"Body of Work"

"Body of Work" is a phrase that is often used in the art world, but what does it mean?  Last night I watched a program on "American Masters".  It was about Jeff Bridges, the actor. I have always been fascinated by the Bridges family but have not seen many of Jeff Bridges movies.  (I did see "Crazy Heart" and he definitely deserved the Oscar for that!)  It was interesting to discover the varied and interesting characters he has played over the years. As he and other actors talked about Jeff's process for  making a character real, I learned how much creative study goes into playing a part.  For one of his movies he actually studied the moments of birds in order to play the part of "Starman".  From the clip you could see how he used the tiny slow jerky movements of a baby bird, who is just learning about the world around him, and applied these movements to the character he played. This is definitely a creative adventure into playing a part. So, getting back to "Body of Work", here was a body of work presented that showed how over time and many films, Jeff Bridges could transform to play a number of different personalities by creative study.  A "Body of Work" always presents the creative mind in motion.  Sometimes it takes making time for yourself to discover the next thing.  Sometimes it takes looking at your environment to discover the next thing.  Sometimes it takes being part of a group of people who support and encourage even your craziest idea!

I feel like I am on a journey with my work.  Right now I am feeling the need to do some exploring and playing with new possibilities.  My journey is leading me into other avenues.  I'm not sure where I will end up but I feel like I need to re-evaluate how I create my work along with how I sell my work.  Is this a "Body of Work" in movement?  Is there value in taking this time?  The fine art world has always looked at a person's "Body of Work" as a growth and maturity factor in understanding one's message or style.  The retail world of fine craft has not always been as concerned with this.  The bottom line, especially for high end shows, is usually consistency of work.  Are the two mutually compatible?

As I journey, I will post from time to time my progress and thinking.  As part of a wider community, I'd love to have a dialogue on-going in the comments section.  I'd love for you to be a part of my creative process to discovering what is next for me and my work.