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Posts by Michele Sires-DeLorean The Colors of Winter When nature moves into dormancy and moisture brings ice crystals to earth, the landscape changes into a palette of pastels against brilliant contrasts of icy green, blue and purple shadows. Tree limbs under tufts of snow are defined now by abstract shapes clinging in unexpected ways. Paradoxically, winter quiets us as it jolts our senses. The air smells different, the snow-covered ground echoes our steps in creaks and squeaks. Our vision becomes keener as ordinary forms are sharpened by pillows of white. Comment on Facebook or email here _______________________________________________________ Where Shadow Meets Light Russian/American artist Sergei Bongart (1918-1985) provided his students with valuable painting advice, among which is the axiom, 'Everything that receives light is a source of light.' In effect, the forms or shapes that we see in light is reflecting light from the source. That which is turned away from the light, in shadow, is not available to that source. What intrigues me as I work to model shapes with paint, is the area between the shadow and the light, the half-tone, which is painted more luminous, more vibrant in color. I can 't help but consider the metaphoric association to ourselves, our light and shadow energies, and the 'between' discoveries on our life journeys that turn us into more conscious beings, more enlightened selves. Comment on Facebook or email here _______________________________________________________ On the Energy of Water I imagine all creatives have their quirks; some more sensible than others. Like most, I admit to my having to 'warm up' considerably before achieving full concentration. One technique that works well for me is to paint water in any medium, with color or without. Whether moving or still, the energy of water prepares me for the 'forming' of that which is not yet formed. I'm not quite sure why, but I surmise that it could it be its very nature: Reflective, fluid and transparent, though dense, dark and deep. Or maybe its sounds fill, lull, soothe and cleanse me, drawing forth my very essence, seemingly without effort. Comment on Facebook or email here _______________________________________________________What Van Gogh Left Us “Man is not placed on this earth merely to be happy; nor is he placed here merely to be honest. He is here to accomplish great things through society ... The uglier, older, meaner, iller, poorer I get, the more I wish to take my revenge by doing brilliant colour, well arranged, resplendent”. -Vincent Van Gogh Some time ago I read about the opening of an exhibit in Amsterdam, NL. It offered the public a rare view of the emotional barometer of Vincent through thousand of letters written to Theo, his brother. I was intrigued by the clarity and depth of his messages; and more so, how persistent he was to contribute to the greater society. It called into question the earlier perceptions I had about his state of Van Gogh's mind when he painted the work that is cherished today beyond measure. Comment on Facebook or email here _________________________________________________________ Mornings and Me I'm convinced that mornings were designed with my rhythms in mind. Even in the unopened skies of winter, they hold for me the promise of a day where all my creative goals are met. How I approach the first hour of the day makes all the difference. I try to rise in the same hour as the sun. It seems fitting that a person dedicated to the artistic spirit should rise with the light that gradually permeates our world. From my window I can trace its arrival, a purple and pink-orange slanting across the sky. These quiet moments, when I and the morning rise seem aware of each other, are so vital to the energy of my day. They help me shift into the concentrated attention I need to prepare my way forward. Not every creative appreciates the morning as much as I do. Some work best through the wee hours of the day and cannot imagine a start before noon. But, for me, the day's opening is my anchor. Comment on Facebook or email here __________________________________________________________ The Creative Instinct There is a creative intelligence within each of us that cannot be controlled by our ego-bound selves. It is the creative instinct that we trust with all our heart to lead us to where we need to go, navigate our mistakes, and solve the most difficult of problems. When we trust its natural movements, we are free--emotionally free to venture into the unfamiliar. We feel energized and capable. We welcome the novelty, embrace the ambiguity. People
who practice their artistic discipline with this movement, who create
music, poetry, painting, film, culinary creations and dance understand
and use their creative instinct with reverence. It is the magic
that infuses the creative life. Comment on Facebook or email here __________________________________________________________ The Power of Place They say our surroundings become us. That is, we come to eventually reflect the environment in which we engage, spend our lives, and as creatives, create within. Much has been written about the subject. I refer to two books: the first by Winifred Gallagher "The Power of Place" and the newly-released "Architecture of Happiness" by Alain de Botton, in which the author asserts that beautiful structures of Greco-Roman architecture can leave us with feeling of contentment or emotional harmony. As a painter who is attracted to landscape, though, I offer here some more thoughts (or questions) on what influence natural places have on us. Does the natural world influence our creativity? Are we more expressive in one setting than another? And, consequently, do we seek those settings, perhaps even unconsciously? I've lived in mountains and at sea level, and for me, there is a striking difference in my level of productivity...but I am not dependent on the variable geography, rather the weather. I've artist friends who also claim to be more creative (certainly more productive) depending on the weather. Some rely on cold or unsettled weather to draw their energies forth, others swear that the warmth of the sun's invitation moves them to create. Surely, though, we know from the prolific art making that comes from those who have inhabited the cold northern climates for centuries, that these preferences are subject to our penchant for adaptation, for which we humans are quite expert.And so, mountains or sea? When I set out to paint 'en plein air,' I'm ready for anything, just as long as the temperature is balmy and the winds do not blow. Comment on Facebook or email here. Posts by Michele Sires-DeLorean. All Rights Reserved. |
