It is no secret that I love working with the process of improvisation. It is also no secret that I love to read AND that I love to share the amazing books that I have read. Well, I just had to share this book with you and it got me thinking of how I could share my love of improvisation and the work of artists that use it, and discuss how they use it. Perhaps it could help you, I know it will help me, I think it will help us all. I hope to spark discussion, spark interest, spark art making, spark friendships. I am so excited and am looking forward to sharing that excitement as well.
I stumbled across this book in my search for information on how artists have historically used improvisation in their art making. Interestingly there really is not that much info out there with regard to improv and the visual arts. This surprised me greatly for a number of reasons. The first being that coming from the quilting world their is a whole movement of quilters who work in an improv style, who share and discuss openly their methods and their inspiration. The second being that I know and have heard many many artists, not just quilt artists, talk about how they use improv as part of their practice, and how it helps them create and refine their work. If you have a good resource on the topic of improvisation in visual art making please let me know!
SO, the book I stumbled across and that has so inspired me is 'Improv Wisdom' by Patricia Ryan Madson. She is an acting professor, who has written this incredible book that I think artists of all kinds could benefit from. 'Improv Wisdom' is about taking the improvisational acting methods and techniques and using them to better your everyday life. Well, I fell for it hook line and sinker and as I read, I related it to my own art making. Much of which I was already doing, but, I found it so helpful and inspiring, and it really motivated me to keep working at it, in a way, it gave me confidence to realize that what I was doing was important, which is often easy to forget, no?
I read the book over a year ago, and just recently reread it. And I still could not shake the idea that there really isn't a whole lot out there for visual artists interested in learning how to embrace this technique, and use the methods of improvisation in their art making. I see improvisation as a wonderful way to aid visual artists in the creation of new ideas, in overcoming creative blocks, and most importantly a wonderful way to connect with art. other artists, and what inspires them. So I've decided to start the discussion. I've decided to share what I know. I've decided to bring those interested in improv together to connect with how we use it, and I'd like to ask other artists to do the same.
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, feelings, knowledge, love and/or just ramble on about improvisation please e-mail me. I am starting this blog, The ART of IMPROV, and would like to feature the work and ideas of other artists who use improv as part of their creative process or in the their daily life. I can not wait to hear from you so we can begin to spread the creative impact that improv can bring not just to our art but to the world. I dream big! I hope you will join me.