First Artwork in years

All thanks to the persistent persuasion of my children, I am finally picking up my pencil, ink, brush, oils and whatever else I can find stashed around the house and heading out for a wonderful adventure.

This all started when I asked my son if there was anything that he might want from around the house, for when he had his own place. He asked for a sculpted piece I had done way back in college. Not furniture, not possessions of real monetary value, a clay glob I did years ago. That sculptured piece was the one and only time I ever worked in clay. Unfortunately it no longer existed as it was broken during the move to our new home. He looked so hurt that I had to do something to make it up to him.


I talked to an artist friend of mine, Jeffrey Guin who does fabulous work in clay. He gave me a bucket full of clay to play with.
Out of that blob came my first piece of artwork in years. Only the second time I touched clay...yes, I know, it shows. It may not be a great piece of artwork but it was one of the best times I had in years...it got me back into art.
Make sure to check out Jeffrey's work at: http://mudwerks.blogspot.com/

A little rambling:

I was once asked why I list and sign my artwork, design work and directing work as LZ Dokken rather then my full legal name. For most of you, with all due respect, you may not understand this, but for those few who due, I follow in your footsteps.

When I was creating a network of contacts thru dance, theatre design and directing, I was going thru a divorce. This meant my last name would change. I realized that all the contacts I had made, and those that would possibly try to look me up would not have a clue who I was or how to reach me. In looking ahead I also realized that any current and or future contacts may be lost, once again, if I ever remarried (which I did do many years later) and/or changed my name for any reason (once again, which I did do when I married the second time). After much thought, I decided to stick with my maiden last name whenever signing pieces of art or design.

As for my first name, I found out, purely by accident, that much of my work was still being judged by the fact that I was a woman. I don't mean to offend anyone here, but this is still a fact of life.  Let’s take one art piece for an example. One piece entitled “Friends”, a drawing of a young rabbit and baby bird created years ago. When people knew the piece was done by Lynn Zee Dokken, I over heard them describe the piece as "what a cute bunny”. No constructive criticism to work from, just that it was cute and quickly discarded. When people knew that it was created by LZ Dokken, (not knowing if it was a man or woman) I heard actual critics. Good, bad or indifferent, it didn’t matter to me, it only mattered that I now had constructive critics to work with.

LZ Dokken allows me to ‘own’ the piece while getting people to actually view the art work without prior judgment, which sadly, still happens to this day. 

This ended up being a way to feel pride, owning my art and creative side while being taken seriously when I wanted or needed to. Once someone actually looked at the piece, I could elect to let them know who I was if I so wished to.  Or I could just stand back and let others share in what I had to offer.

Sadly, I still struggle to this day with some family & friends that do not seem to understand and wish to "help" by sharing my work but under their name & terms.  Such as posting my work under their name, referring to me by relationship to them but not giving the work the artist's name of LZ Dokken.  This can feel like theft, kind of like someone just painted over your signature and then proceeding to paint in their name over your's. What can one do except try to keep working to help others understand.  Trying to "copy" someone's work is actually a form of flattery, taking claim or credit for the piece under someone else's name is a form of theft.  It makes me feel owned, rather then allowing me to own my work.  Even if you are trying to "help" get the word out, please use respect and check with the artist first.  No matter who it is.