Painting Simply... or Simply Painting

"Inspiration exists... but it has to find you working."

Thank you to Pablo Picasso... and "Linda's Peaceful Place" blog"

Looking Back...

A line I will repeat lifted from my last post... "a fusion of influences" alludes to the truth that I am open to be constantly engaged in the active pursuit of new "Ideas" and directions to improve my Art. One "Idea" often becomes the wellspring... or source for a series of related thoughts, or "possibilities.''

On a level directed towards looking purely at creative pursuit,"River Dance"... the painting whispers quietly an homage to Canadian painters Emily Carr and Lawren Harris. Hopefully... it as well speaks graphically, or infuses my own painting idiom into the final painting. Though the marriage of these dramatically different stylisms can admittedly be confusing to the viewer, the tension created summons up further looking and wondering. I feel this end justifies their inclusion together on one canvas.

Facing today...
On a purely personal level, I am weighing in today to discuss how daily Life issues intervene intermittently in all of our lives... and either distract... impede or stall creative pursuit. Emotion does contravene routine and emotional readiness. Quite frankly... it simply paralyses the creative spirit within.

This has been very much my pathway since Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer. Like every member of her family and large circle of friends and students... I too, have been struggling with a variety of emotions... defining / balancing of duties to be able to be a part of the support team. I have had to set painting aside just to allow my Self space to think clearly and respond productively.

In the course of needing to do so... I found myself restless and directionless ... even unusually sullen and angry. I roamed about doing purpose-less chores... just to keep my mind busy. Deb brought this to my attention (thoughtfully)... and suggested that I should just get "out there" - Go painting!

I decided to move forward with her suggestion. This tactic had long ago helped me recover balance ... ritual and purpose in my troubled state at that time. However.... I had left painting for far too long and the pathway back was not an easy one. I had to try to drag along self-esteem in tandem with refreshing my painting "vocabulary" in order to regain my creative momentum an confidence. I have never let it be interrupted to that degree since.

I called my longtime painting pal Frank Edwards and he was up for an outing as well... so we set sail for an adventure... just like "the good ol' days" that now stretch back nearly forty years. I suggested a trip north away from the river... just for a change of diet... and we landed in the small rural hamlet of Lyndhurst... perched on Upper Beverley Lake.

We stopped at centrally located Furnace Falls Park in the heart of the smallish down town area and immediately found ample painting material... and shade to suit both our differing interests and needs.
I set up right beside the three span stone bridge... itself an intriguing subject... one that we both had tackled before many years earlier. But I was looking for simplicity... and a subject that varied from the usual in structure.

This subject... a grouping of local residences across the creek... seemingly embraced by the wreath of trees appealed to me right away and I dived into the vertical subject without hesitation. It was one of those rare days and a  subject... that sort of "paints itself... while I just hold the brush." The painting is photographed exactly as it came from the field. I merely added the signature to declare it finished.

"Lyndhurst.. Through Summer's Looking Glass" - oil on canvas 12x10 inches

My second canvas was an earlier attempt to regain my footing while attending business in the Gallery at my desk top setup. I worked from a digital image that I had always liked and would have much preferred to have just returned to the site in the village of Morton. But timing, and my mood were not cooperating... so I decided to forge ahead in the studio atmosphere. Too many distractions and interruptions took me away from "the Flow".You all know that feeling as well... I'm sure.

The painting simply hung about and each return to it created new problems. It was going nowhere really and I was becoming very discouraged. Fortunately... my trip with Frank (at Deb's kind urging) has me back in the saddle again. I finished the painting and here it is ... signed! You know what that means. The fat lady has already sung... and left the building! HA HA! 

"Summer... Slow and Easy in Morton" - oil on canvas 10x12 inches

Onward! Stay tuned...

Good Painting and Happy Summer!... to ALL!!!