by FRANK BAGGETT on 7/3/2009 10:14:21 PM
I wanted to post on my Blog page about how as an artist, I feel towards the world of art. No one can feel what.. you as an individual feel, no one can see what.. as an individual you see, and this is part of being an artist...individuality. However, these feelings, and sights have to be placed on or in some form of medium such as canvas, clay, glass, etc. Each artist has his or her own way of expressing themself to the world, and as any craft..pratice makes perfect. When I finish a painting and make my photos of my work, I then release these images to the rest of the world to see. Artists are always putting a piece of themselves on display, and this where the work can be seen as great, or not so great. Are artists more sensitive with their feelings than the average person? Yes. Many of the greatest artists that lived were not accepted during their lifetime as great artists..fact. However, they painted what they saw, and felt...as mentioned earlier. This is one of the most important traits of an artist...his or her own unique ways of expressing themselves. The worse thing an artist can do is to become "locked" into one definite form of creating. When doing finite work for Duck Stamp Competitions, painting can become tedious. One thing that I have learned after 40 years of painting is to keep yourself..."loose". I simply get a canvas out and just use my imagination to paint..I paint loosely, no restricting of finite lines...slop that paint onto the canvas, mix it up, brisk brushstrokes, try a new technique such as a sponge, a palette knife, perhaps even my fingers. Often times..what started out as a mess on canvas...turns into a unique painting. Flowers are a favorite subject of mine for this way of keeping my work..."loose". I may paint 2 or 3 paintings this way before going back to such works as the Duck Stamp Competitions or a very detailed work for a commissioned piece. Just do something different to break the boredom! Plein Aire painting will also liven an artist's techniques...try it. Okay, now I am ready to finish that Duck Stamp, or the individual hairs on a dog, or small tree limbs in a sunset. Also, after returning to an unfinished work after "loosening up"...you will always notice something that you did not while painting it...I promise.
One last comment that I would like to make about my feelings towards the art world...treat others as you want to be treated. Every artist was a child at one time, and had some form of encouragement to express themself in a medium. All artists have a mentor..fact. Inspiration...is vital to an artist. One of my mentors was Robert Woods which was well known for his "Four Seasons" landscapes. There are no secrets to my paintings, and if asked by ANYONE...I will be glad to show a technique, style, color mixture..whatever, whenever, and wherever. This is the way that I would want to be treated if I asked a fellow artist.."how did you do that?" If you have any questions..feel free to reply to this Blog.
Thank you,
Frank Baggett
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