One-eyed Focus

In his first project, Arrigo started with an idea and figured out how to express that through a doll – his talisman. (Read his post below.)

I started the challenge in a kind of reverse fashion – I made a couple of paper dolls then considered what they represented to me.

I had some eye clipart print-outs on my studio desk which were from issue 4 of Astarte’s Mega-Zine. I knew I wanted to use it to make some Cyclops dolls. The Cyclops is an image that pops up in my art from time to time.

The dolls are about 8 inches tall. I cut the shapes from cardstock and punched holes in the head, sticking the eye images on from the back. Paint, and some tiny print scraps were applied, along with these quotes:

Imagination is the Eye of the Soul. (Joseph Joubert)

The eye is the window of the soul; the intellect and will are seen in it. The animals look for man’s intentions right into his eyes. Even a rat, when you hunt and bring him to bay, looks you in the eye. (Hiram Powers)

Interestingly, the message of the quotes is not so striking to me, personally, as the imagery of the large eye occupying the entire face of each doll.

The message I’m getting here is FOCUS.

I always have a lot of projects on the boil. If I can stay calm and focus on one project at a time – give it my full, undistracted attention for a set period – I achieve results and feel happy and strong.

(This post relates to One-eyed Focus, Stacey Apeitos art dolls #1 and 2, January 2008)