the essence of things

My landlady is 81 years old. But 80 is the new 60 and she is the perfect example. She is a decent watercolor painter and has taken classes for years and gone on watercolor painting vacations. Her teacher is a wonderfully disciplined painter who is very accomplished. All she knows, she knows from her.

I am in awe of watercolorists. I find watercolor hard.

All of that said, something interesting happened tonight. I started a painting. I bought some so so watercolor paper in bulk on sale so I could do a bunch of acrylic paintings without having to worry about the expense of canvas.

I taped one on a piece of cardboard and began. I had been thinking about it for awhile. It is inspired by a painting I saw when traveling.

There are so many things I do not know about life, relationships and practical living but I know one thing. I know I am an artist. I know it. I know it in my head, in my heart and in every fiber of my being. I am not a very well educated artist nor very accomplished. But an artist I am. And oddly, it is the one thing in this life that I am sure of.

So when Gloria pranced into my room and said let me see, with a smile on her face, I said sure. OMG! She did everything she could to mask her horror and fumbled to find something positive to say without actually lying but she is not my biggest fan. She asked if I had a sketch. I said yes. I have painted over it. Needless to say, it does not follow her rules. LOL.

I am still feeling my way and looking for my voice. I still have a lot to learn about technique and that is important, but I love what I do and I am not ignorant of focal point and atmosphere and composition and color usage and all of it. I just do not always use them in a way that might satisfy a judged art show critic. And I do know my limitations and my rank amateurism but it matters not one bit. I love my paintings and I learn from each one. And I am not embarrassed for myself although Gloria is embarrassed for me. I found it somewhat annoying - as she also does not approve of my drinking homemade juice (why wouldn't I keep the pulp in it? I am doing it wrong and wasting and, and, and, to the point where I do not juice anymore - nor do I throw a bunch of carrots in a blender and drink that - ick) but she has earned her right to speak her mind and this is her house. And no amount of disapproval can move me, because I know who I am and what I am doing.

Below is a somewhat over-yellow (the camera and the lighting) very beginning of what I know will be a lovely painting incorporating several things I have been wanting to try. I will put the final version up as soon as it is done. If not tomorrow, it will be a week or so later as I am leaving for Sacramento tomorrow. And there is no point in trying to paint when surrounded by a 4 and 2 year old.




Trust me, it will be great. LOL.

The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.
Alberto Giacometti

If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.
Edward Hopper

There is no must in art because art is free.
Wassily Kandinsky