Many artists are known for portraying a particular environment. A landscape once visited or a place that brings on a fond memory. Then there are times an artist creates something that exposes something from within their deep inner being. Something that causes a viewer of the work to ask, “What might be troubling that poor soul?” This work of mine, The Storm”, oddly enough, falls into the former category.
The Storm, is an Inktense watercolor pencil on watercolor paper work I did in 2012.
It was done during my annual stay in Villa 36-A, Westwind II Club, Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas. There was a big storm on Sunday, the day after my arrival, and I had a huge headache. To top things off, my villa had three slow leaks in the kitchen and living room. So, though this work looks as if it was done by a tortured soul… it’s more “situation descriptive”. The bad headache and stormy weather are both easily seen in this expression. What is not so readily noticeable in this Inktense watercolor is the fact that all of the water used to create it came from the rainwater that had leaked through our kitchen ceiling. Well… I had to do something with it.
If you, dear reader, thought this painting was an expression of the inner turmoil of one who is deeply disturbed… I’m sorry if the image has mislead you. It’s just a guy in a storm with a nagging headache and a leaky ceiling, during what was otherwise a wonderful vacation in the Bahamas. You’ve heard it before… don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Having said that, I must also communicate something my decades as an artist and art educator have taught me. The act of viewing a painting is a real communication between the artist and the viewer. Just as a group of people leaving a theater, having all just viewed the same movie, walk away with different impressions of the same film… a group of viewers of a particular painting can also perceive the work differently.
The various experiences in your life have helped create who you are and how you see the world. Those experiences also have an influence on what you perceive from a particular painting, regardless of what the artist worked to communicate. It is unquestionably important to learn about an artist and what they were working to create in a particular piece. But equally important (if not more so) is the feel, or emotion, one perceives while participating in a communication with an artist through that artist’s work. That is what causes an individual to be moved by a painting. That is what causes an individual to decide to continue the communication by acquiring the work… it spoke to them.
Even after one learns what an artist intended to communicate with a painting is much different than what an individual viewer perceives from it, the viewer is best served by going with their perception. It is real with them, not just an academic notion. Much like many wine experts say don’t waste your time avoiding white wines with red meats if it pairs well for you and adds to your culinary enjoyment… don’t lose your part in what’s real for you in your experience in viewing a work of art just because a third party say’s, “but, but… but you’re missing the point the artist was trying to make.”
Remember, your point is valid too.
By the way, to specifically acquire a print of The Storm, go to:
https://society6.com/product/the-storm1490583_print?sku=s6-9557410p4a1v45
EssexArt ABC 