collage journeys by Jane Davies: A Deeper Dive: Is Cohesiveness Overrated?

Ever really feel scattered? Or as in case your work is everywhere in the map or lacks a transparent fashion or focus? Many times I come again to this sense that my work ought to be extra ‘constant’. It needs to be recognizable as mine. And but I’d by no means inform another person that their work needs to be constant. I actually imagine (as you may know for those who’ve taken any in-person workshops with me) that it’s best to discover what pursuits you. WE ought to discover deeply and actually, and observe our passions and pursuits. In any other case we’re simply banging out ‘manufacturing artwork’.

The opposite finish of that spectrum is skimming the floor of an concept. Attempt one piece, then transfer on. And that’s not actual exploration. I am at all times telling folks in my workshops to “do ten extra” in reply to nearly any query. However not “keep on with that picture/fashion/no matter for the remainder of your profession”.

That mentioned, some artists discover actually and passionately in what appears to be like to us viewers like a slim, however deep, vary of images. We learn this as ‘consistency’ or ‘cohesiveness’ and appear to really feel that that is the appropriate solution to make artwork. Why the excessive worth on recognizability and consistency? Does it make us as viewers really feel good to acknowledge an artist’s work? Or is it simply extra handy for galleries and advertising?

Similar to I’ve modified my occupation a number of instances over the span of my three decade profession (potter, freelance artwork for producers, portray and instructing), and my extracurricular pursuits are broad and cyclical (hen husbandry, language studying, excel spreadsheets, graphic design, cheesemaking), my work adjustments in format and magnificence fairly persistently. Additionally it is cyclical. So I did stripes for over a 12 months – that was the exception. However I’ve performed stripes earlier than, in another way, with completely different views.

Proper now I’m doing what I name collage quilts or collage mosaics, after which working them into items. The friggin world has fallen aside, and this appears like making one thing significant or simply fairly, out of the shards. Or perhaps I’m simply attempting to make up a narrative that connects my work to one thing actual. Oh nicely, it is the work I am doing as a result of I am following what pursuits me. I might like to get your feedback on this subject.