The New Inspirational Movement

“Playboy Webspinners” 2001 4′x8′ acrylic on paper
Isis Rodriguez San Francisco CA
Photo: Judy Reed

I have been painting and drawing under the influence of myself for over 15years. I believe that I learned this way of making art, from life drawing classes. In life drawing classes I was taught that drawing directly from nature was the most accurate and honest way of doing art. I realized that I too, am part of nature and as a result, I began to draw directly from myself.

When under the influence of myself, there is no logic, reason or formula that I use. Logic, reason, and formulas are tools for technique only. These tools belong to the realm of realistic drawing and/or mass production of art. When I’m drawing a cartoon, the cartoon belongs to the realm of instinct and intuition.

Cartoons have always been a place of origins. I make them from nothing, without looking at anything. I start with a blank piece of paper and use only pencils. Oftentimes, I put music on to settle and relax me.

When the cartoon appears on the blank piece of paper, it is a flow of wild curvy lines that quickly becomes a tight little outlined figure. Sometimes I draw several cartoons until I get one that I like. Each cartoon character has it’s own personality and experiences.

Sometimes the music has a role in the personality of the cartoon. For example, if the music is ethnic, she may morph into an ethnic looking cartoon. If the music is urban, she may have attitude. If the music is country, she may be easy going or have a relationship with nature, so on and so forth…

And so when I make cartoons, I feel that I’m getting them from a place that is not directly influenced by the western art world or it’s pop culture. My cartoons come directly from me.

Isis Rodriguez 12-26-06

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