I've never been terribly good with the arts. When I was in grade school art class was always an unrewarding experience. While the other children made paper mache pigs or elaborate forts from popsicle sticks, I cut paper into random shapes with my plastic scissors and glued them together.
Nothing ever looked like anything. Representation art was all the rage with the 3rd grade crowd, and I was still doing Jackson Pollock type pieces with the watercolors and construction paper.
My teachers were gracious, ever mindful of harming my fragile spirit, but I could tell that something was amiss when they never knew what exactly it was I was trying to make.
They made ambiguous comments about my work. I suspected they were trying to divine some sort of information about the exact identity of the creature I was trying to replicate.
"Wow, Jon. That . . . object is certainly visually interesting."
"Hmmm. Good job, champ. I never would have thought of adding another appendage to that type of animal."
The artistic talent never really did develop. Later on I tried my hand at various visual arts. I tried designing ads and posters for a while, wielding my PhotoShop skills with a confidence that certainly did not betray my incompetence. But no marketing agencies ever snatched me up and I eventually had to give up the dream of wowing the world with my design wizardry.
I tried blazing new territory, utilizing more commonplace materials, hoping that a talent scout from some prestigious art school would run into me in McDonalds and offer me a full ride after beholding my skills in McDonalds napkin origami. It never happened. Sigh. Never happened.
And I once made a half-dozen paper-towel roses for someone. But there's a fine line between rustic charm and tackiness, and there was a fighting chance that roses made from domestic cleaning products would charge right across that line.
My last attempt was a mixed-media piece consisting of dried peanut oil, a swatch of poly/cotton cloth, and lipstick.
It did not wow anybody.
I forsook visual art.
Posted by jonsligh at July 29, 2006 03:57 AMJon, do not give up the dream. We all know your stick figures are some of the most descriptive stick figures known to man.
I love the blog.
Chris
Posted by: Chris at July 29, 2006 11:02 AMi concur with chris after seeing your more elaborate stick figure scenes.
Posted by: andrea at July 29, 2006 10:20 PMJon, looks like you need to enter the contest that Nathan Troester had on his blog -- to make a work of art using only a roll of toilet paper.
Here's the link:
http://nathantroester.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/CreativeChallenge01.png
This is just cooing your name.
Posted by: Will at July 31, 2006 01:35 PMI don't think there's any line between rustic charm and tackiness.
Posted by: Sam at August 1, 2006 12:30 PMHey, who ever said art has to look like something???? All is has to do is communicate a message or an emotion. Personally when I encounter peanut oil I am hit with instant nausea, which in my book is definitely an emotion.
Posted by: iGirl at September 13, 2006 05:16 PMNice, Mr. Sligh.
I wish I had a cool word for your thoughts:)
I love it in Germany, I hope you have a great time.
By the way, you were a an awesome teacher.
Thanks for all your help.
Prentiss
Posted by: Prentiss Kendall at December 8, 2006 10:47 PMPrentiss,
Thanks. It's been fun having you in my class. Good luck in future English classes.
Posted by: jsligh at December 9, 2006 11:05 AMI just got your comment:)
How is Germany? and your job?
Posted by: Prentiss Kendall at January 4, 2007 02:45 PMGermany's fine. I'm still looking for a job. I have to leave the country in 90 days if I don't get a job, so I'm hoping to get something or another before my visa runs out.
Posted by: jsligh at January 4, 2007 06:33 PMPlease note: Comments will not appear immediately. Your comment will appear upon approval by the blog's editor. We had to implement this to decrease the amount of spam that our site receives. Please forgive the inconvenience. We are looking into other, friendlier options.