Why paint?

[Sue Charles]

This is not a facetious question; I am curious to know the many
reasons artists paint. What can paint do that computers, or
photography can't do? What is it about painting that compels you to
use it as your medium? Why paint in this age of technical wizardry,
when practically any image can be had with a click, and any image can
be altered to match your intent?

[salart]

I paint because nothing feels better than to create with my hands .
Looking at my subject is meditative and focusing. Losing myself in a
painting is "like running away without leaving home" (not my quote-
not sure who coined that one.)
I can never be good enough-there is always more to discocver- endles
approaches.
It is a lifelong passion .It has no on/off switch. Its better than
drugs.
When the muse visits the ride can last a long time-and at times even
can feel like the paintings are painting themselves,
I love to paint in my pajamas the best.
I can go on and on....

[Kelley MacDonald]

I paint because I see things that I want to share, and the written or
spoken language falls so short. A stroke of paint across a canvas, or
board, can say what I see better. I cannot imagine a better way to
spend time. It's inventive, yet serious. It's meditative, yet you
want the finished product to be seen. It's singing, in my best voice,
with my hands, and my eyes, and it doesn't disappear when I'm finished.

[Mary Felton]

I draw because I am inspired by the beautiful design all around us. Bright light, dark shadows, texture and form. For all the detail that people think they see in my work, what I've done is actually simplify everything to make it much bolder than it is and in fact more abstract so that the DESIGN of the shapes and values dominate. I like to think I take reality and "comb it's hair"! Make it a little "neater" and easier to see. And yes, I work from photos but if I felt they could say it all I wouldn't bother with all the real work! Basically I draw so I can say to the world : do you see what I see? And isn't just scrumptious?

 

--
MaryFelton.blogspot.com

[Patricia Isaac]

I paint because it is part of my being, a passion. I have to. Every day I see images that say "paint me", and I heed the call. It is a way of expressing what I feel about the image and sometimes that comes easily and sometimes I struggle with it.  I will never do all those wonderful images, but I am happy to keep at it and there is always more to learn...yes, you can get wonderful images from a computer, but for me they lack feeling and a piece of the artist's soul. I love being in my studio, no interruptions, just me and my paintings.
www.fineartbypatricia.com
http://newbypat.blogspot.com/

[salart]

I paint because I cant spell!( as I re-read my comment!)

[maryta...@gmail.com]

I don't paint but appreciate the desire too. To make up for my lack
of painterly skill I rely on other creative outlets like I rely on
oxygen. With each deep breathe I am grateful I was created to be the
clever girl I am. At the very least I amuse myself at the highest
good I inspire others to be their own creative self. Whatever it is
that runs through us, we are incredibly fortunate to have both the
opportunity and the clue that our creative selves are alive and well.

I don't agree with you that any image can be had with a click or
altered with a click. Sure technology is powerful and even with all
the wizardry it is only a means to an end, a tool in the tool box
like paint, canvas and brushes. The wood carver is no less an
artist if she uses a dremel tool facilitate the creative expression.
What technology does for us as a collective is allow more of us
opportunity for creative expression. If the painter paints because
the drive is to create or express the experience of being creative
then the tools one uses are not really important and the medium
shouldn't be the message.


My 10 cents worth:)

M

[Dana Harvey]

why not? --- On Sun, 11/8/09, Sue Charles <suecharl...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Stephen Eames]

I heard a story from Don Stone about Claud Monet. His last words to a
friend on the day he died were...
"Thank God I don't have to start another painting." :)

On Nov 8, 2009, at 8:28 AM, Sue Charles wrote:

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[alix_...@verizon.net]

Hi All,
I responded to this question before, but technology got in my way, and it didn't make its way around the blogosphere. Here it is again:
If we are painting to the purest of our abilities, we are describing things we cannot see. For example, I met a painter who had suffered a stroke. His first painting post stroke was the apple tree in his garden in full bloom. He was so proud of the painting and his recovery that he took the painting in to show his neurologist. "It's a painting of my apple tree," he said. The neurologist took one look at it and said,"You have painted a perfect painting of a brain stem!"
All the Best,
Alix White

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