We are preparing for a featured artist show at ShiawasseeArt Center in Owosso, Michigan. The Center has grown so that an additional room
is available for more paintings. We are carefully selecting recent works to put
into the catalog for the show. In the process of going through paintings, we
find ourselves discussing the back story on some pieces, the inspiration, the
problem solving on route to completion. The more serious and challenging aspect
of going through the inventory is seeing the subtle and not so subtle changes
that take place over the course of merrily painting and looking for that next
exciting jump hopefully in into future progress. All the last few words are
trying to gently say I found some, dare I say, junk.
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| Summer Fusion 20x24 |
Well, what to do with the weak stuff? Everyone in the arts has
the same dilemma being self-critical but not beating ourselves up too much.
Over the last few years my style has made some changes from object centered to
more colors and forms moving and flowing in space creating interesting shapes
and patterns. This phase of my journey is uncharted and sometimes down- right
nerve racking but I have my guide book, Art
and Fear (David Bayles & Ted Orland, The Image Continuum Press, 2004).
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| Eleven Wonders 16x20 acrylic on linen |
Today’s comfort reading
came just in time ”…the far greater danger is not that the artists will fail to
learn anything from the past, but will fail to teach anything new to the
future.”
These words of wisdom
are very helpful when looking over the artistic production for this show and
thinking of the adventurous steps taken in the last years. Here’s to the new
steps taken in the New Year and wishing you artistic adventures without fear.
Joel
