« A Studio Affair |Main | Featured Artist »
Rules, and Bridges to Your Own
October 31, 2008
I usually say that a painting is more than the sum of its parts, but in this case it’s the parts that have taught me more.
Some of the the details are groundbreaking for me and new things I tried will be applied to the next paintings, but as I try not to be biased about my work, from a distance the painting looks like just another landscape. That’s my general opinion about most landscapes though; being the most popular genre of painting, most of them need a second glance and closer study. I’m pleased with the efforts, but it began as work I had no intentions of posting.
One of our neighbors thoughtfully collects our mail and waters the garden whenever we’re away even when not asked, so when he requested a painting to be copied from a postcard of his home town in France I cringed (you know, about the copying thing), then agreed, but to barter. With no deadline demanded there was plenty of time to wrap my head around this project, and I took it. I still wanted to do a good job despite my strong convictions about copying, and waited for a time when I felt ready to do my best. The first few strokes are as important as the last.
There are decent arguments for and against a “right time” for things, and if a job needs doing immediately I have no problem doing it immediately; I was just thankful to have no pressure and a little more time to visualize this one.
I came to terms with the thing by finally just starting it, and the rest of this blog entry explains how that taught me more than my last five paintings all together.
Once I let go of all the over-thinking about ethics and integrity, while resolving to “make it my own” I got lost in the most important part of anything you create: the work; “the zone” (we all want to get lost in the zone!). It turned into a really interesting, fun learning opportunity.
There are a lot of slogans, terms, traditions, quotes and sneaky little Art-myths passed along through generations of Artists. We absorb them over the years and they gradually play a part in forming our opinions and our work habits to some extent. Impulsively we set up walls that can get in the way of seeing and discovery.
We need assignments like this that challenge us to break free from rules, if only temporarily…rules that may be fine for others but may prevent us from exploring the avenues that lead to our own personal best.
There’s a lot of competition in the Art Biz, a surplus of advice, group lessons, suggestions, and strong opinions about what Art is and isn’t, what you should and shouldn’t do, and even a kind of unspoken “underground” rating system that some people have, pinpointing what style or motivational source is better than another.
The point here is: whatever the initial source is that gets you painting or creating something, then use it. If it feels right for you then it is right for you. There are things in each painting, successful or not, that bridge all our efforts into the next. The act of painting is valuable above all, whatever it is or however it’s done. The value you hold for yourself translates into your work that, if successful, may also become valuable to someone else ($!).
Categories: acrylic painting, landscapes, semi-impressionist |
November 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I Think it’s OK to Copy as long as you don’t sign The painting with a forged name. Long dead artists would probably like that you thought enough of their work to copy it. How else can they speak to you? …. Teach. You’ve done a good job with this work.
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hi Dad, I hear you and agree about learning from other Artists… it was you who taught me to look a little beyond at that kind of thing. This one was from a postcard, he had photos of his own but they are all winter shots so this was his preference. Thanks for letting me know what you think about it.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
You’ve touched on a subject that’s always plagued me (clients asking me to “copy” something)…I’ve found that, try as I might, the “copy” still comes off in your own style…simply painting something from the same vantage point as a photographer, for instance, isn’t “copying”…this one is beautiful, lots of movement — Emily Carr in France….
November 12th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Thank you for the compliment! It’s true Karen, like give children colored paper cut into a circle, two eyes, nose and a mouth, ask them to construct a face and every single one will be unique. The term ‘Struggling Artist’ does not just refer to monetary situations does it! Each painting has its own set of challenges. Taking Artistic license with someone else’s photo will always be a bit of a struggle, and it was like a bridge to freedom overcoming that struggle here.