To travel is to die a bit, they say. It's rather impossible for a traveling artist to create a real body of work, as expected in the art world. How could you make gigantic artworks, several feet high, without a studio for storage and creation? Of course, you can subcontract the work to others - as most famous artists do - but then your work will lack the essential part of the travel life - I'd say the essential part of life and soul of the art.
And how to fix emotions and change induced by travel in a stable artwork?
If travel has always been a major source of inspiration to me (depict space, beauty and love, or pain, that I see in the world), it's difficult to travel because it impacts you so much more than you would believe. Everything becomes unexpected, and most of the time you can't do what you planned. You need to adapt everyday to the weather, the presence of others, the mood and body changes... it's sometimes very inconvenient and frustrating, but there are some travels blessed with lucks.
To me, photography and watercolors have always been the mediums of choice to try and capture mood and instantaneous glimpses of the shimmering world. After all, the images from National Geographic are what made me a great traveler. Besides, both watercolors and cameras are easy to take away in a carry on, a backpack or a purse, and go into the cabin - it's not the case with oils!
The iPhone and my special project on trees opened me to cinema. When time is not right to sit, having the camera handy to record the reflects of space offer me new and unexpected tools for art. I've chosen a super cinema camera but there is also a steep learning curve! Which is fun.
And finally I think that fiber arts and writing are kind of similar. They allow to fold a larger, tangible artwork in the suitcase, and to stabilize ideas without retro light but only inner inspiration. They're connected to home, identity and self appearance. Although these very notions are sometimes criticized, they reflect on the psychological need of grounding and transmission that I believe we all have.
I'd love to read your thoughts!
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