Recently Stampington & Co. made a call for entries for "True Colors" pages through Post Script, their online newsletter. It got me thinking about my own work in that project and how differently I might approach a page today. My style and interests have changed, and the process and techniques I use have evolved since that collaborative began in 2001. As a way to chart our own growth it might be interesting to revisit older work through our current filters, don't you think?
A knockoff is an unauthorized imitation or copy, and is usually considered a bad thing. Think: designer purses sold on the streets of New York. Or, an item that is popular or trendy becomes knocked-off by wannabes. Ewww. We don't do that....because we know how to Make It Our Own. But if we knock ourselves off, that could be good. (We have the authorization to imitate ourselves). We could take something we've made, months or years ago, and try it again, armed with new skills and techniques and an evolved style to see how much we've grown. Are we more sophisticated, more complex, more messy, more authentic? Has your color palette changed? Do you use more or less texture, paint, fabric, metal?
Here is an example. I made this Exemplar for Somerset Studio a long time ago. If I were to take on that self-imposed assignment today it might look a little different. Those of you who know my work will recognize both styles, and that obviously the one on the right is designed with my current vision.
While I love my pages in my Autumn journal for True Colors, I would most definitely have a different approach if I were to begin that project today.
We've all heard "cover" versions of music. They aren't always better than the original, just a different version created through the perspective of another artist, in another style, and of course, with better recording technology. For instance, here is T. Rex performing Bang a Gong. Years later it was covered by Power Station HERE. It's a little more punchy and powerful thanks in part to the growth of the recording industry. More examples: Careless Whisper by George Michael vs. Seether. We can't leave out HIM, their version of Don't Fear the Reaper vs. Blue Oyster Cult.
So this month, Knock Yourself Off, or Cover Yourself. Go back a few months or a few years and select a journal page or piece of art and re-make it by your own "today's standards".
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