Tuesday, October 12, 2010


Skepticism

Wow! It’s October and The Grand View Ranch is buzzing with excitement. Our last outdoor painting workshop of the year is this weekend, and The Power to Create class in Medford is starting this Thursday. We have room for one more in the class, so if you feel inspired to create this fall, check out our website for details. www.thegrandvew.com


When I go through my studio, I often find little treasures that I have painted that have been lost for a few months, and then found with much delight. When I am stuck on a painting or I am not sure that my painting is complete, I turn it away from my view and set it in a corner for a few days or weeks, When I rediscover the forgotten work, I can see the painting with new eyes, and will notice if anything is missing. This painting called “Lilies and Pansies” is one I painted early last spring on my back porch. Finding this jewel refreshes my memory of spring, as I get ready for fall.


Our Skepticism as Artists

Artists constantly question themselves: Do I have talent? Am I original? Does my art have any feeling? Does my art have meaning? These conversations create barriers that form walls between who we are and what we create. These skeptical conversations are deeply rooted in messages taught us to us at home and in school that questioned our own essence of being human and doubted our own capabilities of what we could achieve. We can usually mask these doubts about our genius in our day-to-day life, but the doubts intensify and become real issues when we creatively express ourselves. When we tap into the core inside ourselves and present it to the world in our paintings, we cannot hide. Why are we so afraid? It is possible that the source of our genius and creativity comes from the same “undefended child” within us that was corrected, doubted, and challenged to do it better, instead of being celebrated for making the effort to create, to learn, to risk being imperfect, and do new things anyway!

Our insights and feelings are what make us human, and to share this understanding with others is the foundation of art. Art is communicating to others without words - expressing our thoughts, experiences, and emotions to others so they can understand our point of view. Everyone has something to say, and what you have to say has as much value as anyone one who has ever picked up a paintbrush or has written a note of music. I invite you to come to the canvas with a courageous and joyful heart knowing that you have made it to this age willing to create, express, and share yourself artistically. Those who are critics cannot stop you for they are not able to see, feel, or communicate at your level of understanding, and those who are artists will love you for your bold and fearless spirit.