Create a little Mystery
Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way maintains, “Mystery is at the heart of creativity” and certainly in my studio I always try to keep a little mystery lying around: it’s why I choose subjects, where a given painting is going and why something works out – or not.
“Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist” claimed René Magritte and Edgar Degas said: “A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people”
In fact all creativity needs a little mystery: why would anyone care about car design (cars all do much the same thing – move folks around) unless the feeling in the shape (brand aside) evokes more than just function.
I often recall a quote by Francis Bacon “The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery”, because “That which is apparent ends. That which is subtle is never-ending.” …Charlie Chaplin!
Ottawa School of Art Instructors Exhibition.
This year’s instructor’s exhibition for the ByWard campus (35 George Street) is scheduled to run from July 27 to August 27, 2023. The vernissage will be held on Thursday July 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
I will be participating – although my painting is not quite finished – yet!!
Summer Plein-air
The Plein-air season continues and I’m planning to get out most weeks, normally Wednesday or Thursday.
This Wednesday (5 July) it will be a return to Fletcher Wildlife Garden, walk in any direction from the parking and wonderful painting spots abound!
Email david@davidkearn.com and we’ll keep you informed on meet-up details each week, plus weather contingencies.
Up-to-date details and map: https://www.breakabrush.com/workshops/
Rationing Pink
The new Barbie film ‘required so much pink paint it contributed to worldwide shortage’.
Photos of Thomson’s The West Wind and The Jack Pine
France and I are working on a Tom Thomson writing project. In 2014 The West Wind was here in Ottawa, hanging right next to The Jack Pine. As I recall, I toured the exhibition with some of you. Unfortunately we did not take any photos and I have been kicking myself ever since. Should anybody have some snaps we would be interested in hearing from you david@davidkearn.com.
The Tyranny of Green
Some painters have talked about the “Tyranny of Green” and this perhaps more than anything is the summer plein-air painter´s challenge: to make a statement, create interest without being swamped by greenery. It’s everywhere: grass, hedgerows, bushes, trees, even garbage bins. For me, the key is twofold: paint things rather than colours, a bush, a tree they need to relate, however also be distinct. Perhaps most importantly is not think of green as a colour at all. It’s not. Only combinations of yellow and blue, toned and darkened with brown perhaps or washed out with white. Voilà! the problem is gone. No more “Green”!
Break-a-Brush!
David & France