Cherry Blossoms, acrylic on canvas board 7" x 9"
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Monday, 5 December 2011
Thoughts on Art
I admit that I don't have a lot to blog about at the moment other than my art. I am fairly taken up with that and don't have a lot of creative energy left for other thoughts at the moment. But I've been thinking about art a great deal more than usual and I'm getting over some hang ups.
One of the reasons that it took me this long to get to painting was that I felt that I wasn't really good enough at it to warrant spending much time on it. That is what you might call stinking thinking. By limiting myself because of what I thought my ability level was I was keeping myself down. How else is one to get better at something except through practice. After all I'm sure Van Gogh didn't just start out by producing famous masterpieces. He was doing what he loved to do and people saw something in it that they appreciated and the fame grew from that as a result.
Now I know that not every artist is destined for fame, but that needs to be distinguished from greatness. Not all greatness is recognized and turned into fame. There may be many great people who are never known beyond their own circle of influence. Some of us will have the fortune (or misfortune ;P) to have our works and names recognized by many more than those who know us personally. That in no way means that we are better than someone who may not yet be recognized!
And so I want to encourage all of you who read this to do something that you love now, while you have the time before you, and not look back wishing you had done more of what you love. A friend recently posted an article on Facebook that talked about palliative care and the top five things that people in that circumstance almost always regret. While I don't remember the specifics, it made me think. I know that If I came to the end of my life and had not painted, I would regret never expressing that side of my creativity. And at the same time I think it's an important lesson for my children, that they see someone nourishing themselves creatively, taking time to learn a new skill and risking being vulnerable by exposing my works for public consumption. So take a chance, step outside of yourself, and do something you've always wanted to do, even if you feel like you're no good at it, you'll never get any better unless you try.
One of the reasons that it took me this long to get to painting was that I felt that I wasn't really good enough at it to warrant spending much time on it. That is what you might call stinking thinking. By limiting myself because of what I thought my ability level was I was keeping myself down. How else is one to get better at something except through practice. After all I'm sure Van Gogh didn't just start out by producing famous masterpieces. He was doing what he loved to do and people saw something in it that they appreciated and the fame grew from that as a result.
Now I know that not every artist is destined for fame, but that needs to be distinguished from greatness. Not all greatness is recognized and turned into fame. There may be many great people who are never known beyond their own circle of influence. Some of us will have the fortune (or misfortune ;P) to have our works and names recognized by many more than those who know us personally. That in no way means that we are better than someone who may not yet be recognized!
And so I want to encourage all of you who read this to do something that you love now, while you have the time before you, and not look back wishing you had done more of what you love. A friend recently posted an article on Facebook that talked about palliative care and the top five things that people in that circumstance almost always regret. While I don't remember the specifics, it made me think. I know that If I came to the end of my life and had not painted, I would regret never expressing that side of my creativity. And at the same time I think it's an important lesson for my children, that they see someone nourishing themselves creatively, taking time to learn a new skill and risking being vulnerable by exposing my works for public consumption. So take a chance, step outside of yourself, and do something you've always wanted to do, even if you feel like you're no good at it, you'll never get any better unless you try.
P.A.D. Day 8
Today's painting his more in the nature of an exercise than a composition. It was an exercise in familiarizing myself with a new brush (which btw wasn't that great, the bristles kept splaying out when I didn't want them to), an exercise in using colours that are not in my favourite range, (generally I prefer blues and greens), and an exercise in playing with wavy lines and seeing if I could make them do what I wanted them to do (sometimes lines just don't go where you want them to go, pesky things!).
Untitled, acrylic on canvas board, 7" x 9"
Untitled, acrylic on canvas board, 7" x 9"
Sunday, 4 December 2011
P.A.D. Day 7
So today marks the completion of a week of painting something every day. I am fighting the feeling of wanting to know what my style will ultimately be and what subject matter will make up the most of my work. I know that this can only be found by the process of the journey, and not by any other means. So here is today's step on the path.
Untitled, acrylic on canvas board, 7" x 9"
By the way, the title of yesterday's piece is "Nativity".
Untitled, acrylic on canvas board, 7" x 9"
By the way, the title of yesterday's piece is "Nativity".
Saturday, 3 December 2011
P.A.D. Day 6
I admit to not getting up so early this morning, but I figure on a Saturday that can be forgiven I think in future though I will get up earlier rather than later on a weekend even though I can sleep in more easily. It just allows for more to get done during the day. Here's some colour for the weekend!
It has a title, but I'll share it later, what do you think? Acrylic on canvas board, 7" x 9"
Friday, 2 December 2011
P.A.D Day 5
It's funny how things work out in art work. Today's piece is an attempt at something purely representational. When I was painting it I really liked the way the clouds were going and I was debating leaving the tree out of the picture all together, (working from a photo that included the tree). Now, after scanning it and seeing it on the screen, the tree is actually my favourite part of the piece!
Sunset from My Backyard acrylic on canvas board, 7" x9"
Thursday, 1 December 2011
P.A.D. Day 4
So I'm definitely appreciating getting up earlier in the mornings, I feel like the whole day gets off to a better start when I've accomplished something by 8 o'clock in the morning. However I think I may need to revise my bedtime slightly. Coffee will only keep me awake so long without eventually needing a sleep back-up! Anyway today's painting is actually titled!
Twisted Ribbons, acrylic on canvas board, 7"x9"
Twisted Ribbons, acrylic on canvas board, 7"x9"
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