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All that is me

After the last blog post I’ve had a few further discussions with my friend regarding my art and the expectations some people have of what I do. His reply is that he is interested in my vision rather than my interpretation of some body elses. He loves my art but doesn’t wish to guide me because I am the artist, not him or anyone else. He feels that the art has to come from me, my mind, and my experiences, for it to be of value. And only through what I produce is my vision revealed. So its my vision and interpretation he is looking for. He feels that if he were to tell me how to paint then it wouldn’t be my picture anymore, because I’d just be just like a version of a camera. He wants my name in the corner of the painting to mean something as interpreted my me.

And sometimes I forget this – I know I have to ask someone I’m painting a picture for what they want, what colours they like or don’t like, what colour scheme suits them. Some people prefer oils or watercolours, or have an idea of a size in their minds. And I want to please the person who I am hoping to sell a commission to – so it makes sense to check that they’re getting what I they want! 🙂 But after I’ve checked the technical details, its down to me – to my vision of what i see in my mind, given the information a buyer has given me. That is when I produce the “art” as compared to the “image”.

And that’s the way it is with the latest painting – another Fantasy Fanny – I’ve got the photos, so I’ve got all the details of shape and colour. I’ve got the technical ability, experience, and materials. So, now its down to artistic ability. And over this last weekend I started the painting. Working out the best composition, drawing out the shapes, working out the tones with the lights and darks. Working out the colour scheme to fit into the bedroom its going in (pride of place, over the bed!! no less!!!!) and then……………. I look…………. and I see the colours before me in the photograph. I see purples and pinks, blues and …………….. I put some loud rock music on………………….. and start listening to the beat, feel it move within me…………….. and I look at the colours again……….. and start to see them emerge ………………… the pinks merging into oranges, magentas, yellow ochres………..lemon yellow, cobalt blue, pale blue, maroon, purple, sage green………. the music carries on, building up in the studio, and in me, and the siennas appear…………then bright oranges, lime greens, scarlet and turquoise……………… and this is the painting forming. And …………..This is me………….. painting it.

10 thoughts on “All that is me”

  1. Spiky Zora Jones

    I love the language artist use. hehehe. It excites me and brings out the creativity in me.

    tell me…what was the rock music you played…pull up you tube…BYOB. that will get you going.

    Ciao honey…I loved your post. :0

  2. Jackie Adshead

    Spiky – Thats exciting for me, that you get excited with my language!

    My choice of music is eclectic – but for rock music I love Rolling Stones, Free, Bad Company, Shania Twain, Dave Edmonds, George Thorogood, Deep Purple, Cinderella, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Gary Moore, Pink…….

  3. It seems I should have read this post first! lol Oh well, good job you have a friend that talks sense with regards to how you should be painting and how you are the creative force behind your work and that is what draws people to it, regardless of whether they are commissioning their own or a loved ones portrait, or purchasing something that you have already painted. These people are looking for your vision and your interpretation of the subject at hand and that has to be the overriding element of your work, as you say, it has your name on it, making it as much about you as the subject within!

    Whilst with a commissioned piece I can understand about the need to ask them about size, the media being used and any colour preferences (although even that is a step too far in my opinion), really that is about as far as you should go, as already it is removing an element of your creativity, especially the colour part, as what happens if they say no red, yet you see red as being the dominant colour when you look at the person or their photo? Surely you are then starting what in your mind must be a compromised piece of work?

    Who said the customer is always right? lol

  4. Jackie Adshead

    Fitzy – I know I have “overall say” about my work regarding painting it, and the creative input for it, but I will always listen to what a buyer has to say regarding size, medium and colours and take them into consideration regarding producing a painting. There’s no point me painting a massive 6 feet painting if someone lives in a small house with no where to put it, or painting the picture in oils if they only like watercolours or painting it with bright scarlet if they hate red. I don’t like to compromise my work though, because then I’m not happy, as you rightly say, because I am then taking away my creativity to please someone elses ideal. Its finding that happy balance, where the buyer tells me their wishes, but gives me free rein to interpret it the way I like, that will hopefully fill them with joy when they see the finished piece.

    My friend is VERY helpful and supportive with positive advice regarding my work, my creativity and my vision, but then he really likes my art! lol

  5. Sorry, I perhaps didn’t make myself too clear with that post, so nothing new there then.

    Of course the size and media would be down to the client, as I would be scared to death if a six foot painting of me turned up on my doorstep (although at over 6ft it still wouldn’t be life sized! lol) and of course colours are import if it might clash with the room it will eventually hang in, but I just felt giving the client too much control over colour might remove some of….. well, some of you really, if it leaves you unable to use a colour you feel was important to the work.

    That was what I was trying to get across.

    You will have to remind me though when I do get around to commissioning you that I said all of this, especially when I start say well I don’t like this or that colour! lol

  6. Jackie Adshead

    Fitzy – You’re making me smile at the look of horror you’d have if a large painting of you arrived on your doorstep! But yes, its finding that happy balance where client and artist are happy with the colours used. And if you do commission me in the future I’ll happily discuss what colours you’d like, without it taking anything away from “me”. But equally I don’t want to insist on particualr colours if the client isn’t happy with them for whatever reason. Colours are very important.

    I’ve got enough experience to get the point of a painting across without having to *insist* on certain aspects of a painting by having to upset the client or compromise myself as an artist.

  7. I love how you describe the way you create. Thanks for sharing, Jackie!

  8. Jackie Adshead

    Nitebyrd – Hey, thats great, thank you for your interest!

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