From Fairytales to Shakespeare, a World of Fantasy at your Fingertips

(Scene from Repunzel)

When my daughter was three, she learned how to dress herself. She changed clothes so often, I was ready to tear my hair out seeing her clean clothes scattered across the floor. It wasn’t so much that she wanted to look different, but that she hated the feel of the clothes in the first place.

Her favorite complaint: “These clothes are dumb!” She couldn’t stand the itchy scratchy touch of fabric and seams against skin. Had she the choice, she would have preferred dancing around in her Birthday suit. Thankfully she got over this stage, but remained an emotional and temperamental prima donna. Today she is a sensitive and caring artist, mother and teacher, which explains all.

Artists feel life on a deeper level than most people. They see beyond what is actually there and delve below the surface to find the treasure that lies within. Their sensitivity may make their life and that of others difficult, but it also pays dividends in the outcomes that result. Certainly the artist is rewarded with a greater sense of joy and fulfillment.

If this makes you hard to live with so be it. You don’t need to apologize when your attention escapes into the Netherlands to join Pan. You are temporarily absent in mind and body, that’s all; you’ll return shortly. You’re not hard of hearing, either. You simply have one foot in reality and the other in the world of fantasy; always asking “What if?” and “Why?” turning your exterior world into unique creatures and landscapes shaped by your imagination.

As a child I was big on reading fairy tales by Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. I literally entered a land of enchantment. I was there, walking the cobbled streets, hand-in-hand with my favorite characters. I could clearly see the colors, hear the sounds, and smell the smells of each adventure.

Being into your work is a requirement for success, but somewhere between birth and death we lose our sense of magic. We cease to “make-believe.” When the here and now is such harsh reality, we forget how to “suspend” belief in order to enjoy the present. Some people never do. You know them. They pick apart dramatic scenes in movies, finding errors in plot or photography. Instead of settling back to enjoy the ride, they put on their critic’s hat and blast away ruining it for everybody else.

As adults, Shakespeare provides a secondary world of make-believe. Tense, dramatic, and emotional the stories tell us about real people with tragic problems. Once your ear becomes attuned to the rhythm and flow of Old English dialogue, you soon forget the unfamiliar cadence of poetry and succumb to the voice of character, story and action. Stretching your interests and abilities can only add to the drama in your artwork and in your ability to think and to dream.

I hope you enjoy the stories and tutorials below: Bend with the will of the script and allow it to live and breathe in you. Allow yourself into the character’s minds and let them shape your thoughts and your dreams.

http://genius.com/William-shakespeare-to-be-or-not-to-be-annotated

A tutorial and analysis:

Did you ever feel like an "Ugly Duckling" growing up? Guess what, we all did! The following video is dedicated to all "Ugly Ducklings" everywhere who have since grown beyond their insecurities.

Tired of being practical, plain and passive? Want to shake things up?

This illustration became a poster when I saw the funny side!

Are you a conformist or a rebel? Do you like to “fit in” or "shake things up?” Your personality type will determine the answer. Your individual style affects what kind of situations you end up in and the choices you make. Your distinct approach to life and how you see the world are a direct result of your personality.

Watch a few children play together and you’ll soon see their personalities emerge. One may be aggressive and controlling, while another assumes the role of peacemaker. One child may sit passively watching events unfold before his eyes without engaging while another seems oblivious to the chaos around him.

Next in my "Neptunes" Series "Octoband" 1st drawing on panel

Watch that last child as he or she lives in his own world conjuring up stories and situations in his mind and playing them out verbally or in imaginary play. This personality may become a writer, an artist, a philosopher or a scientist. His or her ability to detach and separate and his courage to stand apart becomes the skill set needed for dreams and discoveries.

I’ve always adored children’s games of pretend. In an instant they can become a pirate, a princess, a spy or a soldier. A child’s thoughts can transport him to different planets, faraway lands, or make-believe places. Depending on personality type, a child can become a conquering hero or a benevolent guardian; a powerful sorcerer or a humble apprentice. Children literally become what they can imagine.

Work in Progress: I put some acrylic washes down to suggest color and form

Adults should pay attention to this skill and learn to tap into their inner child. I’m not talking about maturity versus immaturity. I’m talking about the essence of childhood which is innocence. Seeing things with fresh new eyes each day and marveling at the wonder and beauty that surrounds us.

Adults get so caught up in their adult responsibilities and activities that they become rooted to the mundane and predictable. Think outside the box. Pursue your dreams with a fresh unleashed approach. Instead of being passive, plain, and predictable – shake things up! 

Try unwinding by doing the same boring things in a different way. Find a new route to work. Enjoy the scenery for a change. Don’t work through lunch! Read a good book instead or listen to some music. Get off by yourself, if possible, away from the jangling of interruptions and small talk. See yourself as capable and in control. Savor the moment!

"Flamenco Flamingo" a playful drawing created as I mused on how a
flamingo is built and how they move.

Vicarious Living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Co-op Art Gallery at Coconut Point, sponsored by the Art Council of SW Florida

We live in a crazy world where you can experience many things by virtue of your computer or T.V. screen. Watching the Travel Channel is almost like being there. A virtual pet can offer hours of play time without the responsibility. Virtual life experiences can give us a taste of what it’s like to be a mother, a father, a teacher, or a movie star without having to go through the hard work that actual parenthood or stardom involves.

The problem with virtual experiences is that they are not real. Some of them are simply make-believe and don’t mirror real life at all. Real life pain hurts. Raising real kids is difficult, messy, and hard. Online romances may blossom and grow, but real love is not built on fantasy or false assumptions. Real love is built on relationship and knowing the weaknesses and faults of a person, as well as their strengths.

"Emulsions" oil/mixed media, by Barb Valentine

Real life grounds us. It reminds us of our human weaknesses and foibles. Fiction and fantasy cannot provide a strong foundation for living. We must do those things ourselves in the process of making mistakes and learning from them. Both the Batman and the Sandy Hook shooters were caught up in self-created fantasies. They had difficulty separating their virtual world from the real world. Once they began to mimic their virtual reality and live it out, they lost touch with the real world in which they lived.

"A Happy Place" acrylic by Annie St. Martin

Groupies and stalkers become obsessed with the person they idolize. They build their own reality and create scenarios with their beloved; vicariously living and breathing through the one they adore. Their hold on real life becomes warped as they live out a fantasy life in their head. This behavior seems to be on the rise as more and more young people lose their grip on reality.

"Eyeing You" Epoxy Resin by Ira Nason

A make-believe existence robs you of your life. Being real is being authentic. An authentic person knows who they are and what they believe in. An authentic individual recognizes that actions and choices have consequences:

• If you have sex outside of marriage, you may get pregnant or worse, contract a venereal disease. Unfortunately, babies are not valued in a world where virtual reality separates us from the consequences of our actions. Using a thin veneer of denial and pretense we make choices that go against everything we have been taught or that we believe in. Becoming pregnant or giving birth to a child means you have a responsibility to give that child not only life but a better future. 

"Magnificent Tulips" oil, by Mickie Timmons

• If you steal or take from others what is not yours, you may get caught, go to jail, or simply degenerate into a low-life when you could have taken the necessary steps to create and grow your own wealth. Your respect could have been earned rather than taken. You end up substituting a fake existence for one with substance and the foundation for happiness.

"Golden Gate" mixed media by Sylvie DeGraff

Artists create a virtual reality. Screen writers and authors couch their words in a seemingly real world, but their creations are of the mind; their pages inhabit a world of fantasy and make-believe. Unless we are grounded in reality and truth, we may live out our entire lives vicariously through others instead of forging an authentic life for ourselves.

"Ancient on the Planet" mixed media on panel by Ursula Cappelletti

The paintings in this blog were supplied by artists currently showing at the Co-op Art Gallery sponsored by the Art Council of Southwest, Florida at Coconut Point.

Tools of the Trade – are they Necessary?

In my villa, I still use my laundry room for smaller paintings.

J. K. Rowling wrote “Harry Potter” on napkins at work before she became published; at which time, she had the money to buy the proper supplies. Many artists use recycled objects and materials to recreate beautiful one-of-a-kind keepsakes that turn into sales. Beginners and upstart entrepreneurs often improvise and get by until they are established.

We can’t always buy the things we want or think we need before taking the plunge into fulfilling our dreams. Have you heard the expression “grasping at straws?” Those “straws” just might provide the vehicle you need for “lift off.”

One artist began decorating boxes with original art to mail to family and friends. The recipients were so delighted that a light bulb went off in his head. He began designing boxes with creative designs to sell on the Internet. He currently has a successful business simply by starting where he was, and making do with what he had.

Improvising is a budget-wise word that allows us to keep one foot in reality while testing our ideas in the realms of possibility. Watch the children in your life. They have turned improvisation into a science. If they want a house, they simply use whatever they have on hand: a box, a card table, a blanket draped over two chairs, etc. They don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect tools.

"Work in Progress" acrylic on canvas -- see how it changes!

My first brush carrier was made out of an old pillow case. I folded up the wide hem, stitched the edges, and sewed several pockets into the newly-defined border. The brush handles fit nicely in the pockets. I rolled the packet up and tied it with string for storage and travel; cheap, simple, easy!

Another inventive artist filled a box with empty toilet paper rolls and empty paper towel rolls, taping them together until they were tightly wedged inside. This became her brush holder until she could afford to buy something better.

"A Perfect Ending" 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas

My point is: don’t allow money, perfection, or pride to get in the way of your dreams. Do whatever it takes to make your wishes come true. If you are willing to work hard and to set goals, eventually you’ll have the money to buy whatever you need to further your career.