Why We (as artists) Create
“If I were to force myself to do it, it would be crap…I wont write a song unless it serves me in some way…where I feel like I HAVE to write the song…to make myself feel better.
If your not overflowing with something, then there’s nothing to give.”
- Fiona Apple, via Iconoclasts
A truth. If I drew it, it most definitely meant something. Nothing created within the confines of my little art bubble is arbitrary…
So NO (if you’re wondering), I will NOT crown any beautifully drawn women with deer/elk antlers, or fill up a page with strange little geometric diamond patterns, or randomly attach tentacles to things or people who have no business having tentacles. No zombies. No hanging meat. No unicorns, or things with unicorn hair. Just birds, and real people, and whatever bits of the spiritual world that feel like making themselves present to me from time to time. Things I have seen, things I’ve experienced. Light, love, loss and all the other shitlets life has to offer.
Oh, and if you see a heart (like a heart heart) its because that heart had to be there, and there is probably a much longer story behind that sweet little heart than you would even imagine. Anatomy isnt an arbitrary artistic choice either. Hands and hearts, hearts and hands. Hands express. Hands can give and take, hold and let go. Kill. And hearts, well, they’re the reason we love, the reason we stay alive.
So you see, I do the things I need to do. That’s pretty much what I’ve always done. Feel me?
And then THIS happened. Wood putty, here I come…sigh.
Untitled “Semi Relief” | In progress | Images Copyright © 2011 Mel LV Ruiz ♥Ineffable3
Upside down…and still not giving away any surprise endings. I’ll eventually stop posting these progress shots altogether. I’m going to wait until the piece is near completion to do a mass picture post.
Untitled “Semi Relief” | In progress | Images Copyright © 2011 Mel LV Ruiz ♥Ineffable3
After almost 2 weeks away, I’ve finally come back to my little Saint and her 2 birds. I’ve made alot of mistakes with this layout - mainly because it’s turning into an full relief as opposed to a semi which was my initial intention. I was recently told, “There are no mistakes in carving, just design changes.” It’s true, wood has a mind of it’s own. As do the Saints. As far as they’re concerned, if you’ve decided to devote your time to them, you better devote your entire time…otherwise you’re hands won’t work for anything else.
Selected Works In Memory of Isaac Rios | Images © Copyright 1975 - 1976 Isaac Rios
In memory of my Tio Isaac who recently passed away. He was an incredibly talented artist in his younger days, and I wish the world could have seen more of his work.
Rest in peace Tio, I wish we could have drawn together sometime.
A Warbler. Getting ‘out of my head” is causing me to go further into my head…still no solution for my current carving issue.
Untitled “Semi Relief” | In progress | Images Copyright © 2011 Mel LV Ruiz ♥Ineffable3
This is what she’s looking like so far. Slow progress and rough looking progress, but progress nonetheless. I’ve taken to carving a little here and there in the wee hours of the morning before the little one wakes up to begin his day. Other than the birds chirping, it’s super quiet at 6am, which is nice. Just me, a cup of coffee, and a kitchen table full of wood shavings :)
Untitled “Semi Relief” | In progress | Images Copyright © 2011 LV Ruiz ♥Ineffable3
Doing some feathering. I hadn’t planned on doing any…but it’s happening. Carvings tend to take on a life of their own, and with that life comes personality…and opinions. So yea, my Hawk wanted defined feathers, so I was more than kind enough to oblige him.
More progress shots coming sooooooon.
Hawking. Yes friends, new madness has begun.
My mother kept every little scrap of paper I ever drew on. I found this gem the other day while rummaging through the pages of one of her many Bibles. Apparently when I was three years old I dictated a card to her. From the looks of the handwriting, I dictated it to her directly and she wrote it, lol. Randomly finding things like this makes me happy. Little hellos from the other side :)
3 bits of concept sketches for next painting. There will be a few really cool focal points in this one, so I’m pretty amped to get started. Once the idea is finalized (yea, fat chance) and all the images are layed out properly, I can then begin the transfer to wood. There will also be a nice little story to tell about this piece upon it’s completion. You shall enjoy :)
On another note - I’m SO happy to be out of the Ochun haze. I think my eyes were bleeding yellow and gold for a solid 2 months. I mean, Jeez Louise! Getting back to the gloomier side of life makes me feel alot more comfortable.
La Caridad De Ochun • Details | Retablo | Image Copyright © 2011 LV Ruiz ♥Ineffable3
Semi relief on 7x10 Birch panel, with hand cut & hand painted frame.
This piece was definitely a challenge, and I must say, I’m pretty proud of myself. Of course I see little areas here and there that could have been tweaked, but that’s just the nature of the game.
I presented this to a good friend of mine who was being crowned Ochun, on Sunday July 3, 2011. We all gathered in this house…somewhere in Brooklyn. A little cowrie-eyed Eleggua head greeted us at the foot of the entrance way. Our heads were all covered, we dressed in white. It was hot and humid…and loud. They drummed and sang for hours for each of the Orishas. The house’s Godfather cleaned a few of us, and the spirits took many (my count was at around 15 heads) Never in my life have I been part of such beautiful madness. It was so effin’ intense.
I’m so happy I painted for Ochun and was able to experience the things I did. She will mark one of many more Retablos to come.
*Sorry for the watermark! Folk tend to reblog an artists work and not give credit.*
(Detail shots of this painting will be re-uploaded with crisp pictures once I can steal my photographer friend again)
