Courting Failure and Thinking

"Origins"
Watercolor 22 x 30 inches

The terror of failure often accompanies painters as they make their way through their paintings. The sheer idea that failure may appear and inform the world that we are incompetent scares the liver out of many, many painters.

I happen to believe that in order to go beyond what is accepted as 'good' or "just like a photograph" one must come to terms with failing and allow it to accompany every attempt at making art. The reason I believe that is that I know that plain vanilla just doesn't attract much attention. And, in order to do something truly extraordinary, one must risk failing . . . the extraordinary is, obviously, difficult. Otherwise it wouldn't BE extraordinary.

To make non objective paintings, the artist has no crutch on which to lean, such as a model or scene from which to reference. The artist is out on the end of the gang plank, so to speak. Every element, Line, Size, Shape, Direction, Color, Value and Texture, come into play . . . . . and every element must be considered in how it affects every other part of the painting. Then, composition also raises its head and demands to be not only recognized, but designed. There is much conjecture by lay persons that "my kindergartener could do that," or "a monkey could," etc. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Non objective painting doesn't happen by accident or by throwing paint at it and hoping that the painting will come out okay.

Painting non objective work entails deep thought and lots of evaluating alternatives for each of the elements mentioned above. The outcome is something the artist tries hard to reach and is most often disappointed . . . . "It didn't come out like what I had in mind." It never does . . . .but as we grow, we get closer.

So, when I want a mental challenge, painting a piece like the one above is what I attempt. And a challenge it is!!! In fact, the process is total mental immersion.

Did this one work? Heck, I don't know yet. But the fun is in the doing.

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