Strolling Through the Files

I have been strolling through the files of my brain this evening. Mostly concerning my art. (And yes, I was smart enough to write most of the stuff down as I first thought of it and file it in a proper file, heaped about the tragic thing that should be my filing system…

I have this thing about my art. Part of the production process, I guess. Whenever I am producing a set of images, most likely during the rough sketch stage, I am mostly likely to spring forth a line of other (usually) great ideas. I then stop, grab a pad and jot some quick notes, then on with the sketches. Most the time these lists will even make it to a Word file and get printed to the bitching bitch (that is what I call the old mule of a laser printer I have…) and done up in a brand new, labeled folder… Then onto the growing heap.

Bear in mind, this typically happens during every set. Let’s assume in a good year, I can produce three or four sets ranging from 5 to 10 (or 12) images. That work may generate notes on an additional three to five per set, making that as many as fifteen concepts, but most like around ten or twelve…

So I have this huge, growing pile of things that a small part of me would like to have down to nothing by the end of my life. Ha. Ha. I know, funny. It is the one step forward, two steps back kinda thing, but I do really appreciate not lacking the concepts.

I am glad to have recently rediscovered the pile. Sometimes, I tend to forget it is there. I know, how do I do that? There are some great ideas in it, and I am glad I am maintaining some sort of patience with it. Lately, there has been some pay-off. If I hold an idea long enough, I figure out a way to combine it with another concept or two, crossing up to three thoughts off the list and making a far greater set of images overall. You know, layers. Like an onion.

Sorry for the vagueness of this post. I am avoiding the discussion of the content of the concepts on purpose. I felt a bit burned once by admitting too much too soon. I am already doing that on the Tarot project, I think, but I am betting that the added thought of making it autobiographical will keep it mine. Anyone else crazy enough to tackle the Tarot, be my guest!

I did come across the pile of roughs I eked out during chemo. They are so slick! Very hot! Unfortunately, They are all parts of various sets, all very much incomplete. I think I must have started roughs from seven different series during 6 months of treatment. That’s how shot my focus was. The Gearheads were part of that bunch… and they’re almost finished. Since I have proven I need much more study time on the Tarot project, I should dig back into the pile…

My Tribal Muses are in there. All but one (of ten) have finished roughs. Two of them even have the inks started. I would much like to move to them after the Gearheads are done. They are beautiful. They might also become somewhat redundant and unnecessary if I do the Tarot first, since I set them up as a study for the bigger deck project. Some of the Tarot will be composites of two or three of the Muses…

There is a slight concern of redundancy in my impending sets, but honestly, isn’t an artist allowed to obsess on a topic of two?

Also in the chemo pile is a mix-up of wacky doodles for a naughty bunch of nursery rhymes. I was clever enough to re-write the rhymes when very much whacked-out on drug side-effects. They are wrong in just the right way… With any luck, I would like to add ten twisted fairy tales to the ten rhymes and make a book. Got the perfect name too. Sorry, yeah! That paranoia thing again. Deal.

Of course, I still have some idea folders from the first year of doing the erotic thing. Some of them are just waiting to evolve to meet me tomorrow. One of them is about to get tweaked in the right way… See? This is the art-geek in me. I got off on this stuff. Sometimes, literally.

Okay, time to stop rambling. I think I feel the urge to actually tackle the file pile and return it to a passable filing system…