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<\/a><\/p>\nVisual art rose as a form of communication. Skilled artists were often respected as Shaman. This divinity persona weighed on artists thru history. Michelangelo burned his working sketches. Ideas formed from devotion to work and practice, not from pure \u2018 divine enlightenment\u2019 would have been deeply frowned upon.<\/p>\n
Yet, the most famous, celebrated painting in history is not without flaws. Leonardo Da Vinci\u2019s portrait of \u201cLisa\u201d, Titled \u201cMona Lisa\u201d (meaning My Lisa) a brilliant work of art, has hints of overworking, mismatched horizon and hands, among other little \u2018flaws\u2019. In an era of perfection pursuit, its comforting that with flaws, great achievements may illumine and perhaps, imitate life.<\/p>\n Conductor and Co- author of \u201cThe Art of Possibility\u201d Ben Zander suggests one slightly off musical note played with sincere emotion is more powerful than a technically emotionally absent performance. A well known artist told me as soon as a painting goes \u2018south\u2019 it must be discarded, urging my agreement. I rarely completely trash work. I like to see what may be possible, put it aside, ponder what may lie yet undiscovered. Not \u2018rework\u2019 it but resurrect it. Morphing the work may far exceed expectations, built on \u2018flaws\u2019.<\/p>\n I learned this lesson early in my career. Working on my last canvas for a group exhibit, it all \u2018went south.\u2019 The piece was a turning point in my career. The day after the opening, a collector reserved the gallery to wander at his private leisure. Revisiting work, or contemplating work that didn\u2019t pan out isn\u2019t a mark of perfectionism. It\u2019s optimism born from personal non judgement. ~\u201cI settled on a game called I am a contribution. Unlike success and failure, contribution has no other side. It is not arrived at by comparison.\u201d Benjamin Zander.<\/p>\n * Reference: Robert Genn \u201cThe Letters\u201d page 542<\/p>\n ~ All new work is available for purchase. \u00a0I have been revisiting, and breathing new life into pieces I am so excited to share with you today! \u00a0please email me at dawn@dawnbanning.com<\/p>\n One side note, I have not taken a break from posting, or painting for nearly a decade. If you have not received these letters on a regular basis, the system on occasion may stop sending letters to those it believes are spam. I apologize for this inconvenience. If ever in doubt, please \u00a0go to my website, click on \u201cNEWSBLOG\u201d to see all new work & posts.<\/p>\n I am still technically restricted, without access to my computer, files & contacts or from using my camera for the photos. These were taken with an iPhone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In reality, most of us are a work in progress. The arts have long wrestled with perfection persona. Visual art rose as a form of communication. Skilled artists were often respected as Shaman. This divinity persona weighed on artists thru … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dawnbanning.com\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2198-300x225.jpg\")
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\nThe portrait took 4 years to complete, and he didn\u2019t feel it was his finest work.
\n4 years. Think of how much Lisa\u2019s looks would have changed.*
\nPerhaps the artist, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and improvement may have been evolving too?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dawnbanning.com\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2210-225x300.jpg\")
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\n\u201cIf we include mistakes in our definition of performance, we are likely to glide through them and appreciate the beauty of the longer run.\u201d Benjamin Zander<\/p>\n
\nDismayed, my budget didn\u2019t allow for purchase of more supplies.
\nThe stress of failing to meet the show requirement haunted me for days. One evening after work, I decided to see if the canvas could be salvaged, maybe, just maybe if I combine mediums, acrylic and oil, maybe if I sand it down.. maybe\u2026<\/p>\n
\nBecause I was restricted from overworking it, it felt light and bold. It had spark. In effect, the flawed work beneath gave it life.<\/p>\n
\nOf all the work in the show, unknown to him, he purchased a painting initially designated for the trash.<\/p>\n
\nWe take the seat of self criticism seriously, with great respect of the process. Remove pride from the equation, and you embody energy and power of possibility.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dawnbanning.com\/newsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2204-300x239.jpg\")
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