Observe and listen to the stories of individuals or groups. These
stories create images in your mind and slowly your mind begins
to process them and you begin to see things beyond the apparent.
It is good to get acquainted with the artists whose work appeals
to you. Nothing appeals to you without a reason.
AMESMON P. C. OFM
We all seek self-expression. One of the first things a young child does
is squiggle on the walls of her room; this is her first attempt at self-
expression. I remember a vlogger's observation on YouTube that
self-expression is the artist's most treasured possession. Self-expression is
something an artist takes seriously. It is the unwavering commitment to self-
expression that makes one an artist.
I believe that the process of art-making is as old as humanity itself. Around
200 prehistoric cave paintings have been located in different parts of the world.
There are all kinds of theories about when and why humans began drawing
and painting on walls. Imagine one prehistoric person hoisting another onto
his shoulders, the latter reaching all the way up to the top of the cave and
doodling! Scholars attribute ritual or magic to these creations. Whatever the
force behind them, there is undoubtedly an instinctual urge in humans to
represent, to imitate or create a visual journal of what they see around them.
The great Pablo Picasso said, "All children are artists and the problem is how
to remain an artist once they grow up." Down the centuries, the manner and
media of representation have changed drastically. We are now at a juncture
where the medium and representation are as unique as each individual artists.
Here I am attempting to share my experience with you, dear readers, about
the journey of an artist. I am a student of art and will forever remain one. This
is not downright academic, but my journey of arriving at art.
Art can create a world of
peace and harmony, an
alternative world, where
all have a right to exist.
The Beginning
I believe that each artist has her own
journey to make. Hopefully, aspiring artists
will find this helpful. This is not a DIY tutorial
on art, but a few points to reflect on. How
does one arrive at a work of art? All of us have
a desire or tendancy to create masterpieces
as soon as we place our hand on the paper
or canvas, but Rome was not built in a day.
Begin with the modesty of a child; begin by
doodling or drawing what you see around
you or whatever comes to mind. You can try
anything; there are no rules. You can use
any medium: pencil, pen, crayons, pastels,
charcoal or clay. (I think clay on paper looks
wonderful.) The more you draw the better you
become at drawing.
Visual Library
A visual library is of great help to an artist.
I am not talking about books on art practice
or the images that you collect through photography. A visual library is created by
imprinting in your brains and on the walls of
your heart the minutiae of your surroundings. Nature is the biggest source of your library. Of
course you can also observe and listen to the
stories: stories of individuals or groups and
social, political, philosophical and religious
stories.
These stories create images in your
mind and over time your mind begins to
process them and you begin to see things
beyond the apparent. You are beginning to
construct your own private library and you
develop an eye for the unusual in the usual
things around you. Slowly you develop a visual
language of your own. But this takes time and
dedication.
Study Masters and Popular Artists
It is good to be a disciple and find
inspiration in the masters and their
biographies. Look into their historical context
as well and you will see how macro and
micro affairs influenced their styles. Look
into your own life and then outside yourself.
How do you translate your observations into
your art? You may find that a certain artist's
work appeals to you more than others'. You
might find in him or her a kindred spirit.
Get acquainted with them, but don't imitate
them, brushstroke for brushstroke though. It
is possible that you too might be experiencing
the emotions and feelings that they had in the
space and time they lived. Nothing appeals to
you without a reason. It will act as a guide and
inspiration for your practice.
A Recent Work
I painted this around two months ago
during an online art camp organized by CARP
(Company of Artists for Radiance of Peace).
CARP believes that art can create a world of
peace and harmony, an alternative world,
where all have a right to exist. CARP, with its
camps for children, helps them to express
themselves in a non-competitive atmosphere.
Coming back to this work, the pandemic
and the subsequent lockdown created the
context of this work. I love the works of
Salvador Dali, Georgio de Chirico and Jacek
Yerka. Now that you know my influences,
my little attempts at surrealism might make
sense. Being friar priests and living close to a
fishing harbor, we get invited by fisherfolk to
bless their boats before they venture into the
sea. Their plights are pitiful due to the present
situation. Their livelihood has been affected.
I often hear them say, "No work." Still, they
never lost hope. The resilient spirit of man
soars above the thickening clouds of poverty
and misery.
I have used mixed medium-acrylic and
soft pastels on paper. When I was making
some studies for this painting, I was visited
by the image of a man loth to leave his fishing
boat. I chose to paint a stylized figure so that
he would resonate with the entire fishing
community. My paper was a dark shade of
green; its darkness was reflective of the grim
situation we are facing. Soft pastels enabled
me to incorporate surreal elements into the
work.∎
Jamesmon P.C. is a friar who loves to paint; he
prefers solitude and dislikes violence.
