happy accidents - The Lardner Report

Accidental Art

December 31, 2013 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Drywall prep in NYC cafeteria renovation

It’s simply about being aware… conscious, open.

While surveying a corporate bank client’s new cafeteria construction site in a Manhattan high-rise last month, I stumbled onto this gorgeous green wall (above). I fell in love — with the color, the haphazard strokes of paint, and the funky protruding electrical cables. It reminded me of Franz Kline’s work (normally in black and white) – at a fraction of the cost. The funny thing was – I kept hearing managers asking contractors about the space, “when will this be done?”

I chuckled to myself – because I felt it WAS done. In its current state, this stretch of drywall has all the elements of a Rauschenberg combine: loose, wide brushstrokes, a sweet sense of negative space, and 3D objects adding intrigue and dimension.

The saddest thing is – this underground masterpiece will never be seen by anyone – but you, right here. I just heard that construction on the eco-friendly cafeteria is completed, and employees and customers will now only see what they’re supposed to see: perfection.

(Pic #2) And then there was one: Lonely work glove expresses “tude.”Photo by Josh Kaplan.

In my corporate creativity workshops, I always stress the importance of really SEEING what’s around you. Sometimes that means looking down. Way down. Case in point – the parking lot surprise above (Pic #2) left by someone in a hurry. Lying viagra flat on the asphalt – in a classic F-YOU pose, this work glove emerged as a striking road sculpture in the middle of an Encino strip mall. We did not stage the extension of the middle finger – it apparently ended up that way after hundreds of drive-overs and thousands of pounds of crushing pressure from speeding SUVs.

One of the true tests of whether something is “successful” art is its ability to engage. The abandoned glove had us speculating over lunch for an hour. Did my husband really just point-and shoot? Or did he “arrange” the piece in a bogus bird-flipping position? If he did just “capture” the art as it was – how did the glove land smack in the middle of a perfect light source? The answers are simple: it was a glorious happy accident.

(Pic #3) A section of a weathered window decal at my dry cleaners.

Sometimes, while waiting on line somewhere, I’ll fixate on something mundane – like my cleaners’ neglected storefront window. (Pic #3) Weathered and cracked, its sign “Murre” has become unreadable. But it manages to give us something else: a stunning abstraction in emerald and grey.

I encourage you to look around your world and find the beauty – no matter how ordinary your path. Those little visual treats are just waiting for us to notice.

The Year Ahead: Think Like An Artist

December 31, 2012 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Lonnie Lardner leaps into the New Year – with purpose. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)

Bend it, Twist it, Make it yours

It’s funny, I’ve been asked more times this year than in any other to share my New Year’s resolutions. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or my generation is starting to really care about its accomplishments and impact. But one thing is clear to me: if we live our lives as artists do — everything we do will be better.

Consider this. Typically, artists:

(Pic #2) Acrylic and thread on paper by Raul de la Torre, an L.A. based artist who lets his paint surprise him (note bottom drips).

1) Thrive on happy accidents. Just watch an abstract painter slap an overloaded brush onto his canvas. The unexpected drips and rivers of color can invigorate, inspire, and lead to even more exciting work — but only of we are willing to trash the need to control every drop (See Raul de la Torre’s painting in Pic #2).

2) Know your passion is your purpose. You would be hard pressed to stop an artist from creating. Her mission runs so deep to the core that NOT making art isn’t even an option. Inspiration comes from the soul, and nothing is more authentic than that.

3) Genuinely savor every moment. This is crucial. If artists stopped observing and therefore stopped creating visual commentary, we just might find ourselves in a colorless, spiritless society. By examining the world around us, and feeling what we are supposed to feel — our lives are enriched.

My good friend musician/producer Andre Fischer (multiple Grammy winner and drummer for Rufus) once told me that his father, (jazz great) Dirk Fischer set him straight about the value of time, at an early age. Andre was late to meet his Dad, and Dirk told him to look at the second hand on his watch, because “every second you live — you die. And I hope those precious seconds of my life you wasted we’re not spent in folly son, because every second counts.”

In 2013, I hope to do things differently. I want to step out of my comfort zone at every opportunity. I want to appreciate more – and whine less. And like a great artist, I want to embrace what I can’t control. The surprises could be spectacular.

Losing Focus: It’s A Good Thing

November 27, 2012 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Sharp focus – dull image.

“Focus!” We hear it from teachers, coaches, bosses even spouses.

“Focus!” Put all extraneous thoughts out of your head and concentrate on the task at hand. Focus is that single-mindedness that allows us to achieve. Without it, the greatest of intentions often disappear into the mist of fanciful daydreams. Focus can be your best friend when you are vigorously attacking your to-do list. But it can be your worst enemy when it comes to creating art.

Don’t get me wrong, attention to detail is important in art, and I suppose that requires some focus, but the engine that drives the artist is creativity, and that often requires the exact opposite of focus. It requires letting your mind run free, tuning into the seemingly random, unconnected sights and sounds that inspire great art.

Often the focused, crystal clear view of the world can mask an incredible universe of beauty that emerges when we blur our vision a bit.

(Pic #2) Sparing the details: the beauty of losing focus

In Kindergarten, I remember asking my best friend Tana Klugherz if she could “look blurry-eyed” at something – and do it on command, as I could. It was such a thrill to shift the world totally out of focus – into a palette of soft colors. It turned everything into a lovely abstraction. Now I get to explore and change my view with technology and a good camera. Maybe not as fun – but still pretty magical.

On top of the page (Pic #1): a shot of a bougainvillea branch in our backyard. Nice photograph, well composed, perfectly in focus. No interpretation necessary, no imagination needed. Picture #2 (above) is almost exactly the same shot, but purposely out of focus. Suddenly the colors and shapes become ethereal, suddenly they invite — in fact demand — the viewer’s imagination.

Lose your focus — find your inner artist.