I’m a marketing consultant with no ambitions to delve into art in a serious capacity, yet taking the time to paint is important to me. So much so that not only am I taking watercolor courses. I also started Toronto Plein Air, a painting group that’s open to the public on facebook. The painting on the left is my most recent attempt (watercolor on black arches of tulips and vegetables).So why do I paint?
Just like going to the gym keeps my head clear and my body strong, painting strengthens the creative parts of my brain. Creative tasks of all kinds become less daunting and I naturally engage my artistic side at all times. I’m a big believer that whether you have an obvious talent or not, everyone needs the opportunity to flex those creative muscles.
Repeatedly and successfully conquering that blank canvas is a most empowering feeling. It makes any task seem manageable.
I don’t really see painting as a way of admiring the beauty around me but rather as an exercise in studying what’s really there, carefully and thoughtfully, without judgement. Need I elaborate on why that might be a good thing to do over and over again?
Watercolors, the least forgiving of all, are my preferred medium. Yet time and again, I find myself turning things around, if I don’t like something I’ve done, or going in a direction I didn’t expect. It’s an empowering exercise that teaches me to stay open while maintaining awareness that I still have some level of control.
Even though it’s a solitary act, painting isn’t just about me. It’s a way of connecting with others and, despite how like minded we may appear to be, appreciating how each and every one of us has an entirely unique vision of the very same thing. That’s not only ok. It’s pretty interesting, don’t you think?
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