I feel, for me, that painting the human figure from life is the best way I can express myself. Is it better than working from a photograph, I will let others judge.

The direct experience in painting from life is almost inexpressable. You are not painting an interpretation of a thin sheet of paper or a digital image but from an interaction with a real live human being. It is difficult, expensive and frustrating. The reward is something that may be light years beyond the original concept, something that takes flight in our imagination that is not shackeled so often to re-imaging the photographic source.

It is a difficult thing to do, it requires many years of dedicated training and work to be able to paint or draw the human figure with any degree of ability. Our culture does not allow this today but celebrates the shortcuts and calls it 'personal expression', no matter what kind of garbage or personal neuroses is displayed upon the canvas. We have lost the quest for exquisiteness in our work.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Born-Again Life Painter

I am now 68. I did not discover the joys in painting from life until later in life- in fact I only started dabbling in it about 15 years ago and really have gone full bore only in the last 8. I experimented with a combination before that- painting combinations from life and photographs. I would get nervous if I started a large painting using expensive costumes- only to have my model split before I was finished. However the photographs looked so dull next to the model and I could never reconcile the drawing between them- no matter how carefully I took the pictures. The eye and the camera see differently. Now I only use a camera for photographing the finished work. In a word- I became an ADDICT! There is an describable richness to the experience, the difference between a fine wine and Ripple.

I thought I had an image to protect of this really expert draftswoman, she of perfectly rendered and painted pieces-but I was so bored- licking stamps seemed more exciting.

So if anyone is worried that they are too old or it is impossible- unless you are in a nursing home you can always make a belated stab at it.

However today- I am done in. I was hauling around a 50lb painting yesterday. I am not Georgia O'Keefe who in her dotage had a buff studio assistant name Juan to help her. Next year!


Posted by at 12:36 PM

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