'Treats' Acrylic on wood assemblage ©robinrkent

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Folk Art Diary: My Mistake

Miami Coquette, 1998
Art is a series of making mistakes. And that's a good thing. Making mistakes in life - I'm not sure if it's such a good thing there.
It's much more fun making mistakes while creating folk art. Mistakes feel right at home in the folk art genre. I think it's an integral part of the folk art legacy. Folk art owns it. And proud of it. Even shows it off.
As I continue along my art path, mistakes become testaments to having given another possibility a chance. We all deserve that, so why not a blob of paint? A hole drilled there? Hmmm, maybe it will turn out better than the original idea.... Sometimes I regret it as I attempt to pull a panel nail out of a sensitive piece of wood, losing both the hard fought for wood element and hours in the end. But as in life, I learn not to do THAT again. And adapt accordingly.
Too bad we can't erase missteps we've taken in life as easily. Wouldn't that be too perfect? However, the parade there goes only in one direction. Maybe that's why I like to meander along the messy, scribbled, erased, repainted backroads of art.

4 comments:

Carole Reid said...

Great post Robin. What a good way to think about mistakes.....most mistakes in art are opportunities to try doing something differently and often turn out to make the artwork more interesting.

Robin Kent said...

Absolutely Carole! You too? I find art/life is much about correcting mistakes as you go along.
I guess that's why I like looking at 'seasoned' (senior) citizens as well. All that history is worn on their faces, bodies. Much more interesting than 'sheer' beauty.
And speaking of 'seasoned', I like my food that way also!
The spice of life!

mimi torchia boothby watercolors said...

Yes, you certainly have the same idea. What a lovely blog. Your folk art is wonderful. Your yoyo queen is spirited and it amazes me how you've gotten wood 3 dimensional figures that look just like your paintings. I will add you to my google reader.

Robin Kent said...

Thank You Mimi! Just went to your blog-love the way you paint and write and describe what you see. An art in itself.