Rambling Considerations & a Book Giveaway!
From literary notes to art history, poetry, and personal observations - these Substack "artist notes" takes shape.
Hello and welcome to my latest artistic musing from my little studio in Oregon. I’ve been distracted by projects and travels, but am back now, ready to consider what lies ahead - both in my studio and for “An Artist’s Notes”.
If you follow me on Patreon, I posted a little recap for my subscribers on Thursday of my projects in process (including my preparations to create new work using a reverse glass painting process, image above) and a short self-evaluation of my thematic goals for 2023 (focused on Growth, Resolve, Rhythm, Visible Mending, and Intention), including this short reference to my writings on Substack:
Intention: I recently scanned all my past Substack articles as a means to create a guide filled with links to all the resources I'd mentioned over the last few years. I had to laugh at the number of times I was announcing my "new" intention for the next project or year. And every time, I probably thought it was a new idea. I'm still unpacking how I feel about that, but I think it's best to do so with a little grace and humor - and going forward I think I'll let Intention weave its way into my work without having to be announced.
If you want to know more about my studio practice, I welcome you to join me over there where I post occasional content for everyone and weekly updates for subscribers.
In fact, the more I reflect on my work and the world around me, I realize I unintentionally seem to form a little feedback loop, blissfully unaware of its repeating nature, and yet ever hopeful that it is actually a spiral slowly working its way skyward.
And then, after watching John Mulaney’s Baby J special this week, and seeing a little too much of myself in his self-deprecating humor. (I hope nobody recognizes me quickly turning to why doesn’t anyone recognize me?) I also realized that it’s best to not take myself or my art too seriously. (There were many more takeaways, mostly drug re-hab related, that I’m sure will strike viewers of his most recent stand-up routine.) For me, though, it was that he was standing there, on that stage, finding humor in what was likely some of the darkest moments of his life. He unabashedly accepted who he was and the mistakes he had made. It could be argued he’s mining it for his career, but that is not unique to him or creative fields in general. “Write what you know” - isn’t that what they say?
With a quick Google search, I learned that saying comes from Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain).
Mark Twain on Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences
Samuel Clemens also humorously had many more words of advice for writers, including a litany of pointers for one author in particular, Fenimore Cooper (writer of The Last of the Mohicans), and his works specifically, The Deerslayer and The Pathfinder, which he lays out in “Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences”.
There are nineteen rules governing literary art in domain of romantic fiction -- some say twenty-two. In "Deerslayer," Cooper violated eighteen of them.
~ Mark Twain
I have read neither of these books by Cooper, but am now very curious to do so. (If I was looking at contemporary authors, I might think this was all one big social media marketing ploy - one which I admit, would absolutely work on me. He said what? Now I have to buy that book Mark Twain hates!)
I find it amusing that after Clemens notes the first 11 large failures of the author in these works, he continues with more “little ones”. Rules which require “that the author shall…”
12. Say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it.
13. Use the right word, not its second cousin.
14. Eschew surplusage1.
15. Not omit necessary details.
16. Avoid slovenliness of form.
17. Use good grammar.
18. Employ a simple and straightforward style.
Clemens notes, “[even] these seven are coldly and persistently violated in the "Deerslayer" tale. And after providing extensive examples of all these transgressions, concludes with:
I may be mistaken, but it does seem to me that "Deerslayer" is not a work of art in any sense; it does seem to me that it is destitute of every detail that goes to the making of a work of art; in truth, it seems to me that "Deerslayer" is just simply a literary delirium tremens.
A work of art? It has no invention; it has no order, system, sequence, or result; it has no lifelikeness, no thrill, no stir, no seeming of reality; its characters are confusedly drawn, and by their acts and words they prove that they are not the sort of people the author claims that they are; its humor is pathetic; its pathos is funny; its conversations are -- oh! indescribable; its love-scenes odious; its English a crime against the language.
~ Mark Twain
My literary digression down this rabbit hole regarding works I haven’t even read leads me (whether intuitive or not) to ponder the absurdity of it all. Of art-making. Of allowing oneself to clutch grand notions of art and existence even as this house of cards tremors on a flawed foundation. My foundation. Mark Twain’s. Historical periods we thought we understood.
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
Currently, I am reading The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel (which can be found on my website (JenniferLommers.com) in a new section called: Book Recommendations2.) I am only up to the Baroque period in my reading, but I find the stories of the artists and Hessel’s obvious knowledge of art and art history a marvelous journey into a previously unknown past (to me, at least). Finding out about the courageous, skilled, and often ignored women artists from history is both energizing and debilitating. I feel empowered by generations of women following their passions while also horrified that I had been brought up on history books dedicated to only the men and I never thought to question it.
From the story of Lavinia Fontana (1552 – 1614) who made a career as an artist while having her husband care for their 11 children to Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 - 1656) who endured a trial (in which she was tortured!) that in the end - finally convicted her rapist only to have him later avoid punishment (with thanks to the Pope). All the while she proved to be an accomplished painter creating incredible works such as Susanna and the Elders in 1610 (at age 17!) where she deftly showcases her tremendous painting skill and the unique perspective with which only women artists could paint - introducing a sincerity and reality which was lacking in the art of her male contemporaries.
But the story doesn’t end here. The perspective and nuance one brings to a story are too often tempered by the world in which it is told.
What I have learned here as I work to write out my thoughts and pay a little more attention to the growing volume of works in the world that speak to a larger truth - is that honestly, I know very little. But, I want to know more. I want to understand more perspectives and break old molds. I want to hear the voices that so often go unheard. We do not need another era of suppressing the diverse nature of our existence. We need to broaden the horizon and make room for all voices, while also remembering the words of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg:
“When I'm sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court] and I say, 'When there are nine,' people are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that.”
― Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Yes. I do want an art history book with just the women - and I want to share it!
Every time I write here and follow some new rabbit hole to nary a conclusion, but only more questions and more rabbits, I am reminded that the world is wide and every attempt I make to traverse more of it is an attempt well made.
The Story of Art Without Men - Giveaway!
Which leads me unexpectedly here. In my excitement to purchase this book, I accidentally purchased two! (I still have no idea how I did this.)
Rather than going through the process of figuring out how to return it, I decided a better use of my time would be to share it with one of you.
COMMENT ON THIS POST for your chance to receive this book for FREE (shipping included within the continental US) - direct from my studio to you. The winner will be announced in next week’s “Artist Note”.3
“Use the right word, not its second cousin” ~ Mark Twain
(Actually - any comment will do. You do not need the “right word”.)
But in once again thinking back to Clemens' advice - I laugh at my own difficulty in choosing words (and my overuse of thesaurus.com). And then, I stop to consider some of my favorite poets and poems where each precious word is thoughtfully carried forward to the next, reminding myself that humor and earnestness can co-exist and everything does not need to be fraught with meaning - and yet, we can all use a hug to the soul provoking a larger purpose.
In the words of poet and artist, Elizabeth Woody
I am taken by the word choices of poet Elizabeth Woody, Oregon’s 2016 poet laureate, who I originally found through the “Living Nations, Livings Words, a Map of First Peoples Poetry” project by Joy Harjo - the US 23rd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. In Woody’s poem, Coquille, she includes the following beautiful lines which illustrate her deft choice of words that provoke me to pause and reflect.
A vigilant helix bends into tomorrow.
Antiquity finds its anchor in turmoil.
I hope you’ll listen to the poem, Coquille, in its entirety with Woody’s reading including a short discussion of the poem HERE (loc.gov)
I pause to imagine that helix as I struggle with my own spirals of thought seeming to go nowhere, wondering if they can somehow become my path forward. I pause to consider the history I’ve learned and the history I have not, watching the two collide while seeking to learn from them both.
While I bring my own context to her broader meaning, I work through her lines and hear the push and pull of tides on which she shares her poetry. It may be the nature of a well-made poem, but in listening to Woody’s reading, I hear music in her words even as they portray the difficult duality of remembering the past while creating a new future in the dust of an oppressor’s denial.
In contrast, Clemens did not find a similar beat within Cooper’s tales, whose “word-sense was singularly dull.” Clemens continued, lamenting…
“When a person has a poor ear for music he will flat and sharp right along without knowing it. He keeps near the tune, but is not the tune. When a person has a poor ear for words, the result is a literary flatting and sharping; you perceive what he is intending to say, but you also perceive that he does not say it. This is Cooper. He was not a word-musician. His ear was satisfied with the approximate words.”
I am particularly amused with the evidence provided by Clemens with words taken directly from Cooper’s “Deerslayer”.
He uses "Verbal" for "oral"; "precision" for "facility"; "phenomena" for "marvels"; "necessary" for "predetermined"; "unsophisticated" for "primitive"; "preparation" for "expectancy"; "rebuked" for "subdued"; "dependent on" for "resulting from"; "fact" for "condition"; "fact" for "conjecture"; "precaution" for "caution"; "explain" for "determine"; "mortified" for "disappointed"; "meretricious" for "factitious"; "materially" for "considerably"; "decreasing" for "deepening"; "increasing" for "disappearing"; "embedded" for "inclosed"; "treacherous" for "hostile"; "stood" for "stooped"; "softened" for "replaced"; "rejoined" for "remarked"; "situation" for "condition"; "different" for "differing"; "insensible" for "unsentient"; "brevity" for "celerity"; "distrusted" for "suspicious"; "mental imbecility" for "imbecility"; "eyes" for "sight"; "counteracting" for "opposing"; "funeral obsequies" for "obsequies."
Mark Twain on Fenimore Cooper’s “Deerslayer”
Being someone who often struggles with choosing the proper word to convey meaning (for which I’ll give myself a break, being that my profession is Visual Artist, not Literary Artist), I am especially curious about these word pairings. It also amuses me that I just recently put together a list of favorite comfort words in “Solemly he whispers” which seems so innocent and almost obnoxiously sweet next to this diatribe of word pairings provided by Clemens. It’s a juxtaposition that reminds me of the humor and relief that can be found in a little grace.
In the end, even Clemens surprisingly relents, giving Cooper a slight nod.
Counting these out, what is left is Art. I think we must all admit that.
I can only hope that once all the broken rules are forgiven and the improper words exchanged, there is a little art seen in the thoughts given here. For whether or not Clemens’ final words are mocking, I will innocently choose to read them as relenting and possibly encouraging.
Surprisingly, I’ve written 68 “articles” here on Substack sharing everything from my studio practice, business practice, book reviews, poetry, and art - and I am still happily settling into this space while processing the bombardment of ideas and media that come my way as it relates to art and my art practice. And as I continue to do so, I hope I can give you some interesting rabbit holes to investigate too.
Cheers ~ Jennifer
p.s. REMEMBER to COMMENT for your chance to WIN “The Story of Art Without Men”!
And please feel free to SHARE! Maybe you know someone who would like a chance to win the book too.
A few more art happenings this week (or coming soon)
A little art News
The Florida Principal Fired for Allowing a Lesson on Michelangelo’s ‘David’ Went to Italy to See the Sculpture Herself—She Was Impressed (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/fired-florida-principal-visited-michelangelo-david-2292636)
Climate Protesters Smear Paint on Case and Pedestal of Degas Sculpture at National Gallery of Art (https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/climate-protesters-smear-paint-degas-sculpture-national-gallery-of-art-1234665877/)
A few Application Deadlines
Art in the Park Application Deadline May 5 - Richland, WA
A surprising little outdoor art show that attracts a big crowd from the whole tri-cities area.Corvallis Fall Festival Application Deadline May 1 - Corvallis, OR
The 50th-anniversary show for my hometown art festival. (Like last year) I plan to volunteer and look forward to seeing some of my favorite artists at the show!Ripple and Roar: The Wonder of Water Gallery Show Application Deadline May 1 - Old Forge, NY
I included this opportunity due to my inclination to create work with water themes. I’m going to see if I have anything available to submit to this show.
Art Exhibits
Samira Abbassy: Embodied Mythologies - Solo Exhibition at Advocartsy:
Opening May 11 - Los Angeles, CA
I wish I was in LA to see this show - her work and process look fascinating. If anyone goes, please tell me what you think!
Article Resources
Artists/ Poets/ Writers/ Musicians
Lavinia Fontana (1552 – 1614)
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 - 1656)
Art
Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi
Books
The Deerslayer, The Pathfinder, and The Last of the Mohicans by Fenimore Cooper
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
Films / TV / Cinema
Poems
Print/Other Media
Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses by Mark Twain (public.wsu.edu)
Other Resources
“Living Nations, Livings Words, a Map of First Peoples Poetry” project by Joy Harjo
MORE Resources are available in the following RESOURCE GUIDE - a compilation of all the links, articles, books, artists, and more - made available in “An Artist’s Notes”.
surplusage (noun) sur·plus·age ˈsər-(ˌ)plə-sij : excessive or nonessential matter
(Yes, I had to look this word up, along with a few others noted below, so I thought it best to share the results here in case you needed to as well.)
delirium tremens (noun): a violent delirium with tremors that is induced by excessive and prolonged use of alcoholic liquors (called also d.t.'s)
Full disclosure - I do earn a commission when you use the links on JenniferLommers.com/books to make a purchase on Bookshop.org
“The Store of Art Without Men” book giveaway is not sponsored by the author, publisher, or substack. It is simply one book I accidentally ordered twice and decided to share.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I'm so happy to have landed here in your substack!
Make sure to comment for a chance to receive my spare copy of The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel!