by Marty Coleman | Sep 10, 2016 | Decision Making - 2016, Peter Drucker |
Purchase the original | purchase a print | matte and frame available
The Road to Hell
You’ve heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”, right? What does it mean? Since nobody wants to go to hell, it obviously means good intentions are misleading. You think you are paving the way to heaven, or accomplishment, success, fame, wealth, happiness, security, love, etc. but instead you end up in hell? How can that be?
It’s not because good intentions are evil, it’s because good intentions are nothing. They are ephemeral ghosts that flit about and then disappear. They can’t be built on and they can’t be walked on. What they can do is fool people. They tell people they are actually doing something when they aren’t. They tell people they are making progress in life, when they aren’t. They tell people they are becoming better people, when they aren’t.
Good intentions are nothing, and doing nothing in life is the fastest way to be in hell now and find hell in the future.
The Road to Elsewhere
So, if good intentions are nothing, what is something? Action is something. Hard work is something. Practicing what you preach is something.
Making an idea into a reality isn’t good intentions, it’s good action. It might start with an idea and a determination to make that idea real, and that is good. People need vision and ideals. But they are the ink on the paper in the recipe book. They are nothing without the ingredients being put together to actually make the recipe into food.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Peter Drucker, 1909-2005, Austrian-born American Management consultant and author
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by Marty Coleman | Sep 7, 2016 | Artists I Love, Neil Jenney |
Neil Jenney
From 1982-1994 I worked on getting my Master of Fine Art degree from San Jose State University in California. I took a number of high level art theory and criticism seminars where studied intensely studied the recently past and current styles in the art world. Foremost among those at the time was Neo-Expressionism. There were many compelling artists working in this style that I liked, including David Salle, Robert Longo, and Eric Fischl. In addition we studied other strains, including the Pattern and Decoration movement, which I liked quite a bit.
One artist I discovered at the time stood out to me. He stood out because he was was not part of these or other contemporary movements. He was completely unique; sophisticated, astute in his subtle social and political messaging and unabashedly contrarian in his relationship with current art. His name is Neil Jenney and he is the next artist in my ‘Artists I Love’ series. Links to the other artists in the series can be found in the menu above and in a list at the end of this post.
Window #6, oil on panel with painted wood frame, 1971-1976
But let’s go back a bit to get a little better glimpse of the ideas behind his work.
BAD PAINTING
What you see below is a bad painting. It’s bad on purpose to make a statement. Back in the late 60s a new genre came into being called ‘Photorealism’. Artists took a photograph of a scene and painted it to an extreme level of accuracy. They actually enhanced the scene often to be even MORE realistic than the photo. Neil Jenney hated this trend. He understood the technique took some skill but for what purpose? To just recreate a photograph? He saw it as soulless and trite. He said to a friend that instead of having a bad idea and doing it well, “it would be better to have a good idea and do it terrible!” Which is exactly what he did. He called it good drawing, bad painting.
Saw and Sawed, acrylic on canvas with painted wood frame, 1969
Here is an example of the art Jenney was seeing when he decided to go in the opposite direction.
Robert Bechtle, Alameda Gran Torino, 1974, oil on canvas
He continued in this vein for a few years and was rewarded with his work being designated as ‘bad painting’, not as a derogatory critique, but as a positive statement about a new sort of realism.
Birds and Jets, Acrylic on canvas with painted wood frame, 1969
Threat and Sanctuary, acrylic on canvas with painted wood frame, 1969
Girl and Doll, Man and Mirage
GOOD PAINTING
The good paintings were a result of two things. One, the limits of doing ‘good drawing, bad painting’, and two, the plethora of artists who had started to do similar work. Jenney is a contrarian and really dislikes doing what the crowd does. The combination of those two things caused him to decided to do ‘good drawing, good painting’. He started doing very detailed and highly accurate realistic paintings. But, as in the bad paintings, he does not spell things out. He just gives clues. The good paintings are as much about what is not seen beyond the frame as it is what is in the frame.
It also is about the relationship between words and images, as are the ‘bad paintings’. It’s another element that resonated with me, as you can tell by how prevalent words are in much of my work.
Meltdown Morning, 1975, oil on board with painted wood frame
North America Acidified, oil on panel with painted wood frame, 2013
Atmospheric Formation – Rabbits, oil on panel with painted wood frame, 2005
Morning, Evening, oil on panel with painted wood frame, 2012
Ozarkia, oil on panel with painted wood frame, 2012
North American Aquatica, Oil on Panel with painted wood frame, 2006-07
Modern Era, Oil on panel with painted wood frame, 2006
Improved Picassos
Here’s an idea for a sure fire way to be criticized: Decide you can improve upon the paintings of the perhaps the greatest artist of the 20th century. Jenney decided to do just that. He happened to see someone in the Port Authority terminal in NYC selling painted reproductions of Picasso paintings. He bought one from him and decided to improve it, fixing what he saw as incomplete or bad passages in the art. Then he framed them how he would like to see them, instead of the way he saw them framed in the famous museums of the world.
It’s a cheeky and pretentious effort to do something like this, but Jenney didn’t care about what others would think. He wanted to ‘fix’ them so he did. Other people didn’t like it? Too bad for them. I have to admit I really love that ‘in your face’ attitude he has. It’s liberating for artists to see this and realize decisions about our creativity are ours to make, not someone else’s.
He eventually commissioned the artist who did the original copies, Ki-Young Sung, to paint specific Picasso pieces he had always wanted to rework.
Improved Picasso – Boy and Horse, original on left
Improved Picasso – Marie Therese Leaning, original on right
Improved Picasso – Igor Stravinsky
Improved Picasso – Bathers
Improved Picasso – Woman
Conclusion
Neil Jenney is my favorite type of artist, maybe because I feel a kinship with his outsider status. Outsider doesn’t mean uneducated, unsophisticated, or untalented. It simply means the artist does not fit in, either on purpose or by virtue of place, time and style, with the prevailing trends of art at the time. He or she can still be quite popular among collectors and other art people, but it’s a popularity based more on genuine admiration for the work than on any commercial or social advantage one might get by having a piece by the artist.
Photo courtesy of artist
Links and Resources
Improved Picassos – The Creators Project, 2016
An Artist Reluctant to Sell Himself – NY Times, 2013
The Painting of the Future – LanguageandPhilosophy.com
West Broadway Gallery and Jenney Archives
Lofty Ambitions – Neil Jenney Frames Himself – blouinartinfo.com
- You can see and read the entire ‘Artists I love’ series here or by going through the list below.
2018
2016
2015
2014
2012/2013
2011/2012
Article © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.comLike this:
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by Marty Coleman | Sep 2, 2016 | Decision Making - 2016, Edwin Markham |
Purchase the original | purchase a print | matte and frame available
Not Judging
We had a discussion on Periscope the other day about decision making. It was about this idea and the idea in the blog post before this one, about not judging life events as good or bad, just experience them with minimal judgment. It would lead to less stress and anxiety and more happiness and peace.
People of Faith
Not easy to do of course, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. But how? Many people would say by having faith. But I have been in the Christian church now going on 40 years and I have seen very few people who don’t fret just as much about the future as those who don’t attend church and say they don’t believe in God, afterlife, etc. That doesn’t mean people of faith don’t talk a good game, they do. The script is all there in the bible that you just don’t have to worry. Paul says it again and again in his letters. Peter says it, Jesus says it. It’s a big part of Christianity. But barely anyone (that I know at least) actually lives it out in day to day practice.
The Avoidance List
Why is that? What is it about the unknown future that we really fear? Death? Pain? Discomfort? Does fearing those things help us avoid them? Well, we know we can’t avoid death so that obviously is a problem. But we can avoid it for a while, right?
Here is a list to help you avoid death:
- Eat well
- Exercise well
- Have really good genetics
- Don’t step on a land mine
Same goes for pain. Here is a list to avoid pain:
- Do nothing aggressively physical
- Don’t get in any relationships
- Don’t have kids
- Don’t get blown up on a boat (I didn’t avoid that)
And if you want to avoid discomfort? Here is what you should do.
- Never meet people, cultures or ideas you don’t understand or like.
- Never get a brazilian wax job
- Never eat hot chili peppers
- Never wear tight pants, tight bras or tight hats.
All those ways can be summed up in one rule. Don’t do anything. That will help you avoid all those terrible things in life.
Ok, I Lied
The truth is a life of couch sitting, of never thinking or experiencing anything new is living death. Seeing all the fun, vitality and love others are experiencing in life is a greater pain emotionally and physically than going out and experiencing the world and the risks in it. And by far the deepest discomfort in life is realizing you are afraid of everything.
So, get out there, open that gate, swim that ocean, climb that hill. You will experience discomfort, pain and yes, even death eventually. But the alternative? You are already dead.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Edwin Markham, 1852-1940, American Poet
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by Marty Coleman | Sep 1, 2016 | Decision Making - 2016, Flemish Proverbs |
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Good and Bad
This might sound like a terrible thing. You are going to have trouble no matter what you choose? That sucks. But that isn’t really the end of the story, is it? Beyond each danger maybe there is a blessing, right? Then again, beyond each blessing who knows, maybe another blessing, maybe another danger.
Looking Back
Many people, when they reach a certain point in life look back and say, ‘Everything that has happened in the past, good and bad, has led me to this point.’ Isn’t that another way of saying that those seemingly bad things that happened really weren’t that bad and the good things that happened weren’t necessarily all that good?
Here and Now
Looking back is one thing, it’s easy to do. But what if you avoided this yin yang of categorizing everything into gain or loss as the events happened? What if you experienced them in your mind as as neutral events instead? How would that help your health, both physical and mental, while living in the present AND looking at the future? Less stress, less judgment, less worry, less anxiety might be the result. More peace, more happiness, more confidence might also be the result. It’s something to think about.
The Chinese Farmer
There is a famous old story about a chinese farmer who did just that. Here is a great animation that tells the story. It is being told by Alan Watts, a deep thinker who delved into Taoist philosophy.
Brain Pickings
One of my favorite websites is ‘Brain Pickings‘. You can read more about Alan Watts and his ideas on fortune and misfortune there. There you can also find links to more in depth sites dealing the Watts, his philosophy and books.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote is a Dutch proverb
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by Marty Coleman | Aug 26, 2016 | Series |
Purchase the original | Purchase a print (all profits go to Neema International) | matte and frame available
A year ago I was asked to create an image about a charity I would like to have people donate to. It was going to be produced on T-shirts, etc. and sold, with the proceeds going to the charity. For a number of reasons it never came to pass. BUT I did do the drawing. The drawing and prints are available for sale. All profits will go to Neema International.
The charity I chose is one I have supported for a couple of years now, Neema International. The money goes to support the Tuleeni orphanage in Tanzania as well as outreach to the entire community of children in the surrounding villages. Neema International is headed by Mandy Stein, an amazing young woman originally from Texas who now lives and works full time at the orphanage. She plans, builds, teaches, negotiates, and works her butt off to make a better life for the kids. Whether it’s new buildings, uniforms for school, supplies, transportation, food, community support, education or technology she has her fingers in the mix trying to make it all happen. Mama Faraji, shown below with Mandy, is the founder and leader of the Tuleeni Orphanage.
Mandy Stein and Mama Faraji
First Drawing and Post
You can read my first drawing and post that I did about a year and a half ago on Mandy and her work with Neema here. It was a post about happiness and purpose, something Mandy exemplifies to an awe-inspiring degree. Among other things it shows a photo of the building below well before it was completed.
NOW
Here is the new orphanage and education building. It took years of effort from Mandy and many others but it’s now complete!
Of course, the outside is just part of the effort. The inside had to be completed too. Here are some photos of what was involved in that!
Transporting mattresses for the orphanage
New bunks at the orphanage
Finally, a great place to eat dinner!
YAY, a reliable bus to take the kids to school and elsewhere!
This is just a fraction of what is going on at Tuleeni. Other efforts include:
- Sending many of the orphans, especially girls, to private schools so they can get a quality education. Girls are seriously underrepresented in the education system there and they are working hard to overcome that.
- A Technology Education center for the entire village.
- An Education Sponsorship program.
Love is the Purpose
I often write and illustrate at this blog that you become what you practice. I practice art and I practice teaching/coaching and I have become pretty good at it. You are good at something too. But becoming good at something still leaves the question. WHY? Why are you becoming good at this skill? What is the ultimate purpose behind it?
For me, the reason is to bring joy, happiness, hope, encouragement, insight, and most of all love to others. This is the greater thing to practice because some day I might lose my ability to create or run. But I will never lose my ability to love, right?
This is what Mandy is doing. Yes, she is building, teaching, organizing, etc. But what she is really doing is practicing love. Help her do that, ok?
How to Help
If you would like to support Mandy, Neema International and the Tuleeni Orphanage, you can make a contribution here. http://neemainternational.org/donate/?amount The donations go to a registered non-profit so you can have it be a charitable donation. Once you are at the site take some time to read about Neema and how it got started. It will warm your heart.
If you would like to contribute more directly you can do so at Paypal. Simply send the money to mandy@neemainternational.org. This will not be tax-deductible but the money is immediately available to Neema so they can buy school and home supplies quickly and as needed. Here are some pics that show what those sorts of donations have already bought. Plus, you are helping the local Tanzanian economy, something desperately needed.
If you’re interested in becoming an education sponsor contact: info@neemainternational.org for details
Stay Connected
Here an article about Mandy and the amazing work Neema is doing.
http://thebuzzmagazines.com/articles/2016/06/making-difference-‘neema’-tanzania
You can keep up with Neema International’s efforts at their home on FB – https://www.facebook.com/NeemaINTL/
You can do the same for the Tuleeni Orphans Home on FB – https://www.facebook.com/tuleeniorphanshome
Drawing and quote © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
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