I have spent the last 3 weekends plein air painting at Arrington Vineyards, Parsons and Mousetail Landing. This "on location" painting really allows me to focus on the setting and, as a consequence, I can recall the emotions that went into the work. I have also enjoyed most of the comments from people who either watch from afar and try not to disturb or approach and, inevitably, say that they wish they could paint. The ones who want to paint with my stuff while I am also painting (one actually and her parents needed to control her) are not so pleasant.
I ran across this email on "Why Paint" and am reposting it here. What I take away from these experiences is get out and commune with something - immerse yourself in an experience.
Why Paint
Little Moments
Our life is a collection of little moments which slip by so quickly when we don't notice them. The act of painting allows you to be very present in the moment, whether it's struggling or soaring, you're right there - present. When you aren't in the present is when the painting goes bad. Enjoy the moment.
What is the purpose in painting?
What is the purpose in anything? It's THE question. What reason? Ask me on different days and one day there will be no purpose, no reason, and the next day there will be the pure joyful purpose of living and experiencing. I use goals to get me from the hard days through to the easy days. Goals propel me forwards even when there is no reason for them to do so. Sometimes I think having no purpose at all is the purest form of being. Does a tree worry for tomorrow? Does the finger painting child worry for the purpose of their painting?
FINDING your Passion
What FILLS you with passion? Write a list of 5 or more things. Is it visiting a new place at sunset? Meditating? Running down sand dunes? Romantic times? Flying? Diving into turquoise waters? Praying? Running through the shallows? Dancing? Find those things and build more of them into your life - make lists, have goals, dream dreams, have a calendar on your wall with big green ticks in it for the days you've done something that moves you, leave stickers around the house which remind you to get your passion shot for the day, get friends on the same mission helping you helping them, read inspiring books and movies, listen to live music, follow that tingly feeling where EVER it may lead you. "Painting is like the cornerstone in a great arch. It takes the pressure of the day and holds all things together."
- Deborah Strandberg
Lost and Found
We are ALL on the hormone rollercoaster, and those of us who do fly a little higher invariably sink lower too, despite outward appearances. The entire Universe is designed on the basis of ebb and flow, so it's little wonder that our days and weeks and years follow the same pattern. We can't expect to live passionately all the time, but our consolation in the quiet hollows can be that we know we won't remain their long - we're just gaining momentum for the upward swing.
PAINTING with Passion
Aristotle said, "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." What is significant to you about your subject or concept? Find the thing you love most about the subject or concept, and focus on that feeling - let everything in the painting and in your experience of creating the painting be an expression of that feeling. One of my favorite moments is sitting back with a coffee and absorbing a freshly finished painting - seeing how my passion translated itself into paint. If the translation is garbled there is inevitably disappointment, but if the translation is true the coffee seems to taste extra good.
Monday, August 1, 2011
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