Of Painting and Roads Taken

Happiness 12x12 sold
I have been spending some time looking at art this morning before going to the studio. Most days I do this...I feel it is an important aspect of learning. I am mindful to save my eyes for work that appeals to me...generally realism with abstract and/or impressionistic qualities, although I do love a good non-objective or abstract piece, which was my college training. I believe that all this looking will find its' way to my subconscious and hopefully make me a better painter. Some of the things I look for are loose brushwork, edges, open canvas, good color, exciting grays and of course an overall good design. The design elements are not just the composition or division of compositional space. They are also light and dark value patterns, interesting negative and positive space, color balance, repetition of shapes with variation, line, harmony, unity and texture to name some. All of these elements when put together well will help to produce a great piece. There is so much to learn and then perfect! I love the continuing challenge of painting...everyday there is a new problem to solve....or an old one to improve upon. I am hoping and betting that this will keep my mind sharp!
A little work today around the house....but most of the day will be spent painting. I spent quite a while reading last evening before watching some more of the Olympics. The book I am reading is "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and is planned to be a film . The book was praised by British environmental campaigner George Monbiot who said of the book "It could be the most important environmental book ever. It is a thought experiment that imagines a world without a biosphere, and shows that everything we value depends on the ecosystem." This nomination echoes the review Monbiot had written some months earlier for the Guardian in which he wrote, "A few weeks ago I read what I believe is the most important environmental book ever written. It is not Silent Spring, Small Is Beautiful or even Walden. It contains no graphs, no tables, no facts, figures, warnings, predictions or even arguments. Nor does it carry a single dreary sentence, which, sadly, distinguishes it from most environmental literature. It is a novel, first published a year ago, and it will change the way you see the world."
I never seem to have enough time to read but am making headway in that department by better organization of time. Speaking of which....time to get going!!
Always a great day here and hope the same for you,
Theresa