Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Star

Autumn Moon and Stars
I once worked in an art department where the person who signed the checks was convinced that there were certain shapes that none of us clumsy, hired hands would ever be able to execute the degree of perfection which was required to create the production patterns for this product. So each time these shapes appeared in one of the designs, rather than sending our inferior efforts back (to the check signer) for a series of rejections, we tediously spliced copies of one or more of these computer generated shapes into our otherwise very exact, precise and hand inked vellum patterns. To add insult to injury, once these patterns arrived at the factory overseas, their employees would interpret them by very primitive hand painted methods and the results weren't always so pretty. They, too would always throw it back to us, to try to cast blame on the patterns they were given to follow.

Anyway, one of these standard shapes happened to be a star. The check signer had this idea that there existed a uniform and perfect five pointed model, similar to the old fashioned gummed, foil types one might get as a reward if such a thing existed. But we were rewarded richly- with vellum sheets of these stars printed by the row, in every imaginable size, waiting in our flat files for the next design that summoned the surgical precision and dreaded honor of wielding the golden Xacto. Needless to say, we avoided including these shapes in our designs if we could help it!

Coincidentally, "Star" is also the posted topic at Illustration Friday this week. From the heavens above, the sparkly radiant objects that inspire poetry, songs and dreams also stir dark memories of living nightmares. So I'm just here to have some fun with watercolor today- Imagining star shaped leaves in autumn, wobbly, little hand painted stars and a kind and gentle moon nestled in the clouds.  I never set out to be perfect. And I think that is universal knowledge by now. ;o)

11 comments:

  1. How incredible that you have posted this today Michele as I want to work today on a Man in the Moon design Christmas card in my studio! What great inspiration. I just love your water colour...it's "my" kind of art...beautiful work. Your checker had obviously never looked up to a real sky....not many 5 perfectly formed stars up there....just Nature's beauty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I can't wait to see your celestial themed card, Jane. I'll jump over to your place in a bit! :o)

      Delete
  2. Oh that's pretty! Which is exactly the words I thought when I first saw this painting. Check signers don't know nuthin'. Keep doing what you do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda! What kept some of us focused on maintaining a degree of sanity was the art we created for ourselves, outside of the job. That seems to work (most of the time), so we keep moving along! ;o)

      Delete
  3. Fascinating Michele. I always tell the children in my art classes that "perfection" is boring. It's difficult to understand why some people even pursue a career in the arts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's very good advice, Vicki. Thank you for inspiring these young artists- That encouragement is exactly what many of them need to hear. See you next post! :o)

      Delete
  4. I remember trying so hard to make a perfect star as a kid. Thanks for dropping by my blog! Your moon looks so calm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're probably creating some really beautiful stars now, Sharon. Thanks for your visit and follow- Hope you'll return! :o)

      Delete
  5. Well who wants perfection. We are artists not machines. I love this piece!

    ReplyDelete
  6. We are artists not machines. I love this piece. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. And machines have been known to fail. Imagine that! :o)

      Delete

Your comments are welcome and appreciated!