In and Out of the Box: Thinking Outside The Box

In & Out of The Box  C.T. Rasmuss, pastels (2007).

Many times in our creative lives we hear the expression: "think outside of the box"; but what is to be said to those who actually live outside of this box?

I believe we artists tend to live this expression in our daily lives, which may be why we, or shall I say "art" has chosen us as a career path; this all comes to mind because of the last few years, I've realized that I never have a problem "thinking outside of the box" whenever it's emphasized, whether in my college days or work, etc.

Intersectioning  C.T. Rasmuss, ink (2008)

In all the time that I've encountered this phrase or philosophy throughout my life, I've cherished its implication and have always tried to meet it with the best of enthusiasm.  Naturally, I always exude extreme passion into the tasks that require this approach, and and in all this time I'd never realized, that unlike most people that "live inside the box" I "Live" outside the box!

And by realizing this, I also have come to the conclusion that this can have many draw backs just as living "inside the box" can in the creative world.  Some of these draw backs that I've discovered include: staying "grounded" with the others that live "inside the box"; being able to relate to and understand the contents of "The box"; and the idea of living on the Frey is notoriously dangerous in numerable ways.

Firescape  C.T. Rasmuss,  ink/pastels (2010).

And now onto the artwork- One thing that these three examples of my art have in common, other than the mediums, is not just the boxes or lines they all have in common, but how one negotiates in and out of their space, inside and outside of boxes and the painting. 

I think my art-work here represents how the mind treats ideas & thoughts then shuffles through them, and how each one represents a different approach to the cognitive idea of: Thinking Outside of the Box, and the big question here is "Where and how do you think"??

Quixotic

This Drawing with Ink is based on my favorite book: Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes; I title it Quixotic as it is a term associated with the main character in this marvelous 15th century novel, and that I suffer from.  It is the first book that I ever read and which made me laugh out loud many times over.  Throughout my life I have been able to associate with this story over and over, as I have been misunderstood by my numerous attempted heroics; as well as misinterpreting countless situations and exaggerated dangers that I must conquer.

The Artist as a Historian

King Ashurnasirpal II   C.T. Rasmuss, gouache (2010)


King Ashurnasirpal II (870AD; Northern Mesopotamia)

I painted this artwork from a sketch I rendered after a stone relief of King Ashurnasirpal II at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  After some later research in returning from the museum, I found out that he was the king of Assyria and "he is perhaps best known for the brutal frankness with which he described the atrocities committed on his captives...The details of his reign are known almost entirely from his own inscriptions and the splendid reliefs in the ruins of his palace at Calah (now Nimrūd, Iraq)." Encyclopedia Britannica.

I had no idea what type of ruler he was or anything about this ancient ruler, I was just curious of how to translate such an ancient art form to a more modern medium; to understand some real history by viewing it through modern eyes.  No matter his faults or strengths as a ruler, it's even easier for me to see now that he was considered an idol and a type of god to his people; thanks to my talents as an artist that I was blessed with to bring the past into better focus.  It's just another trait the artist possesses in which I've realized that we have through our ability to create and re-create, because of this exercise.

Follow the link below for some more information on this type of ancient art-form, slabs large stone carved in relief.

www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.143.4

The Forgotten

Art is ageless, even as it's creators passes on..some remnants remain as others are lost through the shuffle of time; the important thing that must not be forgotten is to give every single piece of creation it's due...Today!!

Honesty in Art

To those who view art as being about honesty, how does an artist achieve success?

Drawing

One's ability to draw from the well of everyday life, is considered visual art when these daily lessons learned are applied to a canvas or paper; such as a simple drawing for instance.

Opposite of Create

The opposite of create is destroy; but I say the opposite of create is denial of one's ability.

What is Art?

A painting is the result of painting and a sculpture is the result of sculpting; based on this premise, art too is an object as well as an action and these two perspectives both must be taken into consideration when answering the question 'What is Art?'.

Anger

Anger is destructive, to rather turn it into a masterpiece and be admired for its beauty is unfathomable in the heat of the moment; the key to creation in this state is to be found through force of action onto the canvas.

Many people abstain from art by saying: 'I can't even draw a straight line'; well I say: good then, even better:)

The difference between light and dark is a matter of intensity in either direction.