|
Training for Book Authors
|
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Getting Real'
Copyright (c) 2007-2023 Celeste Varley
"What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick out handle?"
There is a hugely crippling concept of art lurking about that art is either realistic or abstract. This red herring divides two camps in mutual distrust, and diverts a heck of a lot of creative energy away from where it wants to go.
If a picture of a flower is realistic, then it's fake isn't it? Everybody knows it's paint on canvas, or similar. Everybody knows it's two dimensional posing as three. Then, if the purpose is to "look just like a flower", what's it for? Is it to make the artist feel she has "created" a flower, like God? Is it to cause viewers to say: "Oh, you've captured the flower," like capturing a giraffe for the zoo?
The original definition of abstract art was that it must not represent anything natural; no organic forms. Even so, an abstract painting does represent something. If it has a title or not, it was produced from the hand and heart of an artist, who chose the colours, the composition, the feeling inherent in the work. It represents a subject important enough to the artist that he made it, and couldn't help but transmit his inner meanings into the paint.
Even elephants make paintings. . . that sell! Are they abstract or realistic?
*** "Real isn't how you're made," said the Skin Horse. "It's something that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
Effective abstracts aren't so much abstract as original. A couple of artist friends have told me in a private moment, that they only paint abstracts because they can't draw anything that looks real. Yet some of their "abstracts" do conjure up realistic things, evoke real feelings.
Effective realistic work expresses profound and real meanings too. Some artists paint realistic works that don't look at all real, because their purposes are shallow. Look at the finest realistic art, by a grand master, and you'll see there's a lot of abstraction there. They are two dimensional canvases suggesting a four dimensional subject --- height + width + depth + time. A Cezanne apple is not a real apple, but a grand abstraction.
All art is abstract.
All art is realistic.
Whether a work is made in its visual exactness or its symbolic equivalent, it involves an elaborate sequence of operations to manifest --- conception, incubating, hatching, nurturing, taking flight.
Realistic art doesn't begin with an object, say a tree. It begins with an artist's fascination with a tree. Its goal is not to recreate the tree, but to portray a concept, perhaps fascination, or a symbolic gesture, with tree as the metaphor. The things that move people have no single physical embodiment, but they impart to physical things the qualities of meaning that move us.
*** "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Somethimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are REAL you don't mind being hurt."
Sometimes the discovery of what happens to us as we encounter the world can be painful. Yet, it is the active searching for what things do mean to us that gives any art that deserves a second glance its fresh, newborn look. Whether figuratively or abstractly portrayed, art shows the act of a person just uncovering something of great personal importance.
Want to give it a try yourself? Take out something you've made earlier, and instead of looking to see how materially realistic (or not) the images are, see it from your heart. Remain curious and focus on any unresolved area, which you don't understand. Let your eyes go "soft focus" without trying to understand it. Does it remind you of anything in your life, either pleasant or uncomfortable? Something was transmitted, by you, that wants to be recognized.
Sometimes this can sting. "Mistakes" are only deemed so by your consent. Bothersome passages could also be seen as blessings in disguise. (The French word for "wound" is "blesser".) Discovering something unexpected, revealing an emotionally charged issue, can be like tearing off a bandaid to reveal an old wound to the air --- surprising, yet necessary for full healing. If you can't feel it, how will you know when it has healed?
*** "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
Let's expose our old wounds to the light of day, when we're ready, over and over again, until they are healed. Let us redirect the energy spent on categorizing ourselves. Using art as a healing process, we are seeking the light, greater clarity, expanding our consciousness, growing deeper into new meanings of our presence in the world. Let's take the risk of "getting real", more authentically us. Any shabbiness we develop along the way is just beautiful badges of experience, uniquely ours.
*** from "The Velveteen Rabbit", by Margery Williams
|
Hello, I'm Celeste Varley and have been an artist at heart all my life. It is my privilege and passion to help seekers awaken the Creator within. If you like this article, you may want to see more "Fresh Horses" articles on my website. Check it out and see if it's right for you. http://www.heartsongstudio.com Celeste Varley, Heartsong Studio, Awakening the Creator within.
|
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Arts and Crafts Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Celeste Varley
'Making Sense Of Your Surprising New Ability To Draw.'
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-28 |
Word Count: 485 |
Page Views: 4352
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 1.50
Once you've made your first heart-centred drawings, you may
wonder how to interpret the results. Here's help in seeing
through to the other side of the mirror.
The Hard Work Of Becoming Spontaneous
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-26 |
Word Count: 799 |
Page Views: 4449
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.00
Do you toil and sweat over artwork, while envying other artists
who seem to just create effortlessly? See if you can find a
breath of renewal in this article.
How Simplicity Can Be Perfection
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-18 |
Word Count: 798 |
Page Views: 4240
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 1.42
Have you ever gone too far with a work of art? Do you ever add
a bit more of this and a little of that to make it come alive?
Knowing when to stop and knowing when it's finished aren't
necessarily the same thing in this article.
Turning Humdrum Into Humming
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-13 |
Word Count: 1025 |
Page Views: 4659
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 1.88
Have you begun to feel that your artwork is pretty mediocre ?
Do you set about the same procedure every time ?
Perhaps you will find a little adventure in this article...
When You Can't See Beneath The Surface
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-11-20 |
Word Count: 569 |
Page Views: 3276
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.63
Have you ever been looking for something and were staring right
at it without seeing it? When we have too fixed an expectation,
the reality often doesn't match our mental picture and so we
don't even see it. There's a way of seeing beneath your
expectations in this article.
What is Heart?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-11-01 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 4248
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 1.67
Everybody knows what 'heart' means, right? You hear it all the
time. You probably use it too. But what the heck does it mean - a
vague, sugary generality, or what? There's a lot of heart in the
2 minutes it takes to read this article.
What Leads You, Expectations Or Inspirations?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-10-24 |
Word Count: 596 |
Page Views: 3986
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 1.88
Is your routine way of doing things based on expectations and
obligations? If you can no longer imagine being motivated by
passion, see if this article points the way.
Too Grown Up To Recover The Magic Inside?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-10-12 |
Word Count: 465 |
Page Views: 3260
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 1.17
Have you ever secretly longed to break free of the limits of
principles and techniques and just throw paint at a canvas in
wild abandon? If it seems too childish a notion, this article may
point out an adult way to discover the magic inside.
How Solo Performances Kill Creativity
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-09-11 |
Word Count: 488 |
Page Views: 4021
| Votes: 25 |
Rating: 2.04
If you are used to taking charge and making things happen, why
does drawing leave you baffled? I feel your frustration in this,
and hope you'll find some relief in this article.
Does Lack Of Talent Prevent You From Drawing With Heart?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-08-24 |
Word Count: 520 |
Page Views: 4469
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.83
If you've fallen for the myth that artistic talent is only for a
gifted few, it's easy to conclude that there's no way to draw
with any heart. Busting this myth is less than 2 minutes away in
this article.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Celeste Varley Articles
Most Recent "Arts And Crafts" Articles
Decorative Boxes Gifts - More Than Just A Pretty Face
Written by: Robert Moore |
Distributed: 2010-08-03 |
Word Count: 520 |
Page Views: 5248
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 1.36
Decorative boxes are more than just another box with a
pretty face. These beautiful containers have adorned rooms
and held treasures and keepsakes for centuries. They are
also functional and practical.
Unique Gifts: Are They a Thing of the Past?
Written by: Nicole Maschwitz |
Distributed: 2008-05-06 |
Word Count: 419 |
Page Views: 4187
| Votes: 20 |
Rating: 2.05
Lets face it, times have changed long gone are the days of
knitting and crocheting. Lets admit it now with the introduction
of computers and X box, the next generation is more interested in
helping Scratch from Ice Age rather than doing embroidery. In
addition, with mass production of goods from China and other
countries, unique is becoming more rare.
Knitting 101: Learn Everything You Need to Get Started - from the History to the Basics
Written by: Christine Beals |
Distributed: 2008-04-17 |
Word Count: 1034 |
Page Views: 4709
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.12
When some people think of knitting they picture little old
grandmas slowly passing the hours away, but not anymore. Knitting
is a wonderful hobby that can provide anyone with a plethora of
pleasure and relaxation - not to mention adorable blankets,
scarves, hats, clothing and more! You can learn to create
handmade knits for yourself and for all the people you love with
just a little practice and patience.
Kitchen Decorating Ideas
Written by: Gayle Christie |
Distributed: 2008-02-28 |
Word Count: 713 |
Page Views: 5827
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.50
We derive great pleasure in decorating our kitchen in order for
it to reflect our own personality. What better way to decorate
your kitchen than by including your family memories and history?
Bringing together our generations is a great decorating idea for
your kitchen.
'Making Sense Of Your Surprising New Ability To Draw.'
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-28 |
Word Count: 485 |
Page Views: 4352
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 1.50
Once you've made your first heart-centred drawings, you may
wonder how to interpret the results. Here's help in seeing
through to the other side of the mirror.
The Hard Work Of Becoming Spontaneous
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-26 |
Word Count: 799 |
Page Views: 4449
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.00
Do you toil and sweat over artwork, while envying other artists
who seem to just create effortlessly? See if you can find a
breath of renewal in this article.
How Simplicity Can Be Perfection
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-18 |
Word Count: 798 |
Page Views: 4240
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 1.42
Have you ever gone too far with a work of art? Do you ever add
a bit more of this and a little of that to make it come alive?
Knowing when to stop and knowing when it's finished aren't
necessarily the same thing in this article.
Turning Humdrum Into Humming
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-13 |
Word Count: 1025 |
Page Views: 4659
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 1.88
Have you begun to feel that your artwork is pretty mediocre ?
Do you set about the same procedure every time ?
Perhaps you will find a little adventure in this article...
What is Heart?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-11-01 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 4248
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 1.67
Everybody knows what 'heart' means, right? You hear it all the
time. You probably use it too. But what the heck does it mean - a
vague, sugary generality, or what? There's a lot of heart in the
2 minutes it takes to read this article.
What Leads You, Expectations Or Inspirations?
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-10-24 |
Word Count: 596 |
Page Views: 3986
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 1.88
Is your routine way of doing things based on expectations and
obligations? If you can no longer imagine being motivated by
passion, see if this article points the way.
Most Viewed "Arts And Crafts" Articles
The History of the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries
Written by: Christine Toner |
Distributed: 2006-09-27 |
Word Count: 696 |
Page Views: 8318
| Votes: 29 |
Rating: 1.76
history of the lady and unicorn tapestries.
Decorating With Large BirdCages
Written by: John Barclay |
Distributed: 2006-10-26 |
Word Count: 605 |
Page Views: 7554
| Votes: 31 |
Rating: 2.23
Investing in a large birdcage, especially if you do not have a
pet parrot or other large bird, may not have crossed you mind.
However, pet birdcages can be used to enhance any room.
Kitchen Decorating Ideas
Written by: Gayle Christie |
Distributed: 2008-02-28 |
Word Count: 713 |
Page Views: 5827
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.50
We derive great pleasure in decorating our kitchen in order for
it to reflect our own personality. What better way to decorate
your kitchen than by including your family memories and history?
Bringing together our generations is a great decorating idea for
your kitchen.
From Potboilers To fame
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-05-10 |
Word Count: 707 |
Page Views: 5743
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 1.88
Have you ever toyed with the fantasy of becoming famous with your
art? Come on now, buried in your innocent dreams of long ago? If
you've decided it only happened long ago to the rare and gifted
few, read on for a real life story.
Wisdom Of The Tribe: Favorite Native American Artists On The Web
Written by: Eagle Vale |
Distributed: 2007-07-05 |
Word Count: 746 |
Page Views: 5435
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 1.96
Many Native Americans have achieved fame through their art or
through their lives, and some of the greatest artists of this
modern age are descendants of the original American. Here are a
few contemporary Native American artists and a description of
their work:
Decorative Boxes Gifts - More Than Just A Pretty Face
Written by: Robert Moore |
Distributed: 2010-08-03 |
Word Count: 520 |
Page Views: 5248
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 1.36
Decorative boxes are more than just another box with a
pretty face. These beautiful containers have adorned rooms
and held treasures and keepsakes for centuries. They are
also functional and practical.
When you can't see for looking
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-05-03 |
Word Count: 848 |
Page Views: 5172
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.12
The Museum of Modern Art in NY held an exhibit featuring a
painting by Renoir. About 140,000 viewers came to admire this
work. They all saw the sky, the sea, and the sailboat. But, not
one of the 140,000 viewers noticed that the painting was hung
upside down. Why not? Because we see what we expect to see. Now
I don't know if this story is actually true. I heard it on a TV
courtroom drama, but it certainly illustrates a truism. See how
clear your vision really is in this article.
Hidden Messages
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-05-31 |
Word Count: 508 |
Page Views: 5040
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 1.44
When a work of art grabs you, what's really going on? It's way
more than the colours or shapes. Something is getting into your
heart. It's not always obvious, or even on purpose. If you're
curious, this article holds some: "Hidden messages"
'When it takes so much to get going.'
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-04-13 |
Word Count: 835 |
Page Views: 4798
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 2.29
Do you struggle with the start of each new work of art?
Overcoming the drag to reach lift-off can sap your time and
energy. There's a secret to avoiding the drag of flying in this
article.
'When your thoughts are like runaway horses'
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-04-25 |
Word Count: 722 |
Page Views: 4716
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.94
When you're working on a particularly challenging piece of art,
do you tend to get tight? Do you sometimes take shallow breaths?
If you need a transition from the stress of the rest of your life
into art making, there's a way of calming your horses, in this
article.
Highest Ranked "Arts And Crafts" Articles
Consider Tapestry Art as you Restore a Period House
Written by: Joan Youngken |
Distributed: 2006-09-28 |
Word Count: 658 |
Page Views: 4575
| Votes: 29 |
Rating: 2.48
The myriad details of restoring or furnishing a period house are
enough to overwhelm even the most dedicated homeowner.
'When it takes so much to get going.'
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-04-13 |
Word Count: 835 |
Page Views: 4798
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 2.29
Do you struggle with the start of each new work of art?
Overcoming the drag to reach lift-off can sap your time and
energy. There's a secret to avoiding the drag of flying in this
article.
Decorating With Large BirdCages
Written by: John Barclay |
Distributed: 2006-10-26 |
Word Count: 605 |
Page Views: 7554
| Votes: 31 |
Rating: 2.23
Investing in a large birdcage, especially if you do not have a
pet parrot or other large bird, may not have crossed you mind.
However, pet birdcages can be used to enhance any room.
Why Control is a Limiting Illusion
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-03-01 |
Word Count: 926 |
Page Views: 4500
| Votes: 26 |
Rating: 2.15
Do you have a difficult time getting out of your head when making
art? How can you create from your heart when you are so used to
being responsible, and taking care of everything? I share your
plight in this, and hope you'll find some light shining through
the cracks in this article.
When you can't see for looking
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-05-03 |
Word Count: 848 |
Page Views: 5172
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.12
The Museum of Modern Art in NY held an exhibit featuring a
painting by Renoir. About 140,000 viewers came to admire this
work. They all saw the sky, the sea, and the sailboat. But, not
one of the 140,000 viewers noticed that the painting was hung
upside down. Why not? Because we see what we expect to see. Now
I don't know if this story is actually true. I heard it on a TV
courtroom drama, but it certainly illustrates a truism. See how
clear your vision really is in this article.
Knitting 101: Learn Everything You Need to Get Started - from the History to the Basics
Written by: Christine Beals |
Distributed: 2008-04-17 |
Word Count: 1034 |
Page Views: 4709
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.12
When some people think of knitting they picture little old
grandmas slowly passing the hours away, but not anymore. Knitting
is a wonderful hobby that can provide anyone with a plethora of
pleasure and relaxation - not to mention adorable blankets,
scarves, hats, clothing and more! You can learn to create
handmade knits for yourself and for all the people you love with
just a little practice and patience.
Unique Gifts: Are They a Thing of the Past?
Written by: Nicole Maschwitz |
Distributed: 2008-05-06 |
Word Count: 419 |
Page Views: 4187
| Votes: 20 |
Rating: 2.05
Lets face it, times have changed long gone are the days of
knitting and crocheting. Lets admit it now with the introduction
of computers and X box, the next generation is more interested in
helping Scratch from Ice Age rather than doing embroidery. In
addition, with mass production of goods from China and other
countries, unique is becoming more rare.
How Solo Performances Kill Creativity
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-09-11 |
Word Count: 488 |
Page Views: 4021
| Votes: 25 |
Rating: 2.04
If you are used to taking charge and making things happen, why
does drawing leave you baffled? I feel your frustration in this,
and hope you'll find some relief in this article.
The Hard Work Of Becoming Spontaneous
Written by: Celeste Varley |
Distributed: 2007-12-26 |
Word Count: 799 |
Page Views: 4449
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.00
Do you toil and sweat over artwork, while envying other artists
who seem to just create effortlessly? See if you can find a
breath of renewal in this article.
Wisdom Of The Tribe: Favorite Native American Artists On The Web
Written by: Eagle Vale |
Distributed: 2007-07-05 |
Word Count: 746 |
Page Views: 5435
| Votes: 24 |
Rating: 1.96
Many Native Americans have achieved fame through their art or
through their lives, and some of the greatest artists of this
modern age are descendants of the original American. Here are a
few contemporary Native American artists and a description of
their work:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 949
Total Views: 4549
Article Rating: 1.47 of 5
Votes Cast: 19
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2007-05-18 11:00:00
Internal ID: #4862
|
|
|
Home