Nature provides a constant source of creative
inspiration to all of us. But to capture its spiritual essence, one must first discover
one's own emotional connection to the subject. It's that special "something"
that grows out of each artist's personal involvement with his/her subject
matter. Your philosophy will undoubtedly differ from mine and other artists, as
well as the way of seeing and expressing your relationship to your subjects.
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Vineyard Radiance II by Robert Reynolds.
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Each of us is different and as artists we perceive our subjects in our own way;
and that is a good thing. Subjects that hold no meaning to the individual can
all too easily become little more than exercises in picture making; something
that conveys little feeling or sincerity and shows no commitment.
Any subject,
be it human, rocks, trees, still life or what have you, can be symbolic of
something larger than it's self.
When painting subjects with a definite meaning or relationship to my
own life, I see a richness and emotional dimension in my
painting that otherwise might not be there. The old saying is still relevant: "Paint what you know."
Ideally, as artists, we should strive
to infuse the literal reality of what we see with perhaps a far richer reality
of what we feel. The quest for originality when figuring out how to paint begins with personal, insightful
components that aids us when embracing and interpreting our chosen subject. Does that resonate with you? Leave a comment and let me know what chosen subject calls to you.
--Robert