broken pieces.
Big Eyes
Weekly I lug home oversized volumes of art books from the library. I enjoy the large detailed photos of original artwork of all styles and genres. If the accompanying text is filled with too much tedious jargon I’ll just scour the photos and inhale creative genius.
Superficial as that sounds my interest in learning about artists’ lives, their art, and inspiration is genuine. I just prefer to learn in the context of biography, autobiography, or even historical fiction.
When I was recently given a booklet about artists Walter & Margaret Keane (thanks Liz) I was immediately curious to learn more. I started by watching the 2014 movie “Big Eyes” which portrays their lives. After that, I searched for as many books and articles as I could find. I discovered a riveting story pierced through by deception and regret. A treasure box of broken pieces.
Margaret Keane “The Waif” 1962
Margaret, unpretentious and shy paints prolifically. Her own deep emotion spilling out from the big-eyed, waif-like children and animals she paints. Ironically her husband, Walter is not an artist at all but a charismatic salesman who adopts the persona of an artist.
Thus begins the big eye fraud. The duplicity that lasts a decade. Margaret paints secretly and Walter pompously seizes the glory.
Through it all Margaret keeps painting. Hidden behind a locked door she paints. Threatened and demeaned she paints. Pressured and manipulated and trapped. She paints and paints and paints.
Overcoming adversity. Persevering through darkness. Enduring deception. She keeps painting and painting. I find that amazing. And inspirational. And unbelievable.
She is still actively painting at age 93.
Margaret’s art has received worldwide commercial success especially during the 1950-60’s. In subsequent years, pop culture splits between love and hate for her art. Interest ebbs and flows. Art critics generally dismiss her work describing it as overly sentimental, kitsch, and tasteless. Regardless of your opinion, her influence on modern art cannot be ignored.
My art study of Margaret Keane’s “The Waif”
The reason I am drawn to Margaret’s story is her dedication and passion. Her courage to continue painting even in obscurity. Her ability to glue the broken pieces back together. To eventually refuse to be silenced.
I on the other hand am so easily paralyzed when sideswiped or bumped. Thrown off course when edged with distress. Reentry to creativity beyond my reach.
In the murkiness, I feel swallowed up and spit up on shore like Jonah. Except without the knowledge of what I’m running from or what I’m called to do. Drowning. Weary. Discouraged.
How does Margaret stay the course?
Throughout her flawed, bumpy, and challenging life, Margaret paints authentically. Art critics don’t matter. Public acceptance doesn’t matter. Her disparaged reputation doesn’t even matter.
Eventually, she decides that honesty is what truly matters.
I may never find an oversized volume of Margaret Keane art to lug home from the library but I have learned much from her life. The dedication required to cultivate an art practice. The worthiness of one’s personal creative journey. And the necessity to shrug off the noise of critics.
Broken Pieces
She has inspired me to move beyond the inertia of my own discouragement. To build resilience. And to take incremental steps toward my own honest art.
But most importantly I hear Margaret's soft voice urging me to paint and paint and paint.
Even with my broken pieces.
Maybe because of them.
“The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, suffering, struggle, loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, sensitivity, and understanding that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and deep concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”