Exercise 2.1. Understanding Risk.

We are asked to reflect on the following points in our learning log

• ● What factors stop you from taking risks within your work, and how do you stop these from getting in the way?
• ● How necessary do you feel taking risks and embracing a change is to your work development?
• ●  Could you describe an occasion when taking a risk with your work proved to be a really positive move?
• ●  Could you describe a moment where you were able to use failure as a positive tool within your practice? ( p. 54, Advanced practice course book)

I have read the article “If you don’t succeed, celebrate” by Lisa Le Feuvre , Tate, January 2010, online https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-18-spring-2010/if-first-you-dont-succeed-celebrate [accessed on May 21st, 2024];

As I progressed with my OCA studies toward my degree, I learned my main lesson, which is well described in the article. Art doesn’t come from nowhere, and neither does the masterpiece. Ant decent art comes out of failure, this is an only way of creating. Thus, you must produce tons of work before achieving a meaningful, notable result. As the author says, “John Baldessari states: ‘Art comes out of failure. You have to try things out. You can’t sit around, terrified of being incorrect, saying “I won’t do anything until I do a masterpiece”.’ (Lisa Le Feuvre, Tate, January 2010).

My approach to risks is not limited by any fear since I am not an established artist who has discovered his/her unique successful style and is afraid to deviate from it because the result can be disappointing for an established circle of devotees. I think established, strongly reputed artists have a greater risk of becoming risk averse than young emerging artists like me. Risk is a notion associated with failure; the greater the cost, the greater the risk. I have no fans, reputation, or signature style, so there is no risk of losing something valuable. At this stage, I am absolutely free and can take any “risk” in my creative practice.

My main risk now is to stop experimenting, to stick to certain inspiring artists’ influence, and to stay within the boundaries of that style. My main risk is to stop growing, to stop expanding the horizons of my artistic views and experiments. Thus, “taking risks” for me now is to try as many experiments as possible. This kind of risk is essential for my growth.

The idea to start pursuing a career in visual art at the age of 42 was a risky move. The more I do my artwork and learn, the greater the payoff: my personal growth has been tremendous since September 2013.

Visual art is amazing in how productive you can feel when you fail. Every time you fail – this is a point when you get closer to the final excellent decision about certain details in your artwork. All my work has to go through many failures. Among the most recent and numerous works is my series of chrysanthemum flower paintings. I began this flower series with oils in 2020, I was sure I should do the flower in oils. All my chrysanthemums made in oils turned out to be stiff and fat. They looked like cupcakes icing tops in the bakery shop, not flowers. Through failures, I ended with my own way of painting this flower with different mediums.

Exercise 2.2 : Beyond failure

It was interesting that I observe how my understanding of failure changes if I do a retrospection of my works. Below I place some works I found unsuccessful when I created them. However, I went back to them one day so mg was part of the Advanced Practice course and suddenly I found them to be worthwhile to continue working on them.