Outside Marianna

Outside Marianna, Florida

Tubac Trip painting No. 4

Oil on canvas, 10x10

I was listening to an interview of a California artist on NPR yesterday when I had a revelation.  

This artist does things like putting colored stickers over the faces of people in newspaper photos he has collected.  

He says that this makes viewers pay attention to what is going on in the photo, rather than paying attention to who is involved in the activity. 

I shut the piece off, and as I did, I realized that I am not at all interested in art whose impact depends on thinking and intellect. I am interested in art whose impact relies on the heart.  

That is all I am after. That is all I want. 

I want you to feel something when you look at my art. I want my paintings to stir something in your heart and in your soul. I want to bring you experience and emotion. That's all.  

 Here's my painting in the landscape

Dallas and Blyss the dog are headed to Tulsa, OK, for the national Dog Agility Trials. Dallas says that Blyss is a contender to win! They showed up while I was painting. 

 Here's the RV park where I spent the night

See? We could all live in Niceville! 

***

On a very sad note, Louisa McElwain, the painter who inspired me more than any other, has died, apparently by her own hand.  I never met her, but her paintings showed me how my heart could speak.  For that, I will be forever grateful. 

To see some of her work, click here.