The more I photograph

The more I photograph, the more I discover something about myself and about life. Art itself is the study of life. You make observations about the world you live in, or how it looks to you and you recreate than in an art form. Of course there is more than one way to study life, but art, I feel, is the one way that will permeate you completely. You begin to feel and understand the world with both your soul and mind. Everything becomes an art piece after you become an artist.

My main frustrations with art have involved the growing stages or getting sufficient attention for certain pieces. It is unfortunate and strange that the artwork of mine I like the most have been the ones that have received the least attention, but it is extremely understandable at the same time. I see things in the image that the audience doesn’t, so the select few that are willing to delve deeper into what the image means to me will be the ones fully enjoying it. Each piece I choose to display online is a “success” for me, but they are many I never reveal.

It is almost comical how much I fling myself into a frenzy because of a failed art piece. It happens often, even when what I created wasn’t bad, but simply not what I had envisioned and could be better. In those moments I am at my lowest, fully convinced that I am the worst artist in the world and don’t deserve the kindness and praise that was given prior to the consequent failure. The only remedy to this antagonizing disappointment in myself is a successful image. Not necessarily successful in how it is received, but something that I love and understand. Unfortunately, though, the healing powers of the success are short lived, because it is never long before I want to create another piece. If it fails, I am again thrusted into a momentary depression. It is definitely a strange way to live. It also doesn’t match who I am, because I am generally quite upbeat, and often a bit weird, but I have a serious side to my personality as well that ties everything else together.

Despite being fully aware of how far I have previously fallen into depression when unsuccessful, and apprehensive at it’s reappearance, I push on. Most of the time I never fully know what I’m pushing on to, and my end goal is not in the end, but in the intricate process of growth. It is through the reoccurring experience of failure and disappointment in myself that shows me how much more I have to learn and strive for. That if there was true perfection each time, it would be too easy, and life would cease to be wild, full of surprise and unpredictability. Though my failed shoots, I was given chances to see places I am lacking. Even though it is physically painful for me to fail, I know deep down that it is helping my life and my heart. So I continue to explore this funny life that we are in though the art that I create and by fully being who I am, without comparing myself to the more charismatic or business-minded artists, but to myself the day before. Only through that can positive growth be achieved.

 

The World Needs Artists

Today I wrote out my answers for an interview for an online magazine. The questions were straight-forward, but those are usually the questions that are the hardest to answer. Why do I do what I do? It is the type of question that is both healthy and extremely frustrating at the same time. Why is that?

 The art of individual expression has been lost to many, I believe. We are told to repress how we feel because it isn’t accepted within the society. To break free from the status quo is something unfathomable and often talked out of. They feed us fear and we tend to swallow every bite, just because we want to fit in. We want to be loved and accepted.

 The truth is, there is not one specific reason for why I do what I do. I just know that there are feelings within me that cannot be expressed solely through words, so I seek a better creative outlet. My forte lies within the artistic sphere rather than the linguistic. But now they are telling me I must have a reason for my art. I am not allowed to create simply because I enjoy the feeling of expression. I must now incorporate hidden social and/or political elements into my work; if I don’t, how am I supposed to get respect as an artist? I must explore themes that concern the world, and not just my own personal agenda.

 Who knows, maybe in time my art will encompass that. There is a good chance that as I mature I will become more intertwined with that way of thinking. But as for now, I create for myself and the people who feel the same way I do. We are misplaced, misshapen, and don’t always understand the world, but we are ready to.

 The world needs artists. But once you start telling one that their ideas are wrong or stupid, then begins the slow death of a hopeful soul who thought they might make a change. Maybe not a global change, but in themselves. That is oftentimes the best kind of change there is, though, because that is exactly how you change the world. One person at a time.

Always,

Reylia

My Facebook:  Reylia Slaby Photography

My second love

My love for black and white images almost surpasses that of my conceptual ones. The reason being I have done it longer, and has become like an old friend to me. But I haven’t shown them too often before, mostly because I was afraid of it defining me. These days you are forced into one tiny box and you can’t be more than one thing or do too many things. The world demands your focus and if you have one too many passions you are disposed of.  Nobody likes a jack of all trades.

I now know that what connects your art is the fact that you have created it. One type may or may not define you more, but never be afraid of loving too many things or too much. Only more love will be cultivated.

Now I have a question for you. What is your “second love”?

Always,

Reylia

On “We Were Blinded”

Have you ever been in love? It is definitely a beautiful experience like no other. As you step into the world you see that it is a magnificent mass of twirling, twisting fabric and leaves. You are empowered, and you feel as if you can do anything just as long as you continue dancing. The light makes it’s way through the leaves of the trees and gently touches the floor and your skin. The world that surrounds you becomes kaleidoscopic and fills your body with it’s resonating energy. The music that plays is the beating of your heart and the whistling wind.

You take your parter’s hand and you are whisked away into a reverie of forevers, dreams, and  “Never let me go”. You are sure that this would be the dance of your life; you can feel it.

But then your partner trips. That’s OK, we all forget the steps sometimes so we forget and forgive and continue to sway and move together. It is hard to pick up the harmony again, but once again you move together as if the beat had never been broken.

But you never realized the one problem during this splendid dance: You are blinded. Through the madness of the moment, you can’t see the person for what they truly are. Their flaws fade away before you eyes in a rose colored fog.

So this is love.

—-

In my own attempt to describe and understand romantic love, this picture was born. It started in October of 2013, I believe, with a simple sketch. I thought of my previous relationship and how it ended, but also the times in between. When they say that Love is Blind, they really know what they are talking about. It is not anyone’s fault, it is just that sometimes people have different dances. Sometimes too different. So then they end up spinning away from your life. When this happens, you are catapulted into reality and everything becomes a thousand times clearer. Then you ask yourself “What was I thinking?”  But cest la vie, it is in the past.

This idea had been sitting in my sketchbook for about 5 months until it was actually materialised. It gave me a chance to properly plan it out. Also after 5 months, my Photoshop abilities had got to the point where I could manipulate it almost identically to how I saw it in my head (At least this image). It wouldn’t have been the same picture if it had been earlier.

I then contacted fashion designer Michelle Hebert (http://www.michellehebert.com). Upon viewing her portfolio, I knew straight away that I wanted to work with her, so I sent an email to see if she would be interested in making a gown for this project.  I told her my idea for it, and then off we were. Since this photo was about love, I knew I wanted the dress to be red. But I also wanted it to be long. Really long. She definitely delivered. The dress she designed turned out to be perfect.  I had such a fun time working with Michelle on this collaboration. Also along the way, we became good friends. I’m looking forward future collaborations with this wonderful woman!

For the model, I had my friend Ayumi come in. She has modelled for me before, so I knew that she was the only one for this shoot. She works as a dancer and has the ability to be any character I give her. The guy for the shoot, Araya, was also really great! It was my first time modelling him, but his fun personality made photographing him a pleasure! Bascially, both of them were wonderful!

I was a bit worried about this photo-shoot, because it it quite different from the pieces I normally post. Sometimes I can be scared of exploring my full expression because maybe it won’t look “Fine Art” enough, or that it will deviate from “my style”.  But then I knew that I loved the picture myself, that it expressed the feelings I once had, and that is what matters. Sharing art is about sharing parts of yourself, even the fears you may have. It is about understanding yourself as an artist and person, and inviting people along on your journey.  Thank you all for coming on it with me!

If you have any comments, critiques, or questions, please post them below! I would love to hear what you have to say!

Always,

Reylia

http://www.reyliaslaby.com