... feeling completes it... Before any site and any object, abandon yourself to your first impression. If you have really been touched, you will convey to others the sincerity of your emotion.

Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

"A View near Volterra, 1838, reveals Corot's skillful observation and mastery at depicting outdoor light and colorful shadow in a landscape painted indoors some 4 years after his visit to the historic Italian hilltop town.

Late to start painting, but committed and prolific, Corot's paintings were an inspiration to his pupils, notably Camille Pissarro. His influence is evident in the work of Claude Monet, Degas, and Picasso."

I was really touched by Corot's idea.  I am so impressed by artists who can paint with utter realism.  It's hard to believe a human hand can render that completeness and perfection of an image.  But, and in no way is this a negative to those artists, I next think "why not take a photograph?" I believe that's even another name for that style- Photorealism.  But for me it's the brush strokes and the unexpected colors in a painting that are attractive. It becomes an entirely different and unique story that opens itself to different interpretations from the viewer.  Rather like in theatre which holds a mirror up to society, a painting that is more of an impression also allows that journey to become more indivdual. 

I just heard a really great painting suggestion for me from Kyle Buckland, who is an amazing contemporary impressionist artist.  He said "instead of making paint look like the subject matter, see if you can imagine what the subject matter would look like if it were made out of paint and then paint that. Kind of like a paint world."

That's the world I want to live in and tell stories about. 

Research. Had I known about it earlier in my theatre life I might have studied to become a dramaturg because I love research.  Hunting down clues, solving puzzles, having "aha moments".  And I love Albert Einstein, greatest researcher of all times, next to DaVinci.   

Einstein has great quotes. This.  "Play is the highest form of research".  I found that to be true in theatre and now as well in visual arts.  When I let go of expectations and worry and allow the colors and brush strokes to play on the canvas, I'm always delighted.  Of course half the time my non-playful side interferes and I blend those cool playful strokes into mud.   

Julia Cameron said "Serious art is born from serious play".  Now that quote helps me utilize the Einstein idea of play with my Virgo side that needs more structure. 

So the serious play that I'm following now is taking workshops and lessons from artists who inspire me.  I never had the chance while being employed full time.  It really is a luxury of research/play that is allotted to people who are not employed in regular 9-5 jobs and now I can indulge myself and take advantage of this time to build confidence and skills. My goal/dream is to be accepted into a plein air festival stateside and a recent podcast from Plein Air magazine addressing that exact question recommended workshopping with people who do those festivals.  I was gratified to hear that as I am signed up to two back to back in October.  Look forward to several blogs on that process. 

Since this started with quotes, I'll drop these serious words to play by: