Painting - why we paint

Its almost a fourth week into the painting class that I am taking. There is so much opportunity to grasp what's all been there since forever. I still ponder over 'why I paint' questions, get confused when no sensible answer pops out and then try to go deeper into or out of the paintings to seek wisdom.

There are more wider canvases to paint, beyond myself, beyond my surroundings and beyond everything that meets to the eye. And often this emotional aspect of journey dwarfs the physical one. I know other people face similar tussle among themselves, a process of self evolution, so private yet so impersonal. And that helps me put things into perspective.

Things uncover for the better or for worse, there is this spark that makes you to to rise to the occasion. I hope this hurry, this rush, this urgency gets me to my right answers sooner! 

 

Why, if you read this, do you paint?

The color purple

The colors have immense power, we all know that. Black is synonym of dark, white for light, red, is almost a statement. But I never realized the power of color purple. The color of shade, the shadow, the negative space! Boy, does it do wonders to the canvas. How it changes the mood, how it enhances the ambiance, how it fills the void and how it calms you down.

One doesn't have to be an artist to appreciate what a color holds within. A surprise, a provocation, a curiosity, and a deafening silence! Its magical. Its musical. Its pure fun. One has to experience their own color. Yes, their own color. That holds an entire canvas together, like a undercurrent through the painted scene. A harmony than keeps everything balanced.

I had to share what plein air taught me - the sense of immediacy. The light changes as the painting progresses and the artist moves further within the realm of the work. One moves another races. Who wins - only one can say. There is no right answer to that one. And that's the thrill. The artist knows when he won or won. There is no loss only a fleeting moment of the feeling of not winning, if at all.


Just like life, you see what you choose to see. And that's the way it should be. Compassion, concentration and a hope for the best. Things just happen. Keep smiling!

The Fall - Season of Colors

I recently closed the blog on my firstborn soon after she turned 5.  As I reflect on it the journey of five years seemed just too brief, punctuated by special moments and milestones. Look, here she started her kindergarten. Really? She barely learnt to walk yesterday, didn't she? No dear,  it is that long already! Now it's the turn of the little one's to take his first step any day now. Boy, time does fly faster when you have so much affection flowing all around you.

Kids have a way to invoke what lies deep within. You never think you could ever be able to that giving or forgiving for that matter...and yet, you do without much effort. Its amazing how our perspective for life changes as the time passes. What you were in your twenties, are no longer in thirties and most definitely in your forties (have yet to experience that, no rush, seriously!).

As my birthday approaches, I take the moment to take a moment to thank everyone who ever made an impression on me and turning me into the person I am now. I think, I sure do know now what I do not want to be. Guess that wisdom comes from years that follow late twenties :-) Having said that, I will sign off with the note that I hope to be more regular on this online journal so that I can be more accountable to myself.

I will post what's new and how things are moving forward. Let me know (via comment) how things are at your end?