My first oil painting teacher admonished that artists should never paint sunsets or red barns because they were trite subject matter, but I decided to be a rebel today and paint both. Yeah, felt good! Silly rules.
Love the color and peek-a-boo sunset. And your teacher's admonishment reminds me of something I read just this morning:
"Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before." -- Edith Wharton
I know little or nothing about Edith Wharton but it's refreshing to read something like that from someone famous. I don't know who said it, but ain't there another one that goes like this: "Rules were made to be broken."?
Thank you so much for your comments, Melisa and Al. I should have added that my teacher was an amazing artist and teacher. I think she probably would have also said that rules in painting are to be learned first, and then broken. Al, I enjoyed the quote. I just googled Wharton and it seems she was a strong woman, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, and someone who was very accomplished at breaking the rules. ;)
This is gorgeous! And I have to say, barns and sunsets are some of the most beautiful subjects, so who cares what the teacher said!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I agree. In watercolor especially, I think it's important to learn the rules and then break them with impunity!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! How can art have rules about what not to paint? That IS pretty silly. I think this is a lovely painting.
ReplyDeleteLove the color and peek-a-boo sunset. And your teacher's admonishment reminds me of something I read just this morning:
ReplyDelete"Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before."
-- Edith Wharton
I know little or nothing about Edith Wharton but it's refreshing to read something like that from someone famous.
I don't know who said it, but ain't there another one that goes like this: "Rules were made to be broken."?
Good for you.
Thank you so much for your comments, Melisa and Al. I should have added that my teacher was an amazing artist and teacher. I think she probably would have also said that rules in painting are to be learned first, and then broken. Al, I enjoyed the quote. I just googled Wharton and it seems she was a strong woman, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, and someone who was very accomplished at breaking the rules. ;)
ReplyDeleteStunning handling of light! Love this! <3
ReplyDelete