The Lost Blog: First Entry
It all begins with an idea. Since completing my Master’s coursework, I’ve wanted to take more time to explore and expand my creative abilities; to continue to push the boundaries of my capabilities and put more ideas into tangible visual representations. I’ve always loved learning and getting lost in trying new things! Although I’ve been drawing and painting since early childhood, I haven’t had as much time to devote to it, especially since pursuing higher education in the sciences. Thankfully, I now have more time to pursue those hobbies more fully, make art of better and better quality, and perhaps get to a place where it can be part of my income someday.
One of my favorite things about art is its ability to evoke emotion in the viewer, often with many interpretations. Some of my favorite art styles growing up have been impressionism, surrealism, expressionism (also in film!), and the more current pop surrealism or lowbrow art. Much can also be learned from learning about many other different art styles as well, from the rich colors and refined technique of the Dutch Masters, Italian Renaissance, Pre-Renaissance woodcuts (Albrecht Durer for example), and traditional monotype and ink art from the Far East. By learning about as many techniques as possible, I can use them to continually increase the quality of my art and explore more emotions to express and embody visually.
One of the main reasons why I would love to pursue my art is not only to process and express my own complex emotions, but to inspire the viewer to feel and process those as well. Through my research during my education, I’ve found a particular trait that I find fascinating: alexithymia. It’s a term from the late ‘60’s about having difficulty in finding words for emotions and is not only present in the general population, but present in higher rates in many psychiatric, developmental, and personality disorders. Alexithymia is not a condition in itself, but more of a trait that can act as a signpost for issues with emotional processing.
If there is any way that I could have my art embody emotions to the viewer in such as way as to help improve their emotional processing, even at a subconscious level in the brain, then that is what I would most want my art to do.
I also find this subject interesting because there are many words for specific, complex emotions that are not present in English, but that other languages have. Are there ways to express those visually to help the viewer understand those new words? Would those words later be borrowed into English if they are better understood? Come along with me and we can find out…