Non-Conformist ~ An Art Piece Dedicated to Me and You
This started as a practice piece for another larger project, and evolved into a lot more. I’ll add the planned piece sketch and then continue from there…
I started that piece July 28th, 2024. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long. It stemmed from me realizing how many masks I had worn. Octopus are fascinating creatures and the thought of being able to use their arms to hold all of that seemed fitting.
We all start as little innocent and curious children, and then life twists us. I’ve always been a creative, silly person, and somewhere along the way, I lost that. I had to become the protector of my kids, a provider, usually the no parent(IYKYK), the errand runner, the person who kept everything in check for everyone else. Don’t get me wrong, you can still be a mom and be yourself, but I didn’t make time for that. I made everyone but myself a priority, and I also made sure to keep myself so busy that I didn’t allow myself to have time to discover, or rediscover, the things that are me.
Seeing that sketch again makes me very excited to get started on it again.
The Evolution of Non-Conformist
I started this piece on November 2nd, 2024. This and the other practice piece of a nesting doll, were started on two canvases that I found sitting outside next to the recycling bin of my old apartment complex. They were some sort of commercial print someone probably bought as a set to decorate their place. As an artist, supplies are spendy! I saw those canvases as an item I could repurpose. Even more now than ever, I believe that we should be doing everything we can to save things from the landfill.
Obviously this painting started out very dark, after spending so much time under water and feeling so light and free there, I knew that I had to lighten up the background. The blue over the purple gave a different depth that I am very pleased with. One thing I have learned with painting, is that nothing is forever. If you hate it, put a happy tree on it, thank you Bob Ross. Being able to paint over fuck ups, and give things new life, is realistically a life lesson. Stuff happens, and if you continue to beat yourself up for it, you never get to see the shiny growth that comes from it.
After the third day in a row of working on this piece… I was SOOOOO over the suction cups! I found a hack to make it quicker tho. Instead of mixing the paint for every tentacle, I made four big batches to work with from dark to light. Then every two tentacles, I added more white. Instead of having to mix all the time, and having to paint one at a time, I busted the last 6 tentacles in the amount of time I took me to do two the day before. It’s the small victories, and the practice that makes painting every time easier. Plus the extra paint from that I was able to use for touch ups, and even the spot I somehow missed in the bottom corner.
Creative Setbacks
December of 2024 my husband asked for a divorce, that really allowed me to dig into finding myself again. A curse with a blessing really. I started getting into painting and being creative again. Most of it was journalling and most of it was shared on this site. Thank you for listening to me by the way. The biggest set back to this piece, it was in storage for a year. The blessing from that, I wasn’t really ready to paint it until now.
I ended up spending some time with someone who I deem to be insanely talented at painting. We were talking about how disposable art has become and he said something about how art should be something that moves people. Honestly, it put me back into my insecure box. It made me believe that no matter what I create, my art will just end up in the trash one day, which is ultimately heart breaking. That is part of why knowing that this piece is on a canvas that was doomed for a landfill, is joyful for me. We should all really do our part to minimize our impact on this beautiful planet, and the beautiful creatures that live in it. I even left the back parts of the canvas with the original print on it so who ever decides to give it a home can see my commitment to doing so.
BUT I want to set something straight. Art is meaningful to who ever is creating it. To think that you have to be a Pablo Picasso or a Frida Kahlo to be able to do something artistic, in my opinion is garbage. Being able to paint, sew, sketch, color, or even collage, has been extremely therapeutic for me. Even in high school it was an outlet I needed. So don’t let someone who is extremely talented discourage you. Play and create, bring joy in to the world with the energy you are putting out with that. Bonus points if you upcycle stuff❣️Just remember, everyone has to start somewhere, the process is the best part.
Art Imitates Life
January 3rd thru February 7th, I was blessed with a beautiful time away with my lovey in Costa Rica. My most favorite thing to do while we were away was snorkel. My most favorite thing to see while snorkeling was Octopus. After I thought I saw one, I made it my mission to see one every time I was out. They are fascinating creatures! Another reason I feel the octopus is so great for my original sketch, is because they are masters of camouflage. They can also squeeze themselves thru the tiniest holes. Fitting right? Hide yourself, and make yourself small… NO MORE!
After being back home in Wyoming for a bit, I decided to watch a documentary on Netflix called My Octopus Teacher. I was hoping it would help me fall asleep, but I ended up staying up past midnight… OMG, I became even more obsessed with Octopus. If you love animals and the ocean, this is a must watch documentary. It’s always funny to me that people can’t see how intelligent animals really are. That is part of why I’ve been a vegetarian for most of my life.
That show is what got me excited to bust this canvas back out.
Side note, if you know a tattoo artist who could create a bomb addition of an octopus to my ocean side, I’d be over joyed… Preferably one in Wyoming, more precisely one less than a 3 hour drive from Powell.
Dedication
The reason this piece is dedicated to me and you… It is way too easy to get stuck in bad habits. Easy to conform and be what everyone else wants from you. What about what you want? Maybe you want to dress in funky clothes and blow bubbles out your car window. No? Just me? Well, what ever it is that brings your heart joy, don’t deny it, within reason I suppose. Sometimes stepping outside of the box and letting your camouflage down is hard, but finding peace in yourself, as yourself, worth every uncomfortable second.
Last note… Non-Conformist is on the market for $600 if you’d like to me to ship it your way. As a selling point, it will be a one and only. I’m not going to do any prints because she means so much to me as she is. For now, I’ll enjoy having her hang on the wall in my art room. 🐙