This strikes at the heart of something very important, I think. Particularly in this difficult world we are living in, the massive push towards utilitarianism affects so much, and it's a clear loss. Twenty-five years ago, I was perfectly OK with taking a degree in a non-vocational subject that I loved but didn't intend to use directly in a career, and this wasn't rare; teenagers now consider this an irresponsible thing to do; by the time my own children get to university age, arts degrees may be thin on the ground. While I now see my huge privilege in getting to do that, I don't want a world in which amid the struggle to stay solvent and valid, nobody gets to study anything for the love of it, or draw for the enjoyment of drawing, or sing unless they might someday do it well enough to be worthy of an audience...
Your comments remind me of my sister's artistic endeavors -- she's a cookie artist. She doesn't ever sell her cookies and, though she does post them online and appreciate that others appreciate them there, she doesn't gain from them financially in any way. One thing people always comment about the cookies is they "look too good to eat." As a person who has eaten hundreds of her gorgeous works of art, I can say they taste as good as they look. My sister LOVES that people eat her art. She loves that it is fleeting. She loves that it can be enjoyed with a few senses some may not usually use when enjoying art -- taste and smell. Her work is a form of art for art's sake. She loves planning, baking, and decorating. That's it, that's the art. All the rest is....icing on the cookie.
Have you considered selling prints as books of postcards? I would 100% buy them. There's something intriguing about postcard art 🤔 you get to own it, enjoy it for a time, and then send it off for someone else to enjoy
I drew a daily chicken for many months. It was years ago, and I still remember this practice and how it brought me joy. I don’t remember the drawings—or at least, not all of them, but I do remember the joy of making the art. I absolutely love your sneaky art dogs. May they bring you joy in these times when finding joy is its own form of protest.
Okay I’m just gonna say it: Maggie has actually improved on the Masters. I don’t think I can ever see a good piece of work *without* those floopy ears and shorty mcshorty legs and think ‘yep, that’s masterful’. So your purposeless exercise has, in fact, changed your art viewer.
Ps. Egads, what the hell will my family find in a box later? I really should plan ahead. I want both tears and absolute confusion, for the spectacle of it.
Another reminder of why this is my number one recommended Substack. Maggie, you’re brilliant. My Substack also follows the algorithm of my heart. I don’t have an expectation that many people will read me, but I love writing about the things that interest me. PS: should the dachshunds be your next tarot deck? 😉 just an idea.
This post is filled with motivation. It is easy to look for the short cuts when it comes to creating a big picture. In reality we should be focused on the small dots that create one large, beautiful, picture. Each dot has a meaning, even if that meaning is only for ourselves.
My teenage daughter feels very passionately about AI and what it is doing to art. She did a PSA for her school about it. Here is the link https://www.instagram.com/imafridgeowo/reel/DHxD90GpSH1IkhU6ToRw7lK5vUqhopFbJ9AqmU0/ She interviewed all different age groups and asked them what art meant to them and how they felt about it being taken away. I just thought it was pretty apt for your post, which I will share with her tonight. I'm proud to say I have given you my art in the form of a pastel drawing of a Hyena and you are right, art for the sake of joy and mindfulness is important.
The Van Gogh self portrait!! I think you’re right that we need to do things for play and experience that don’t need to be anything more than that. There’s so much pressure to create things that will be viewed/read/consumed by others and I find that thinking too much about that makes me lose sight of the pure creative energy that comes from play
I am not an artist, so to me to say that these are not amazing pieces of humouristic art, to say that it seems obvious that you have struggled to fit the characters in the Venus drawing, is kind of mind blowing! I absolutely love these and cannot quite believe that these work could ever be considered as subpar. Maybe it just shows my lack of knowledge, ( and for sure skill) maybe it simply shows what a perfectionist you are.
I love the message encouraging creativity and fun, sharpening skills just for the sake of it. And yet what you have produced will be for many so inspirational and awe inspiring!
Thank you for sharing those s with the works, they are a breath of fresh air and whimsy. Would I love to one day own one? You bet! All fingers and toes crossed, might even go into crossed eyed Eagle pose for it!
I would love to have a book full of these useless dachshunds who have invaded famous paintings.
Here to say this too hehe
This strikes at the heart of something very important, I think. Particularly in this difficult world we are living in, the massive push towards utilitarianism affects so much, and it's a clear loss. Twenty-five years ago, I was perfectly OK with taking a degree in a non-vocational subject that I loved but didn't intend to use directly in a career, and this wasn't rare; teenagers now consider this an irresponsible thing to do; by the time my own children get to university age, arts degrees may be thin on the ground. While I now see my huge privilege in getting to do that, I don't want a world in which amid the struggle to stay solvent and valid, nobody gets to study anything for the love of it, or draw for the enjoyment of drawing, or sing unless they might someday do it well enough to be worthy of an audience...
Your comments remind me of my sister's artistic endeavors -- she's a cookie artist. She doesn't ever sell her cookies and, though she does post them online and appreciate that others appreciate them there, she doesn't gain from them financially in any way. One thing people always comment about the cookies is they "look too good to eat." As a person who has eaten hundreds of her gorgeous works of art, I can say they taste as good as they look. My sister LOVES that people eat her art. She loves that it is fleeting. She loves that it can be enjoyed with a few senses some may not usually use when enjoying art -- taste and smell. Her work is a form of art for art's sake. She loves planning, baking, and decorating. That's it, that's the art. All the rest is....icing on the cookie.
Have you considered selling prints as books of postcards? I would 100% buy them. There's something intriguing about postcard art 🤔 you get to own it, enjoy it for a time, and then send it off for someone else to enjoy
I drew a daily chicken for many months. It was years ago, and I still remember this practice and how it brought me joy. I don’t remember the drawings—or at least, not all of them, but I do remember the joy of making the art. I absolutely love your sneaky art dogs. May they bring you joy in these times when finding joy is its own form of protest.
Yep I love those weird little habits. I think that’s what Inktober challenges captures, a reminder of that carefree doodling we did as children.
Okay I’m just gonna say it: Maggie has actually improved on the Masters. I don’t think I can ever see a good piece of work *without* those floopy ears and shorty mcshorty legs and think ‘yep, that’s masterful’. So your purposeless exercise has, in fact, changed your art viewer.
Ps. Egads, what the hell will my family find in a box later? I really should plan ahead. I want both tears and absolute confusion, for the spectacle of it.
Another reminder of why this is my number one recommended Substack. Maggie, you’re brilliant. My Substack also follows the algorithm of my heart. I don’t have an expectation that many people will read me, but I love writing about the things that interest me. PS: should the dachshunds be your next tarot deck? 😉 just an idea.
This post is filled with motivation. It is easy to look for the short cuts when it comes to creating a big picture. In reality we should be focused on the small dots that create one large, beautiful, picture. Each dot has a meaning, even if that meaning is only for ourselves.
My teenage daughter feels very passionately about AI and what it is doing to art. She did a PSA for her school about it. Here is the link https://www.instagram.com/imafridgeowo/reel/DHxD90GpSH1IkhU6ToRw7lK5vUqhopFbJ9AqmU0/ She interviewed all different age groups and asked them what art meant to them and how they felt about it being taken away. I just thought it was pretty apt for your post, which I will share with her tonight. I'm proud to say I have given you my art in the form of a pastel drawing of a Hyena and you are right, art for the sake of joy and mindfulness is important.
This is beautiful. I love your dachshunds!
But I very much want a children’s book of these tube-steak canines. Bites of happiness. Bits of schnitzel goodness. Dog dreams. Please.
I love these drawings so damn much, Maggie. And your reflections on the impulse to create them makes me love them more.
Just called B&N Williamsburg, the ladies did not know when the tickets will be available 🥹
So hopefully, I won’t miss it… will call again on Monday.
I love this so completely. Your useless dachshunds are magic.
The Van Gogh self portrait!! I think you’re right that we need to do things for play and experience that don’t need to be anything more than that. There’s so much pressure to create things that will be viewed/read/consumed by others and I find that thinking too much about that makes me lose sight of the pure creative energy that comes from play
I am not an artist, so to me to say that these are not amazing pieces of humouristic art, to say that it seems obvious that you have struggled to fit the characters in the Venus drawing, is kind of mind blowing! I absolutely love these and cannot quite believe that these work could ever be considered as subpar. Maybe it just shows my lack of knowledge, ( and for sure skill) maybe it simply shows what a perfectionist you are.
I love the message encouraging creativity and fun, sharpening skills just for the sake of it. And yet what you have produced will be for many so inspirational and awe inspiring!
Thank you for sharing those s with the works, they are a breath of fresh air and whimsy. Would I love to one day own one? You bet! All fingers and toes crossed, might even go into crossed eyed Eagle pose for it!