Every class you take brings information to you that is new or different or seen in a different manner. A class I am taking with artist Emilya Lane is working on different value studies. Last week we had about an hour per piece to paint one in high chroma and one in low chroma. Both are posted and it would be interesting to know if you can immediately tell which one is which….
Before beginning a trip down the Yangtze River in China we stopped at the dam that changed the future and the eco-culture of area. Seeing something this big in structure, beautifully designed, and melting into the atmosphere was inspiring.
Several years ago on a “Day Trip” to Ensenada and beyond with my oldest son, Chadwyck we took his pickup truck down into a part of Mexico where no one spoke much English. Driving along cliffs, to a small resort along the coast was exhilarating, especially for someone a little afraid of heights. The port was lovely and I took this photo of fishing boats tied together. I later gave the painting to my son, but kept the photo and did this water color sketch, which one of my husband’s favorite. To me, it reminds of a wonderful and somewhat eventful day that I spent with my son. Memories are the rewards of life.
Walking up to Edmonds from the ferry is this sad building waiting to have a life. It will be the new beginning for a fun young business or maybe retirement income for someone like me.
The original photo is a little more forlorn, but has such character.
While meandering online I discovered a little book called “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon. One of my favorite quotes is by Francis Ford Coppola:
“We want you to take from us. We want you, at first, to steal from us, because you can’t steal. You will take what we give you and you will put it in your own voice and that’s how you will find your voice. And that’s how you begin. And then one day someone will steal from you.”
The book begins by asking the artist the question:
“Where do you get your ideas?”
And goes on to say that the nonest artist answers,
“I steal them.”
When I was in my PhD program at Argosy one of my professors stated there are no longer original ideas, there are only our interpretation of what has already been said or done.
My friend Damon E. Edwards at Front Street Gallery in Poulsbo took the photo that inspired this photo. Trucks are such an important part of our culture, as they carry what we need, where it needs to go. they are mostly overlooked, and not generally painted, but I loved his photo of this truck just cruising along somewhere in the country.
Sad, but interesting as a different view of a part of the world. This one is in Cambodia. It could be a boring photo, but the way the light is captured makes it intriguing. If you only post your art on a blog, I think it makes you of a singular mind. Sharing work from other sources, not only opens your eyes, but hopefully the eyes of others.
Photo by Chadwyck Wirtz
Sitting in the bay in beautiful Cinque Terra this boat floated silently and was never occupied the week we spent there in the sun. It was so lovely I decided that it could make a lovely painting. It was a lesson to me that I should paint what I love and not what other people suggest. In my painting group, it was suggested this might not be the best subject matter, as there was not enough substance. I enjoy the result and hope you do too.
My oldest son Chadwyck start taking photos about three years ago, and he sees the world from a slightly different perspective, which I love and intellectually enjoy. The way a photographer sees the world, gives you a little insight as to how their imagination words. Love the composition and changes in in value in this photo taken in Cambodia
When Tang Dancer was originally created, is felt like she needed a partner to enjoy dancing. Partners add to our lives. They add challenges and rewards. If the rewards are better or more than the challenges, we have established a good partnership.