Finding a Subject to Paint (My Way)
I just got back from a delightful, one day, open air art show called the Carleton Place Riverfront Artscape. Hosted by the CPG / Carleton Place Gallery, it featured 38 artists and live music under tents next to the Gallery and the Mississippi River.
My mind is whirling at such a great number of ways that artists chose their subject matter: from pets to flowers and dancers and so much more. The ones I was most familiar with were landscapes. It’s what I do. There are a myriad of ways to paint, but before one can begin, it helps to find a subject.
Landscapes are boring, you say. They can be. For me, the challenge of four very different seasons, the unpredictable weather and the rough northern topography is challenging enough. It would be nice to paint sea shores and mountainsides: I have painted both with limited success. It seems to me that it would take years living in those places to really get into the feeling.
So my choice is to stay close to home. I pack my easel, paintbox, canvas, sunscreen and tick spray and head out. Usually to a location that has been catching my attention recently. When I settle on a spot that shows promise, I first set my easel and backpack down. I look around to assess the light and determine where my centre of interest will focus. Finally I am satisfied with my choice.
Now I have a subject.
P.S. When I dip my brush into colour and make my first brush stroke, my mind shifts to right side thinking and I lose myself in the business of constructing a composition. The spell can extend for as much as an hour, broken only by the occasional step back to assess my progress. But that’s another story.
