21. August 2009 by Marie Pinschmidt.

HOW TO BETTER ENJOY YOUR WORKS OF ART Do you walk through your home with no awareness of your wall décor? Is your field of vision limited to only what is immediately in front of you? Then you probably also pay little attention to sunrises and sunsets, beautiful flowering trees, or meandering streams. Are you tired of looking at the same landscape over your mantel or sofa that has been hanging there for as long as you can remember? Do you feel a need for change but your monetary budget leaves nothing for non-essentials?  Do your paintings or other wall décor no longer speak kindly to you although you purchased the item because you absolutely loved it? Are you tired of the original oil you inherited from your great-grandmother but can’t part with it for sentimental reasons? Have you upgraded your major furniture pieces and now find the works of art just do not work with your new color scheme? Or are you one of those rare individuals who have no interest whatsoever in art, know nothing about it, and don’t care to learn? So be it — I’m sure you find beauty and pleasure in other things. Works of art are not an insignificant part of your home. A beautiful painting or a piece of sculpture can make or break a room. It can add refinement, overpower, or if improperly placed, destroy any artistic ambience. Nothing says more about a homeowner’s personality and identification than the items collected to fill his personal space. Are you a traditionalist or an art deco enthusiast? Are you more comfortable around Rembrandt’s and Monet’s, or do you lean more toward Salvador Dali and his distorted images? Are the more current mixed media works of artist with a creative edge more to your liking? Are you attracted to oversized canvases, bright fields of color, or do you prefer paintings that calm the spirit and quiet the mind?  

The wonderful thing about art is it can be love at first sight and become a lifetime companion, bringing joy each time you pause long enough to say hello. A painting can transform a space with no logical reason to ever replace or move it to another location. It blooms where it’s planted, perfect just where it is; not unlike a much-loved spouse or beloved pet. The older it grows the more beautiful it becomes. However, unless the work of art is of great merit, size or value, chances are it could be relocated for better advantage—recycled, if you will. In all probability you bought the work of art for a specific space in your home, but how would you like to live in the same room for all eternity?  I like to think of works of art as living entities — much like the human hands that created them. A poem begs to be recited and a song yearns to be sung, not unlike a baby who cries for nourishment. Should they be left to feel ignored like neglected orphans hidden away in some obscure corner, their beauty and worth unappreciated?  Like people, works of art needs attention, and you can nourish that desire. Take them on a vacation to other rooms in your home; get a feel for the new environment. Both you and the art may like the new surroundings enough to extend your stay. The room takes on a new look, the colors in the painting take on a new vibrancy, and you have something fresh and new to look at when you wake up in the morning. It’s not the paintings fault if the lighting was poor in the old space, or if the huge wall made it appear insignificant. Group small works of art together; give them friends to converse with while you’re away. Or, if the little gem is really special, hang it just to the side of your favorite chair, or above your bedside table where the light can illuminates it and where you can view it up close and personal before saying goodnight.  Few people are totally satisfied with their surroundings, so take a fresh look, find a new perspective, and gain a new appreciation for your faithful, but often bored, friends. To better brighten your day, they may just need a little attention.   ““““““ 

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15. June 2009 by Marie Pinschmidt.

How do you handle criticism? Did you know the paintings of Joseph Mallard William Turner (1775-1851) were often criticized? This painter of the sublime and dramatic in nature left the world with dazzling sunsets, menacing storms as well as misty sunrises. His most important element was light. He produced an incredible number of paintings, perhaps more than any other artist. His vision was romantic which may explain the self-criticism. So what’s wrong with romance — in painting or life in general? He started painting at the age of twelve and later studied at the Royal Academy, copying from the masters which he felt was an important tool in learning. Fearing poverty, he worked at a frenetic pace to acquire income to support his art. At times, he practiced being elusive, adopted assumed names, and stayed at secret places with his true identity unknown. His struggles paid off as he was elected for life in the Royal Academy, founded by King George III, and amassed a fortune. He never criticised other artists but was obsessed with improving his own work.

Turner spent hours studying skies, clouds, and other subjects of fascination. To paint “Snowstorm at Sea” at the age of 67, he strapped himself to the mast of the ship in stormy waters. He survived the four hours and later painted realistic accounts of what he saw and experienced.  Memory training played an important role in his creative process. He believed that memory and imagination were closely linked.

One wonders, in light of the above, if perfectionism and obsession to avoid criticism made him a better painter or contributed to frustration and self-doubt. It sems to me he was his own worst critic, which perhaps lessened his true joy of painting. Regardless, he left us with one more example of genius. Few of us would struggle to that extent; I certainly wouldn’t strap myself to a boat in a raging storm. In all probability, neither will I ever be considered a genius. However, I can relate to his drive for perfectionism; when a painting is finished, I always think I could have done better. Neither time nor struggle has taken away my joy of the painting process. Like a chronic disease, once the virus of creativity enters our psyche, it’s there to stay.

Turner was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London along with Sir Joshua Reynolds and Sir Thomas Lawrence. He couldn’t have better company.

 To learn more about his painting technique, e-mail me and I’ll cover that in another blog. Until next time.   Marie

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16. February 2009 by Marie Pinschmidt.

                                                                                                Word count 1,151 HOW TO BECOME AN ART LOVER 

Most of us, to some degree, participate in the world of arts: painting, dancing, photography, acting, writing, sculpting, etc. If we aren’t personally creating, we are enjoying and supporting the efforts of others. And that’s a good thing; else how would the average artist purchase paints, brushes and canvases, ballet shoes, and sculpture clay? And how about the years of study to bring their art to a professional level, often finding they cannot maintain their passion due to lack of patrons? Without art lovers, the arts would die a slow death, and the creators of art would possibly revert back to the age when the walls of caves would serve as their only canvas.             In our everyday lives, we spend an exorbitant amount of time staring at a computer screen, the bumper stickers on the car in front of us, or yesterday’s laundry. We focus on twenty-four hour news on television, sports, or sit-coms, none of which contribute to a lasting enrichment of our soul. Even with crisp blue skies and lovely gardens outside our window, we often lose sight of the beauty, so focused are we on our daily routines.            Living with art in our homes and offices can be an antidote; removing us from the aforementioned mindset and bringing momentary if not daily or yearly pleasure. To some, art is a basic necessity, an oasis from the stresses of normal living. Look around your home. When has a favorite painting failed to slow you down, hold your attention for a moment, thrill you with the play of light and shadow, or cheer you with its vivid colors and sense of placement?  A well-executed work of art can survive and exude pleasure to the viewer for a lifetime, while showing little wear and tear as do most material things.             Today’s artists have a wealth of materials with which to express their creativity. In addition to oils, bronze, etc, there is clay, paper, fiber, beads, colored pencils, charcoal, glass, and more recently the digital camera. But are the less common media considered fine art? There’s a long-running debate in the art world on this subject; one that I certainly won’t attempt to resolve.  One distinction between fine art and fine craft is its intended purpose. Fine art is not usually functional but concerned primarily with providing an aesthetic experience. Seldom is one expected to sit on it, drink from it, or wear it. Artists who work in less recognized media, however, have the same goals as every other artist, i.e. exploring a sense of form, design and uniqueness.  Roberta Smith, art critic for the New York Times, said it best: “In the end it doesn’t matter if you call it art or craft; what counts is presence.” Also, it doesn’t matter if it matches the sofa.Creativity extends beyond mere subject matter to express a personal interpretation of the individual world of the artist. Creativity speaks to the soul of the artist, whether the work is a well-executed portrait, a vase of drooping tulips, an abstract study of light hitting form, or a series of colors shown in harmonious relationship to each other. A work of art, be it a pastoral landscape or a turned bowl, should momentarily divert attention away from the world’s ugliness to a feeling, if not awe, at least of a degree of appreciation for the visual insight and talent of the creator .             Regardless of your taste in art – I know, ‘you don’t know much about art but you know what you like’ - collecting can enrich your surroundings by putting your personal thumbprint on your home’s décor. Nothing says more about who you are than the type of art you display in your home. If you are a collector, you know well the sense of wonder and excitement you feel when you come upon a piece of art that speaks to you. After years of painting, it still amazes me how viewers react or don’t react to a particular piece of art. Whether you react to the colors, the subject matter, a nostalgic reminder of a person or place, it becomes a personal experience, and the same reaction may not occur in a hundred other viewers or with an equal number of works of art.  For this reason, if a painting, a piece of sculpture, or an unusual vase touches you in an intimate way, every attempt should be made to make it a part of your life – an enduring part of your life. Understanding what the artist had in mind should not interfere with the viewer’s personal aesthetic appreciation of the subject.      So how does one become a collector? Money helps, of course, but it shouldn’t be the primary focus. Even on a modest budget, beginning collectors can bring original art into their lives by training their eyes for the “little gems” found at art shows, galleries, and wherever art is displayed.  Become aware of art all around you, visit galleries and refuse to be intimidated. Study art books and magazines to develop your own unique and personal taste, remembering that art is an intimate experience and your preferences are just as valid as more learned art connoisseurs.  When you find that single object that catches your attention, think of how it can brighten a special spot in your home or office; then, decide if you admire it enough to forgo other non-essentials in order to call it your own.  Most artists are willing to work with you. If you love their work they want you to own it, because chances are it will not end up in an attic or basement, never seeing the light of day. It’s as simple as that. Good art can be found in many venues in and outside of galleries, and dealing directly with an artist can enrich the experience.  Often an original work of art can be had for the price of a print, the value of which is often in the framing, and unlike a new blouse or designer golf shirt, the art will be a one-of-a-kind item not to be seen anywhere except in your personal space.            Observe art at every opportunity. Ask yourself questions, such as why a certain painting interests you. Is it the colors used, the structural elements, the subject matter, or is there something in the painting that reminds you of a pleasant, or unpleasant, past experiences? If the economy has you curtailing luxury spending, (art can be a luxury or a necessity depending on one’s point of view) you can de-stress by enjoying what others have created from a single idea, and looking costs you nothing.  The experience may even inspire you to become an artist or artisan yourself.    ********

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