Thank you, Perry, that is excellent insight, I appreciate it. I agree with you about censorship, and you’ve put it so well. Fear can be a great tool and motivator, used for both ill purposes and good. I have repented to Mr. Steinbeck as well and found and read copies of his masterpieces after Saint Exupery. Steinbeck is one of my favorites, too. I loved The Winter of our Discontent and of course East of Eden and Travels with Charley. We tore apart more things than we built in that class, but I did learn lost wax casting. Thanks for the excellent thoughts and conversation, you’ve helped me think more deeply, too.
Censorship is the same as restricting freedom and destroying artistic expression. What an odd classroom project, but I think I get the gist of it; you had to destroy one of my favourite authors, John Steinbeck, to find the joy, once again, in Antione de Saint Exupéry.
Fear drives both censorship of books and restrictions of freedom, in particular artistic freedom. Without it, there cannot be joy. As I wrote in my previous post, there is joy in Nature. One reason is that Nature can't be censored.
Thank you for this article. It made me think more about the neccessity of joy and how to find it.
Thank you, Perry, that is excellent insight, I appreciate it. I agree with you about censorship, and you’ve put it so well. Fear can be a great tool and motivator, used for both ill purposes and good. I have repented to Mr. Steinbeck as well and found and read copies of his masterpieces after Saint Exupery. Steinbeck is one of my favorites, too. I loved The Winter of our Discontent and of course East of Eden and Travels with Charley. We tore apart more things than we built in that class, but I did learn lost wax casting. Thanks for the excellent thoughts and conversation, you’ve helped me think more deeply, too.
Thank you kindly, Joyce, I appreciate you kind comments so much, thank you for reading through. I have not forgotten about you; it’s simmering at the back of my mind ❤️. I hope you enjoy a gorgeous weekend!
Wow! Totally love this Jenn, your writing is a wonderful canvas for your art and such an amazing journey of exploration. I totally love the drawings, with all the confident lines and attention to detail and design. The mixed media artworks are stunning, love the colours and textures and how all the fine details draw me in again and again each time I see them. So glad you shared this and so blessed to have seen it.
Thank you, so very much, Dawud, for the wonderfully kind critique and comment! I am blessed by your enthusiasm and support. Thank you for looking through at my art and reading my tale! I hope you have a beautiful weekend and a little spare time for sketches!
If you will forgive me another cross-reference to music which leapt out at me as soon as you mentioned the book title. I immediately recognised it. Not because I have read it, but because my favourite musician Steve Hackett has a piece with the same title on one of his albums from a good few years back. I was struck by the mood and beauty of the track, and read through the sleeve notes (which I have just taken down from the shelf to read again): "A philosopher,philanthropist and poet that saw flying as a way of escaping the humdrum. His profession took his life prematurely....but I hope at least we've captured some of the spirit of this beautifully written book." I will definitely seek out a copy now. Somehow I feel it should be a well-thumbed and loved volume rather than a brand new one for some reason! Magical writing and illustrations again. Thank you, Jenn.
You are more than forgiven because once again you have brought me a beautiful piece of music! I love that it was inspired by the book, I can hear the influence. Thank you so much, that is so cool. I was also excited to discover the pieces he did by Eric Saite, I love them in piano but his version is very striking and emotive in a whole new way. A used copy of the book is the way to go, if you can find one. Thrift books does have one, though it’s pricey and lacking good photos.
However, that is the one I have and destroyed, just for your reference if you search for one. It has the most beautiful illustrations inside. Thank you for the kind comment and wonderful music!
Glad you like the Steve Hackett stuff. Yes, he is both a amazing rock guitarist and a phenomenal classical guitarist, which is very unusual. Thanks for the link. I will have a look around. There are a few used book sellers here in the UK and I can just put a notification in if and when one becomes available.
I did not know the two were so incongruous. One of my kids just started guitar lessons and I’m curious and excited to see where that will go. Good luck with the book search, I hope it works out!!
No, not completely incongruous. Just very different techniques. Obviously the instrument is technically the same in that it is six strings tuned in the same way for the most part. But electric guitar (for example) is usually played with a pick and the classical technique involves the thumb and three fingers as a norm. It’s a big subject again! Is your kid learning online or with a real-life tutor? I hope they are ready for the routine of daily practice :). It’s a slog for a long time. Or it certainly was for me. But I am not from a musical family. Good luck!
Ah, how interesting, I did not know the difference. He is going in person, weekly, to an instructor; and was doing great with practice until we got very sick last week. We are better now, but the good habit needs to be rebuilt. I can well believe the slog, it’s a lot to learn the chords and how to read the music and to put it all together. I am excited for him, though.
It's a great discipline to learn a musical instrument. I am self-taught, so never learnt to sight-read formal notation. Different things work for different people though. You will know all about that as a home tutor though. Enjoy it together though...when he plays the first song for you will be a milestone, I expect.
I’m cringing while you destroy the book, Lol, but then your resolution was such a “joyful” surprise. I love how you make words more meaningful through your art, and the deconstruction of the beautiful book enabled you to highlight important messages contained in it’s pages. I love everything you’ve done here, and boy that must have been a challenge drawing with the book in your lap. Beautiful Jenn! Your kiddos are going to have a good school year! 🥰🥰🥰
I know, it was so awful! I felt pretty bad about. I’d always loved to read growing up. At the time definitely I was pretty young and sort of in a phase of life where my attitude was a bit self destructive anyway, and definitely very malleable and naive with no firm idea of self. But yes, I have tried to repent! And start reading books again. Thank you for the wonderfully kind comment, and for reading and cringing along with me! I so appreciate you and your encouragement, Charlotte! Have a beautiful weekend!
I was cringing with you Jenn knowing you had to have been doing the same, sacrificing that beautiful book you yearned to keep intact, but out of it a butterfly was born. Joy at the end! 🦋 💗
Enjoyed it. In high school I was put in an art class because my sister was straight a student so they figured I could also be an artist. The teacher quickly found out I couldn't draw a stick man. She was a teacher, so she gave me Steinbeck to read. I wasn't much of a reader till I read his books. Every week she gave me a book to report on. Not a book report but a story about a character in the book. She said for me to take the information I was given and add to it. When I graduated high school, she told me just because I couldn't draw didn't mean I wasn't an artist.
That is incredible, we need more teachers like that, who can see a child’s strengths and encourage growth in positive and creative ways. I am in awe of your teacher, and agree that not all artists draw. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Perry, that is excellent insight, I appreciate it. I agree with you about censorship, and you’ve put it so well. Fear can be a great tool and motivator, used for both ill purposes and good. I have repented to Mr. Steinbeck as well and found and read copies of his masterpieces after Saint Exupery. Steinbeck is one of my favorites, too. I loved The Winter of our Discontent and of course East of Eden and Travels with Charley. We tore apart more things than we built in that class, but I did learn lost wax casting. Thanks for the excellent thoughts and conversation, you’ve helped me think more deeply, too.
Censorship is the same as restricting freedom and destroying artistic expression. What an odd classroom project, but I think I get the gist of it; you had to destroy one of my favourite authors, John Steinbeck, to find the joy, once again, in Antione de Saint Exupéry.
Fear drives both censorship of books and restrictions of freedom, in particular artistic freedom. Without it, there cannot be joy. As I wrote in my previous post, there is joy in Nature. One reason is that Nature can't be censored.
Thank you for this article. It made me think more about the neccessity of joy and how to find it.
Thank you, Perry, that is excellent insight, I appreciate it. I agree with you about censorship, and you’ve put it so well. Fear can be a great tool and motivator, used for both ill purposes and good. I have repented to Mr. Steinbeck as well and found and read copies of his masterpieces after Saint Exupery. Steinbeck is one of my favorites, too. I loved The Winter of our Discontent and of course East of Eden and Travels with Charley. We tore apart more things than we built in that class, but I did learn lost wax casting. Thanks for the excellent thoughts and conversation, you’ve helped me think more deeply, too.
A journey for sure. Thanks for opening that chapter. Great read and certainly an artist road, if like mine navigating without destination
Navigating without destination…yes, that rings too true. Thank you for that wisdom and for checking out my journey and my art, I am grateful to you!
Lovely story and writing.
Thank you, Jessamyn! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and leave me your thoughts! Enjoy your day!
You have a fascinating story there keep it up
Thank you, Joe! I appreciate that very much. Thanks for reading my post and leaving me some kindness!
Love it Jenn! Keep popping those books open for inspirational messages. Keep creating. We need you 🙏❤️
Thank you for your kindness, Jamie! I appreciate you checking out my post! Have a good weekend!
Just love this, Jenn. Your art work is so beautiful and the text brings out all of the beauty. 💙💫
Thank you kindly, Joyce, I appreciate you kind comments so much, thank you for reading through. I have not forgotten about you; it’s simmering at the back of my mind ❤️. I hope you enjoy a gorgeous weekend!
It’ll be ready when you’re ready, Jenn. Until then, have a lovely weekend 💙🙏💫🥰🤗
Thank you, and you too! ❤️
You are so creative. Love hearing about it and love your finished pieces.
Thank you, Monica, I so appreciate that and I’m happy to know you enjoyed the art!
Wow! Totally love this Jenn, your writing is a wonderful canvas for your art and such an amazing journey of exploration. I totally love the drawings, with all the confident lines and attention to detail and design. The mixed media artworks are stunning, love the colours and textures and how all the fine details draw me in again and again each time I see them. So glad you shared this and so blessed to have seen it.
Thank you, so very much, Dawud, for the wonderfully kind critique and comment! I am blessed by your enthusiasm and support. Thank you for looking through at my art and reading my tale! I hope you have a beautiful weekend and a little spare time for sketches!
If you will forgive me another cross-reference to music which leapt out at me as soon as you mentioned the book title. I immediately recognised it. Not because I have read it, but because my favourite musician Steve Hackett has a piece with the same title on one of his albums from a good few years back. I was struck by the mood and beauty of the track, and read through the sleeve notes (which I have just taken down from the shelf to read again): "A philosopher,philanthropist and poet that saw flying as a way of escaping the humdrum. His profession took his life prematurely....but I hope at least we've captured some of the spirit of this beautifully written book." I will definitely seek out a copy now. Somehow I feel it should be a well-thumbed and loved volume rather than a brand new one for some reason! Magical writing and illustrations again. Thank you, Jenn.
You are more than forgiven because once again you have brought me a beautiful piece of music! I love that it was inspired by the book, I can hear the influence. Thank you so much, that is so cool. I was also excited to discover the pieces he did by Eric Saite, I love them in piano but his version is very striking and emotive in a whole new way. A used copy of the book is the way to go, if you can find one. Thrift books does have one, though it’s pricey and lacking good photos.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/wind-sand-and-stars_antoine-de-saint-exupry/293757/?resultid=5f6b61b7-6112-4b35-8c16-ee3be4bf48e7#edition=8106783&idiq=19451708
However, that is the one I have and destroyed, just for your reference if you search for one. It has the most beautiful illustrations inside. Thank you for the kind comment and wonderful music!
Glad you like the Steve Hackett stuff. Yes, he is both a amazing rock guitarist and a phenomenal classical guitarist, which is very unusual. Thanks for the link. I will have a look around. There are a few used book sellers here in the UK and I can just put a notification in if and when one becomes available.
I did not know the two were so incongruous. One of my kids just started guitar lessons and I’m curious and excited to see where that will go. Good luck with the book search, I hope it works out!!
No, not completely incongruous. Just very different techniques. Obviously the instrument is technically the same in that it is six strings tuned in the same way for the most part. But electric guitar (for example) is usually played with a pick and the classical technique involves the thumb and three fingers as a norm. It’s a big subject again! Is your kid learning online or with a real-life tutor? I hope they are ready for the routine of daily practice :). It’s a slog for a long time. Or it certainly was for me. But I am not from a musical family. Good luck!
Ah, how interesting, I did not know the difference. He is going in person, weekly, to an instructor; and was doing great with practice until we got very sick last week. We are better now, but the good habit needs to be rebuilt. I can well believe the slog, it’s a lot to learn the chords and how to read the music and to put it all together. I am excited for him, though.
It's a great discipline to learn a musical instrument. I am self-taught, so never learnt to sight-read formal notation. Different things work for different people though. You will know all about that as a home tutor though. Enjoy it together though...when he plays the first song for you will be a milestone, I expect.
Love these hand images!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Collage. Destruction and construction and reconstruction. Is anything ever destroyed?
Hmmm. No. It just lives on in a new form. Thank you for this perspective ☺️
I love these sketches and I loved the way you laid out your thoughts. Great work!
Thank you so very much, I am very grateful to you for reading, and thank you for the lovely comment, too!
Always a pleasure!
A fascinating journey. I also love the way art was used to make new art. And last but defiantly not least: your work is beautiful!!
Thank you, Ingrid, that means a lot to me! I appreciate the kind support and encouragement. I hope your weekend is a joyful one!
You too
I’m cringing while you destroy the book, Lol, but then your resolution was such a “joyful” surprise. I love how you make words more meaningful through your art, and the deconstruction of the beautiful book enabled you to highlight important messages contained in it’s pages. I love everything you’ve done here, and boy that must have been a challenge drawing with the book in your lap. Beautiful Jenn! Your kiddos are going to have a good school year! 🥰🥰🥰
I know, it was so awful! I felt pretty bad about. I’d always loved to read growing up. At the time definitely I was pretty young and sort of in a phase of life where my attitude was a bit self destructive anyway, and definitely very malleable and naive with no firm idea of self. But yes, I have tried to repent! And start reading books again. Thank you for the wonderfully kind comment, and for reading and cringing along with me! I so appreciate you and your encouragement, Charlotte! Have a beautiful weekend!
I was cringing with you Jenn knowing you had to have been doing the same, sacrificing that beautiful book you yearned to keep intact, but out of it a butterfly was born. Joy at the end! 🦋 💗
Thank you for the perspective of the butterfly, that’s a wonderful thought ☺️❤️
Enjoyed it. In high school I was put in an art class because my sister was straight a student so they figured I could also be an artist. The teacher quickly found out I couldn't draw a stick man. She was a teacher, so she gave me Steinbeck to read. I wasn't much of a reader till I read his books. Every week she gave me a book to report on. Not a book report but a story about a character in the book. She said for me to take the information I was given and add to it. When I graduated high school, she told me just because I couldn't draw didn't mean I wasn't an artist.
That is incredible, we need more teachers like that, who can see a child’s strengths and encourage growth in positive and creative ways. I am in awe of your teacher, and agree that not all artists draw. Thank you so much!