World Art Day 2024

I was especially interested in World Art Day this year as I was reminiscing about some previous travels and specifically the artists, artisans, and craftsmen I was fortunate to meet along the way.

One of my most indelible memories was making my way through the mountain rice terrace regions of Banaue, Batad, and Sagada in the Philippines with a travel companion. Some town members guided us to a local artist’s home. His wife greeted us at the door and invited us in. Soon after his son and a lively dog with a wagging tail joined us in the room. His wife explained to us her husband was healing from a stroke, couldn’t speak comfortably but would listen, and he could only visit for a while.

I remember him walking in the room and stoically sitting down to sign some photographs that we had chosen to purchase. There seemed to be something very special about him and I enjoyed being in his presence. As we left the family home, I looked back and waived. I was moved and shed some tears and said to my friend, ‘that was very special’, and uttered something about we wouldn’t see him again. Later I found out his name was Eduardo Masferre, and his works had been shown in the Smithsonian.

Some time (maybe months or a year) had gone by and one night I had a dream that I saw him again. Only this time he was walking and talking very freely without any physical constraints and smiling. I remember searching online for him and found that he had passed away. I was happy his spirit was free and then felt peace about my dream. Since that day, whenever I hear of someone crossing over, my memory of that dream comforts me greatly for all of us and how we are connected and our spirit has a place to go.

Creative Block? Get into the zone...

Sometimes I sit staring at the blank canvas and there's a frustration of where to start? If I relax and then let go of my own expectations suddenly faint shapes start to appear in the canvas and this gives me the courage to paint my first long stroke. From there it's a matter of trusting yourself and remaining in the intuitive zone. Often what I had planned ends up being replaced with something even better. Allow yourself to be the vessel where expression can come through. Partner in the process instead of fighting it.

Art Appreciation moment

I think it’s always good to acknowledge and appreciate what brings us joy. I feel very fortunate that I was introduced to art and painting during my twenties. I have had breaks in actual production so to speak, but I always know I have that love to enjoy and appreciate especially with the works of others. It has also provided me with so much solace in my own soul searching moments of life. Just knowing it's there for me gives me great comfort. A productive outlet and a voice in terms of visuals for others to get to know me. And a venue for me to get know myself looking back in review.

Changing your genre

I think it’s important to change your genre once in a while to get out of your comfort zone. It’s often uncomfortable to go way out of your current style, but if you do it will naturally pull yourself outside your own box a bit and later come to a balance or marriage of new and previous styles.

Looking at the Detail

Have you ever found yourself sitting either in a subway station or a park bench and somehow noticing some object for its color, shape, size, or uniqueness? Something that catches your focus while everyone else walks by and you think that would make an interesting photo or painting. And then you wish you had a camera or canvas right then. Try taking a quick photo on your phone but not everything can be captured in a photo. Take down some quick notes as well like colors that your eye saw (which may be slightly different than the camera) and what you were feeling at the time. All these aspects can be used later on to be incorporated in the painting.

Collective Painting

I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time and finally got the chance. I’m taking advantage of a group painting environment and highly recommend it. It’s really special and I’m enjoying it immensely. Sometimes it makes sense to paint alone, but more often it’s so much more of an experience to paint with others regardless of the end result.

Artwork Inventory

So I admittedly have great challenges with letting go of my paintings. Either because I'm not sure of them or I become attached. This is my biggest challenge really in painting, it's not that they're all masterpieces by any standards, but I think I would miss them if I let them go like children, each special in it’s own way. I'm working on this!

Imagery and Imagination

I believe that part of painting is an exercise in imagery and imagination. A painting topic may come from a dream, a past experience, or a subtle non-verbal expression of an experience. The best part of painting though is definitely the imagination aspect. You can create any kind of reality you want, not even bound by dimension even though you are painting on a canvas.

I've done a couple paintings on five side canvases that I stretched up myself. It's more challenging to stretch the canvas over the edges, but it is possible!

Reworking the Art

Since I used to paint oils primarily it was sometimes needed to add finishing touches once a layer dried otherwise it got muddled. It’s much like mixing all colors together and you get a green-grey-brown look. For some instances it was obvious when I needed to set the base color aside to dry and other times it was optional. I don’t typically like to break my stride once I get going on a painting as you get in a certain mental zone to create. Some people call this ‘reworking the art’ and I think this is fine and typical for most artists. You do want to be a little careful though as you may be covering up something special. I’ll never forget one day when I was in studio painting away and my teacher became very upset at me. I was painting over something I thought wasn’t very good. He explained he was going to ask to trade me that painting for one of his paintings and he was a Fulbright Scholar. Then I was more mad at myself than he was mad at me. Huge lesson learned there. So be a little cautious on when to leave it alone and when to add finishing touches.

Emotion Painting

I guess if I had to really pin point a lot of my paintings the inspiration would be my emotion or mood at the time.  It’s just prompted by the need to express, but the color and type of brush stroke do reflect looking back what I was feeling at the time. I often wonder how that comes across to others looking in, can they see my frustration, my excitement, or was I angry or falling in love, did it show my under currents of thoughts….

Was it just a temper tantrum of color or did it mean something? All this is a mystery, and looking back I can never really answer the questions completely. Nor do I want to.

Connecting With Your Painting

I've often heard that painting is good for the soul even if you're a novice. I think it does more than just make a person happy though. It seems to be a venue to connecting with oneself at least in my own experience. Have you ever started a painting and after a few strokes you think 'that looks like an awful mess?' When this happens to me I either place it aside to dry a bit so I can repaint over it later OR I paint through it. Painting through that moment means you really have to focus in on the canvas and slowly test out a few more colors and shapes until you connect with your inner energy. I try not to think of the end result so much as the process.

Curiosity

One of the greatest skills I think an artist can have and continue to develop is curiosity. Having a strong desire to know or learn something about life or about ourselves keeps the creative juices flowing. You need to expose yourself to various people and places so that ideation can take place. If you’re not able to physically take a trip or get into a new world experience, the internet can satisfy that as well. Force yourself out of your normal routine, and you’ll be amazed at what life can bring you just when you need it the most.

Looking for Inspiration...

It's interesting what ends up being an inspiration. It could be a new city with unique sights and sounds. It could be a simple blue door that you pass by quietly and curiously wonder what's on the other side and why someone decided to paint it blue. Inspiration can also come from an emotion or a memory stirred up wanting to somehow connect with it again or make peace with it. Take a stroll down your usual path but look more closely this time and stop and view things from a new perspective. You'll be surprised at the sometimes small wonders that can inspire you.

Painting Frenzy

On occasion when all the stars align there is the perfect combination of multiple empty canvases, ample tubes of paint, and a solid block of time. At moments like this it's good to be a painter. The only limitation is space to let these new creations hang to dry without walking around bumping into the fresh paint in my work space.

Losing Time

For me, I get really into the process of painting when I’m losing time. Everything else gets shut out. It’s like entering a room in my mind and I notice things around me but they fade behind the canvas almost out of focus. If I’m using an object or idea for a landscape it’s easier for me if I let the lines blur and let it take it’s own shape a bit.