This week has inspired thoughts of creation, and what it really takes to be creative.
Ideas, talent, dive, determination, and skill are only a few of the qualifications necessary.
Visiting the National Gallery of Art to examine works by the great masters always
helps to gain perspective.
Michelangelo Buonarroti's David - Apollo circa 1530.
This work is one that illustrates a personal habit of Michelangelo, and many artists for that matter, this habit is one of leaving work incomplete or "non-finito". While many leave unfinished creative work by the wayside never to see the light of day, Michelangelo's unfinished works are treasured. This unrefined masterpiece has a way of tantalizing the viewers imagination as the work emerges from the rough textured marble.
The views eye seems to fill in the missing information, this helps to unite the viewer with the piece.
Up close this statue has an amazing amount of texture. The rough texture is a result of the chisels used by Michelangelo to free his figure from the block of marble. The makers marks take the viewer on a guided tale of creation, Point chisel marks left behind as the rough form was created, claw chisel marks of various sizes show the refinement process as the artist removes rough stone to revel his work.
The photo above of work by Auguste Rodin entitled "Hand Of Rodin With Female Figure" reminds me of a quote by Michelangelo -
"The greatest artist has no conception which a single block of white marble does not potentially contain within its mass, but only a hand obedient to the mind can penetrate to this image"
With this in mind I hope you create yourself a wonderful weekend, and a fabulous February.
