A few years ago, I began extending my work from the genetics/theological debate I was having with myself and began producing work that looked a little more mechanical in nature. I was making (and still am,) making work in two very different paths. That second path began to morph into the steampunk-esque aesthetic where it now resides. I felt like there needed to be a distinction, her work was different from my own, and as she began to dig into steampunk, I discovered a tradition of alter egos with long and glorious names as being part of the culture. What would my avatar be? What kind of person makes the types of things she does? I began to come to the conclusion that she should be a professor, a gatherer of knowledge an artifacts. But what about the name? I wanted something different and yet fun. I began calling her Millie, which came from my middle name ( a name until now I had always not enjoyed, I must admit), but in this instance it seemed to fit, seemed perfect. Of course she needed a last name and so since I was making a lot of airships at the time, something to do with flight or the sky…yes..that would work. And so the moon came to be her moniker. I still need to work on her backstory.
Sometimes I feel splintered, like I am torn between two creative positions. As the creator, I can see how I got there and that they tie together as a natural progression of my work, but I can also see how they may appear different to someone else. I have been thinking a lot lately about direction and why I am doing the work I am doing. My love of science and in particular genetics is still there, but so is this love of mechanical visceral objects. My challenge then becomes how to combine them into something meaningful and interesting.
Right now I have a lot to learn in the way of some technical skills, and so sometimes my expectations and imagination are having trouble reconciling with my skills. I find myself to be very impatient in that regard. But isn’t that how we grow? I really need a teacher (or two), someone to hep me build my technical skills and point me in the right direction to expand them. If you know of someone, feel free to offer advice, alter egos welcome ;).