Thoughts On Creativity

New brushes in the light, shiny ferrules, clean shafts, leaning like friends chatting about their weekend inspired me to create a blog banner years ago. So long ago that I don't remember when the picture was taken. Maybe 2009ish. 

In those days I sat at my dinning table (2 inch thick old pine) aka my desk, thinking, painting, crafting, blogging. I took photographs of whatever was nearby. I felt comfortably creative there.

Brush & Paint. The image for the series this fall I will post about in progress has been decided, The New Haven River in Bristol, Vermont photograph is the one I will paint from.

New Haven River in Bristol, Vermont

Both banks will extend into the woods for a large canvas. My primary focus is the relationship between hues, water and rocks. The color story flowing as the rivers flows, that connection is what I want to achieve in my painting.

A few pencil sketches, splashes of color, and I will be ready to begin the first session this week.

Here's the thing about creativity.

I believe anyone can be an artist that wants to be, and, puts in the work. There is no such thing as, "I can't draw." You can. You just haven't gone the distance with drawing. 

Composition can also be learned. Even people with natural talent have to sketch, plan, practice. Creating the art is the key to being an artist. How talented you are is another story. As long as you reach a level you like, then that, I believe, is good enough. 

There is always talent at the top, those with a natural ability to create artwork that wows the majority of us. 

However, at the top doesn't mean the artist belongs there. Popularity, especially from trusted art critic voices, has a strong say in who are the artist at the top, collectible, worth investing money into buying their art. I've seen online extraordinary artists, mega talented, that aren't in the news, big sellers, at the top of the high end art community network.

Who is versus What is.

Think Mona Lisa (1503). I've seen just as good if not better smiles on many portraits, old and new. Yet, she is one of the most famous paintings in the world, and, I believe, always will be. She deserves it. But, what about the others? Well, that's the art World, and, there's only one Leonardo da Vinci. 

Ever read about a lawyer, doctor or other professional with a well paying career give it all up to become an artist? If you haven't, then you haven't been reading about the artists. 

They have an edge because they have, I believe, the money to change careers, a following from the get-go, a good resume, and, many have talent and/or develop their talent.

If I had a nice well stocked studio space, there is no guarentee I would paint more than I do because depression doesn't work like that. I have over a dozen unfinished canvases and creative projects. I do the best I'm able with what I have. Trying is doing.

You can do the same if you want to be an artist.