Damn Good Advice: FIFTEEN

There is something honorable and humble about recognizing the origin of creativity as separate from the ego and conscious thoughts. I am surprised that Lois was able to draw this conclusion after so subtly establishing his own expertise in advertising. Most creative geniuses are masters of craft and worship their own greatness. The Great Idea does indeed exist independently of our 3D world and we are able to tap into the creative realms, channel the ideas, use our minds and hands to mold them into tangibles, and make art. It is quite mythical, yes, Lois, and magical I’d even say.

I also support the notion that creative people are more in touch with reality and are able to generate dialogues about any given subject. We are also more in tune with ourselves– our minds, hearts, and souls. We are a step ahead, prompting you to discuss and ponder. Great artists have a voice to guide a viewer through our work. Our function ahead of the curve is merely that, to show a way through and by. Art must be viewed. It is a spiritual experience to view art because it connects people, ideas, places, and more art to become something meta and great.

Creative Channel © 2013 NATE METZ
Creative Channel © 2013 NATE METZ

I am blessed and grateful for how I see and capture the world in photographs. I capture beauty in both pedestrian and worldly abstract botanicals and street life. It is with a great spirit of discovery that I share my camera lens with all of you. I spoke of it during my gallery talk at the Summer Streets opening reception. It is very rewarding to go on a walkabout with my camera, see beauty everywhere I go, and capture the fleeting moments of changing light and reflections. It is spiritually nourishing to know whatever I do capture will make beautiful photographs unexpected and enchanting.

My abstract and minimalist work is often retorted with the low blow that “I could do that…” But, you don’t and you haven’t. That’s the intrinsic value in my work. It’s what you pay for: the guide, the artist, a channel and medium to creativity that shows you the beautiful things that you don’t stop to ponder and enjoy. I show you just how much beauty surrounds us that you were previously too busy to enjoy. So pick up a copy of my book, browse my galleries, like me on Facebook and continue to immerse yourself in my findings. I love to show you what I see, how I see it, when I see it, begging you to ask why you see it. My creative abilities are a gift for us all and part of the spiritual chain that links us together in this blessed life.

The Network © 2013 NATE METZ
Creative Channel © 2013 NATE METZ

PAIRINGS

The Rehoboth Art League is running a monthly series of pairings where members are invited to submit recent work to be displayed in the gallery with works from the collection. When I first heard about it, I glanced through the works and found nothing inspiring. About a week ago, I got an e-mail reminder saying that they were still taking applications for December, so I took another gander. This time two of the works stood out.

So, then I went through my framed work from the past 2 years and opened .jpgs on my computer along with the two images from the collection–about 12 total images on screen. I left it open for a couple hours while I worked on some crochet projects and paperwork. One by one I dropped out images and enlarged the remaining ones until I had my final selection.

Here is my proposal:

leach_ethel_p_b_corner_market_david_350
Corner Market and David © Ethel P. B. Leach – Oil on masonite

Parking for Candy Only © 2012 NATE METZ
Parking for Candy Only 1 © 2012 NATE METZ – digital photograph

These two works come together as depictions of street life, titled appropriately to indicate the urban setting. However, it is their perspectives of the city that differ the greatest. Leach’s perspective is scenic of a corner at an intersection. Metz on the other hand is a macro work of still life. Although both highlight a study in forms where multiple rounded organic shapes in the foreground contrast against strikingly sharp, linear angles and planes in the backgrounds.

The tones differ as well. The feel of Leach’s painting is decidedly warm and friendly with subdued earthy tones and a brown-colored street. Metz’s photograph depicts a much starker street in the black and grey tonal blacktop aggregate. Metz’s street also has a much higher contrast in color with the bright candy floating across the surface to further differentiate the tonal variance.

The differences in feeling originate with the medium: Metz’s more modern work is a digital photograph and Leach captures a nostalgic moment in the traditional oil painting. The cooler emotional response to Parking for Candy Only could also be to the lack of human and canine pedestrians that are present on Corner Market and David.

Coming back to the perspectives of each, we can explore the points of view. In Leach, the reflections on the windows and the streets allow the viewer to examine different parts of the work. Also, the direction of each person’s face and canine gait allows us to ponder the various perspectives of the piece. Metz’s digital photographs, though, require three different frames to explore the various angles of the subjects. Each photograph allows the viewer to ponder a different perspective.

#179: Centered

My last challenge entry was in September. Our category was Centered Composition. Per usual, I went one step further with my entry to include a subtext of having a centered mind by stacking rocks along their center of gravity, a zen meditation practice.

Center of Gravity © 2013 NATE METZ
Center of Gravity © 2013 NATE METZ

rank: 7th
1/183 sec, f2, ISO 50
pp: resize, USM, export

On the same day, I shot a second contender. I opted for the above shot because of the multiple interpretations of the challenge theme. I still really like the minimalist approach to the second shot here that also has some of my favorite elements of macro and texture.

Center © 2013 NATE METZ
Center © 2013 NATE METZ