The Wow Factor & Accidental Creating
This morning I read a post by Cathy Kleeman about something she calls the "wow factor", basically something in a piece of artwork that can take the viewer’s breath away.
I also read a post by Ed Maskevich about accidents when making art. Many are good and we’d like to have such happy accidents often. Great post, worth the read.
As I worked in my studio all day to day I was thinking that maybe these 2 posts are related. Harnessing the accidents and learning from them so as to be able to reproduce them. Could that be a large part of the wow factor?
I designed 4 new quilts over the last 4 days. I think the first two definitely have the wow factor and I’m very pleased with them. The remaining two are less than exciting. One isn’t bad but there is nothing great, good composition, great colors, but still, it looks like an exercise. The final piece is not going to be finished. It’s not worth the effort.
These days if work isn’t good enough I don’t finish it and just toss it. I can always dye more fabric so nothing lost. I’d rather start fresh than try to fix something that is inherently broken because it places such artificial restrictions on the art - ie reusing the same pieces of fabric, shapes, etc.
I think I tried too hard on the last two pieces (the ones that weren’t so good). The first 2 flowed so naturally I was psyched thinking I could make a few more. I think when this happens I invariably make crap. I need to slow down and try to harness what I’ve learned over the years from those "happy accidents".
I don’t think all growth in art is about accidents, there is a lot of deliberate hard work I put into thinking about what direction I want to go. But I do think the accidents are a part of it, remembering them and learning from them is the trick.
And so I’ve started my 3rd sketch book, or idea book, or whatever you want to call it. I tend to work from my head most of the time (or designs and ideas I doodle at during boring meetings at work) but I have thoughts I want to capture and remember so I pulled out a fresh clean book and wrote a few notes.
Time to harness more of those accidents - and deliberate thoughts about where I’m going with my work.
Posted by Lisa in: Musings
Omega said,
July 17, 2006 @ 2:06 am
I find it very difficult to pin down what it is that leads to a piece of work I like. Working hard to contrive at a piece usually does not produce anything wow at all - and yet, like the happy accidents, sometimes something just clicks then too. I think a lot of it has to do with carrying on working in my head all the time, and not trying to force anything. Very often my best ideas then arrive almost complete in my brain as I wake up in the morning.
Ed Maskevich said,
July 17, 2006 @ 4:53 am
Good post. I agree with Omega on not forcing anything. When I do force it then everything turns to crap. It sounds a little bizarre but it is almost a Zen thing. I will sit and look at the painting waiting for it to speak to me, telling me what it needs and where it should go.
Lisa Call said,
July 17, 2006 @ 5:14 am
Omega and Ed - I definitely agree. One much check the ego at the studio door or the work just doesn’t seem to work.
On a happy note - after removing a bunch of pieces (not yet sewn down) I discovered my failed piece had a lot of potential. I rearrange, tossed out the ho-hum colors, added some punch and am now sewing together a piece I’m pleased with. Hurray
Cathy Kleeman said,
July 17, 2006 @ 5:50 am
One problem with wow-ness is that it is different for everybody. Once you get something that is good art in itself, the step up to what stops the viewer in her tracks depends very much on the viewer. Is it possible to recognize the wow in something that doesn’t appeal to you?
Deborah said,
July 17, 2006 @ 7:54 am
This question Cathy raises is quite provoking! “Is it possible to recognize the wow in something that doesn’t appeal to you?”
Lisa Call said,
July 17, 2006 @ 8:16 am
Cathy and Deborah - I agree - art is very subjective and recognizing the “wow” in art that doesn’t appeal to us is probably rather difficult. But I think this is a skill that comes with a lot of practice but even still it is subjective.
But I also think that when making art this is an irrelevant question.
If I, as the artist, don’t stop and say “wow” about my own art then I certainly can’t ever expect to reach my viewers. Which is why I spend a significant amount of time looking at my work and evaluating what I think works. And evaluating other art I like and determining what I like and what says “wow” to me.
And then I focus on creating my own work to speak to me. Whether or not it speaks to someone else is up to the viewer.
So Cathy, in your case, I would suggest you reevaluate the source of the comment. Do you respect the person that gave the comment? On honest review of your own work do you agree or disagree with him? If you agree then I think that indicates you need to reevalute your direction. If you don’t then discount the comment and move on - are you making work for yourself or this individual?
rayna said,
July 17, 2006 @ 7:23 pm
I’m with Ed on this one: the work tells ME what it wants to be when it grows up — and the best work just makes itself.
I find that when I don’t listen to what it is saying, it just never turns out to be a good piece. On the other hand, sometimes it just doesn’t speak loudly enough - so, hey — is it MY fault when it doesn’t turn out? I do recycle, though.
All that work - all those layers of printing - I can’t throw it out in most cases. Glad you’re tweaking your piece, Lisa.
Look forward to seeing all of them.
Charmaine said,
July 18, 2006 @ 5:38 am
Can we see the 2 that you’re happy with? I’m curious.
Stacey said,
July 20, 2006 @ 8:52 am
I find that sometimes I have a hard time removing myself from the process, and seeing the “wow” factor in a piece that I’ve completed. If something flows effortlessly from the brush, I’m always happy with the result. But if something requires a lot of planning or rework, I’m rarely happy when it’s complete.
The funny thing is, sometimes my dissatisfaction with a piece melts away with time. Once I’ve forgotten about the trials making it, I can see it for what it is. I’ve learned that when something isn’t working out, I need to put it away for a few weeks and forget about it. When I come back with fresh eyes later, it’s often salvageable with some work (similar to your rediscovering the potential of the failed piece).
Lisa Hunter said,
July 23, 2006 @ 7:15 pm
Lisa, your quilts are amazing! I’m hoping that my next book project will be about crafts as fine art, so I’m extra glad to have found your blog. Wow.
Lisa Call said,
July 27, 2006 @ 4:57 pm
Thank you Lisa! What a great idea for a book project!
Charmaine - I’ll discuss soon why I don’t post images of new work. Look for a post.
Funny Stacey - I find more flaws with my work the longer I have it around. But then it gives me ideas for new directions and ideas on how to improve things on the next piece.
Rayna - maybe get your work a megaphone :)