Friday, April 11, 2008

Art matters...?

My sister sometimes describes me as artsy. But she's my sister, bias is encouraged. A friend of mine describes herself as and artist trapped in the mind/body of a scientist (or was it the other way round) ...
Anyway, sometimes I do wonder about being 'artistic'. You see I can spend inordinate amounts of time drawing things and writing random things (I even have a blog) . I love cloth and colour and African crafts and I love singing and designing things and looking at pictures and taking them and I can spend hours walking around Nairobi in my mind sourcing my imaginary shop...the list could go on till tomorrow! But I've never really known if I was someone who could be called to use any one of these interests for others; they were mostly just for my own entertainment.
Funny thing is, I'm surrounded by many artsy, gifted people. Obviously after spending time with them, comparisons roll in and I find myself asking God if these are really gifts or if he was giving me his own version of a 'teaser/taster' . Ill comparison sucketh , wivu ni mbaya and God is no joke!So I need to try and find out what exactly he has put into my tool box , find out how I can use the few 'almost skills' that I do have.But then again, if I followed up on every little thing that I am interested in,I'd be a basket case...school , career, family, friends...maybe this is why our brains need more than 5 neurons. Sigh.

Anyway, I'm going to start with drawing. I've always loved to draw. Usually when I don't want to think, I draw, A little here, kidogo there, nothing too fancy. But now, its dawning on me that I might need to draw (no pun intended) on this resource a little more in the future. Which means I have to step out of my box, out of my comfort zone and just put my stuff out there in faith. Faith that I'll be refined by the criticism , encouragement etc etc or at worst, that maybe this isn't my thing.Then I'll turn around and set off towards the sunset in search of another dream.

As with most things, I tend not to finish my drawings...so heres a number of the unfinished ones.Just to give you an idea of ..I dont know what of. I've used chalk , charcoal, acrylics, pencil, biro... errrm, yeah I think thats it.What I hope to now do is to really work, properly, on one piece a month which I'll put onto this my space.So feel free to comment, criticize, give ideas.
heh!As in a complete piece...God knows where I'll fit in the time. But I will








15 comments:

Anonymous said...

that is talent!!!!!!!!!

i should look up my caked oils and musty charcoal...give you competition! Keep working at it, there is indeed something there, and no i am not biased.

Anonymous said...

You're good! I think there's definitely something there.

Mwangi said...

I second 31337, get them done there is definitely a talent there. The second illustration- the painting of the woman is pretty amazing

KK said...

Lots of significance in their incomplete forms... disjointed humans and their stories at any given moment... and that's the 'not a critique by any stretch of the imagination' in me.

odegle said...

Simply put , you good , you r very good!

Mo said...

I've always fancied myself as somewhat of a 'teaser artist' too. The passion and enjoyment is there but the talent is lacking. I've only done one piece that I can even CONSIDER putting online.

Now, I was expecting another 'teaser artist' too but these are clearly very well-rendered. I like all of them and am especially taken by the powerful minimalism of the fourth one and by the contrast in the second one. Brava.

Anonymous said...

Wow! You are good! You have to pursue this further. waiting for more...

Anonymous said...

You're good. Love the second and the last. Would totally hang them in my house. Invite me for your first exhibition.

mama shady said...

Thanks y'all (Blursh;)Now if I can just be diligent huh
33137: You draw?!
kk and Moma:I always have difficulty giving my pieces names, or even in drawing any form of symbolism from them. I think I should come to you to for inspiration
Thanks Mwari,
Odegle and Pink Memoirs!na wewe anon pia

Anonymous said...

I really love the fifth picture. You are talented - and arsty ...

Considering I have no talent at all, can I be your friend? ;-)

egm said...

Nice! These are super pictures! I was not expecting anything even a quarter as good as these drawings. I too want to be in line at your first exhibition!

mama shady said...

@Tumwijuke!thanks.but ofcourse you can be my friend..if you really want to;)you have talent as well...i have seen your pics!
@egm:Ive laughed ,enyewe I guess having low expectation can pay off.Exhibitions...heh,you guys are pelekaing me mbio.

Rombo said...

mama shady... WOW. These are really good. Like someone else said, I could fork out shilling for one of these...

Anonymous said...

You have what it takes. I like No.4. The face. I'd say go for it, you got it in you.

mama shady said...

@r and bomseh:THANX!guess its down to work. thanks for visiting