Having fun

EDM#164-Draw a camera
graphite in small hand.book journal

Here is my latest Everyday Matters challenge, my camera. I received this camera as a Mother's Day gift last year and I have taken A LOT of photos with it since then. It's fun having a digital camera.

Today I have been having fun with my art setting up a CafePress store. You can see it here. My motivation was primarily that I wanted some of these items for gifts, but I'm not telling who they are for, so don't even ask! So, since all these cool items are set and ready I thought I'd share them with you all too. And I may change them out from time to time - it's just too much fun for me seeing my art on mugs and mousepads!

And speaking of having fun with art, this was in my thoughts while I was playing with images for printing on various 'useful' items. There was a time when I took my art work very seriously. Fresh out of grad school and then later back in a university setting it seemed a requirement of sorts that creating art carried some sort of responsibility for the sublime. Just making pictures wasn't enough, where is the 'content' ?(a favorite academic buzz word). Playing with color, shape and light failed to provide any 'meaning' or profound message necessary. Art needed a 'why', not just a 'how' or maybe a 'what'. Then life happened. Hard. (if you know me you know what I'm referring to here) And for a time I could care less about seeing meaning in art. Each day was so profound and over-filled with meaning that a mere painting couldn't even come close. Assigning any deeper meaning to an art work seemed ridiculous. It took some time but I eventually came back around into the art process. Only this time with a slightly different perspective. I have little concern for academia's lofty ideals. My goals feel more grounded. My intent is to enjoy the process. And here I am having fun because I now know better than to take my art work too seriously.