Follow Me... If You Wish...

I am at last reaching the conclusion of a long haul to fulfill my obligations to the The Glass Studio Gallery to deliver an exciting collection of new paintings. These (hopefully) reflect my thoughts and impressions upon my return to my place on this magnificent River and its 1000 Islands.

It has been a long and arduous journey I can assure you. But I can also assure you that the gain that is to come out of this undertaking will not be measured solely in its potential for success in dollars alone. Though I firmly believe that will occur... at some point... the greatest gain to have been made will be for "Me" in finding an exciting new direction for my work.

The strength of this show is that it marks a clearly pivotal departure for me in my approach to making landscape paintings. More importantly... these paintings consolidates a fresh view (in my mind) that summarizes where I have come from in my painting journey... and where I wish to conclude it. Therein lies the newest blessing in my already full and rewarding life!

After so many years of paintings landscapes in many different places... depending always on the Natural world as my my Muse and mentor, I began to tire of facing yet another "pretty picture" painting opportunity. That repetitive scenario no longer fuelled the passion that had previously carried me and my paint box out into the landscape in search of another adventure. That sense of adventure was flickering... and even lately...fleeting at best.

This harsher than usual past winter that is just on the the verge of giving up the ghost removed any realistic and comfortable opportunity to paint en plein air for me. I continuously awaited a break where I could escape the overwhelming feeling of confinement that I felt in our shared downstairs studio. The space is large enough... bright enough and Deb's company is always enjoyable. But it is the solitude and presence of the external stimuli that the Natural world has always afforded me that was missing. That is an important ingredient for me in making successful and evocative paintings.

Ironically, it was this very problem that paradoxically led me on this new path and new way of thinking... and "seeing" the landscape. The situation forced me to sit down and to more clearly define..... what the term "Landscape" actually meant to me. My final conclusion arrived ever so slowly. But today... I look and at a new and inspiring realm of "possibility" for the way I will approach painting the landscape in the future. I believe that "difference" is clearly evident in each of the paintings that I have made for this upcoming exhibition.

Here is an abbreviated view that I wish to share with you about my discovery;

I had always embraced the commonly accepted working definition for the term landscape - "an extensive piece of inland scenery seen from one place... or a picture made of it." Fair enough... and that was the model upon which I had primarily based my thinking and process up to now.

However, I now see the term as possibly meaning many things... and something quite different... at least in my own terms and usage. I believe that we all began our search with the same working definition, simply because... that was what was presented to us as the "acceptable" model upon which to base our beginnings. We all pass through the process discovering and applying new views and methods to experiment with further. Most of that new data we apply comes from the perceptions and experiences of those around us whom we deeply admire... or whom we view as "successful".

I have come to discover a new path for "Me"... and it comes from within me. It has always been in there. The term landscape, in my thinking can mean many things... and can be looked at and thought of ... "outside of the box" we have unwittingly built around us. Consider these "possibilities."

Could the human mind not be considered a mysterious and incalculably vast landscape in itself? I firmly believe that it indeed is that. It is a vast landscape composed of an immense personal library of memories and thoughts that is ever-changing... and... unique to every individual. Could that not become one's sole Muse... if one chose to make it so? Abstract painters customarily rely upon this intuitive response mechanism to make their expressive paintings come to life in their usual painting processes.

Another facet that I think reflects a sense of landscape... is to consider the actual physical landscape including the presence or the effect of man... or animals upon it. That notion can even be further extrapolated to include the cultural and historical change and development of this change in land use and development. Add to that a landscape perspective which focuses upon either an urban or rural setting. All are still landscape forms. The list is endless.

But the element of landscape that I am choosing to embrace from here forward borrows a computer term -  cut n' paste. I have the very enviable position of having spent most of my painting life in the outdoors. I have always maintained... and will continue to advocate the practice of learning in the natural classroom through painting it... in all seasons.

Therefore, I have had enough experience and made enough paintings in that situation... to quite frankly paint right off the top of my head... if that were my choice. It isn't ... by the way! Becoming a better painting is a life long avocation and pursuit.

However... it does afford me the free agency to "Imagineer." That is my term to describe the freedom to paint intuitively from reality... all the while adding or removing at will what I have no use for. This approach allows me the opportunity to include ideas... that upon first glance appear to demonstrate incongruity. They do however... take the physical scene to a spiritual level dictated by my own personal feelings and passion for what lies before me.

This is a brief attempt to share the thoughts and ideas that I have been considering to help me determine a new personal vista and view for painting the landscape. Perhaps it seems not to be applicable... or even sensible to your process and thinking. That is okay
 I should like to close out today's post with this thought.. I offer it as always as ... "food for thought - eat or not."  That is should always be the question!

I would like to close out today's psst with this thought. I spend a great deal of time preparing for and writing each and every post on this blog forum. I do so... ALWAYS in the hopes that the content will inspire others to reach out... risk and discover their own adventures and truths. I DO NOT in any fashion purport that either my words... or my beliefs and practices reflect any unique revelation or template for the success ... or the failure of others. Were that to be construed as the case... I would cease writing this blog immediately if I thought that it bashed,,, dashed or discouraged the journey of another.

With some of you... who regularly seek me out ... to visit and chat... or ask direction, I do try to impartially, but fairly reach out to you as a mentor of sorts. If that is the case, be aware that I never hand out false praise... or "back slap" to encourage receiving one back. I do not surf... simply because my passion and my task is to paint. "I" am principally responsibly for my own journey and outcomes. The praise and the joy that I receive comes primarily to "Me"... as it should... from within!

I offer the first today... of my landscape views... this one from the past. But it is as relevant to this post... and perhaps merits a place in the upcoming exhibition (still to be discussed). It is unquestionably a very personal still life - an insight into my past... and into my memory trove of images which are my life. But it is as well a landscape measuring the breadth of my own life. It is a "Universal"... because this same "landscape" does in fact run in parallel to similar life landscapes that I have yet to...  nor likely will never view. Just a thought...

Good (Landscape) Painting!.... to ALL!!!

PS I will on fact post a slide show of the paintings for the exhibition for those of you out of the loop geographically later in the week... just for your interest.

"As Time Goes By" - oil on canvas 36 x 30 inches

This personal canvas pans across the very breadth of my own journey. 

Admittedly... it is a total "construct"... "Imagineered" using my imagination and thinking. From my childhood toy soldiers.. through my jive champ trophy earned with my "first serious" love, Mary in a dance-off competition at the Gananoque Canoe Club (now the Thousand Islands Playhouse). U Moving up to my earned football jacket... which to this day still represents the standard upon which I was able to lift my Self... to feel self-esteem in a school run by the elite of our community.  And outside... and high on the horizon... with a sinking sun... lies a favorite painting subject of mine -  a red barn. This represents today... not a "final resting place."

This painting, though painted in 2006 has yet to exhibited. For the reasons cited... it remains with me and my family. I think this a perfect time to include it in this exhibition, which as well as reflecting my return to the River and my roots, where the journey began... it speaks to the title (which was the song that my Dad ended each and every one of his dance is with). 

"AS Time Goes By"... for each of us... we leave behind a trail of significant memories which in total say..... "I was here"! 

"Yesterday's Dreams", Bush Island, Nova Scotia

End lay in result of painting session #1

Second run with the knife-Day #2 - Note new "ideas" creeping in

Final stage - Day #3 Cleaning up the "too" darks areas and more clearly extablishing the water and pilings areas to create a stronger... more readable foreground

Detail of impasto knifework on shed and in water surface

Addition of clothesline as compositional device and "colour surprise"

"The way we choose to see the world creates the world we see."

-Barry Neil Kaufman

Happiness Is a Choice


An aside...

When I first painted en plein air in this place back in 1999, I was drawn to its raw isolation and its remoteness. Rarely... did I encounter... even see any of its inhabitants... except on one occasion when a young lad of about ten came forward to greet me and to ask questions... many questions! He and his family lived in the weather beaten yellow home seen in the upper right of my painting and it was quite obvious that he lacked for many of the things that other children have and take for granted. It was these other things that enjoined us as kindred spirits. Age is never a barrier... when this is true!

He did however... have panache and an infectious smile. He seemed an "old soul." During the course of painting his home, he related how a lady artist came to the island each summer and that she had taken an interest in him because of his interest and ability to draw and paint. He asked if I would be interested at all in seeing some of his work... and I assured him that I am ALWAYS interested in seeing the art of others.

He appeared back at my painting location... in what seemed only mere seconds. He fanned out a fistful of his work on the grass and asked what I thought. I knew immediately why the "summer lady" took a shine to him. His ink drawings were marvellous... and I mentioned without hesitation that I really admired the portrait of the cat a lot. And without hesitation... he offered it to me... saying that he would be honoured for me to have it.

This young man... bright... confident and so generous really reminded me of another "small boy"... one who had been fortunate to have had many caring people to encourage his own life long journey. Art is the first expressive language for all children. They make pictures to describe their ideas and feelings... long before they master spoken or written expression. Their work is unbridled by rules... outside influence and instruction... or perhaps a better term ... obstruction! Even then... they paint and draw compulsively ... and with inner passion!

Sadly, with the increasingly earlier disappearance of childhood in our culture, the "child" in all children is made to grow up far too soon... and away from their love of picture-making as a form of personal expression. During my teaching journey, I was blessed to spend time with so many young people... helping them to recover their belief in their magic. And now... I find myself reaching out to "growed children"... greyed perhaps... by the rigours of raising families or a career... but not of spirit. It is NEVER too late to rekindle that belief buried under years of compromise and duty! Many of you are on that path... and it is a pleasure and honour to share ideas and that path to adventure. Art is for the young at heart. Strange! The word "Art" is contained within the word Heart!

We shared the day together... and at the conclusion of the session... I offered him the painting that I had made of his home. He was taken-a-back by my willingness to part with the painting. I told him that quite frankly... I much enjoyed his cat sketch to the oil... and to consider it a fair trade... one artist to another. I also assured "Him"... that we were equals... and on the same path!


Mission Accomplished! - "Yesterday's Dreams, Bush Island Nova Scotia"

oil on canvas 20x24 inches

Over the past two days I worked and reworked areas all over the surface... trying very hard not to totally disturb passages that seemed pleasing. Since I had placed lower values of colour almost everywhere at the outset... the raising of values... creating lost and found edges and applying heavier impasto where I felt it benefited was really quite easily achieved.

Yesterday was spent looking ... finding places here and there to be corrected to create balance and harmony... and bits of colour placed strategically to draw the eye around the composition. One "idea found" its way into the composition was the line of clothes... a predictable Monday morning ritual "detail"... in every cove or village that I ever visited Down East.

I think that this detail adds greatly to moving the eye... and serves as an unexpected "colour surprise." The gull on the roof... not easy with just the tip of a knife... is there... but not. One of many little details to search for on a compositional treasure hunt . So many other things that existed in the place in reality (though they exist still in my mind) have been eliminated from the actual painting. They are merely "clutter"... and must be winnowed away to leave the real kernels of interest. That's the art in painting!

I truly hope that each of my readers finds something in my adventure... to further their own journeys. Art is meant to be shared... unconditionally with the world... no matter "how good" it is is... or compares to others. Take courage to reach out. Your way of seeing the world will never be the same as any other. It is unique! I always enjoy visiting the sites of Friends to see what their world looks like. I learn from each of you as well!

I am currently reading a wonderfully uplifting book authored by Barry Neil Kaufman entitled:

Happiness Is a Choice. From Chapter I, Living the Dream comes this mind-changing phrase:

"to no longer believe in what is,

but to start to believe in what you want."

That was the real intention and goal of this exercise. To physically demonstrate that you can make your art what you want it to be.. not to restricted by "what is." Real joy comes out of watching your mind "imagineer" a new reality... one that is your very own. The act of creating through painting has been with me throughout my entire lifetime. It was a tool every day in my classrooms to motivate and excite children. And in one dark episode in my life... it became my recovery craft and has carried "Me" out of unimaginable Darkness and Despair. It alone... with a few good Friends provided Hope for a Tomorrow... that has become... Today!

I am deeply blessed!

Good Painting... and Adventuring to All !

More Stick Handlin'....Part One

Noted the shifted locations and structure in the composition of the middle ground and background houses. More change to follow!

Towels take away distracting edges... and provide lighter values!

Random brush stroke application... looking for general shapes ...

Note that the hand is at the end of the twig! It's not a pencil ! Accidental dripping counts as a bonus!

Note the fanciful and lilting quality of the lines produced by the twig styluses.

Centering the central image against the sienna edges. Note the almost haphazard application of the sienna strokes... and the roughness of the drawing... very uncommitted and loosely structured!

All methods of applying medium to the canvas can be seen here in their raw states. The first inkling of the finger painting adventure is here as well !

Yes... your eyes read correctly! My pointer is my blunt "nib" for dexterously blending in larger dark areas. Quick... effective tool for roughing in without reserve. Washes off fairly easily with soap... water and a tooth brush for nails! Latex glove works for the "faint of heart!"

This is the final foundation from which I will begin adding paint. Though it is a cacophanous collection of drips and splotches... knitted together by strangely drawn lines... there exists a central image .... of a huddled, broken down fish house structures and modest homes... centre stage... emerging from the inky darkness... ready to "speak." Details such as windows... doors, etc. are just markers to give positioning and reference points.

At this juncture... if one was too befuddled or unhappy with what was there in front of you... areas and flaws could be easily corrected with a brush of choice and white gesso... returning the area back to the original canvas state. However... I choose to proceed as it stands. Oil paint covers a host of mistakes! That is why I choose to use it as my primary medium... it's forgiving!


GETTING STARTED:

Well... my cold was not quite finished with me! I guess my Algonquin "fix"... didn't fix my cold! Had a pretty miserable week... but I guess this bout has everyone on the ropes for at least two rounds! In any event... head's completely empty, I'm sure... two boxes of Kleenex later!

I stepped up Wednesday morning to the blank 20x24 inch canvas that I had placed there two weeks ago now... to begin my two piece project for my Nova Scotian Gallery rep.... and decided to follow along using my "stick-to -play" technique to encourage creative thought and energy. I am pulling out all of the stoppers on this one... not to make it a presentation piece... but rather to act as a demonstration and invitation to follow along and discover how structure and direction can emerge... without being forced... from what in the beginning seems like pure chaos.

I first chose to reinterpret photo of a smaller sketch that I had completed en plein air almost a decade ago when I lived in Nova Scotia. That bothers me some... because I favour first hand contact with my subjects. This particular place, Bush Island... joined by a small causeway to the South Shore was a place I loved to paint because it was remote from mainland traffic. Much of this isolated village has changed... the "turquoisy" Cape house now a ghost... vanished forever. Heavens knows about the rest! When new money moves in... the Past moves out... no hint of remorse or conscience! That's today's world!

You will note that I get around merely copying... by rethinking and developing a thumbnail to rebuild and experiment with new structure for the piece. This adds a degree of newness and energy for me. You will note other changes perhaps ... as the process continues. My sticks... and my manner of applying both burnt sienna acrylic and ink to the surface... deter me from becoming "cute" and falling into my normal method of painting.

This Part One stage will carry us through the lay in and structural focus part of planning and execution. I have no set plan in mind... but will just let let the process and "Flow" take me where it wants. This segment then... is what I refer to as "Imagineering." Painting begins with an "Idea"... and this expands and develops independently... and on its own. I will really try to operate completely outside of usual safe zone of preparation and development. This really is stick handlin'... a rush... end-to-end.... Let's see what happens! Where to go from here???? More looking and thinking... and hopefully... "Seeing" a new path!

Stay tuned!....

Good Painting to All !

"Imagineering"...Creating beyond photo reference

Be creative!... Do one thing each day that scares you!


I customarily create my larger paintings either from oil "sketches" done completely on location in the field... or from pencil and ink renderings that I make in my sketchbooks from field experiences. I find that these sources help me to simplify and work out compositional, colour and value structure that inspire me to take the preliminary experience to a higher level.This is my usual approach to working on larger paintings in the studio... and usually after much time has passed since the first record.

I refer to a different process which I refer to as creating using "imagineering"... or forming an altogether new interpretation... allowing the imagination to override simply copying, or scaling up the original "sketch". The change can take the form of a seasonal change... a compositional shift in focus... or a more dramatic lighting effect to create another mood.

On odd occasions... if I'm bored or stymied... I visit my extensive digital photo reference files in my computer to find something to stir the embers... and light the creative fire within. I use the photo simply as a springboard to get off the ground initially... and I usually create a couple of loose ink thumbnails to get the feel for the composition. I will stress... that at this point I toss the photo aside and direct my process totally based upon intuition... and the vast experience I have gained and stored in my plein air work over many years.

As I work my way along... ideas or directions regarding format,lighting, colour and composition never fail to emerge. When one "idea" strikes me strongly enough... I quickly move to a toned canvas and lay in the idea lightly with vine charcoal... or with a burnt sienna or umber linear drawing.

I might go forward with a monochromatic tonal study in the colours mentioned... creating patterns and masses of form or lights and darks. This accomplished, I then proceed to a lay in of colour... working up more solid tonal relationships. The final stage is to tie together these other steps by adding detail and balancing lights and darks... working towards finish.

Today's subject "Morning Has Broken" (24x30 inch oil on canvas) derives from a photo taken many years ago at Stonehurst South, Nova Scotia... a favourite haunt of mine during my years living in that area. It is one example where this "imagineering" process focussed upon creating a glorious early morning light which I believe totally transcends the original digital image. You will readily note that I have added and subtracted... stretched and pulled at will to create a "new take"... on a rather ordinary initial digital image.

One area of the painting required considerable care and thought. The addition of the cape boat could have well produced a disastrous result for the otherwise successful painting... if its scale and placement had been incorrect in relationship to the rest of the subject matter. One jpeg illustrates how I avoided this pitfall using a grid as a device to compare scale.

I hope that my readers find this painting attractive... and that my post might encourage others to "imagineer"... and to use photo reference as yet another useful tool in their creative tool boxes.Remember! The camera is NOT a substitute for outdoor sketching and painting. A camera has a finite realm for creating based upon its limited optics... whereas your eyes... palette and brain form a Universe of "possibility" for Creation!

Good Painting to All!
Regards,
Bruce

Imagineering... or Envisioning

Looking in the dictionary one finds that "to imagine" can be defined as the ability to make mental images of things not present. The dictionary similarly defines "to envision" as an ability to conceive something as a possibility.

I firmly believe that all serious artists possess both of these qualities, or abilities in larger degrees than many others around them in their daily lives. I also firmly believe that this same group of individuals possesses these "gifts" right from the very beginning of their lives. I believe that it is in "their nature" from the start... but that it is often also recognized early on... nurtured and encouraged by parents, relatives, teachers and mentors who appear along the course of one's journey.

I believe that artists in general, are more curious about and sensitive to the world they live in... the people they meet and the natural rhythm of Nature. How many of us have been asked: "To stop day dreaming"?... or "When are you ever going to grow up"? I have always known that "I" was much more "Child-ish".... capital "C" and hyphen intended, even up until today. "I" ....continue to "see" the world through the eyes of a hopeful... optimistic and trusting child... and for these reasons often am disappointed and am vulnerable to the pessimism and oppression of many adults... if I permit it.

However... "I" choose to move ahead in all areas of my life... and ALWAYS in my Art continuing to search and learn more about my Self... and the wonder-filled world that "I" am privileged and blessed to live in. My art talents and passion DO NOT set "Me" aside from others... because "I" am ALWAYS open to ... and willing to share my findings with any person... regardless of age or ability... so that they might feel the same joy that "I" receive in creating my own work.

Often... "I" create a challenge for my Self... to step outside of the box... "to imagineer"...or to create intuitively from deep within my imagination... without the normal benchmarks we all establish as our "working method".

This post demonstrates one of these exercises. Perhaps it parallels one of your own.. and if not... perhaps it will unlock a new way to channel your Muse. I hope so.I began this exercise after finding a discarded 1/8 inch piece of Masonite... a 9x12 inch gesso-primed a burnt sienna toned panel which had served as a makeshift palette for one of my young students. I sanded it a bit with a rough piece of heavy grit sandpaper... wiped it clean with solvent... set up a new palette of my own... and waited for the sanded panel to dry.

While this was occurring, I put on a CD called "Forest Music"... and just sat listening and looking (as I do outdoors on location) at the "nothing" panel... hoping for a direction or guidepost to emerge. It did not take long to happen. I will not... no... really cannot tell you anything about the process... except that the painting that emerged ..."fairly painted itself"... "I" merely held the brush. How many times have "You" experienced just that? I wonder?

At this point "I' will let the "Voice" who conducts my writing using his words sit down... and let the "Voice" who conducts my painting process explain with his images. "I" think... that though they are silent... they speak as sensitively, fluidly and eloquently as the written word.

"A picture is [indeed] worth a thousand words".

What do "You" think?

"Art Matters!

Good painting... and Imagineering...All!
Bruce

PS The painting "lives" as shown framed in the home of one of my ardent collectors... another "Dreamer"!!!