The Art of Adventure

One of the things that I like about myself is that I like to learn. Sometimes that is book learning; sometimes that trying a new food; and yes sometimes that means learning a new skill. I have had mixed results. Golf for example.. what I learned was the golf is frustrating and welll... I dont like to be frustrated. But recently I was introduced to Oil Painting. First on a trip to Key West where I was given an opportunity to apply paint to a large mural project... and then late last year when a friend offered to put me on the right path. Wow! is the only response I can muster that even comes close to doing this feeling justice. I really want you to understand... Ive gotten positive comments on the paintings that Ive created... but thats not what brings the "Wow!" ... That feeling is illicited from the sheer thrill of choosing a subject; snapping a hundred photos; mixing colors and then putting paint on canvas. The process combined with the end result gives me an amazing warm feeling inside. Ive tried hard to share that feeling in this post. Feel free to let me know how Ive done. Enjoy Dave ************************************************************************************* “Van Gogh”, “Monet”, “Renoir”, “Honaker”. I like the way that sounds, but let’s be clear, I’m not comparing myself to these great impressionist artists. I can however now fully understand the thrill they must have felt from putting bold strokes of paint onto canvas. Last October I was speaking with local artist and close personal friend Cheryl Bosch (also known as Ceebs) when she offered to guide me in the ways of Oil Painting. Oil paint was my idea, because I have been inspired by local artists like Michael Dean and Ed King and I wanted to make bold strokes of paint. Cheryl has a unique perspective. Structures, people, animals and landscapes all captured first by photograph and then created on canvas with a style and palette that is all her own. On the day that I went to her studio to paint she was working on a large portrait of a confident, well heeled gentleman with bold dreadlocks. The detail in subtle shades of light reflecting off of his skin and the way that she had captured his eyes make you ‘feel’ the person in the painting. In contrast, I chose a simple picture of red and green chili peppers to paint. It was perfect for my beginning skill level, yet there was enough detail in the picture that I had chosen to work from that I would have to work with the paint to show colors and textures. I thought it would be easy, it was not. Though there is an emphasis on being ‘creative’ there is quite a bit of process involved. I began mixing paint colors trying to match as closely as possible the colors from my original. I was surprised to find that these peppers were not just red and green. There were shades of those but also yellows, whites and browns that my eyes had previously taken for granted. I had to look at things differently in order to truly ‘see’ all of the detail. “Fat over lean” Cheryl would say guiding me with the fact that I needed to create the images first and then accentuate them as each layer of paint would dry. She was an excellent teacher. It was a thrill loading up my brush to create each nuance of light or of a barely seen shadow. Deciding the right mixture of colors, the right brush, the right spot and then making the stroke was somehow emotional and thrilling. At times I would get timid with the paint I didn’t want to mess up what was somehow becoming true “art”. I had to encourage myself to just let go and let it be what it was going to be. When it was done I stood back to see what I had accomplished and was amazed. The shapes I had painted actually looked like peppers. It looked like the original only better. The colors popped off of the canvas. I really didn’t know that I could create like that. I was sure it was beginners luck (and Cheryl’s expert tutelage). Fast forward to March 2009. I got a call from another local artist Mirinda Reynolds stating that Liberty Town was having a juried show “Feast For the Eyes” and she thought my Peppers would be a nice addition. I was concerned about my creation being judged. Once you write a column or sing a song or paint a painting, it’s out there like a piece of you on display to the world. And I had no confidence in my abilities. Yet, two days after submitting it, I got the call. My peppers were accepted into the show!! My painting would hang in the gallery for a month with the art of many talented local artists. I have done eight or nine paintings since the peppers. Surprisingly each one has brought that thrill and subsequent amazement. I’m hooked let’s add “Painting” to the list of adventures. ************************************* Click on the pictures above to see more of my artwork.