You are What you Consume

Everything you hear or see goes into your mind.  It stays there even if you "forget" it. 

Watercolor Plein Air Sketchbook Acadia, ME

Its like sound waves in a wall. The sound from Beethoven's music he played in a concert hall in 1800 are still in the walls. What does this say about what is in our minds?

Watercolor Plein Air Sketchbook Acadia, ME

One time when I was out painting with a group a fellow painter wanted me to paint standing behind him.  I told him I wasn't  interested in painting that specific view. 

Watercolor Plein Air Sketchbook Acadia, ME

 He responded by saying that the intent of his suggestion was not for the landscape but to provide me the best view of his easel and what he was doing.

Watercolor Plein Air Sketchbook Friendship, ME

He thought hat I could learn a lot by watching him paint.  Now this is a very kind and generous thought. But...

Watercolor Plein Air Sketchbook Friendship, ME

 ...what if I do not want to paint the way he does, or want my paintings to look like his... 


I was thinking about having all this extra unwanted stuff in my brain... 

 I'm having trouble enough trying to paint what I do want to paint ... without adding all this other stuff to the mix. 

I also don't watch TV...but this probably doesn't surprise you.

Rules to Throw Away

I was having a conversation yesterday with another painter.  It was about break throughs...and the process freeing yourself from "rules" stuffed in your head. 

Water color Plein Air Sketchbook

If you've had a lot of art instruction you might know what I am talking about.  

Water color Plein Air Sketchbook

I had a painting instructor who gave the class an assignment for a studio painting developed from a plein air sketch.  I painted a barn with a flag blowing in the breeze. After seeing the painting he didn't allow any buildings as subject matter for future class assignments. 

What ???

  

Water color Plein Air Sketchbook

I noticed the paintings he painted were dozens of pictures of a fruit, vegetable or flower housed in cozy, old wooden boxes. 

What's a box? A cube. 

What's a building? A cube. 

Water color Plein Air Sketchbook

What do I remember from this painting class ?