Stylin, Painterly-like

by Cooper on 12/28/2009 11:09:23 AM1 Comment

Good morning,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a white December 28th in Jefferson, Iowa. My neighbor just walked past with their dog. At least I think so. I could see the top part of my neighbor and the top part of a leash leaning forward. I am assuming the bottom part of said neighbor, and leash/dog combo were also there, albeit hidden by the massive amounts of snow they were walking amidst. Yes, we have snow. Lot's of it. But that's not my subject today. Today we are on the subject of stylin. Let's be more specific: painting style.

Painting style. It's what the famous ones tell us we have to find before we can be famous. It's what we are told we can't learn, but must emerge from us when it's darn good and ready. Probably after we accomplish seven bazillion paintings. That means that supposedly after we are at it long enough, we'll hit our style. SURELY there must be a quicker, easier way?

I am reading a library book, courtesy of my favorite library---Iowa City Public. Title: Conversations In Paint, author: Charles Dunn. I am not very far into it, but already I know I will be finding a copy for the Cooper library. It's full of stuff I need to be reminded of regularly. Anyway, Mister Dunn speaks to the issue of painting style by refuting those who say personal painting style must emerge on it's own---if you paint long enough it will happen. Instead, Dunn points toward two painting "camps". Linear and painterly. Suggests look at many examples of each. Honestly determine which is most appealing. Go study there. You'll get to "your painting style" a lot faster. You might change your mind later, but you always get somewhere faster when you have a destination. Makes sense to me. (will I get sued for plagiarism if I show you a page from the book?---really I'm just doing an advertisment, so that you decide to go buy a copy) Here, look:

In a sidebar, Dunn includes words from Rex Brandt on painting style:

   Any artist's style has three elements:
     -his theory of vision
     -his philosophy or view of the world
     -his use of color

I think when you combine Brandt's words with Dunn's visuals, it's kind of like a good road map. To a place we all want to go. With speed. Happy travels!

Later, Cooper

1 Response to Stylin, Painterly-like

	Mary Connealy via karencooperpaintings.com	7 months ago
	In writing we call it 'voice'. Finding your voice. I think a lot of 'how to' books on writing AND painting are just people trying to put into words that which is hard to put into words but is sort of obvious. All the attempts to verbalize it are only marginally successful. I swear, one of these days, I'm going to write a book on writing and call it, "Your book must have a beginning, followed by a middle, after which must come the end." I expect to make millions. (hah!)

You Should Leave a Comment: