3.18.2011

the science of art


every once in a blue moon, and usually by accident, i come across an artist's work that moves me.  i know i've discussed this before, but when it happens, it changes everything.  suddenly, my sometimes tiresome daily chore becomes re-inspired, infused with the eager hope that yes, someday i can paint like that too.  as artists, i believe we need each other, just like scientists do.  because when one artist makes a breakthrough, a discovery, we all do.  

 watercolor was starting to seem like a dying art: i've struggled to find contemporary realism that excites me, work that pushes beyond tulips and marinas, beyond rigid detail to show expression and energy in the paint.  that kind of prowess takes a lot of practice, and patience.  after seeing the watercolors of david rathman, i'm ready for the challenge again, i've seen the light at the end of the tunnel.   and maybe, if i dissect the details and really examine what i see, i can think my way through the technique, and take it as an inspirational cue. perhaps i can breathe new life into my own work.  because being a painter is a process, always winning and losing battles with the brush.  inspiration, motivation, and technique,  they don't grow on trees.  and watercolors, like a farrel cat, are unpredictable and take a while to get to know. 


1 comment:

  1. Oh man! Those are gorgeous. Can't wait to see what you do with the discovery.

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