Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all,
I've been re-reading a book I have called 'Drawing Autism' by Jill Mullin. I initially read it before my diagnosis just because I found it in a bookshop and liked what I saw. I'm a creator, initially in design but owing to certain situations I haven't worked in years. I'm still a creator though. Having now got a diagnosis I'm reading it from a slightly different perspective. I'd be interested to hear what other people like to draw/paint/create.
There's a chapter in the book called 'Repetition, repetition, repetition' that seems to sum me up fairly succinctly. As a child I liked to draw (a lot) the old green £1 notes, I liked the patterns and all the intricacies of the design.
These days I create 'art' using words and sentences generally in some specific pattern or geometric shape, spirals, circles and labyrinths. I work on large canvases, usually 3' x 4' but work very intricately, the writing/print is small. I would work on an even bigger scale if I had the room. I do create other pieces but I always come back to this same formula, it's soothing.
Going back to the book the author asked each contributor these questions:
* At what age did the act of creating art enter into your life? (For me it was as soon as I had access to paint)
* Why did you start creating art? (I enjoy it, it cathartic)
* What inspires/excites you about creating art? (I can plan down to the smallest detail and I really like the repetition)
* How do you choose your subjects? Why do you paint/draw what you do? (Again it's repetition and I like order)
* Do you think your art helps others understand how you view the world? (I think so, it re-iterates my patterns of behaviour and has tended to make people slightly more patient with me)
No matter how you create I'd just like to hear what and why you create. Cheers!
Used to have job where I spent lot of time on phone and doodled absentmindedly often from a random starting point like partial cup ring turning into bird of prey, couple marks to check open worked becoming bridge others from nothing and its geometric, hatching or stipples which work themselves into something so yes repetition.
Like strong clean design lines in ordinary stuff - lines in iris, cut open orange as well as savagery in stuff like Gerald Scarfe and Ralph Steadman.
Don't draw anymore but do bits of vehicle bodywork and enjoy processes, shining back flash rusted panel back to steel ready for etching, priming, building up filler, painting etc.
Appreciate age patina of lightly rusted metal alongside old paint but not rust holes...to dark, jagged and angry and know even with good weld let in they'll never be good as new.
Think its both transformation and repetitive processes working towards a goal.