So many rules!
I am continually stumped by my own capacity to generate rules. Almost every thing I do comes with some appended rulebook, one that I’ve developed out of my own pointy little head. For example: pictures in this blog are horizontal, not vertical (Rule). I wanted to post the above picture because I liked the way it looked. But I also wanted to write a post about how inspiring it is getting to see my friend D-L and then I thought that a negative picture might connote a negative view (Rule) so I should really show the positive version.
But each one of my posts is a single picture (Rule) and an accompanying text (Rule). And I post once a day (Rule). So I couldn’t have both pictures in the same day.
Where did all of these rules come from? Me and me alone. Slowly, over time, a series of utterly arbitrary decisions has become the laws of my mind. When I look at them in that light, I can’t help but be horrified. One thing I try to do with my students is get them to recognize and rethink their rules. I need to do the same thing.
Why look at art? Why is it so pleasurable and nourishing to talk to other artists? To be reminded of the possibilities that are out there. Positive examples, I love em. D-L always provides those.
Tags: daily photo, friends, making art, rules
