Well, perhaps this is not entirely true. My creativity just went into a different direction: I did a lot - and by this I mean A LOT - of photography. After all, I think this is my foremost passion. I feel how I get fired up when I have found a great subject to photograph, how I work with my entire body (people who would watch me would probably think that I am a bit coockoo) and a deep happiness. It's something I don't experience in this way when I paint. I also get fired up, yes, but it's not this deep happiness. It's more of feeling content when I paint. But there is also something else present, and that is the ever awake inner critic who is not satisfied with anything I paint. Who might be okay for a short time, but then very quickly sees all the flaws and "mistakes", starts to compare my work with other artists' work - well, how can I be happy as long as he (must be a he!) is such a stinking presence who just walks into my life without being invited?
No wonder that painting has been on the back burner these days. When I finally started again, it was slow and very careful. I thought about doing something with birds since I like them so much. They represent freedom to me in its best form. In my painting they have left the birdcage which is only small and in the background to show its insignificance, whereas the birds are fat, colorful and happy. I found this quote by Henry David Thoreau, "all good things are wild and free".
I would love to be like that. I guess there is more of myself in this painting than I had initially thought.
Paint Party Friday is a great place to find many talented artists and see their beautiful work. Every Friday they link up to this great party, thanks to Eva and Kristen. Today, I am partying along with them.
18 comments:
Your birdie painting is wild and sweet! I love birds and yours are no exception. It's hard to have an inner critic, I have one too. If photography is your passion, that's wonderful! For me photography is typically a means to an end, I shoot for reference images, but once in a while I get lucky and shoot something I like on its own... I'm glad you painted, it's a lovely piece!
Love your colorful birds, Carola. Very pretty.
Love the bold color contrasts here and the birds are delightful.
I guess you were putting a lot of yourself into that painting and just didn't realize it until the end.
You are definitely a super photographer, and photography is an art, so you have indeed been very busy lately, if your photos of Vancouver Island were taken recently. Certainly they were posted recently, and that is another gift of the good photographer, to be able to recognize the art within the photo.
HOWever, I love your little birds out of the cage, with the Thoreau quotation. Having been raised by an outdoorsman, I know something of how Thoreau felt and believed.
K
What a beautiful, happy piece of art, Carola. Wonderful!
Hi Carola. Hope you are doing better. Your birds do look wild and free. Love the colors. Nice job.:) Happy PPF!
I love the quote and I might have to add it to my list of favorites. The birdies are sweet. What is it with birdies? Why are they such a fun subject to paint?
Birds are one of my obsessions and I love the Thoreau quote - and you pleasingly plump birds. Thank you - for both gifts.
The quote is fabulous, and your painting suits it perfectly. The birds are beautiful!
It's funny how certain kinds of creativity come and go... After a big loss last summer, I lost all creativity in one part of my life - it's only just returning now...
A fantastic quote! And lovely canvas. I understand your feelings about both photography and painting; I think I am similar.
Rinda
Beautiful quote and painting! <3
The break did you well...I love how this page and these birds turned out!! What a gorgeous job!! Love the quote too....
Hugs Giggles
NEVER compare your work to other artists' work! That's the first lesson we as artists should learn, but it's oh so hard not to do it. It's so funny how often only after we finish a piece, that we see our feelings reflected in it. That's the power of art. Your painting is bright, colourful and happy. Love the quote too!
Liebe Carola, Deine Vögel gefallen mir sehr. Ich stimme Dir unbedingt zu, dass alle guten Dinge frei sind ... herrlich. Ich habe auch mal einem Vogel die "Freiheit geschenkt", wenn man das als Mensch überhaupt sagen kann...
Have a wonderful and free weekend!
Erika
Love the wild and free bird and glad you found some time to paint. Photography is wonderful, but it's nice to work with our imaginations sometimes. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work.
I really love your new creation! Always be true to you, when you create! Don't compare yourself to any one! If your heart is telling you to put a purple butterfly in your painting, then do it! Be you ;o)
Hi Carola, I can really relate to so much of this! Photography is my first love too. I love paints and papers, but mostly as a means to add to the photo. Or.... just playing around, as in art journaling. That way there is no critic because it is all about the process and not the product.
This is what I try to teach my students too - that if the page represents them in some way, it is GOOD. They are really learning not to be self-critical and are willing to share their work.
Totally understand though. Glad you have moved back into it!
I can so relate to the comparing to other artists, it can be paralising. I love photography too, but somehow, with photography I feel the comparing bit much less than with painting. Your birds are so lovely, I like the quote to go with them.
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