Evening Shadows watercolor and ink by Meera Rao
India Art Journal 2015
Sunday evenings the roads are relatively empty and I was fortunate to come across this scene on my daily walk. The beauty of this play of light and shadow will remain etched in my memory even if I may not have done justice to the original scenery.
I have realized over the years that, my vision is always ahead of what really ends up on the paper ! Here is a story from the book Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland : More often, though, fears rise in those entirely appropriate (and frequently recurring) moments when vision races ahead of execution. Consider the story of the young student – well, David Bayles, to be exact – who began piano studies with a Master. After a few months’ practice, David lamented to his teacher, “But I can hear the music so much better in my head than I can get out of my fingers.”
To which the Master replied, “What makes you think that ever changes?”
That’s why they’re called Masters. When he raised David’s discovery from an expression of self-doubt to a simple observation of reality, uncertainty became an asset. Lesson for the day: vision is always ahead of execution — and it should be. Vision, Uncertainty, and Knowledge of Materials are inevitabilities that all artists must acknowledge and learn from: vision is always ahead of execution, knowledge of materials is your contact with reality, and uncertainty is a virtue.
To quote Ira Glass about the 'gap' in taste and skill: It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.
So on to marching towards my 10,000 sketches......
Evening Shadows 5.5x8" watercolor and ink on 140 lb Strathmore visual Journal
9 comments:
Hi Meera,
Your post today is exactly what I needed to hear. I am learning to play the piano at age 64 and I find I can play better in my head than what comes through my fingers. Just like your story. But I will not give up trying. Sometimes all I need to do is play a few bars correctly and I am pleased enough for that day.
I love your shadows and I understand that feeling you get when you see a scene like that and you just have to try to recreate it on the paper to share with others. My vision often gets stuck between the memory of the scene and bringing it to life on the paper or canvas. I have many half finished works of art because they are stuck. Hopefully some day something will click and I will find the way to finish them in some way.
Always a pleasure to visit your blog. I wish you a beautiful day.
well, I can't add much to what Carol Blackburn has said - I echo her thoughts exactly.
I've been absent from Blogger for a while but always enjoy catching up with your lovely posts.
Carol, Thank you so very much! I am glad my thoughts expressed were helpful for you - we are all on our own personal journeys and it is always a great pleasure to share it,and find strength from each other :) Your comments always mean so much to me - thanks again!
Thank you,Sue, you are very kind! I find so much comfort and moral support from fellow artists like you and Carol - keeps me going for days :)
Beautiful painting! An inspiring post, too! Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)
Right now I am painting in my head! yes, I have lost my vision in one eye and this is what I needed to hear, thank you for the post and love the sketch! Congrats on reaching a landmark number Meera!
Dear Linda, Thank you very much for stopping by and leaving a comment -means a lot to me :)
Dear Padmaja, I am so sorry to hear of your loss of vision in one eye :( But I know you will continue to paint and share the beauty you always see around you. I am in awe of your outlook and wish you a speedy recovery!
Dear Meera, go on! Keep up to the goal. The posted sketch is lovely and difficult to handle shadow. I admire your great efforts and good result. I'll do it in my own sketch. Best wishes, Sadami
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