Thoughts From Marsha

Here are a few more questions I ask myself!

• Is there some benefit to my audience? "Why" am I painting this?
• What decisions do you make that are of interest to your audience?
• Are they ones that are cool enough to get my attention?

Here is part of my story that deals with “why” I feel it is crucial. In the past few years, my decisions have been about the objects I am painting, not “why” I'm painting the subject.

I have painted for more than 45 years. Many early paintings were loads of trial and error and a minimal amount of lessons. I knew that my results would get better the more I painted. I believe that miles and miles of canvas teach more about painting than any other method. 

I painted anything that struck my imagination. I learned plenty and people liked what I painted. I did take a couple of workshops during the first 20 years of my journey from two very amazing artists. Those combined 14 days gave me a lot to ponder and add to those miles of painting and pages read. After some years, I began to enter shows and exhibitions and had a couple of small local galleries that represented my work. Some sales and awards came along during those years.

Fast forward a few years!
As many artists do, I started painting to deliver work to galleries and shows. There were more workshops sprinkled through the years and loads of learning! But, during that time, I lost some of who I am. It is tough to figure out what the problem might be. Many times it could be bowing to the pressures of what the gallery wants, or a particular show I am entering. We hear things about what is selling, and we try to fit our work to some idea that is not really in us.

Finding my “Why!”
I am trying to find my way again. Why am I painting this? The benefit for my audience should be more feeling in the painting. It may even be a story they can make up for themselves. At my galleries or in shows, I purposely don't start talking to a viewer until I know they are intrigued by something. I then ask them, "tell me what you are seeing or thinking." I don't want to tell them my "why" until I know the answers to those questions. Sometimes they never get to hear my “why” because it might keep them from enjoying the painting from their own perspective. We paint for ourselves, but also for the audience to enjoy. I tell my students, "let them enjoy the story they see."

"Why" being of critical importance is the reason.
I'm talking more about "why" paint the idea you have. Know “why!” There is more success if you know the reason you are painting a particular element or feeling. Why a specific stroke or color. I know you may be talking a lot about why specific techniques or why change something that does not seem or feel quite right. All of it is important! Most important usually is the feeling, and many times it will be the answer to “why.” All the "Why" questions that can be used will make for more success.

Did I figure out my “Why?”
When I think of the “why” for my paintings, it will come down to the feelings I have when watching or thinking about motion. I can remember walking in creeks when growing up and loving it.

While taking a trip with an artist friend to teach a team-teaching workshop along the way to an art convention, we talked about our “why” several different days. The more we talked, the closer I came to realizing this word “motion” was vital to me, and in most of my paintings.

It might be thinking about traveling around a curve in the road or bend in a creek. It might be the water moving around a rock in a stream. The motion could be the way the fronds of a palm tree are moving due to the wind. It might even be an object that usually moves, like a truck or boat. Definitely, I am intrigued by the movement of waves in the ocean! Whoa, that is a whole lot of ways to think of the word motion. So there is my “why” many times.

Start Thinking “Why” At the Beginning!
If you are painting, start thinking and asking yourself the “why” question and see if you can come up with the answer or possibly a couple of solutions. Write them down and refer to those answers during the painting process to keep you on track. It does make an incredible difference in the outcome of your efforts most of the time.

Your “why” could sometimes change during a painting. We all know that paintings can talk to us and help us make some decisions that were not in our minds at the beginning. Refer to your notes and add the new “why” if that happens. You can even write down what made you change your “why.”

Your Artistic Journey
My discussion, stories, and thoughts apply to the reasons I have found.

Understanding your reasons for “why” in a painting can propel you on your artistic journey.