GUY DENNING’S REAL BLUE MOON-MONKEYS!
“I wouldn’t change a thing in my life that has led me to where I am currently. I’ve now got one job; I’m a full-time painter. And after twenty years of supporting it with other jobs I’m prepared to treat it like a job, to work as hard as I can at it and produce the best work that I can. There is one difference between this job and others though. The hours. But at least I can smoke and drink at work…”
GUY DENNING, welcome and thank you, for your patience, your sensitivity, the sharing of your thoughts, your art, your philosophy, thank you. Above all, thank you for not being afraid to fight the order and make a mess!
No 1) What is art to and for you?
The most important part of my life and the single defining part of my identity that I really value.
No. 2) What inspires you?
Simply put – everything. Ideas come from everywhere. Particularly music,
literature, cinema. Music tends to inspire my mood for painting and I have a pretty catholic taste encompassing most genres from classical opera to experimental compositions of static and noise sampling. Most of my favourite music tends to be pretty dark or at least melancholic. I am also frequently driven to paint on a given subject because of my interests in political history and current affairs – I use my work as an outlet for the negative feelings generated in me by the general state of global affairs. I can be pretty depressive but I use the painting like a therapy. It’s more effective than medication. Poetry is another good start point in relating my general outlook on humanity into paintings.
No. 3) When you are painting, creating, where does it take you? I mean where does your mind (spirit if you like) travel?
I just disappear into my own head space – it’s almost an escape to the only sane place left. It does sometimes seem almost like a spiritual journey but certainly not in a formal religious sense. Perhaps more in a meditative manner.
No 4) Do you think visual art, music and health are related and if so, how?
They are for me – but the health aspect is only in terms of mental health. I was reading the journals of Eugene Delacroix once and I can remember his saying how wonderful it was to be able to hear a piece of music being played and I thought about how we take for granted the ability to be able to live almost continuously with any music we choose. Losing my music collection would be probably one of the few material losses that would really upset me. If I had all the music taken away from me that I’ve collected over the years and there was no way to get it back… I can’t even begin to think how I’d feel if I lost my hearing. Music is almost my saviour. I have to paint with music…
No 5) How do you feel when you are painting?
Essentially I feel useful, and safe, and doing what I’m meant to be doing. Content. Like I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing. And focused…Painting, despite its infuriating capacity to drive me nuts, is like a personal shelter from the insanity of the world around me.
No. 6) Do you identify with your subject?
Yes – otherwise I wouldn’t choose it. Essentially all my work is essentially a self-portrait to a greater or lesser degree
No. 7) Does painting help you connect with your higher self, whatever that is for you?
Only in the sense that I get lost in it.
No. 8) How do you feel about the public school systems and creativity?
I’m not sure I’m in a position to say with any authority. Education in all subjects and in its methodology has changed so much since I was there that I’m not sure if it’s better or worse than thirty years ago.
I think, and again this is only on anecdotal evidence, education today is too geared to producing productive economic units (be they consumers or employees) and not ‘better’ people with a love for learning for its own sake.
No. 9) In your opinion, what could be a simple solution to encourage creativity in the public school system?
Leave the educators in charge and keep government policy out.
Thank you again, Guy, for this most interesting article. Until we work together again, keep well my friend. And if you don’t mind, I’ll close with a comment from your Bargain Basement Philosophy:
” I believe in moon-monkeys. They are blue, they are monkey-shaped, they live on the moon. If you do not believe in moon-monkeys I do not expect you to prove their non-existence. It is up to me, as a believer, to provide you with incontrovertible proof of moon-monkey existence before I expect you to believe in them. Bring me proof of the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent, beneficent deity and I will believe in that deity’s existence.”
TO THE READER:
You are invited to visit Guy’s website to see more of his great art and I may add, do visit his blog on the same site, his posts are incredibly interesting!
ENJOY! And your comments are always appreciated!
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Comments
Your art, blog, and article are all intriguing. The intensity of feeling translates well in your paintings pulling the viewer into the captured moment. Has to be great to finally devote yourself to what you love. Thank you for sharing time, thoughts and talent…Enjoyed
.-= Cecelia Gay´s last blog ..The Spirit Door =-.
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