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Is this a good thing…….this “Up Front and Center”?  Where does this take us?  What can be learned from this placement?

If someone is upfront, then does that mean that it is necessary for others to be in the background; and if so, what can be learned by that placement?  In creating this painting “The Youngest Student”, I kept the detail and clarity with the violinist in the front.  He is the focal point. He is exhibiting courage and confidence and responsibility.  By subduing the students in the background, it accentuates the fact that they are comfortable with being in the supportive role at this time.   They are sharing the stage in such a manner as to be mentors to the young student.  They are showing respect for him as he experiences these shining moments.  Are we all comfortable with taking our turn in the various placements in life?  There is a time to shine and there are moments to be supportive…….both equally important.

Colors in a painting are like this.  There are the ‘up front and center’ colors that grab one’s attention and guides you in a direction through the painting to the supporting colors.  And while they are supporting colors, they are necessary.  Without them, there would not be an ‘up front and center’ color / focal point.  It is this circle of support that completes a good painting…….as it does in accentuating a good life. 

Finding it disconcerting that violence and political campaigns can easily consume my thoughts, I reach out for a place to mentally escape.  I long to walk through the woods and listen carefully to the sounds of nature; however, at this time, that is not an option for me.  Instead, I turn to music and painting (from reference photos I have taken in the past).  To transport the viewer into the landscape painting is the goal I must achieve.  I want to share the beauty of nature and bring a release from a busy day, from the heaviness of current news.  This road we are on is profound reckonings of the age old phrase “stop and smell the roses”.  One must ‘breathe’ and see the beauty.  Indulging in the visual experience of a painting is worth the investment of time and money and should bring to the owner continued pleasures throughout a lifetime.

This is a triptych that I have just finished.  In a world filled with chaos, disrespect and violence, it is becoming more difficult to find harmony amongst us.  Although difficult, it is truly necessary in order to quiet our mind and soul.  Part of my "I Believe" series, this is an interpretation of harmony.

“Harmony”

(Overall size of the triptych is 120” x 50”), Oil on Belgian linen

I have had the idea of this painting in my mind for quite some time.  At a very young age I understood the immense gift of what we have in nature and all of creation.  It is to be respected and revered.  To step out of our busy life and dwell in the gentle fields of nature nurtures the soul.  It is healing.  Music can have the same effect….it is healing….it nurtures the soul.  Most of the time, I create paintings to the sound of music.  I cannot image my life without nature, music or art.  This painting is an interpretation of all three.

The musician, relaxed and shoeless, decides to create in the simple luxury of the pasture field.  The atmosphere is gentle and quiet.  She has no idea that over the crest of the horizon there are cows grazing.  They hear her music and become inquisitive.  A second musician decides to join her.  The cows are drawn closer.  The addition of another musician creates a harmonious presentation bridging music, nature and creation.   The wind has increased, accentuating the rhythm of the music. The cows are now in close proximity, seemingly to participate in the experience and complete the unity.  

This is about harmony in life, music, art, nature and creation.  It is joy.  It is a precious gift of what we all need ….”Harmony”.

I like the warmth of this painting.  It is a story about a man and his horse out for a morning walk.  They came to greet me as I was painting plein air.   I was situated in the shadows of the tree lined road focusing on a pasture field lit by the morning sun.  The stillness was profound…broken only by birds singing and squirrels scurrying here and there.

This painting takes one beyond the deep shadows to the complete opposite of bright and warm sunshine.  The contrast in colors from intense purples, reds, and cool blues to the complimentary colors of yellows and greens makes for a defining transition.  It is powerful and strong.  I think of the strength of this young draft horse and the pounding hoofs against the gravel as they trot back towards home.  I think of the man running beside his horse all the while hoping that he has control, knowing full well that the mere strength of the horse could overpower him at any given moment.  All of this intense feeling (in colors and story) is softened by the delicate background colors and the warmth of the relationship between the man and his horse.  While rich, it is sensitive, graceful and serene.   There is power in contrast.  It is a strong invitation for the viewer to explore the painting.  In this case, the dark colors in the forefront instruct the viewer to stop, look at me and walk down this path with me.

I hope that you enjoy Heading Home.

Recently, I attended a workshop to study under the instruction of Roger Dale Brown.  One of the thoughts he presented was to ‘speak’ your painting to help create the mood.  He made the comparison as to God vocalizing creation “and there was light”.

As I think about this, I realize that creating a painting is very much the manner in which God created earth.  He began with the larger mass, continually breaking it down to smaller and smaller masses / details until He finished with the animals and humans…adding LIFE to creation.  Isn’t this the same way we construct a painting?  We start with the largest mass and continually break it down with smaller and smaller masses until we finally add the finishing details that bring LIFE to the painting.

This thought process brings a freedom to me in that it is a proven success.  Avoid making a MESS by following the concept of MASS. 

Perhaps you will receive the same benefit as I have, whether you are the one creating a painting or you are the one viewing a painting.  Enjoy!

Sometimes there are weeks that just float along with a quiet and easy footprint.  Other weeks seem to hail with thunderous tromping.  This past week has been of the latter type.  It was one of dropping everything that was carefully planned and attend to those in need.  How does this relate to art, I say?  And this is how I answer myself:  Art is all about life, whether that approach is happy, sad, realistic, impressionistic, abstract...and the list goes on.  Our everyday occurrences profoundly impact our creative interpretations.  When we think we are in control, we find again, that we are not.  It is these moments that we need to stop and really search for the beautiful details of those thunderous footsteps and prepare to be influenced by the beauty of even the difficult days.