Saturday, January 12, 2013

Dealing With Fear... Within Art

Fear is a natural and acceptable emotion experienced by all human and animal life. It is derived directly from sensory perception and varies in degree with situation and experience within individuals. In some cases and individuals... fear transforms itself into a phobia... an unhealthy and limiting state of utter paralysis. Often... that kind of fear is gained through personal experience, while at other times it is a completely learned behaviour passively ingrained into the child or adult... seated through well-meaning intentions to shield or protect a loved one from perceived danger.

Fear is as well... a healthy emotional response... when used to forecast and predict imminent danger or harm before those situations can occur. We use it then as a tool to chart our way through a life mine field, often strewn with potential harm. The trick is to learn to control that fear mechanism... using it to positively guide our actions and thus... outcomes in our daily lives. Generally speaking...we as creative artists encounter fear sometimes on a much broader spectrum... mainly because we are more sensitive and more deeply in touch usually with our own emotions and those of the people who live around us. In short... we are usually by the nature of our own creative activity more engaged with our emotions... for more of the time. That is a double-edged sword however. It is both good and bad for us.

In my experience as a parent ...  an elementary school teacher... a consultant and a working artist I have observed and heard so many people who lived in absolute fear of expressing themselves creatively. Those individuals were children... adults and yes, even teachers responsible for delivering a visual arts curriculum as a part of their teaching responsibilities. Teachers... afraid to paint... dance or sing in front of their  peers and charges. How sad that always was for me to painfully witness this unnecessary self-hobbling behaviour! It has mostly to do with an issue of self-esteem, deeply seated in early childhood or family experience for certain. However... it is groomed further into the psyche... by the societal preoccupation with absolute beauty and perfection! Therein lies the main cause for fear in our society! The pursuit of perfection!

"Perfect"-  is defined in my dictionary as having all of the essential elements, complete; unspoiled; faultless; correct, precise; excellent
"Perfection" - means the state of being perfect
"Perfectionist "- a person who demands the highest standards of excellence

Perfection... therefore would be a form of stasis.... meaning "state of equilibrium and inactivity". That hardly seems logical to my thinking. If perfection does indeed mean that no further increase in, or any expectation of growth is plausible... then why continue living, or trying to improve? To me... "perfection" is a Utopian,  purely non-existent and unachievable state... never to be visited or reached by any human in any number of life times.

However... I must add that life offers the opportunity for each of us to rise above those exterior and anterior conditions and perceptions which we  fettered and hobbled  ourselves. Each and every day and on each occasion that we choose to pick up and put a brush to paper or canvas we can grow as artists... and as people. If we view our activities as opportunities to grow, rather than taking one step closer to becoming "perfect"... then fear dissipates and is  replaced by confidence and growth. These lead to deeper personal satisfaction and unexpected  joy.

I would share from my own experience and offer that the studio situation tends to favour the road to seeking perfection, simply because all conditions there seem "perfect" for guaranteed success to occur. I say humbly that painting en plein air... and not just in summer, or on "bluebird painting days" has helped me to grow exponentially as an artist, simply because I must constantly accommodate my painting process to a sometimes rapidly changing external weather or lighting conditions over which I have no control. As well... all of my senses are being fed information which simultaneously stimulates my imagination and my creative response to what lies before me. In short... there is no time or place for fear when painting in the outdoors. One simply paints... usually intuitively and with an emotional endorphin high which never comes in a heated studio with a coffee in one's hand.

I would like to share another observational lesson given me here this winter in my own garden. As I have mentioned... my wife and I revel in watching the actions and antics of our winged Friends at our feeders each morning. Deb has even begun naming certain individual birds by their unusual characteristics and behaviours. We simply can't wait until the first morning light summons them to our 'front-row-centre" window seats. We have particularly enjoyed the infrequent... but always heart-warming visits of our bright red male cardinal. Usually, our three feeders are a frenzy of different species coming... feeding and going.

On one particular day, right after the huge snow storm that our area experienced... our largish bird population completely vanished. At first, I attributed that behaviour to the effects of the storm. However, as that absence continued... with not even the pugnacious and gluttonous house sparrows returning... I decided to go out around the feeders to investigate further for other signs or causes. There... below our furthest  feeder from the house was the tell-tale clue. I had taken a picture of a bird earlier before the storm... but didn't have a shot quite clear enough to make a positive ID. But after reviewing the "print" left at the base of the feeder and the two jpegs that I had taken  along with referring back to my array of bird identification  field guides, the answer to our mystery became crystal clear.


Our jaunty male Christmas Cardinal... in peaceful accord....with Grey or Slate Breasted Junco

 What's this?????


 Note the clear dual primary wing pattern... "mantling" a very large and deep pocket centrally. These distinguish an aerial descent/attack of a bird of prey... wings cushioning the force of the strike in the soft, powdery snow. The Shrike will carry off its prey in its hooked bill... and if a thorn bush is nearby will impale the prey on a thorn to eat at the time of the kill or later.


We had been visited by a juvenile Loggerhead Shrike... aptly nicknamed "the butcher bird." They are quite rare and especially in this region... but the evidence was indisputable. Though I have yet to actually see the Shrike or the cardinal since...few birds have returned, even up until now. They are driven, likely by the fear of further attacks by this predator not to return. Any feeding activity at all takes place at the feeders in safety directly under our eaves at the front window. Maybe the Shrike has moved on... and will never return, but birds can't reason in that fashion. They are all governed totally by the one incident... when their first fears were realized. Survival depends upon not repeating mistakes in their world.

There is a lesson to be learned in this natural event. We needn't be like the birds. Life for us all... at times delivers tragedies... hardships and experiences which often create deep and completely reasonable levels of fear. It is the unexpected in life... or change that we humans fear most. But we must learn from our experiences... and move on, if we wish to live richer, fuller lives. We do not... any of us have the luxury of living in a "perfect" world. It simply did not exist... in the "good 'ol days'...  nor does it now... or in the future either. The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut taught us all that this sadly isn't so. But even in the face of such immense tragedy ... inhumanity and utter insanity... Hope can survive!... It must! And we, as artists can reach out through our Art to break though the Darkness and paralyzing Fear which has gripped us all.

"Life is complicated. Just do your best"!

An empty white canvas, or clean sheet of paper is always daunting. But they are only that and they can be replaced easily. When revisited quietly later, they can offer insight through reconstruction of the cause of  the "failure." There is always someone... somewhere on our journey who 'appears'.... more perfect in their art than our own expression. But that will always continue to be true. Rather than trying to emulate and covet their expression... why not seize the courage and the opportunity... to "go where no other man has gone before"... or ever can. Simply, because... "You" are "You"... and "They" are "They." Create... and Celebrate your own individual style centred around your unique interests and differences!

Dare to dream! Dare to take "the road less travelled by"... and I KNOW... that it "will make all the difference" for you on your journey!

Here are two quick "as is" sketches done yesterday... my first plein air pieces for 2013! They are ... what they are. My impression of something I saw and enjoyed om my journey. Painting them pleased
Me." Hope that you can enjoy them too! How my heart sings... the be... "back in the saddle again"! Stay tuned!....

Happy Trails to "You" and Good Painting to ALL!


"Winter Can Be Warm Too! - oil on panel 10x12 inches


 The "studio... under the hood"... on location at Escott!


"The Andress Homestead... Bathed in Afternoon Winter Sun" - oil on cradle board 10x12 inches

18 comments:

  1. Oh I can just imagine what the Andress home looks like inside. Both pieces are beautiful, Bruce. I've not heard of a shrike before. Or a butcher bird for that matter. I did once have a hawk swoop into a tree right above my head and snatch another bird for dinner. Broke my heart that did.

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  2. Good evening Sherry!... Thanks for offering your own hawk-bird experience and your uplifting comments about the new sketches!

    It was a marvellous day to be outdoors... hardly even needed a coat realluy in the sun... until the sun started to sink!

    The fellow living in this home is fourth generation of his family to live there! He came over for a visit as I painted and filled me in with the history attached to the house. We really had a good gab together... one of the few folks I've met who can reach that far back to recall common memories. Bonus for me... and again... only when one paints... en plein air!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. Setting up for a new drawing class many years ago the tutor made us put a sheet of paper on the floor and stand on it to 'dirty' it before we put it on our drawing boards. The theory was it was already 'spoilt' so we could 'spoil' it some more. It broke the ice and made for very uninhibited drawing.

    I've not heard of a shrike before but an imagining something like our sparrowhawks. One treated my garden like it's own personal take-a-way last year and disappeared a lot of my garden visitors. I'd love to see a cardinal. Are they the size of a uk robin or bigger like a blackbird?

    It's such a treat to see your snowy paintings again, I love the heat that you put into them.

    Best wishes.

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  4. Good Morning Lisa!... Thanks for dropping by and for offering your own experiences and kind compliments here on the site!

    I liked your drawing class "spoilt" strategy- "no sacred cows" approach gets rid of the tendency to work with too much reserve.A great ice-breaker!

    The shrike that visited was about American Robin or Bluejay size...a bit smaller than the sparrow hawk... which we also have here. I'll post a better picture of it later. My jpegs plus the juvenile stage of appearance made identification difficult at first.

    I really like that term you havce used in regard to my latest winter sketches - "the heat that you put into them." That perfectly describes my approach to painting winter. Thgugh winter is most often thought of... viewed and generally disliked because of the associated coldness... warmth and indeed heat can be found... or created... HA HA!! Freedom is the word!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. What a wonderful post today!!! And I, too, am a birdwatcher and feeder. My favorite thing so far this year was discovering several bluebirds coming to drink at the birdbath (which we keep unfrozen with a piece inside that warms the water). At one time we had 6 of them!! Now they are gone - haven't seen them again and perhaps they were just resting on their way somewhere else? We have seen hawks in our area and even landing and hunting on the deck - the birds know and make themselves scarce. So far, it hasn't scared any away and perhaps he or she hasn't caught any close to home yet. Watching animals does bring the fact of constant fear and vigilance home - they are always looking, watching, moving, jumping, flying away. If one behaved like a bird at a feeder, what a strange human one would be!! Gorgeous paintings, as always and love the Winter can be warm title :)

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  6. Hi there Rhonda!... Happy New Year! Glad to have you visit again... thanks for the compliments re: the recent plein air sketches!

    One can indeed find... or create warmth in winter painting outdoors! I love painting en plein air in winter... where things unseen in other seasons seem to jump to the fore and beg to be painted!

    Birding and keeping feeders provides immense pleasure for us at Islesview... and offers the opportunity to watch behaviour which does at time mimic human behaviour. Your observations brough to mind my own experience in my elementary teaching experience of doing lunch duty! HA! HA!!

    Good Painting in 2013!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. We have many different types of birds that frequent our feeder. I haven't seen a Shrike yet, but when we lived in town we had one visit and lunch on our small visitor. It saddened me, however, these larger birds of prey are not faring well, so knowing that, it is easier to accept their feeding habits.

    Your paintings are lovely. I can imagine the freedom you must feel when you paint this way. And....you certainly have a talent for seeing the beauty in these old buildings.

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  8. Hi there Wendy!... Thanks for adding your own thoughts and experiences... "at the feeder." As with all things, there are down sides... and you're right. Birds of prey are a part of the majesty of Creation... and have their rightful place too!

    Thank you for visiting and for the encouraging comments re: the recent plein air sketches. There is a feeling of freedom and solitude that can't be felt... even imagined in the confines of a studio! The buildings from the past... seem much more in step with their natural surroundings... why continues to motivate me to record them!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. I can sense the excitement you bring to your paintings, Bruce!! Excellent art and commentary as always.
    I agree with Wendy's thought...birds of prey are only doing what God designed them to do. No guilt...no fault...no blame. Nature pure and simple.
    I always try to turn off any fear in painting by becoming immersed in what is evolving on the canvas...as much an observer as a doer.

    Blessings, my friend

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  10. Good evening Dean!... I sense the same excitement and passion in your work as well!

    We all have a role in His Creation... no matter how minor or insignificant we might feel that it is. Every voice counts in a choir... and when those voices are "one" in purpose and accord... the sound can be heard above the tumult of the din!


    I love your phrase indicating your role in your painting process ... blended as "both an observer and a doer." This strategy leaves no room or time for worrying... or fear!

    Thanks for dropping by and for your very positive advice and observations!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Both of these paintings are so fresh and lively. I love them both.

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  12. Hi there Stephanie!...Thank you for dropping by and for leaving your uplifting and encouraging comments about the paintings!

    Happy New Year... and Good Painting in 2013!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  13. Hi Bruce,

    Love these two paintings,love the snow and you have certainly captured the cold and beauty of mother nature. I think it's great that you are out there doing what you love. Stay warm.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

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  14. HI Joan!... Thanks for dropping by... and for adding your "warmly" encouraging compliments! Glad that you enjoyed seeing them!

    It's only important when we are each doing what we love most in our art Joan... and each of us has our own process and subjects which are passionate about!

    Enjoyed your recent still life efforts at your site... very special!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  15. Hi Bruce, lovely post about the birds and the subject of fear. We had a sparrow hawk dive down into our garden to take one of our sparrows the other day, sad. Fortunately the birds have once more gained confidence and returned to our well stock cherry tree full of feasts for all of the birds. We had Waxwings and our cheerful friend the giant woodpecker visit our garden. Like you two we also look out at first light to see what the little guys are all doing. take care, Caroline.

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  16. Good Morning Bruce, you'll not be surprised that I agree with you about plein-air work leading to fresher paintings. I think using cheaper materials can help to get over the fear of "letting go". "Student" quality ranges from the big suppliers are actually very good and can be used to make perfectly acceptable paintings.

    I haven't seen a Shrike for years. We get Sparrowhawks and Merlins here. They are wonderful to see, but there is always that feeling that they are preying on "our" garden birds.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  17. Good Morning Caroline!... So nice to hear from you... and to share your own birding experiences! They give such pleasure... even on the most drab of winter days! Glad that you enjoyed the post!

    Hopefully... we will see more of our feathered fellas return, but the presence of any predator really discourages them for a long time and the predator will usually continue its hunt until it yields less than it needs in its daily requirements. Nature runs without any eye on cruelty!

    Good Painting and Birding!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  18. Good morning Keith!... I can always count on you to understand and support my plein air passion... being a fresh air "bird" yourself! HA HA!

    I follow the same path that you do in regard to materials Keith! I use Winsor and Newton's Winton student grade oils in 200 ml tubes consistently and am more than pleased with their chroma... pigment content... longevity and their economic benefit.

    When I watch members of my class spendthrifting their way through their painting process, it makes me cringe. No one will ever need to bother to evaluate paint quality in their life times... that will fall to conservators if it was ever at all necessary (but unlikely).

    Having the "freedom" of the brush that you describe is a joy that I look forward to each time I paint. I get drunken... especially in winter when white mixed (slightly) with the rest of the palette is all about you.

    A good point Keith... thanks for offering it here!

    As for the birding problem... a perfect picture of the inequities of life and its cruelties at times. One can readily see that cruelty... and preying has its place... out of necessity... in the grand scheme of Creation.

    I'm "praying" that the shrike's necessary cruelty has moved on to another feeding station... as it will!

    We miss our flashy red cardinals... and truly fear that they were the main interest and target here at Islesview!

    Thanks for your wonderful sharings... yet again Keith! Nice "talking" with you!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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