Sitting here and looking at a Mick McAndrews original piece
that has yet to find a permanent spot on the wall, I'm drawn back to last week's
Plein Air Festival on Solomons Island. Artists have the ability to portray the
world in ways that make us reflect on how we see the world. They have this
amazing ability to bring attention to aspects of our world that we overlook. A
scene might be simplified a little, drawing us to see the features we so
readily overlook. The watercolor with pen & ink can lighten the mood of a
building allowing us to view it in a new perspective. An oil painting using darker colors with
flecks of bright contrasts causes us to look again at the sunset or the bridge
in a fresh way. The artist gives us cause to ponder how each of us views the
world around us.
The artist helps us, if we're willing to slow down just a
little, to reflect on not only what we see and how we "see" it, but
also on how we feel about it. Art, whether it be painting, pastels, pen & ink,
or watercolor, all bring a sense of mood. The mood is of both the scene as it
existed at a point in time, and also of the creator of that piece and how he or
she felt while looking at it. That's a rather remarkable accomplishment when
you stop to think about it. As an
example, there were several artists that took aim at our iconic Thomas Johnson
(Solomons) Bridge, and each had a particular sense about it depending on style
and color choices. It really was quite fascinating to watch the variety of
impressions unfold. Some were playful, some intriguing but all told a story
through the lens of the artist and set a very different mood.
As a photographer, I found the whole experience very
educational and rewarding. I really enjoyed seeing how the diverse group
composed their works. The choice of view point, as in where to stand to view
the subject, applies directly to photography. So too, does how the work is framed.
In other words what else was in the 'picture' to provide context without detracting
from the main subject, and how much was in the foreground or background. Again,
this is all applicable to my photography. If I gain just a fraction of the
insights in this stellar group of creatives, my photography will definitely be
improved.
I also got a small taste of the scrutiny they face, and the
courage they have to put their work out in the public eye. I was looking at a
completed piece that was alongside some others when I could not help to hear a
conversation about the work nearby. The 'critic' was commenting how a portion
of the piece "had no relevance" to the rest of the effort and he was
very dismissive of it. I have no formal schooling or training in art - or
photography for that matter, so maybe he's speaking with a 'trained' eye. I
like some art more than others, some I am willing to purchase, others I can't
afford, and still others just don't move me very much. Still, I think it wiser
to simply acknowledge that a piece isn't your thing, without a strong need to
'prove' your opinion based on some observation. There are far more pressing
issues to have strong opinions on and debate them with 'facts.'
The Festival is now over, and I'm left wanting for more.
There is a certain sense of let down now, a sense of needing to remind myself
that it's easy to let the challenges of life blind us from the beauty around
us. Yesterday was such a day for me. Today was a new day and a good one. On our
drive along 301 on the eastern shore of Maryland and Delaware the views of
large farms, barns and harvesting equipment rolled on with the miles. It was
picturesque. It was serene, and I was reminded of the Plein Air Festival. I
wondered how the artists might capture the straw bales, the corn and the muted
colors of the view under the cloudy skies. How would it look in watercolor?
What slant and color would a pastel artist use? What were the features that
made this view so engaging? How would I frame it if I stopped for a photo? How
much detail would there be in an acrylic; how much left for imagination? What
mood would be captured in an oil painting?
In the end, I won't know how others might capture it. I
know it was beautiful and for a short time the world was a better place for how
the Plein Air artists have challenged me to look at the world.
I'm grateful.
Till next time,
Blessings,
Brian
