Who would you select on your list of greatest artists? This is my personal list of all time greats. Please share or download this slideshow as a teaching aid or simply for the enjoyment of art.
Some things never change. In art, as in life, we need to create with passion first, reason second. If painting is no longer needed, it seems a pity that some of us are born into the world with such a passion for line and color. (Mary Cassatt) Art is supposed to make us relax a bit more, right? It is a pastime that could be on the doctor’s list of prescriptions for stressed out patients. Of course artists are laid back and carefree folk with tie-dyed cloths. It makes sense to take up painting for good health and besides there is no physical exertion involved. Well I have to agree, except for the tie-dyed clothes, that art can do all those things. But is it likely?
The most common pitfall is that we get caught up in unreasonable expectations. This is usually our ego getting in the way. Being attached to an outcome almost always leads to disappointment. We see a painting in our mind’s eye, but the outcome looks nothing like the masterpiece we envisaged. Suddenly excuses start cropping up that are designed to avoid embarassment. Things like painting is expensive, I don’t have the time or we start to doubt our talent. All imagined but given life by our very thoughts! Recently I caught myself out. I had been going through a dry spell. I was missing the spark that would get me fired up. Something was missing and it was getting me down. What was it that was holding me back? Sure it was not something dramatic because others still liked what I was doing, but I knew that there was something out of alignment. Then it dawned on me when I changed medium to watercolours. It was this change of technique using a large mop brush that gave me a wake-up call. The beauty of watercolours is that you cannot become tight and controlled. Water is not like that. It flows, splashes and splatters. That is the great part. You have to have your wits about you though and think ahead, but boy is it great to see those accidental effects. By some magic in the drying process those crazy moments of frenetic painting change into a vibrant and energetic painting. So the moment of realisation was that I had succumbed to little-brush-syndrome with my oils. In the quest for more realism I had sacrificed what I loved most about the process. The vibrancy and energy of large shapes and large brushwork. My painting was getting tight and it was not my natural style. I threw aside the little brushes and completed two small oils in rapid succession using nothing smaller than a number 10 or 12 brush. Fantastic! It felt right and I was relieved and happy. Whatever your natural style may be try to be in tune with your expressive nature. That is when the joy begins. As Kevin MacPherson says:”Paint by the pound”. Painting for me is an expression of who I am. I want to be moved by what I do. I want those brush strokes bold and juicy and the colours to resonate. Painting must be fun. Loosen up and go for it. Patience! Someone once said that patience is a state of torment disguised as a virtue. Surely every artist knows this is all too true.
As I struggle through a paintings that I am unhappy with, looking for that new direction, I am trying to remind myself that these periods always come before a breakthrough. All to often people give up at the moment before success is achieved. With time (age) this becomes clear enough. So persist with patience and enjoy the moment. Remember those artists who have struggled against resistance and come out all the stronger for it. How dull life would be if it was too easy. Create your art and I will do my work too. We can share the moment later when all is done, but until then paint on! “Every day I discover Claude Monet's expression of joy and frustration in the above quote will resonate with many artists. Monet had a full and rich life as an artist, but it was not all fame and fortune. These came late in his career. He experienced persistent torment through most of his painting life as he tried to express his vision to a reluctant public. Debts mounted up and derisive art reviews from critics followed Monet's early impressionist work. What would any artist have done in the circumstances?
Monet was also quoted saying that his life was indeed a failure. Yes artists have a way with exaggeration at times! We must remember that Monet's work was groundbreaking with little reference to old masters to help him. Together with his debts and little respect for his early work one may be excused for thinking that he should have tried another career. Thankfully Monet did not give up his art. He did persist with his unique vision and history now honours him as one of the greats of all time. It does make me wonder what artists today have to face to make progress in their careers. Would Monet have been encouraged by our frenzied world filled with information and distraction? What does an artist today have to do to stand out and be counted? Or simply to make a living? We seem to be encouraged to take the easy way out and blame circumstances. The economy. The shallow experience that social media fosters at the expense of deeper understanding. The persistence to do the exceptional is a rare quality. It is however exactly what we need today. Monet and others of his type knew that strength of character meant hard work and dedication. When faced with an idea Monet worked at it with a singular focus that may seem absurd today. Take his series paintings of haystacks for example. This mundane subject was ridiculed at the time, but Monet was persistent. He painted dozens of haystacks in different light conditions in pursuit of his vision. Did he have sales in mind? It is hard to imagine that Monet did this exercise as a business decision. So I do have to remind myself in my humble circumstances that when art seems to be all frustration there is virtue in persistence. For every uphill comes with its own reward when the summit is crested. Without challenge life is dull. It is as simple as that. Paint on and be happy with the uphills, because they hold the promise of new insights and rewards. Most importantly have fun along the way. We are privileged to be able to create art and it is comforting to know that many great artists had to face adversity along the way. The least we can do is persist and enjoy the journey. There is an old legal term that goes along the lines of "The artisan promises the skill of his art". This of course means that the electrician or builder that you hire is expected to do a good job. This is taken for granted. I like to think that artists do not have to feel the pressure of regular artisans, but is this valid? A collector does not have to purchase a painting. This is a can be a relief for artists as it means that there are no strings attached. You like or leave it - simple. However if sales means rental paid then there is pressure to sell. The message is clear then. If an artist wants to sell art then the art must be of a high standard. It is the implied promise. Now I know that if a collector has no interest in beach scenes and wants a still life or an abstract work then no amount of quality will make a sale. Those issues aside what is most important for the artist in the long run? To my mind a good chance of consistent success professionally means regular and disciplined work. Not very romantic is it? On the bright side if art is your passion then it is not much like drudgery at all. Sounds like bliss to me! Consistent, but varied work will result is much quicker progress. For example if I paint the same subject then each version must be sufficiently different to keep my interest. Also I do not like to paint in the studio every day. If I can vary the routine by painting outdoors or doing something else like preparing painting panels or framing then I can refresh my energy for painting the next day. On other occasions reading up on master artists, sketching or simply observing the clouds go by all become part of a process that is art. This is part of what collectors should expect and receive from the professional artist. There is no substitute for trial and error over time. Yes putting in the hours will speed up the learning, but it still takes time. To this must be added the ability to take risks and make mistakes. Sometimes embarassing mistakes! But no one gets hurt - maybe a bruised ego, but we must move on quickly and learn from the experience. I find that many creative folk avoid painting due to fear of making a fools of themselves. Sometimes they fret over the cost of materials wasted on failed paintings. What a shame. Perhaps it is for the best, because making mistakes and absorbing the costs are part of the deal. Part of the artist's promise is not to compromise on quality of materials, framing, packaging and all the other bits and pieces that go with the business. But first and foremost is having a work ethic filled with the joy of creating art. From this all else grows and it will be good. The artist's promise is fulfilled. Recently while browsing through a book store I cam across Stoep Zen* by Antony Osler. The sub-title was also intriguing - A zen Life in South Africa. Books about leading a life of simplicity and zen are common enough, but not from a local South African perspective. The pictures of the karoo and country life made this book all the more appealing. What a gem of a book! Filled with anecdotes, observations and zen philosophy with a deeply South African flavour. Antony Osler is a South African former Zen monk, writer, teacher and if that is not enough he provides arbitration services too. He lives with his family on a farm in the Colesberg region. There are many interesting viewpoints on facing life's challenges in South Africa. The author offers an approach that may help many of us release our attachment to certain negative beliefs and conditioning. Live in the moment, appreciate what is and have faith in our humanity. Osler certainly encountered strong viewpoints when he was involved in a Law Clinic in the old South Africa. No doubt his strong belief in truth and the good within all of us gave him much fortitude during difficult times. It is however the cradle of the karoo that speaks so strongly through the author's words. It is a place that you can either accept for what it is or it will leave you broken. There is beauty and simplicity in its many facets. Here is also a glimpse into the lives of the people living in the karoo, often under harsh conditions. For all of these reasons and more I can recommend this book. Stoep Zen can be ordered from the author. For more details please visit www.stoepzen.co.za The pale sun sets. * Stoep means a porch or verandah
Last year I wrote an article about how artists often base their ideas on work of other artists. The saying goes that we need to steal like an artist to progress. Is all art a remix of what has gone before us? Where does creativity come from? Are we really creative or do we simply rehash things and call them our own? If so is this enough? These questions may trouble some while others shrug and get on with creating what they want to. Would someone who does not get exposed to any outside influence still come up with creative ideas and works? Personally I think we are all inherently creative, but there is a critical factor that we all need. The spark. As Bruce Springsteen says - you cannot light a fire without a spark! I suspect that we learn very early on what that spark is. We know for example that we love praise and attention. This is normal from a very early age. Our childish drawings were praised and encouraged. We saw this happen to others around us and we wanted it too. We knew that we could get love from doing something creative! Plus we enjoyed this creativity too as a process. Moving on as we get older we know what works for us and what does not. At some point many drop artistic endeavour since it becomes risky. As soon as we feel art can lead to embarassment or those we look up to no longer value our art then we will drop it. Those artist who keep at their work are learning from other artists all the time. This can be deliberate or by assimilation, but mostly both. There is no other way. Art is about creating and sharing. Art that is never shared and remains locked away is irrelevant to the world. We can accept that only by reworking influences on our creative nature into our personal expression can art progress. Only by sharing this new work with the world can others receive and assimilate the work. The human condition is a common experience. Art is the expression of the human condition and everything is linked in some way. Create something beautiful and share it. It is our human nature and we cannot resist it. Check out this TED talk by Kirby Ferguson that provides great examples of the remix of art by some famous artists and designers. What influences a painting's outcome? The artist's skill and use of techniques? Quality of art materials, design and subject? Yes all of these are important, but they are all relative to the artist. What is it that makes you produce your personal best work today? I suggest that it is one critical quality. Enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm for the painting in front of you is made up of your inspiration for the subject and your mood. The overall emotional state and response to the task at hand. This can all be summed up in your joyful spirit - your enthusiasm for the painting. When enthusiasm is abundant then this translates into confident painting. Confidence is critical for artists when painting a subject. One can see confidence in how the overall painting adds up. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The magic is present! What are the clues to enthusiastic painting? Brushwork comes to mind. Confident brushwork is interesting to look at yet is applied with economy. It is not laboured in great detail. Quick brushstrokes. Broken brushwork and other interesting effects point to an artist in the moment relishing every stroke of the brush. This is also sometimes referred to as intuitive painting. Other signs of enthusiasm is the drama of the scene, clean colour and treatment of light effects. When the artist's eye is responding to light and colour in a spontaneous manner it will show in the painting and delight the viewer. It is not to say that the painting will please everyone's taste. That is not within the artist's control and is ultimately not the issue. Enthusiasm is the road to each artist producing their best work. When I look at a painting that I did with enthusiasm, like the one above of my children exploring Nieu Bethesda, I realise that it feels like it painted itself. Almost effortless and time seemed to fly by. Again this is all about being in the moment and responding to the scene with creative energy. Sheer pleasure. I know that these moments are sometimes few and far between. Especially when we need to produce a large number of works, but the process can be made easier too. We can find the moment easier if we paint what gets us enthusiastic. The subject that calls us and challenges us to paint it! Personally this is usually achieved painting en plein air. Studio painting from references is more difficult. It helps if the subject is fresh in my memory, for instance, and I can still transport myself emotionally into the painting. Life is too short to paint what leaves us cold. Be inspired and enthusiastic about painting and love it. It is a great way to spend your time. For most of us each weekday is about getting up and starting a process of chores culminating in a commute home again after eight hours of work. The same routine becomes a rut and the rut seems to get deeper with time. We all know that time tends to speed by ever faster as we get older too. Is it really August! It seems that we have just seen off the New Year and it is downhill to December again!
That intro was not particularly inspiring was it? No indeed! I wonder whether we are living now how we imagined it would be ten, twenty or more years ago? How many are disappointed by how things turned out? Some may be happy or even perhaps exceeding expectations. The very few I should think. The thing is though we are responsible for it all. Recently I have experienced the up and down of a hectic week. For three days my mind kept me mired in the frustration of drudgery. I was blocked and annoyed. What I wanted and what was happening were poles apart. Everyone around me seemed to be in a similar state and we all fed off this negative energy. Then an amazing thing happened. I cannot say what the exact spark was, but a solution arose and almost instantly my situation changed. A creative solution came to mind and literally within minutes we were all filled with renewed energy and there was smiles all round. I could only marvel at the mood I was in only hours before. It seemed ridiculous actually. Why take a lesson from one week? Because that week was a microcosm of months and years. Cycles of ups and downs without awareness of just how we each could change these conditioned responses. What I imagine to be the case is usually just that - my imagination. When I paint or work on preparations to paint my imagination and actions are in sync. Positive creative energy gets flowing and solutions come with action. When I let chores and paperwork, for example, drag me down I am simply letting my mind turn it into a drama that does not really exist. The quote above says it all. What we paint on our life's canvas depends on our imagination. Good bad or indifferent. It is up to us to create it and that is good, because we have the power to change what we imagine. |
AuthorMalcolm Dewey: Artist. Country: South Africa Archives
March 2024
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