Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A painting and a little art history

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."
- Pablo Picasso

I came across a wonderful book at the Art Museum Library where I work on Mondays. The book is about Charles Demuth, a talented American painter from the early twentieth century who took the Victorian art of floral watercolor and brought it into the new century by refining and redefining it. His watercolors are concerned with line and with pushing the medium of watercolor in a new direction; they exhibit clarity and precision. His color sense was superb and he used color, black, and white space to define his subjects. I was especially taken by his painting of tiger lilies so I decided to create my version of it.

I am currently rereading the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I began doing morning pages last week and am already seeing a difference in my dreams and my development of ideas. I followed Cameron's way for a few years when I was attending graduate school and doing creative writing but had fallen away. Last week or so, Cynthia on StoryboardC reminded me of this book, and it was an ah-ha moment - now what will I do on my artist's date this week???????
thanks for reading and ttfn
Chris

4 comments:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Your painting is gorgeous!!! And that book you are reading now sounds interesting! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Cynthia said...

Chris! This so beautiful!!!! So delicate, but the colors give it strength. What a wonderful contrast! Thanks for sharing about Charles Demuth! I admire your use of watercolors!!

I am so glad to see you pick of the artist's way again!! Morning pages are such a gift!!! I can't imagine my creative life without them:)

Now for the artists Date:) Are you any where near Tampa? I remember going to Fort DeSoto!!! Just beautiful:)

Do have fun whatever you choose!

Anonymous said...

I haven't heard of this artist... but your painting is fabulous!!! And aahhh... dear Cynthia! She shows the coolest stuff! I will look up the book!

EverydayMe said...

this painting is just lovely... love the colors... beautiful!! {{hugs}} Michelle