Sky Pape Fine Art Drawing

01-05-08
untitled (detail of drawing in progress)
colored pencils on paper

Randomly: 1) I was thinking today of altered states of perception—of what I know the movement of clouds can look like when I’m in a certain state of mind, for example, and all the other things that there but shut out beyond awareness for the necessity of being able to function. Sensory gating.

2) Twyla Tharp on distractions & multitasking while working creatively: “I know there are artists who like music in the background when they work; they use the music to block out everything else. They’re not listening to it; it’s there as a form of companionship…Music in the background nibbles away at your awareness. It’s comforting perhaps, but who said tapping into your awareness was supposed to be comfortable? And who knows how much of your brainpower and intuition the Muzak is draining? When I listen to music, I don’t multitask; I simply listen…I certainly wouldn’t approve if someone read a book while my dancers were performing.” I often listen to music when I work, and decided to try a moratorium. It seems she may be right.

View the art spark of 01-05-08