The Art of Seeing.

I know a lot of artists, myself included, when creating an art piece will use imagery that has only come from their brain or an image in a book or online. Francis bacon is quite known for this, he didn’t like to socialise or sit and paint a person with them in the room, so he would use photographs.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with this, however in some ways I do feel it limits the painting. Maybe because the life likeness doesn’t feel quite right as you were looking at the 2d rather than the 3d or the experience with it feels uninteresting as there’s no story behind it.

But imagine if there was…

My new mode of practice is the art of seeing, as in real life with your own eyes. Take yourself out of your imaginary bubble for a second, look at an object, a real object, a cup maybe. Yes, it looks boring, but really look at it, the shape, the curves, the colour. Now use your imagination with that actual object, a colourful abstract painting maybe? Or a sculpture using the curves and lines like those in that cup? Suddenly your thought process and mode or working has been opened, anything in the real world can enrapture a thought, a sense, a creative idea.

Branch out, take it further, go outside. The whole world is constantly moving and so is your brain. Don’t limit yourself to imagery from photos. This mode of practice might take you somewhere new and exciting, you might be looking at a flower outside and see a fascinating Insect that you’ve never seen before, that might inspire you in new ways and add an element of background to your art.