Tuesday 19 February 2008

I have standards you know

I saw my friend last night and amongst other things, she showed her usual interest in my latest creative outpourings and asked to see what I'd done this week. I showed her both the artwork for the erotic landscape I'm currently working on and the vanilla river scene I painted over the weekend at the workshop I attended. She really loved the river scene, particularly as I had added a unicorn on the far bank of the river and went into raptures over it. I dismissed it as an inferior piece of my work which surprised her. So I had to explain...... how can I get excited about a painting I'd done at a workshop when it was one of those step-by-step days when the tutor shows his painting, then paints part of it, for instance the sky. And we all paint the sky in the same way he has. Then he paints the hills. And we all paint the hills in the same way. Then he paints the trees etc etc and at the end of the day all the people in the room have an identical painting to take home. You might wonder why I would go on one of these workshops but I know that the painting is not actually the end product, the LEARNING is! So I learnt new ways of tackling landscapes and tips for painting BUT the picture I brought home is not something I am proud of. It can't be. Its just a mediocre painting of some other artists choice, that I have copied. The only bit of "me" that I put in it was the unicorn! I can't exhibit it. If I sell it I have to say that its not actually my work. I wouldn't be proud to admit it was mine even. The only way I can do anything with it is to go over it with pastel or acylics to radically change it so that it has my creative input in it. So I file it with the others under "learning" and get on with my proper art having learnt a new trick or two about how to tackle a certain subject matter in watercolours, and having had an enjoyable day spent with other artists.

But when I showed my friend the working painting I am currently working on for the erotic landscape, then I can get excited! REALLY excited!!!!! Its all my own work. The concept works so well. The picture is clever in that it is both an erotic couple AND a landscape. And how clever is that, to incorporate the two that they work in conjunction with each other? I've spent three months on and off thinking about it, planning it, discussing it with dj kirkby and now I'm at the point where I'm finally working out the best colours to use for it, the tones, the use of light and shade. I may have to do two, three or four working paintings before I'm happy with the end result and then, and ONLY THEN, can I start painting the actual painting. Now..... THAT'S exciting!!!

7 comments:

Vi said...

You've just reminded me of a cartoon that I saw, I laughed and immediately thought of you.

I'll email it you! You may want to post it and say this is what Vi reckons my painting is going to look like! hehe

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi - Mmmm... wicked laughter from you eh, now I'm intrigued and can't wait to see what you've sent me!!

Spiky Zora Jones said...

I love that you want to paint what is from inside of you. I love to see artist that are excieted about their art. It's infectious, I want to see your work.

My high school art teacher was very in the 'NOW' and liked to do the same, but if you strayed away with your own painting though using what she had taught and added your touch in your own painting, sculpture, she would smile and wink...she had done her job.

Spiky Zora Jones said...

Yikes, my computer ate my comment. So here I go again. I love that you are so excited about your art. It's infectious and makes excited too...

Jackie Adshead said...

Spiky zora jones - I have a passion about painting what's inside me, and am delighted that its infectious. If you want to see more of my work visit my website at www.jackieadshead.co.uk

The mark of a good teacher is being able to pass on the ideas and concepts then allowing the pupil to have their own input to create their own piece of art with part of themselves within it.

Utter Basketcase said...

Oh Oh Oh!!! Loving your blog already! I LOOOOOOOOVE art!!! I'm very passionate about art myself, and pretty creative! It's about the only bloody talent I have! *GiGGLeS*

I would LOVE to see your work! You MUST post a photo when you've completed it! :-D

Looking forward to reading more of you!!! xx

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi's biggest fan - its always great to hear from people who are passionate about art! I'll post a photo of the finished painting when its finished, but in the meantime if you want to look at more of my work visit my website at www.jackieadshead.co.uk