I was interviewed last week
here is the article:
http://thinkingaboutart.blogs.com/art/2006/01/artists_intervi_5.html
Thinking About Art
What makes art good? What makes good art?
« Do not adjust your monitor! Main
Friday, January 27, 2006
Artists Interview Artists: Eridanus Sellen
Eridanus Sellen, a Sacramento, CA based artist, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Eridanus responds to another artist's five questions (Anabela Jevtovic from Toronto). In order to participate, Eridanus had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.
1. In a real life, apart from working on your art, do you believe an artist senses are more defined then those of other people (for example, you are able to perceive more, you're more emotional, etc.)? If so, how do you take it? Is it a bad or a good thing? (in the context of a bad thing I mean that an artist could get a pile of these information and be burnt out)
Yes! As a child I was overly sensitive to others, their emotions, etc. As an adult, I have learned coping skills as all of us do, but still have that overwhelmed by my senses feeling - esp. when sick, tired, lonely - you know.
I was a drug addict for a large part of my childhood, grew up... on the streets for a long while. At 26 after many failed attempts I found a twelve step program that helped me deal with feeling "different than" emotions and have been clean 10 years now.
My heart FEELS at certain sites, I percieve beauty in rust stains, oil and water puddles creating rainbow like effects, water stains on a cement parking lot wall, the way the woman across the restaurant handles her wine glass with the tips of her fingers. I see a sunset, and see not only the beauty of the event, but where the shadow falls, where the moon is rising, and always wish I had my brush to paint it. Luckily, I have found a coping skill to deal with that as well, I travel with my camera at all times now.
2. Is there a philosophy (or any other brain activity that cannot be achieved without above average IQ) involved in a process of making art? In other words, can it be unconscious and is it an art then?
Everything we do is conscious and unconscious. Everything we see, do, and are, has already happened, already been done. We are walking a thin line thinking we are creating something new, something smart. History repeats, someone has been right where we have been before. I don't think we are infinetly wiser than others, but maybe that we percieve things differently, and that is of course, unconscious.
3. Do you believe that art should always provide a message to the rest of the world and if so, how much do you find yourself responsible for that?
I do not. Though I think those that create art to send a message are wonderful, and intriguing, and... well, thinking that what they have to say is the absolute and whole truth takes a lot of denial, don't you think? I do not want to have the kind of power it involves to have a message the whole world needs to hear. I have found myself creating a lot of womans rights, and a lot of religous statements into my collage works, and those, quite honestly, I have chosen to keep in my private collection.
4. Do you dream a dream of inventing something new in art? If you do, how do you plan to achieve your goal?
Again, history repeats. I DO however dream my paintings before I create a large portion of them. Those minutes where everything flies by from your day, when you first lay your head on the pillow in silence can say a lot if you lay silent and listen. I get images of colors, of lights, of scenes. I keep a notebook by my bed, and write them down when that happens as they are really fleeing flashes I would otherwise forget.
As far as Art goals, mine are simply to paint. To create. If it is new, so be it. If it is hated, so be it. If it is loved, then... great!
5. Is there such a thing as moral (ethics) in art?
Of course there is. Whether the morality is real, the ethic valued by some, is not shared by others. Does everyone have limits? Doubtful. But, that is something else to stand in awe of and take note.
here is the article:
http://thinkingaboutart.blogs.com/art/2006/01/artists_intervi_5.html
Thinking About Art
What makes art good? What makes good art?
« Do not adjust your monitor! Main
Friday, January 27, 2006
Artists Interview Artists: Eridanus Sellen
Eridanus Sellen, a Sacramento, CA based artist, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Eridanus responds to another artist's five questions (Anabela Jevtovic from Toronto). In order to participate, Eridanus had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.
1. In a real life, apart from working on your art, do you believe an artist senses are more defined then those of other people (for example, you are able to perceive more, you're more emotional, etc.)? If so, how do you take it? Is it a bad or a good thing? (in the context of a bad thing I mean that an artist could get a pile of these information and be burnt out)
Yes! As a child I was overly sensitive to others, their emotions, etc. As an adult, I have learned coping skills as all of us do, but still have that overwhelmed by my senses feeling - esp. when sick, tired, lonely - you know.
I was a drug addict for a large part of my childhood, grew up... on the streets for a long while. At 26 after many failed attempts I found a twelve step program that helped me deal with feeling "different than" emotions and have been clean 10 years now.
My heart FEELS at certain sites, I percieve beauty in rust stains, oil and water puddles creating rainbow like effects, water stains on a cement parking lot wall, the way the woman across the restaurant handles her wine glass with the tips of her fingers. I see a sunset, and see not only the beauty of the event, but where the shadow falls, where the moon is rising, and always wish I had my brush to paint it. Luckily, I have found a coping skill to deal with that as well, I travel with my camera at all times now.
2. Is there a philosophy (or any other brain activity that cannot be achieved without above average IQ) involved in a process of making art? In other words, can it be unconscious and is it an art then?
Everything we do is conscious and unconscious. Everything we see, do, and are, has already happened, already been done. We are walking a thin line thinking we are creating something new, something smart. History repeats, someone has been right where we have been before. I don't think we are infinetly wiser than others, but maybe that we percieve things differently, and that is of course, unconscious.
3. Do you believe that art should always provide a message to the rest of the world and if so, how much do you find yourself responsible for that?
I do not. Though I think those that create art to send a message are wonderful, and intriguing, and... well, thinking that what they have to say is the absolute and whole truth takes a lot of denial, don't you think? I do not want to have the kind of power it involves to have a message the whole world needs to hear. I have found myself creating a lot of womans rights, and a lot of religous statements into my collage works, and those, quite honestly, I have chosen to keep in my private collection.
4. Do you dream a dream of inventing something new in art? If you do, how do you plan to achieve your goal?
Again, history repeats. I DO however dream my paintings before I create a large portion of them. Those minutes where everything flies by from your day, when you first lay your head on the pillow in silence can say a lot if you lay silent and listen. I get images of colors, of lights, of scenes. I keep a notebook by my bed, and write them down when that happens as they are really fleeing flashes I would otherwise forget.
As far as Art goals, mine are simply to paint. To create. If it is new, so be it. If it is hated, so be it. If it is loved, then... great!
5. Is there such a thing as moral (ethics) in art?
Of course there is. Whether the morality is real, the ethic valued by some, is not shared by others. Does everyone have limits? Doubtful. But, that is something else to stand in awe of and take note.
posted by Eridanus Studios at 12:46 PM
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