The Artist Within
I am still on the road today, past China, past Korea, now India and I cannot get art out of my mind. There are so many ways to express yourself through art like music, painting, writing, spoken word, and so on. However, first let me backtrack--again I am not a blogger by nature so if these entries seem a bit disjointed, delayed, etc.-its my journey, these are the thoughts that get stuck in my head that I am compelled to write about-- it is more for me than anyone else.
What got me thinking about art is my recent trip to India. One of the professionals I met with in Bangalore works to preserve the art of Chittara. It is a complicated and intricate form of art using repeating patterns and exact symmetry. I was so intrigued she took notice and taught me some basic techniques so that I could return home to try and replicate a picture for myself. It was there that someone else discovered my secret. I am totally and completely mesmerized by art in all its forms. I remember my first trip to Spain--it was two weeks of pure bliss. I went to every art museum I could find. During my visit, Renoir was on exhibition at Museo del Prado. I spent all day there reviewing every painting of Renoir and others. Of course, there was plenty of Picasso in Madrid. I had a moment in front of Guernica at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia--OK maybe I had more than a moment. I was so mesmerized that I could not tear myself away. I learned more than I ever knew existed about Federico Fellini while at the CaixaForum. However, it is not just painting; it is music--as I sit here writing I am listening to my favorite artist George Michael (don't judge me).
Alternatively, I had been thinking about the distinct and individual faces carved into the terracotta warriors in Xi'an and who the model behind the mask might be. Moreover, whether it is writings of Maya Angelo that flow like water; or maybe it is a fantastic programmer who developed digital media that helps all share that Artist within us whether it is pictures, photos, movies or art on Pinterest, Instagram, Vine, etcetera. Or maybe it is just a friend who's a writer, producer, and guide. We are no longer only bound to paintings on caves.
So here's to the Artist within us!
To Learn more about Chittara visit cfria.in