Heading To The Dump

Now how much fun is this? I was visiting Alicia Tormey's wonderful art blog where she shared the dumpr.net site. I just had to hustle over there and try it. Is this my 15 minutes of fame or was that 15 seconds? You can dump in photos or artwork and amuse yourself. I'm not sure I like the frame but who am I to argue with a large (fake) public gallery.

What is it they say about fame and gain? Blame & shame, they're all the same. It's all about where we look for our validation? Or if we need validation, maybe that's more to the point. No matter how much we know it, we still catch ourselves looking somewhere for it. Or feeling insecure when it isn't offered. I sent a photo of a commission off today to someone and when they didn't respond with positive comments right away, off when the little alarm buzzer.

Just doing a commissioned piece is good practice or a form of torture, depending on how you stand in front of the canvas. It is either suffering that leads to more suffering or suffering that leads to the end of suffering. Or do I need to suffer at all? Instead of just working away I find myself immediately jumping in to judge it from my imagined viewpoint of the recipient. Note to self: Untie yourself from these twisted little knots. You'll never paint in that contorted position.

And often the artists I admire the most are the ones who do their art for the sheer joy of it or do it for themselves, never caring about whether they sell a scrap of it or not, whether anyone likes it or not. There is a freedom in that position that is reflected in the work. And whether you like their work or not you can admire their inner focus and their lack of regard for the opinion and confirmation of others. I am checking out their position on the map and getting out my spiritual gps gadget to head up that road. And in the meanwhile happy dumping.