Hello friends -
Do you laugh when you’re making art? I do! Every time I pull out my pens or paints, I hope for laughter.
I’m not laughing at my artwork, mind you. I'm not bullying my creations. It's more like that excited, nervous laugh when you're having an adventure. You are standing on the edge of a cliff. You know you're safe, but still... the edge is right there… and you start laughing.
I think artists should create from a place of laughter – not torture.
Are you grinding out your art like you’re working in a coal mine? That's toil. That's an old trope that needs to be broken up and sprinkled onto the ocean floor. Art needs a little bit of uneasiness to make us buzz with nervous excitement. Like the end of one glass of wine, but not quite two. That electric hum can fuel the next mark, making each artistic decision feel like an adventure!
We try hard to make students laugh at Slow River Studio.
We laugh in class a lot, but did you know its intentional? We try to design class challenges for you that are barely out of your reach, so you will laugh. But this is a balancing act for the teachers. A bit of discomfort can help people to create, but when it’s too big a leap, people get scared and angry. So we work hard to generate a little unease, some trepidation, a dash of doubt. That's when we can all laugh together!
I make art because I love adventures and I want to laugh. That's what I think art is for. It should frighten us just a little and make us feel like we have shimmied out onto the skinny branches where we might fall, but haven't – yet. That’s exciting. That’s fun. That’s what I hope for you today: a mix of art and adventure and laughter!
Love, Jess