Month: August 2012

The fact is, the arts are subjective. The dictionary defines subjective as “…the nature of an object as it is known in the mind  as distinct from the object itself.” In art, this means that a painting I love is not necessarily one that you also love. And what is really tricky, there’s not necessarily a right or wrong about differing opinions on art. Perhaps you have a hectic life, and would love a painting that reads as calm and peaceful in your home. Perhaps you are high energy and want a painting that reads the same. Maybe you delight in a detailed realistic rendering, or perhaps you love to let your imagination explore abstract shapes. And so our mind rules our opinion of the artistic object, in this case a painting, aside from what the actual object is. Subjectivity is, I think, a good thing by and large. It allows for a great many different artistic expressions appealing to a large range of audiences. It means that there is no one best way to interpret a subject artistically. That all said, I’m never going to love your painting of Elvis on black velvet, but I do respect your right to have it above your couch… if you really must. 

Ah technology. We love it, we hate it, but mostly – we get addicted to it. Here’s an interesting article “To Enjoy the View Without Help From an iPhone” by Nick Bilton. How about you? Do you control your technology, or does it control you? 

“Painting is not made to decorate rooms. It is an instrument of war against brutality and darkness.” Picasso  Now there’s a high view of art! 

I was delighted to see the current Picasso exhibit at Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario last week. It’s a wonderful overview consisting of paintings that he did not want to sell, or purchased back in order to have a ‘diary’ of his work. I really enjoyed it even though Picasso isn’t one of my favourite artists. And somehow it struck me as a bit funny that, by the end of the exhibit, faces split into two profiles and body parts in seemingly odd places really didn’t seem so strange at all anymore. The show is on until Aug 26th if you are wanting to see it. 

For all you artists in London Ontario and area – I just saw sunflowers in some local grocery stores! Happy painting – woohoo!! 

There is one method that seems to work best for trying to get that stubborn lid off of a paint jar or tube – and that is to run it under hot water for several minutes. The water needs to be really hot, and you need to be patient, holding it there for awhile to let the heat penetrate through the lid and soften the paint. This seems to work with all types of paint. This method is less likely to damage the paint tube or jar than pliers are. Sometimes pliers rip a metal tube. 

“All that is gold does not glitter /  Not all those who wander are lost /  The old that is strong does not wither /  Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”   J.R.R. Tolkien 

The emotional attachment to art is huge. Who was it that said, “Art is emotion”? Visual art that happens without words (usually), relies on touching people’s emotions with colours, shapes, sometimes subject, always interpretation. This is also why it takes courage to show others your art. Our emotions and the expression of them is a vulnerable place. But it’s also a place ripe with meaning. I hope that as you create, you can take a deep breath and let others share your heart. Your thoughts? 

It’s an interesting question: What is the artist’s role in society? Art Promotive asked this question of 10 different artists. Here is the link to see their responses: “Art Promotive“, and I’d love to hear what your answer to this question is!