My artist’s eye is quick to see what my friends and family often miss. I imagine you can relate! The artist’s eye never slumbers, never pauses. Throughout the day, all day long … its constantly searching…. for textures, colours, shapes, lines, patterns and tones.
Maybe that explains why some are just a wee bit tired at the day’s end, we’ve been very busy. Doing double duty!
Texture in Nature Photographs
I love the way the rocks and escarpments create textured craggy faces against the sky, and how different trees have such unique textures to their bark. Angophora with their cobalt violet skin and dimples, cedar with their maroon and burgundy scales, scribbly gums with the graffiti written all over their trunks. My friends and family generally, don’t really notice such things. But I’m always looking for “Painting” subjects and ideas!
I admit, I can become a little eager in such adventures.
Stepping too close to the water’s edge for a better shot. I ruined a nice pair of sneakers a few years ago when I was so elated at having found a hidden away small pond with live blooming water lilies! All so they could be used as reference material.
Inspiration Resources, Photographs
Hands on, take the time, lets get dirty – going for a walk, photos. These are the types of reference material that artists really benefit from. And their painting efforts suddenly have quantum leaps ahead.
I know its time consuming. Its messy.
The photos don’t turn out right. Its too cold out, its too hot out. My hip/back/knee hurts. There’s nowhere close by to go. I don’t want to have to go Alone. Yes indeed, its all of those!
BUT, If I do not get outside, go get a hands on ‘live view’ of my subject, How can I convey its truth? If I’m not familiar with its authentic spirit, its essence and feeling – then how can I paint it with conviction? With power? With emotion? With authenticity?
So, my hugging the trees, listening to the 12 types of birds, feeling the gentle caress of a warm breeze upon my face and the 20,000 photos I have accumulated…. oh dear, THAT Many!…. have indeed, filled my well. My own photographs, some are good some are Not … have provided me with the emotional connection and with inspiration.
Taking the photos allowed me to relax in nature and absorb and breathe in its true spirit.
Taking the photographs and painting they go “hand in hand” for me. Stirring within me the desire to … Imagine And Create.
A huge Thank You to all my viewers, sharers, readers and followers for all your lovely support and encouragements!!
You’ve given me a gift of 1300 Likes and 10,000 Views since the end of November 2014 when I began creating posts on the website!
Debi
debi riley 
Congratulations! Wonderful (and very true) post.
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Great stats. Do love your thoughts and photographs that illustrate what is seen through an artists eye. The last photograph is awesome – from colors to textures and energy.
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Thank you very much Mary!! I do love that wild sea foam – in beautiful cobalt teal 🙂
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Awesome right?
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Reblogged this on Jacob Russell's Magic Names and commented:
I need a camera so I can take pics of broken concrete, worn street pavement–for the series I’m working on. There not representational, but improvizations of the patterns and tonal variations I see. I have a few pen and inks on my blog. I do three sets: a pen & ink (and maybe watercolor), a woodcut, and an acrylic painting/mixed media. This photo of rocks is the kind of thing that captures my attention and makes me want to linger and explore with my eyes–which is what I hope viewers of my art will want to do with the pieces I make.
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Jacob, thank you ! I appreciate the reblog!! thank you for your comments, visiting and sharing, much appreciated 🙂 I’m not expert on cameras to really recommend the newest out there, I’ve got an older EOS 600D Canon. I used to have a Pentax before digital age, which I loved. I admire A LOT of Nikon images !
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Wonderful post. Your blog is always such a treat to visit. Congratulations on its great success and looking forward to what’s to come. Warmest wishes 🙂
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Thanks Andrew, I try to change it up to keep things … ‘interesting’ 🙂 I do appreciate your continuing to visit, follow, and comment very much. Thank you!
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Hi Debi, Such good news about your postings that so many enjoy. Thumbs Up! Leslie
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thank you Leslie, you have stuck with me working on the site, from the very sparse and rough beginning! Thank you my friend, Debi 🙂
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I was just thinking about this today, exactly what you conveyed in your statement here….. “BUT, If I do not get outside, go get a hands on ‘live view’ of my subject, How can I convey its truth? If I’m not familiar with its authentic spirit, its essence and feeling – then how can I paint it with conviction? With power? With emotion? With authenticity?” hello! thank you! I needed that confirmed deep in me….while out there painting, experiencing what I am painting and thinking……is there any other way than this? sure but it isn’t authentic! 🙂
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thank you …. once again my friend. and even though I often falter, and don’t quite reach my aspirations in my art works… they are, honest and real. its the only way I know how, to be. Margaret, I really glad to have such a simpatico in you ! 🙂
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