This morning marks the first of my Marvel Monday Tarot series where I randomly select a marvel superhero card from an old deck of Marvel Masterpieces stashed at my desk and use it for insight into the creative process.
Today I selected Strong Guy who was originally a bodyguard for the interstellar rock star Lila Cheney, but ended up finding a more lucrative job in the well-known X-Factor team. According to his card, his real name is Guido and he has the mutant ability to absorb kinetic energy and combine it with his already superhuman strength, making him a force to be reckoned with.
Kinetic energy and the arts are very connected as many of you know. Whether we are talking about kinetic sculpture, action painting, gestural drawing, or any of the actions on Richard Serra’s famous verb list, the act of expression is a kinetic event, and thankfully we have developed tools as artists to record and document this energy in lines, shapes, forms and movements.
So what does drawing the Strong Guy card this Monday morning really mean? I think Guido wants us to consider the added power that more kinetic energy can bring to our creative work. He reminds us to really infuse our work with motion and vigor, to put some sweat into our mark making, and to get out of our chairs for a change.
I would also add that Strong Guy left his solo job to work with a multi-talented mutant team. Artists tend to avoid working in teams in return for a more private, reclusive and introspective practice. Perhaps it is time to challenge this trend and make teamwork a common part of our artistry.
So take what you will from Guido this Monday morning and always remember to make more art.
-Weston