Morning sketch time and ‘aha’ moment from our campsite this summer. The light on the basalt rocks at “Steamboat”, Washington, fascinate and inspire me. I love the silence of all our kids still sleeping in the trailer as the sun and landscape take center stage singing their own song. I visually soak in lines and shadow and can’t draw fast enough. I’m thinking of why I like to draw and paint so abstractly, rather than realistically. I’m not sure I have articulated or contemplated too deeply yet on the process I’ve found to create landscapes these last couple years. It is new for me. I used to prefer ‘realism’ growing up….or did I?… keeps rolling round my head. It was all I knew growing up, watching others, seeing what adults and people around me valued in or out of art class in public education, and even in college. It’s how one learns in art class… watching and doing, by imitating ‘masters’ and attempting our own version as close as possible to ‘the original’. I might be stepping on some toes here in that I personally cannot find pleasure in that means of creating much anymore. Truly my opinion, for my process, and no one else. I find beautiful and amazing to watch others create in the minutely detailed practices of realism. I am truly thankful for every class and art experience that led to this moment, however it took some ‘undoing’ to realize and step into the truth for me that the goal of creating…..is not imitation.
The tool is not the building, but still necessary in the process! This took me so long to realize….The last few years I have discovered the pure joy in learning to create from a place of freedom and response, rather than striving for a certain level of expertise and recreating exact likeness of image, person or place. I feel alive rather, voicing my response to God’s creation in whatever expression that turns out on a surface. Personally where I have arrived in my own expression is that when I create detailed paintings I feel stifled. I want to respond differently…like a conversation, an interpretation between God and me. His creation and my response. I find drawing from a childlike freedom and grasp of creation is why and how I create pieces to connect with others. A play of light and color, shadow and form. I have no need or desire to recreate what He has made. I long to respond and interpret the places He leads and connects me to with in love or memory or awe.
I long to capture texture and life and the personality of a place - one moment’s response, like a ‘polaroid’ snapshot of time. The land old as the First day, but the sky that changes by the second. I love the adventure of juxtaposing distinct lines with the playful flow of watercolor throughout a landscape. I love layers and process and every time new shapes emerge after removing the adhesive lines on a painting.
Layer after layer more possibilities arise, and even change the direction of the painting or how I choose to finish it. I love the dance between incorporating emotion and contrast with representation. I can choose to add more flowing color or simple white lines. Both are a unique visual and tactile experience to me that I hope translates to other people. I feel as though the process as well as the outcome of a landscape piece created this way, is a type of prayer- a conversation that speaks of hope, joy and connection between creator, artist, and viewer.
During this specific family trip I found myself reflecting on this process as I have never done before or put into words! It was so simple but exciting to recognize this aspect of ‘response landscape’ art for me, and I wanted to share with you. Stay tuned for how this scene of Steamboat Rock in Easter Washington turns from a sketch to a painting in the future. I hope you are inspired today to respond in your own unique way to what Your Creator has made! I would love to hear in the comments or see what you create.
Also feel free to leave me a message through email here at tealpatrickart.com anytime. I would love to hear from you or if you are in the area, make an appointment to stop by for a studio visit!
Happy creating!
Allison
