January 24, 2024
I Think I Can, I Think I Can … !
You may be familiar with the American folktale of The Little Engine That Could, a story that celebrates optimism and hard work and whose signature line is “I think I can!” That little engine came to mind as I slogged through iteration after iteration of what eventually managed to chug chug chug up a mountain with me and become the little CutUp you see here.
The adventure began as a full-page abstract exploration in my journal weeks ago.
Before long, an inner voice sounded the alarm, on repeat, that things were going from bad to worse.
And worse.
And worse.
However, another (faint) inner voice reminded me of my curiosity and optimism. I wonder what would happen if …
And my inner hard worker hinted quietly at all the times I’ve rectified a ‘wrecked’ piece.
In the end, in the wake of messing up layer after layer of the work-in- progress, tearing the page out of my journal and into pieces, trying to collage some of the pieces and messing them up, I salvaged just enough material to assemble a few torn shapes, a few cut-out shapes, and a few punched-out shapes into a composition.
3.5 x 5″; acrylic, ink, oil pastel, and collage
CutUp
2024
Below, sections of the track the little engine traveled to arrive at CutUp Station:
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8 responses to “I Think I Can, I Think I Can … !”
MaryAnn, I’m delighted by your response, and I’m laughing. I wrestled big time with this piece from start to finish and came close to pitching it many times, which is pretty atypical for me. I also second-guessed whether or not to post the thumbnails of the track. And then grace found me, and you’re loving this piece and loving the thumbnails! Well, hot damn!!! Grateful to find you waiting for me at the station with open arms : ) Yes we can!
OMGosh! How much do I love this?! I love the final iteration with all its pieces and the softness of the colors. Your “alphabet” is so intriguing to me. I also want to say, though, that the previous, early starts are lovely in their own right. Just so glad you didn’t chuck them. But boy-howdy I love that finished piece. And the size is great. Two or three years ago (+/-) I started doing Daisy Yellow’s Index Card a Day 61 day Challenge – ICAD – and loved it so much I’ve never stopped. I still use regular index cards occasionally, but more often I used cut-to-size watercolor paper. BeautifulBeautiful.
—Roseann333
Roseann, THANK YOU!
This particular piece really bedeviled me every time I picked it up to work on it, and I felt like I was swimming against the tide almost the whole time. Then, to my surprise and delight, both you and MaryAnn especially liked it. Knocks my socks off to have that affirmation of my persistence : )
I appreciate your giving me specific feedback about the softness of the colors, all the pieces of the composition, and the asemic writing—helpful observations on the visual language of this CutUp. I love using asemic writing; it carries the irresistible pull of almost but not quite yielding meaning AND it contributes to the visual language of art in a unique way.
YES! This one was especially noteworthy. It REALLY gave me a run for my money. I laugh in delight each time I see it!
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