What do I know?
What do I know that you don’t know?
Suppose I know something that you don’t … why, or how would that be beneficial to you? That which we call knowledge, or accumulated knowledge, is just a residue of my own life’s experience. Footprints in the sand left behind long after a person has passed.
You are different from me. Your eyes are different, your head, body, character, your preferences, taste, your Life and all the rest of it, it’s all different from mine.
Suppose I do know something that you don’t, something that could perhaps be beneficial to you. Am I supposed to put my “hat” on your head? Am I supposed to force my knowledge onto you, discreetly or bluntly and arrogantly? Or should I wait until you invite me to share my experience with you? How can I enter your home if your door is closed. Am I to impose my truth on you, believing that my truth is more truthful than yours?
I will tell you what I know…I am 54 years old and there is only one thing that I know for sure – I know that I know very little, so little in fact that it could be called nothing. I am absolutely unable to put my finger on anything and say – I know the truth about it; I know its true nature….Well, I don’t.
Wandering Sage (Veles’ Priest) – 40x50cm, oil on canvas (private commission).
After spending more than 30 years painting, and in regard to the paintbrush, the oil paint and the very act of painting, there are no more secrets left for me to unravel. I can paint now whatever I want, however I want, and I can paint it well. That’s it…………….And, so what? Really, So What!?
Throughout the years, I have done hundreds of drawings and paintings, hence I am inclined to call myself the creator of my art. Well, sometimes I ask myself if I am really the only creator here? Or am I a cocreator, at its best? And surely not the most brilliant one.
See, another thing that I know for sure is that I, this Petar person, did not create my own body. I know that because I know nothing about my body – whereas I know everything about my own paintings. I know nothing of its organs and other constituent parts, nor how it all functions. Little that I know about it, I have heard from others who have been studying it.
What did Petar do to earn the epithet of cocreator ? Well, driven by certain urges and motives, through practice and perseverance, he learned how to use it and subsequently managed to sharpen his body-mind instrument, the vessel. He then created his art through it by using materials that he himself did not create.
So, what do I really know?
If the personal experience of life phenomena is indeed the king of knowing, however unreliable the wonderful human body-mind apparatus at times might be, I claim to know the wonder of Elation. Elation and Awe that one experiences the moment when personal opinions, presumptions and projections – all grounded in the accumulated knowledge – disappear, and when one finds oneself standing before the everlasting Wonder of Life, insignificant and naked, emptied out of the mental impediments.
“I was guided by no system whatever in Le Sacre Du Printemps. I had only my ear to help me; I heard and I wrote what I heard. I am the vessel through which Le Sacre passed” – Igor Stravinsky on composing his revolutionary ballet masterpiece, The Rite Of Spring (Le Sacre Du Printemps).
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOZmlYgYzG4 )
Well, that’s all folks. After 9 years of posting, this was my last MC post.
I wish you ALL a joyful Life!
Cheers!
So sad to see you leave Petar, your articles were always looked forward anxiously. Good luck in your next endevours!!!
Thank you, tayete!
Some things in life are Spiritual… i.e. cannot be measured with a ruler or thermometer… at age 54 I pray you have many years left to reflect on the Spiritual side of life… God be with you…
Thank you, Arthur!
Hello, Petar. My name is Pedro. I’m 27 years old. I certainly know much less than you. I know different things, that’s for sure, since i’ve been living in a different spot on the globe. But, because I have left less footprints in the sand, I know less. I want to know more and I want to develop in multiple areas in my life. Drawing and painting, sure… I love doing that and I want to keep doing it for the rest of my life. But also writing, and cooking, planting and earthen-building, and so many other things. I know it wont be possible to know it all, and probably, near the end, I’ll see that I knew much less than I wanted. I think that’s a good thing. I’m happy with that.
I’m also convinced that we are co-creators, as you said. That makes me happy, as well. Much of our work is solitary, and contemporary society tends to make everything seem individual, but culture is not individual. Even if we are alone, we drink from this well that has been filled by many. And, in return, we pour our own concoction back on the well. Some slightly change the color of the liquid inside the well. Others, like yourself, make it boil, lifting sparkles and clouds of smoke!
Well, if we are co-creators, I must say that you make a considerable part of my work (sorry about my part of it. Been trying to get better).
Someone may follow my footsteps one day. If they do so, they’ll notice that along the path I began to walk enthusiastically, inspired by other’s work. Then I straightened my posture, determined to learn from those that inspired me. If they look close enough, they’ll see the marks of that Petar person, and how he unknowingly helped me along my stroll. Thank you very much for co-creating with me and for the wisdom shared within these nine years of Muddy Colors.
That Pedro person, casually strolling through south america.
Very nice, Pedro! Thank you very much!
Thank you for your contributions Peta. It’s your articles about process I show to my students, so they understand a work of art isn’t make up from thin air.
Bless you, and best of life to you.
Sorry, Petar.
(I must be thinking of delicious flat breads.)
Very kind of you, Sam! Thank you!
It has been a great pleasure seeing your work and reading your thoughts Petar! All the best to you!
Thank you, Brian!
Thank you, Nico!
So sad! I’m a big fan of your art, I have all the books you’ve published (except the sketchbook) and it’s sad to see you go.
Best wishes Petar,
I hope to meet you one day if life gives me this rare chance,
Sincerely,
Zeb Posada
Thank you, Sebastian!
Dear Petar, I treasure the memories of visiting you. More than the honor of seeing, holding and discussing your work, I keep close to my heart you friendship and Anita’s kindness. Thank you for that and your inspiring texts here at MC. Hope to talk to you again soon. Your friend, João
Thank you very much, dear Joao! You know that you are always welcome in my home (unfortunately I can’t say “our home” anymore). Take care!
Thank you for all your wisdom, Petar ♥
Thank you, Natalie!
A beautiful post; thanks Petar! 9 years is a a saga…
Thank you, Tommy! 🙂
Oh I’m sorry to see you leave Muddy Colors – I’ve loved your posts and artwork – and your Sage is splendid – love the details that are so different from the Western European look! I hope you’ll guest post from time to time.
Thank you, Elena!…The details you mentioned are from Eastern Europe, as is the subject matter that deals with the mythology of the ancient Slavs.
Sorry to see you go, I learned a lot from you. Good luck!
Thank you, Doruk!
Sorry to see you go Petar, but want to thank you for all the wisdom and advice you’ve shared here! Your work and your posts have been extremely influential for me and all the MC readers. It’s been awesome to have you here. Best of luck on your future artistic journey! Looking forward to seeing where it takes you. -jg
Thank you very much, dear Justin! A new phase on my journey has started recently and I am, too, looking forward to seeing where it will take me. Hopefully closer to home..…All the best to you and your family…Cheers!
Sad to see you leave MC, Petar. I enjoyed your deeply thoughtful posts and our conversation in the comments. I can easily say that your reflections have influenced how I approach art and see the world, so thank you for sharing your musings.
Thank you for the kind words, Nathan, and for your comments. It has been greatly appreciated!
As someone that only occasionally checks out this website, I can’t comment much on what you do know, except that you know how to paint a picture I enjoyed. What you may not know, and I am somewhat aware of, is the value of the act of a skilled artist truly being humble.
Wow very awesome