I read an interesting article about Picasso the other day. An online artist/art teacher was suggesting that the figures in his paintings were cold and grotesque because they were a reflection of the person he was. Basically, he was a jerk. A genius, but a jerk. She had studied him as an art student, and learned that he was described as a womanizer, narcissist, violent and an abuser of women!
So, I wondered… what does my art say about me? Hard to self-analyze, of course. But in the past 18 years living on the coast in Cap-Pele and painting for the past (how many is it?) years, I find I am drifting toward becoming a naturalist, or at least gaining a greater appreciation of the amazing beauty of nature, as I watch the changing seasons outside my windows then examine the scenes closely enough to create a version of them on paper. I notice things that I didn’t before, even when I’m not painting live or taking photos to paint later. I’m becoming more of an environmentalist, wanting to protect the nature I’ve come to love here.
I also find myself wanting to capture stories of where I am, the feeling of the place, not just reproducing the beautiful scene. I want my creations to also capture the emotion and experience of the place, memories of being there. My paintings that sell are almost always of a place that the buyer has also been so it holds memories for them too. The painting becomes a little piece of their experience that they can take home with them, to view and re-experience the feelings whenever they look at it (often of relaxation and a wonderful holiday, and often of a beach vacation since I live at and paint the beach a lot!).
I also have a life partner who has totally supported me in developing my skills as an artist (when I should really be doing more housework and yard maintenance!). He is my “Muse”. Muse was one of the goddesses of Greek mythology, presiding over the arts and sciences. In art, the term has come to refer to a person who inspires and influences an artist through their qualities and relationship. I’m sure I would not have become a professional artist who paints almost every day without his support and encouragement!
Recently I painted live at the Hom’Art Festival in Shediac — it was an honour and privilege to have been chosen to perform at the festival! And the painting above was what I created “en Plein Air”, trying to capture some of the spirit of the day. Funny story — the gal in the pink and purple shirt I portrayed in the painting was another artist/vendor. She stopped by at the end of the event and I pointed the figure out to her. She was thrilled to have been captured in a piece of art and took photos and a video to post on her Instagram account! She’s Steph Sutherland from Riverview.
So, people often ask me how long I’ve been painting… and I really wasn’t sure! I started drawing in graphite (pencil) about 12 years ago, sometimes using some watercolour pencil crayons for colour and progressing to chalk pastels which behave somewhat like graphite. When we started travelling to Spain I realized that pastels don’t travel well — the final painting is easily damaged — so I eventually discovered and switched to watercolour paints probably about 6 years ago and fell in love with the medium! They travel really well and work great for outdoor “plein air” painting which a find I really enjoy (even if it doesn’t always turn out as well as a studio painting). I’m having such fun that I want to encourage others to take it up too. I gave a plein air workshop last month at Le Hub on Main St in Shediac and will have another one on October 7th.
Meanwhile, my next art show will be at the Memramcook Parlures d’Icitte Festival, on October 18th, from 10-4. Maybe I’ll see you there!
