Interview discussing the creative process of teaching

Just found this interview I did for the New School last year.

How does your drawing practice inform your thinking?

Creating art comes from thought – which is directed by the intention or desire to create. I try to be thoughtless when I execute a work of art. When I do think – I meditate on paradigms of value, mark making and direction (perspective) as well as composition through intense observation – to help inform the work. This filters into my day-to-day life, even when I am not painting or drawing. I feel the balance and organization of creating a drawing has become infused with my very existence. The search for beauty, excitement, or a certain recognition that all the elements relate in what we see – has become my life’s pursuit.

What do you see as the value of drawing in a larger sense?

Drawing and painting is an invaluable tool for navigating through the world. I feel I am privy to communication with everyone, at all levels of life, not just a few – through my art. My very being is rooted in the fundamental virtues of being an artist, which helps clarify my plight as a creative person. For me it is knowing that the unknown exists, debunking the myth of light and creation, which never ends!

What is the greatest struggle that you see your students work through in your drawing classes and how do you facilitate their learning to grapple with things that come up for them?

The greatest struggle is with being human. The inherent distrust that they have in being the age they are, being away from home, peers, drugs, diet, attitude, etc. I try to inform the students how important it is to purge yourself of these base desires before coming to the easel, to master your thoughts and come prepared –as a fighter or a chef would. I encourage everyone to keep a journal and write out all thoughts before creating, so as not to put your self in the way of being a clear channel.

More technically, tonality (value) and composition are the first two things that rear its ugly head. I tell the students to adopt a prolific master painter, and keep a scrapbook on them. My approach is to pull from what they are doing already, and enhance that through either cropping the image, approaching the marks/graphics differently and/or seeing value mass and relating it to another easier to read value mass. They also have to keep a sketchbook and to use it daily for sketching.

My students have no problem with expression, most can pull an exciting array of line and mark from their brains, once directed to do so. I demonstrate the gamut of creative approaches in demonstration, so as to reveal a multi prong attack on executing something unique and original. I also bring up the aspect of intention and love/passion in my teaching. To have the intention to create something out of inspired energy is tantamount to creative expression and masterful outcome.

It is important for students to be reminded of this, that creativity and life is rooted in love and inspiration.

How does the teaching aspect of your practice affect your professional practice and your own projects?

Teaching for me builds compassion. I am eternally grateful to my students for giving me this lesson. I find the creative means of describing situations or goals/outcomes are far easier when compassion is applied. Teaching is about building inspiration, trust and hope. These are all virtues I try to put back into my work, and in dealings with my business people and partners.

For me painting and drawing are intrinsically connected to my Self and center of being. Through this journey of seeing things by breaking down tone, mass, weight, line, composition, perspective, color, value and expression – I in turn live my life this way – with passion.

I see how detachment from outcome (of art) is most important. To see that the creation has its own life, that we just guide and make it better – is key. I enjoy acknowledging this and giving it meaning through teaching. It is rooted in the journey being the most important aspect to the trip, the outcome will reveal itself in time – we just have to be prepared on our way.

-Gavin Spielman April 25, 2012

New painting – ‘Garth’, 18″/24″, Oil on Canvas

Painting of Sam

Art Workshop to Come

I’ve decided to open my studio to the public — and offer my services as an oil painter/instructor. I plan to have auctions and give demonstrations throughout the year. I am excited by this prospect and have started clearing my space for the coming months.

Painter or Illustrator

I am both. I cannot see the delineation. A love for humor and film has always captivated me – and I have traced this back to my youth, when I would draw comic books in my closet. I came up with a super hero named ‘Diamond Head’ about that time ( no idea there was a band called this), which later became a zine, which I forgot the name of.

What I am trying to do is justify all the time spent not rendering from life, but creating logos, cartoons and ideas. I LOVE painting, and get lost in it – but recently I have been turned off by painters. Last year – I had falling out with two close friends, both of which I developed relationships with based on my art. Both individuals turned out to be judgmental assholes, with little to give other than sordid attention laden with self adulation and fear. It turned me off to creating anything ‘fine art’ and I reverted to ‘Kiche’. The dormant flow of energy that propels my desire to create in OIL will be relived once my studio is moved. I am between galleries, and have as much talent as an ant, in my mind. I have chosen to become a non artist, a non entity for this short amount of time. I will work on craft and develop ideas, but the market is something I am not interested in at this moment. Money and adulation has come and gone, and what I am left with is a desire to create for the essence of life is fabricating the new. I see the old in my past cronies, I see the doubt, fear and pain of losing parents, losing money, traveling alone.

We are all alone. As an avid meditator I see this clearly. Listen to the heart and follow the song sung by its tonal vibration. This led me to be a musician, painter and a fool. Spielman in it’s literal terms.

Moving AGAIN!

Seems I cannot stay in one place too long these days, and for this my work has suffered. Having been evicted from my old digs, I am now forced to take part in a new construction of a larger space in Bushwick, Brooklyn – but this is going to take a few months of labor and money spent. Not going to do much painting or recording within this time. Although I am working on a new comic book, as well as recording a record with Steve Albini this summer – I feel the need to paint more than ever before.

On the state of Fine Art…

Society’s reverence for Fine Art has all but diminished – in its place flashy, easy to digest totems and bright colored ill produced kitsch, opposite of the Ashcan School. Regardless, the old spirit moves me and I will produce creatively – hopeful the outcome will be unfettered by contemporary daftness.

On Creating…

The essence of creativity is inspiration. To be inspired by something means you give your entire being over to the sentient processes there before you, and a calling to a higher ideal transforms through thought into action – if action is taken. Inspiration drives the creative to do many things, most of which will never see the light of day — but all combine to create a unified existence of purpose within an artist. The projects or ideas that do surface gracefully, with no struggle  – into the field of activity, and reveal themselves to be charged with life and inspired – are the works we see in museums, portfolios and galleries. It is within the days of creating things out of habit and a foresight to future positive outcome will push better work forward. It is not in thinking that this occurs, rather in the doing and observation of craft.

I create art to feel the process of evolution. It expands my thought processes to include aspects of the ethereal and brings forth a joining of inner clarity and social outward awareness. I am too aware of this, and so I find myself addicted to finding this state of Nirvana through creating either paintings, drawings or music. In this field of activity I am more at home and enjoy life much deeper, than if I did not correlate the two worlds.

‘Darwin’ by Gavin Spielman

Nice letter from a student….

Hey!

Parsons Spring Semester Done!

I finished teaching my class today – I am going to miss those kids (adults). I feel I was able to connect with each one individually as well as a group – and for this I am grateful. Age and experience have their benefits, especially when teaching something like fine art.

I love painting and drawing more than most things in life. More than just about anything, actually. It is only when I am either painting, drawing or composing a song ( or performing, meditation too) when I experience an out of body, time loss feeling. I love this feeling. It connects me to everything and everyone, and I see how important information is – to be able to be one pointed about things, to live with passion and understand everybody is on their own trip – is the key to social living.