Getting back from annual lazy Christmas sojourns often leads one to feel flat... uninspired... or unmotivated. Many of you have your own strategies to combat these creative setbacks. Each is likely unique to your own interests and goal-seeking. I enjoyed my Scottish water colorist friend Keith Tilley's recent post which described his plan of attack... and success in leaping into the New Year with renewed enthusiasm and vitality. Might be worth taking a look... if you are still struggling with this problem. Keith Tilley's fine site "Painting on the Edge" ... well worth a look-see!
In this post, I hope to present my own approach to overriding creative blocking. I refer to it simply as "shifting gears". Same bike... just adjustments to pace... and landscape interests. I would offer that my painting process/style accommodates two approaches. One style is very structured... planned to the last detail and with some deeper personal layer of purpose and meaning. Most subjects are, or have a still life quality... despite being landscapes. They are usually very "quiet" on the surface... meditative... as Deb blissfully suggests. She loves these.
The other is... let's call it as it is - "frenetic"... dependent upon intuition and impulse rather than complete control. Most of these paintings quite literally seem to "paint themselves". They are "painterly" and strong in color usually... because I heighten the color impact by beginning uncharacteristically on black toned canvases or panels.
This approach is totally driven by my imagination and mood."Imagineering" is the term I use to describe this process. This painting method can be accomplished either in the field (plein air)... or replicated in style in the studio. This is the value of of a lengthy "schooling" in the outdoors... in all seasons and weather conditions.
One of the crossover paths that I have lately committed to follow... is that I will no longer accept commission work. While it was necessary... and lucrative at one point in my life and painting career... I no longer have that need. Neither do I have the desire, nor the ambition to paint what someone else wants or envisions. This is not intended as a negative response to commission work... it is simply a declaration that ... I have done my time and now have earned the right to paint my path to the end of the road under my own flag... and terms.
I will dedicate that time that I used to commit to commission work to my winter works program. This program is dedicated entirely to the development of "bread n' butter" offerings for the Gallery which combine with Deb's handcrafted lines to create a more predictable cash flow. They are created and designed to fit the budgets of travelling tourists. They are not in themselves.... "objets d' art" in my view. I can produce them quickly... and replace them quickly if required. They are... inventory.
Everyone has... or should have their own path or strategies. If one is truly a "working artist"... not a hobbyist, then one's working method must involve commitment... and a business plan that is not dependent upon one event... or the possibility of on line sales as a mainstay.
Selling art... as a livelihood is a highly competitive crap shoot. It is pyramidal in nature at best. Imitation will only place you amid the crowd.... likely nearer the bottom of the heap. Beyond the financial perspective... you will ALWAYS know... inside at least... the real truth. The only real reason to create... is to be original.
I will sign off today's post using a mix of the paintings that I have created during this past week. Each of these smallish paintings and sketches fit into the "bread n' butter" classification. But...I have purposely not categorized them according to the two styles. Can you discern which style they fit into?
I wonder... Get back to me if you are interested.
Good Painting!... to ALL!!!
"Action Central, Gananoque" - oil on canvas 14 x 11 inches
"Failing Light, Tamworth" - 8 x 10 inch oil on on toned birch cradle board
"Winter Evening Light and Shadows, Ivy Lea Park" - oil on toned birch cradle board
"Rivafest, Gananoque" - 11 x 14 inch oil on canvas
Good evening Bruce, and thank you for the mention.
ReplyDeleteI can understand your decision not to undertake commissions, especially after your trials of last summer. At first they can seem like an enjoyable challenge, but they all too easily can become something just to get finished. I'm sure it's because they don't have the same inspiration behind them to sustain the interest.
I like your second and third paintings, which I suspect are 'imagineered' or plein air ones. They seem to me to have that feeling of having 'gone well'.
All the best,
Keith
Good afternoon Keith!... You certainly have hit the nail directly on the head on all counts in your comments here.
ReplyDeleteYou correctly identified and placed the paintings in their correct categories. I think that one can easily see that those two middles pieces that you felt differently about both possess a heightened "joie-de-vivre"... or sense of liveliness and complete joy.Painting at its best... and most enjoyable moment.
Thanks for your visit and for taking the time to respond so positively!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Gosh Bruce you painted all of these lovely paintings last week! you have been very productive. Mind you at this quiet time of the year it is so fine to simply focus on painting. I think your idea to stop the commissions is a good one, you can focus fully on your winter painting. Wishing you all the best with this fine venture!
ReplyDeleteGood evening Lass!... My decision was an easy one after all of the years of (necessary) commission work. The production leve of the past week... painting what I want to paint and feel most strongly about augers well for my decision.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is such inspirational incentive. Hope to get outside real soon... and that will be icing on the cake! Winter has been slow to arrive this season. Most folks like that fact... but I love winter painting with its rich light and shadow.
Stay tuned... more to come! Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Good for you Bruce! I hope to see the fruit of your painting path ... under your own flag... and terms for a long, long time to come. Your path is always so exciting!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes.
Good morning Lisa!... Thank you for visiting... and for your gracious and uplifting comments! I am so glad that you find my path exciting
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is the "flag" of mutual respect and admiration which causes us both to continue to visit... grow and to learn from each other. That's how art should really function in my mind!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Excellent post Bruce and with many fine points i needed to hear just now. I like that you have different styles to work with. I too paint on black canvas and enjoy the results. I also do commissions but can't let them go just now. A commission is no doubt more challenging than the paintings we would "rather" paint. One day perhaps. I loved what you said about "imitation will only place you amidst the crowd....the only real reason to create is to be original". Just now i am building a body of work for an April exhibition and get bogged down comparing what i do to others. Sigh! I start to think, "I don't paint like these other fine artists. My work isn't very good". The demons within beset us with doubt. Bruce i so appreciate your words here today and re-enter the studio with new determination and to paint "my way". Have a splendid day and all the best with shifting your gears. :)
ReplyDeleteGood evening Ross!.. So very nice to have you back on board! T%hank you for so openly sharing your own thoughts and concerns as a "working artist".
ReplyDeleteLooking at one's work in comparison to others is not only a bad thing... it has great merit because we can learn from others and their processes. The bad part arises when admiration leads to imitation... or worse as you mention... to depreciating our own efforts.
Always try to look at the situation from this positive perspective. "You" are but one star in an expending universe of talent. But the Light that you emit in the form of your unique thoughts and expression... can be found... NOWHERE else.
Without "You"... it would never be revealed. I revel in that when I have self-doubt... and I do... just like you and others!
DO get back to your easel with renewed zeal and determination and create in "your way". That will be good enough for many ... like my Self... who admire your values... and your incredibly meaningful and attractive art!
Thanks again... for dropping by and sharing!
Good painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce