Are you Uninhibited or Style Conscious?

"Prayer Circles" Acrylic on 24 x 18 canvas

We always wonder if our personal artwork presents a style that is unique and recognizable by others. The answer is yes. Even though your style may be imperfect and perhaps full of “beginner’s” mistakes or careless errors, your style is evident in almost every painting.

Art Biz Coach, Alyson Stanfield, describes it this way: “Style is a characteristic or group of characteristics that we can identify as constant, recurring, coherent, etc. that is identified with an individual.”

And from the late Robert Genn: “Each artist’s uniqueness and individualism brings endless variations. The dynamism invites the “keeping-in-mind-God” to play a part in the work’s evolution, enriching the process. The job becomes an intellectual as well as a technical and emotional exercise. The idea is to stretch your brain so your act of art is your very own.

There are also designated types of art that differentiate themselves, one from another. For instance, impressionism, realism, surrealism, expressionism, painterly, folksy, primitive, abstraction, etc. Most of us learned about these different genres in school. But within each category, there are definitive components such as the compositional elements, the brush strokes; are they flamboyant and wide, or detailed and soft?

"#hopeful in India" Acrylic, 24 x 18 canvas

And what about color? The hues and values chosen and the way they have been applied are all recognizable; even the lines and shapes and how they’re rendered are unique to each artist. Your style is a combination of the mediums, techniques, and subject matter you choose. It’s the extra things you do to distinguish your work from other artists.

As you gain experience, your work evolves. Your colors become more sophisticated. The composition more interesting and leading. Increased subtleties and innuendo begin to tone down the brasher elements and enhance the message. The painting becomes a soft-spoken message from your heart that is both appealing and convincing.

You the artist become an expert at playful seduction and illusion. There are often multiple messages that beckon and coalesce into one cohesive center of interest. You begin to sense where and when intensity is needed to mirror your own passion. You triumph when this melding of heart and soul on canvas are transfixed in the viewer’s mind long after they have left the scene.

Some may be riveted in place, studying the twists and turns of your color and vision. This may not happen overnight. This evolution of style is like giving birth. The process may be long and hard, but you know it will eventually happen. The struggle to overcome and to achieve has been done before by all those who profess to be artists.

"Fish Market" Acrylic on 24 x 18 canvas

Is it worth the intensity of emotion and the grief of failure? Is climbing to the top of Mount Everest ever worth the risks? Only those who reach the top may feel exultation. The building blocks you leave behind (those crass unfinished canvases, those embarrassing compositions and tacky mistakes) litter the highways and byways of your history and become the building blocks of your destiny. It is not over until you lay down the brush and either give up or give in to the overwhelming hold artistry has on you.

Mud Pies, Pottery and Mankind’s Passion to Create

"India Rising -- the Lost"  24x18 acrylic on canvas (based on legend)

Why I didn’t go into pottery, I’ll never know. As a child I loved puttering with clay. Its sensual pliable warmth gave me my first thirsting for creativity. 

In grade school, a classmate and I made some clay figures. Our teacher gave us two empty cubby holes to use, and we fashioned a home for our two families that even included two dogs and a cat.

Our imaginations went wild as we moved our stubby people from place to place. We spoke for them, barked and meowed for them, and created furniture for them to use for meals, sleeping and being together. Our primitive characters came alive under our fingertips and tutelage.

I did some research and discovered the “Daily Mail” and in their “Science & Technology Section” an article on the history of clay works:

“Prehistoric pottery shows that man mastered clay 17,500 years ago - before we settled and became farmers.” That means man actually made animal figures artistically before there is a record of clay being used for functional purposes.

• “Finds prove that man mastered pottery 17,500 years ago
• “Pottery may have been invented - and forgotten - several times in human history
• “Later, technology was used for carving animals - NOT for making cooking vessels
• “Discovery came from before time when humans settled down into farming communities”

By Rob Waugh

“Earlier theories have held that the invention of pottery happened during the period about 10,000 years ago when humans moved from being hunter-gathers to farmers.

“But our ancestors didn't use the technique to make pots - instead, they created ceramic animals using clays baked in ovens.

“The finds - along with other recent discoveries in China - have forced scientists to rethink the history of pottery. It's now thought that the use of ceramics was invented - and forgotten - several times during history by different societies.

“The new find in modern-day Croatia is evidence of a community of prehistoric artists and craftspeople who ‘invented’ ceramics during the last Ice Age – thousands of years before pottery became commonplace.” As an artist, I find this positively amazing!

"Hey, Coconut, Mon!"  16 x 20 mixed media on canvas

And from the late Robert Genn:

“The Big Picture

“In life, in art, a major problem is failing to see the big picture. Individual parts may be just fine but the overall doesn't get off the ground. Together with your individual sensitivity and your own vision, what you're looking for is strength, pattern and character. We're talking art here: 

• “Go a long way back; I mean a long way--into the other room. 
• “Small room?--look at it through binoculars--backwards.
• “Look at it in a mirror.
• “Half close your eyes and look at it. 
• “Half close your eyes and work on it. 
• “If you're working from a slide, throw the projector out of focus and find the compositional faults. 
• “If you're working from a color photo, run it through a black-and-white photocopier and find the faults. 
• “If you're working from your head, try holding pieces of toned paper here and there to see improvements by adding color.
•  “If you're working on location, don't let yourself be tyrannized by the scene. Keep asking, "What could be?
• “If you're working on location, look through the viewfinder of a camera without taking the picture.” 

 “It's easier to get the big picture in a little picture, so think of your big picture as a little picture and your big picture will fly.”  Well said!

Robert & Sara Genn Twice-Weekly Letter

Below:  "Prayer Circles" acrylic on canvas

Remodeling Blues have put a Crimp in my Plans

"Arabesque" oil on canvas

My husband and I decided that putting new cabinets in the kitchen and vanities/sinks in the bathroom was a must this year. The original woodwork was a slapdash effort by the builder 20 years ago to come in under budget and on deadline. We were not aware of this until my husband put storage cabinets in our garage and discovered that the inexpensive white laminates sold by Home Depot were the exact same ones as in our kitchen and bathrooms.

Our project was supposed to start one week ago, and we’re still waiting. Living out of suitcases and boxes is much like camping out. We’ve also been eating a lot of T.V. dinners and dining out. Finding space and time to paint has been difficult.

I appreciate the inspiration I continue to glean from all of you, and from the late Robert Genn and his daughter Sara who keeps up their traditional newsletter. These two quotes were my favorites:

"Where you struggle, there lies your treasure." (Joseph Campbell)

Think about this! The things you work the hardest for are usually worth more to you than the simple enjoyable pleasures that last only a short time. Trying to master a new skill, a new language, or working on a relationship that you recognize as important is worth the effort and the tears because the final product or result will be priceless!

Where does your treasure lie? What do you put the most time into? When you’re finished, will you be a stronger and better person than before? This is a good measuring stick or criteria from which to build. “Where you struggle, there lies your treasure.”

"Release -- my Trail of Tears" mixed media on canvas

I devoted one of my paintings to Campbell for this quote: “Art is the Set of Wings to carry you out of your own entanglement.” The painting: “Release – my Trail of Tears” was a real metamorphose of color and emotion for me. My son had given me "A Joseph Campbell Companion" several years ago, and the quotes are profound and stick in your mind.

Here’s another beauty: "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly." (Richard Bach)

When we fail, we see it as a disaster. Like the caterpillar, we may think our life, our career, our romance is over. But if we’re patient, if we’re willing to try again, we may discover something new and wonderful! A fragile butterfly may emerge from the ashes of our defeat and lift us into new spheres of possibility. 

I’ve had to face a lot of obstacles recently. My career has been in a slump and one crisis has replaced another in my efforts to gain a foothold. Life may slow me down, but I will not be deterred. How about you?

"The Perfect Ending" acrylic on canvas

Success is a Lonely Walk we must take by Ourselves

"Siesta"  8 x 10 original drawing (reminds me of Key West!)

Being an artist is a lonely pursuit. Remembering what you know and putting it into practice requires self-motivation, skill and continued study. I’ve known artists who are professional students. They constantly take classes, but never quite get beyond the stage of exploration. They think that the next great class will surely make the difference between success and failure and in their ability to paint that perfect painting. Sadly, it never happens.

Only you can develop your brush strokes and style. You may learn value and color, you may understand another person’s technique and recommendations, but unless you continually practice your brush strokes and develop your own process for painting, you’ll be stuck.

"The Neptunes -- Octoband"   http://etsy.com/shop/anfinsenart

Plugging away and working while everyone else is at play is difficult. In order to climb, you must put in the time. It is by doing that we learn. We can read every book on the planet, and take all the classes available to us, but if we don’t put into practice what we have learned, our dreams of success remain in limbo.

"The Neptunes -- Trumpeteers" http://etsy.com/shop/anfinsenart

The biggest hurdle for most artists is finding time and space. Don’t wait until all your ducks are in a row. Don’t put off painting until you have the ideal space or allocated chunks of time. Delays are excuses. They keep us from making commitments.

Robert Genn’s twice-weekly newsletter is being done by his daughter, Sara, in his absence. Sara shared this gem a few days ago:

“Here's my version of English author and illustrator Neil Gaiman's Eight Rules for Writing. I've modified them for painters:

1. Paint.

2. Put your first stroke down and move on with another stroke. Work your strokes and let your strokes work you.
 

3. Stop the painting before you think you should.
 

4. Put your painting aside and start another painting.

5. Always keep in mind that you are your own best critic.

6. Perfection in painting is probably not possible. Excellence in painting is for people who appreciate the poetry of your soul.
 

7. Your style is what you're doing academically wrong. Radicalize yourself -- you only have one life to show you've got style.

8. You need to paint with enough assurance and confidence to know you can do whatever you like. So paint your story and make painting your life. Be honest with yourself about your progress. Always try to do a better job than you did the day before. I'm not sure there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.”

And finally another quote from Gaiman’s book: "I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes," says Gaiman, "Because if you're making mistakes... you're Doing Something."

That’s all we can really do, friends. We can keep on making mistakes, and sometimes we may get lucky. (Below: work in progress "Fuchsia Fantastic #1, #2)

Self-confidence supports and propels, but is it enough?

"Hibiscus Glory" 16 x 20 oil on canvas (SOLD) Prints available

I was struck by the comments of my favorite artist and blogger Robert Genn in his last newsletter.

“A recent issue of the New Yorker Magazine had a cartoon titled "Faith-based cooking." The example they gave was a faith-based tuna casserole. "I got the recipe from the Internet," says a frazzled woman holding up her dish. "We didn't have any tuna so I used yesterday's leftover Chinese takeout. It should still be okay". 

"The cartoon reminded me of a friend who painted only one painting in his entire life. He was a businessman--a very successful one--who told me he didn't know anything about painting but that he had it in him to paint a magnificent one. I bought him everything he needed, including a giant canvas I primed for him. "I don't actually know what I'm doing," he admitted, "but I have faith I can do it and faith will be enough".

"Blending In" 12 x 16 acrylic on panel in barnwood frame

Genn continues: "The painting, long since lost to posterity, was pretty bad on most levels. It was done after Botticelli's Venus except there were many more Venuses. It was so bad that ordinary people had trouble looking directly at it. It was so bad I don't think a top notch New York art dealer could have got a bid on it. 

"To be fair to my friend, when he was not making money he often traveled to the great art museums. He could talk authoritatively about Caravaggio, Daumier and David--three of his favorites. But when it came to the art of drawing or mixing a sophisticated grey, he was running on a low tank of faith. 

"Now you know I'm not one to debunk faith. Strength of purpose and human confidence arise from it. Without faith, no one would take a chance on anything. But faith has to be built on some greater knowledge, some understanding of ingredients, things that actually interact and work with one another and methodology that has, if not provable, likely results. Throwing in yesterday's Chinese takeout to make a tuna casserole just won't cut it.”

"Home At Last" acrylic on 16 x 20 panel

Robert Genn is a master. He knows what he’s talking about. Wanting something is one thing. Actually accomplishing or mastering a skill is another. Wishing will never replace the constant effort of practice, learning and knowledge. Pretending may make us feel good, but in the end the prize goes to those who actually run the race, struggle to overcome, and then win.

If you’re putting in your time, don’t be discouraged. There is always a learning curve and darkness before the dawn. Don’t wave the white flag of defeat just yet. Keep at it and eventually you will achieve your dreams!

"Kelly's Rose" 12 x 16 oil on board

“Waiting for Godot” is another Means of Procrastination

One of the Newsletter’s I subscribe to comes from the artist, Robert Genn. He suggests that we shouldn’t wait around for “inspiration.” We should just dive into our work and see what happens. Sometimes waiting for the “muse” or that perfect idea is another form of putting off the actual work.

Some people think if they pay enough money for “the perfect web site;” the one that generates “thousands of viewers,” their careers will take off and they will begin to sell.

In actuality, it isn’t how much money you spend, it is how much actual time you spend on marketing and promoting your work. If one site fails, just beginning another won’t necessarily cut it if you’re not putting in the time. Marketing and promoting take as much work as the actual creating and implementing stage. Without promotion your creative work sits around with only one viewer: you!

"Moonshines" Acrylic on canvas

I’ve discussed fear before. Fear is paralyzing. Fear can also be another form of procrastination. The news caster Robin Robins recently dealt with a severe form of cancer. How did she beat it? Robin said: “When fear knocks, let faith answer the door.”

She believed in herself, she believed in the power of God, and she faced her fears courageously and beat them down with the “sword of God’s word.” Fear can be overcome. Human will is powerful, but there is a higher power than ourselves that can help us overcome fear, weakness, and the frailties of human nature.

When fear knocks, we need to rally all the support systems available to us. We need to jump into the pool of the unknown and beat off the sharks with every ounce of strength we can muster. Waiting for Godot or some magical super hero, who can save us from our work, just doesn’t cut it. However, if we do our part and “put in the time,” eventually the powers that be will reward our efforts.

"Sandhill Cranes at Twilight"  mixed media on canvas

Being successful isn’t for the “faint hearted.” We must struggle with our adversaries; some of which are self-inflicted. We battle with physical limitations, spiritual weaknesses and with time.

As an employee, as a wife and mother, I used a “To Do” list every day. I noticed that now that the children are gone and I’m retired, I’ve stopped using one. My days have become loose and unstructured. I think about what needs to be done, but somehow I don’t quite get to them.

I purchased a tablet with bold red letters: “To Do.” The page is divided into two columns; each line ending in a check box. The first column says: “Do it Now.” The second column says: “Do it Later.”

Since I started using this organized way of using my time wisely, I’ve accomplished at least three times as many projects as before. A warning should come with the check list: "Too many items on your Do it Now column will cause exhaustion by day’s end." I need a warning like that. I’m a Type A personality who keeps going so I can check off every box.

"With these Hands -- Love" mixed media on canvas

So I divided the page in half. One page actually lasted me all week as the interruptions of meetings, appointments, and phone calls kept me from doing my tasks on schedule. Being a slave to your list is almost as bad as not doing your tasks at all. Flexibility is mandatory.

Once the jobs were checked off, I was exhilarated. I circled those chores that remained or were more difficult so I wouldn’t forget them. This process turned out to be a great way to define my goals more clearly. It gave me an overview of my week and helped me to hone in on my priorities.

Magically, my To Do list eliminated my fears and procrastinations. I had a clear picture of what needed to be done and I methodically did them without wasting time on “how” or “why” or “when?” I was so focused on checking off those boxes, I followed my list’s directions without even thinking.

"An Open Book" mixed media on canvas

Who said I couldn’t set goals? Who told me I didn’t have time? Where did that voice come from that said I didn’t have enough talent or skill? Oh, I remember. It was the person I was before I started my To Do list. Try it! See if it smacks your fears and self-defeating behavior right out of the park!

“Too much stuff” -- and More!

"Kindred Spirits II" 24x30 acrylic on canvas Today’s Guest Blogger is Robert Genn* Recently, Ed Kissane of Wantagh, New York wrote, "I'm constantly fighting a flood of paper that comes into my life. I have a bedroom and a studio and I try to keep the areas clear, but it grows every day like a giant amoeba. I try to downsize but I'm losing. The piles of paper diminish my time at the easel. (Magazines, book reviews, etc.) There is always something to read and once again the creative moments lose out. Any suggestions?" Thanks, Ed. Whenever I hear this one I think "avoidance system." I once knew a painter who subscribed to all the magazines, including ones in foreign languages he didn't understand. His wholesale subscriptions kept him easel-free for several decades. One day he thought he might paint, but it was too late. That night he subscribed to the big bundle in the sky. "Moody Blues" 16x20 oil on acrylic underpainting canvas  For self-employed artists, desire needs to trump distraction. Even regular checks in the mail shouldn't hinder an artist from his self-appointed rounds. There's something else as well. Too many art magazines may be bad for you. It's great to keep informed of the latest trends in New York, London and Paris, but what about the trending of your own creativity? Too much awareness of what's out there can give an artist a dose of, "What's the use? If everybody else is so wonderful, what chance is there for little old me?" "Kindred Spirits I" 24x30 acrylic on canvas How does one act against these common self-destructive tendencies? Taking into account that personal progress may have something to do with available talent or ego-drive, here are a few ideas: ·         Begin work before you're fully awake. ·         Name and claim your own creative processes. ·         Fall in love with your daily work habits. ·         Take time for creative novelty and exploration. ·         Teach yourself the arts of multitask and multi-track. ·         Alternate energetic activity with relaxation and calm. ·         Live in the work of your own making, not that of others. ·         Pencil in projects and set the unconscious mind turning. ·         Have your magazines delivered somewhere else. The story of individual progress is largely one of moving from the business of being entertained to the business of entertaining yourself. Blessed are those whose main entertainment is their work. "First Daffodil" 16x20 acrylic on canvas PS  Esoterica: I'm laptopping you from Yu Yuan (Garden of Peace and Comfort) in Shanghai, China. Koi circle among the yellow and white lotus as a rhododendron drops petals, forming a miniature fleet that moves slowly away on the stillness of the pond. A green heron waits for my thoughts from a nearby rocky ledge, and I'm remembering a kiosk just outside the dragon wall hawking magazines and newspapers printed in Mandarin and Cantonese. Alone in this inner fragrance, I'm considering the nature of passion. Featured Responses: Alternative to the instant Live Comments, Featured Responses are illustrated and edited for content. If you would like to submit your own for possible inclusion, please do so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write to rgenn@saraphina.com

*(c) Copyright 2013 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com. Thanks for your friendship.