". . . a brush with nature"

Monet once said he …”would like to paint the way a bird sings.” Me, too.

Full of joy and unashamed . . . unapologetic for just being myself. I want to be able to express myself and share my feelings with others through my art. I want my paintings to have a positive impact on people. I want to uplift people, evoke memories and create a sense of  joie de vivre. I want to be able to achieve that while still doing what comes naturally to me. 

I believe a bird is happy when it sings and I know that I am happy when I hear it. I want to bring that same sense of happiness to others when they see my paintings. It’s what I want to achieve . . . and I like the simplicity of it. 

Me being me and hoping that I can make your life a little bit brighter in the process.

I recently read that “with less frustration comes less waste.” I took that to mean less waste of things such as time, materials and even effort.

I can say with certainty, and from my own first hand experience, that with less frustration comes less waste of that sort. But, I can also say that with less frustration comes . . . well, nothing comes from it.

Let’s consider that.

I know, from my many years as an artist, that every piece I work on has its ups and downs . . . its highs and lows. I experience a love-hate relationship with every painting from day to day, or sometimes even minute to minute. Sometimes I feel elated with a single brushstroke or a choice of color. Sometimes I am awash with a feeling of great frustration. Often I feel as if things can never be put right again with this particular painting or any other. And then I make another mark.

What if I did let frustration win the day? What if I gave in to it and never went back to my studio again? What if I never approached my drawing table or easel one more time? I would certainly experience less frustration, but there would also be no creation at all. To me, it doesn’t seem to be a good trade.

To try to live a creative life totally free of frustration would mean to never grow artistically. Nothing good would come from it.

I guess Robert Henri would agree. “Behind every great painting is a trace of a magnificent struggle.”