Art Videos & Sailboats
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| Water in the Fountain 2015 |
The color blue in the photo above is one that isn't easy for me mix in acrylic paint. It is a favorite shade of blue, a tint of teal with a sea glass transparency.
Over the last two weeks, I have been watching art videos. The inspiration is interesting in how it can almost feel like attending lectures, being around other artists. I haven't been a member an artist's group in decades. A plein air painting group has been in my thoughts to start. I'm timid. We will see in the weeks ahead.
Recently I began viewing the UK series, Portrait Artist of the Year. After season one, I felt confident I can select good art. Episode one of season 2, that all fell apart as I do not agree with the short list. They are good paintings by good artists, but not my favorites.
The criteria the judges use strays from the idea, I feel, of a what is the best artwork. The other factors they use aren't of interest to me, such as the artist's potential for growth. You paint this, we compare, and chose the one that is the best is my narrow focus. As an artist, I want to see what is in front of me as the best in order to learn. I'm guessing in such a competition, more has to be considered.
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| Sailboat July 2015 |
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| Sailing On Lake Champlain 2015 |
I look forward to you boat summer!
ReplyDeleteMarie,
ReplyDeletePainting watercolors will feel like a step back in time. :)
I could never submit my work to be judged because I wouldn't want to know what they had to say. And working to commission is hard as I can attest, having just finished one. It makes me feel good that they want a piece of my work, but I'd rather they had just chosen from the ones I have available.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maryanne
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know it isn't just me.
Critiques, strangely enough, don't bother me. When given in a positive and constructive way, I think they help me learn.
Being judged is uncomfortable. A judge once studied one of my paintings for quite a long time. It was weird. Even weirder, he gave me nothing, not even an honorable mention despite being more interested in my painting than he showed in others. He was such a grump, I didn't ask him why.
That first feels quite wintery.
ReplyDeleteWilliam,
ReplyDeleteI can see winter now in the colors.
The photo was taken in summer at a fountain. :)
It's so relative and subjective, isn't it? How can you tell me something I might love is or isn't a good painting -- and would I believe you if I did? I suppose if you can measure certain objective features you can discuss it technically (like a soggy bottom on a pie crust). I really have challenges with commissions. The buyer has a very specific idea in mind and it might not be mine. An interesting post.
ReplyDeleteJeanie,
ReplyDeleteThe judges in the portrait series have view points that don't always, to me, fit in with the spirit of creating art. They seem to be more on the promotion, sales side of things. Unfortunately, what trends in art is rule by critics, the higher ups, the experts.