December 19th, 2015

Outside Your Comfort Zone...

"Battery Twist" - 36" x 36" - mixed media on canvas framed


This landscape I painted for a December art show was unusual for this artist. Personally, the close up view of life is what speaks to me as an artist so why paint a landscape? The gallery was looking for artwork that was themed for downtown St. John's, Newfoundland and after searching around downtown for an image I came upon this scene in the Battery - a small community at the base of Signal Hill. The community has the feeling of being secure in the Rock and also that it is sliding off the rock and heading towards the ocean. The narrow one lane roads are inviting but also leave the worry you may get stuck in there (never happened to me but I always think it).

Painting outside my comfort zone helps my art grow. It helps me see the world around me and reminds me of the colours I fell in love with as a child. Not just the brightly coloured houses of St. John's but the sky and rocks as well. It inspires me as well as unnerves me. As artists we want to stick with images that sell and are sought after, however, it is important to create past that. I want to paint at a micro image level, but sometimes it's good to look at the big picture as well. Step back, take it all in and paint the view :)