thanks hugely! You made my day. And thank you for entering the July Reader Giveaway!

Dotty Seiter link

7/1/2024 11:03:27 am

Let's bust out together! YES! SO much mystery and mastery here, Lola. I am mesmerized, magnetized. I keep exploring and probing this piece. There is energy in the questions, satisfaction in the pondering.

7/1/2024 02:42:06 pm

Dotty!!! Busting out with you is sure to be a grand adventure! Hooray! Thank you for your feedback, your exploring, probing, questions and pondering!

Not only have you put a smile on my face, but you're also entered in the July Reader Giveaway! Yay!

Trina

7/1/2024 01:47:58 pm

I have never fit in any ‘Art Box’ and because I don’t paint in realism my family have always told me that I don’t have painting talent but I do make beautiful wreaths, so I should stick to those. It’s a little like being told ‘but you have such a pretty face’ when looking at my physical form. 🙄🙄🙄
I paint very emotive so for this reason I don’t want to paint any commission pieces anymore. I know Art friends do because it’s a money thing but for me it’s a high stress thing! I should want to do them but I dread the pressure… how do you handle that pressure Lola?

7/1/2024 02:49:15 pm

Trina!!! Oh, oh, OH! I so feel your family's words and wish I could replace them with "you are an intrepid, brave, relentless, dedicated, talented and bold explorer of art!" And you're also a beautiful woman, top to bottom, inside and outside. Just sayin'.

An excellent question on commissions. I vacillate on this topic regularly. Where I mainly land is this: if the proposed commission intrigues me (see Carl's comment above - does it please the senses in some way?) then I will accept the commission. If not, I pass. Adding more stress to the process of exploration is undesirable to me - I think we have to protect that creative being inside of us and provide a safe place to freely wander and boldly experiment. To quote Anne Lamott, "NO is a complete sentence." No need to justify if you don't want to do it. Your inner creative will beam at you! with appreciation.

I'd love other artists to weigh in on this...what do the rest of ya'll think about commissions?

And thanks, Trina - your comment and question add such value and depth to this thread. Plus you're entered in the July Reader Giveaway! Yipppeeeee!

Awaiting Myself on Both Sides

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