A Momma and Pappa herding their brood to shelter before the storm. Watercolour on Yupo.
I wrote this letter to a friend in response to her comment about how fortunate I am to be an artist even though it is not an easy way to make a living.
I do it because i love to do it, and have always wanted to be an artist. I can't think of anything else i would rather be doing.
Dear Judy. Yes, you are absolutely right. I am always grateful for the art and the ability to make it.
Sometimes, when i am painting and things are going well, i dance. No one is there, but i dance. It just is so amazing to me. Sometimes, when i do a painting, i leave for the night and come back the next day to see what i have done. Sometimes, it amazes even me, and i am not so certain that it was me who did it!
I cannot remember putting it together all that well and know there was much more to it than I, myself, and me!
Sometimes, it as if they paint themselves. There is an "art spirit” that guides the hand of many, if and when we are open to it and let it work through us. The art world calls it the “art spirit” but you and i know exactly what that spirit is. :)
It really does amaze me, when i see this working. It does not always happen, for one reason or another. Perhaps we are focusing on ourselves? Perhaps we are too pre-occupied with other things?
Maybe we are just thinking about the money we can make if it sells? It is during those times that the painting does not have life and there is no light.
There is something missing.
Sometimes, i tell people the painting speaks to me. I have to listen and hear the voice. It tells me what to do next. I try to listen and to follow it. When i have shared this with people, i get a variety of reactions. Mostly disbelief and a look of, “you are a tad bit crazy!”. So i quit telling folks about the voice and the spirit. I am then hopeful the paintings will speak for themselves.
Lately, i have been gifting a lot of my work. I donate paintings to dog rescue groups, fundraisers for various charities, etc. I don’t have a lot of spare cash to give but i can give away the art. A few times i heard of someone’s dog dying and i did a portrait of the dog and just sent it to them.
It makes me feel like i am doing something worthwhile at least.
There have not been a lot of art buyers recently but i have been busy with such things and trying to get my work out to as many places as i can. If i have to follow in the foot steps of all those great masters who died before anyone saw value in their work that would be okay. And if that doesn’t happen which is most likely the case, i have enjoyed listening to that voice and the spirit (God), and dancing while i paint. :)
thanks for sparking these thoughts Judy. it is something i don’t really think about all that often.
We just have to go out there and “do it”.
blessings always,
ross
