In keeping with the sprit of Tagore, who stated that” leisure and communion with nature is required for a healthy mind,” I am preparing for a week long vacation on the Oregon coast today, so will resume blogging on Monday.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
“Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.” ~ John Ruskin
Here is an image that demonstrates just how little detail is needed for the human mind to fill in the missing details. No one could mistake what is going on here despite the lack of visual information. In fact the lack of details adds to the image, making it more intimate and appealing to the senses. Such is the magic of art; well known by artists down through the ages.
Enjoy,
Tom
“Art is not a thing; it is a way.” ~ Elbert Green Hubbard
What, exactly does Hubbard mean? Art is a journey both for the artist and the art appreciator. The artist needs to constantly refine his ability to see and to improve his ability to express. The art patron must refine his vision to look beyond the surface of an image to the deeper meanings hiding there. So art is a journey for both; a way to insight and growth. There is also the journey for both beginning artist and patron to learn the differences between unremarkable and great art. It is however, an exciting, worthwhile and enjoyable pilgrimage.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” ~ Paul Strand
If you look at the body of my work, although eclectic and varied, you will see a common strand that runs through it; the desire to tell a story. The story can be epic or intimate, large or small. This image is a nice example of intimate. A little stream trickles through the underbrush, helping feed the thick moss growing on the rocks. A quiet setting, a quiet story, but one that tells of the hidden beauty present in the wonderful world we inhabit.
Enjoy,
Tom
“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” ~ Aaron Siskind
I find it so interesting I can discover so many quotes by other people that express exactly what I feel about my own work, even though my work may be and usually is very different than the quoter. The common thread, of course, is the approach to the work. Going for the feeling, expressing your vision, rather than just snapping technically correct images. If something has the power to move you, you can be sure that it will move others, as well.
Friday, February 19, 2010
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~Goethe
Ah! Our busy modern lives! How it tends to steal from us the beauty and marvels of the natural world that surrounds us. Most of us can’t afford monthly vacations to restore our inner balance and peace of mind. That’s where a “little music, a little poetry and a fine picture” can come in to play. To have these things in our daily lives and environments can enrich our lives immensely.
This image, captured on a late fall afternoon along the Deschutes river can bring this beauty into our lives on a daily basis, reminding us of the great beauty present in the world. The rushing waters, the color of the moss and plant life all work together to create a dynamic image, full of life and movement all within the peaceful setting of a woodland environment.
Enjoy,
Tom
“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” ~Matt Hardy
It’s what separates the artist from the ordinary person, as well. Seeing is all important, but then the artist must be able to compose what she sees in a way that reveals her vision to others, this, of course, requires the acquisition of technical skills and the ability to use them in one’s own unique way. In other words, it takes as much discipline, dedication and skill to become an artist as it does any other profession, more if you consider the necessity to develop the vision to see into the hidden nature of things. So, this relates to yesterdays quote as well, art is as serious a profession as any other, maybe more so, as it helps people to see the world, in and around them, with new and powerful insight.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
“Man will begin to recover the moment he takes art as seriously as physics, chemistry or money.” ~Ernst Levy
It’s always amazed and puzzled me that we judge past civilizations and cultures by the competency of their arts, yet undervalue it so greatly in modern society. Little does modern man understand how much is lost of this vast universe surrounding us when one has no poetry. Poetry and the arts today are considered somehow effeminate and weak, even though we now understand that the feminine is anything but weak. These were not the values of past civilizations, and I feel, expose a great weakness in our own. Science has it’s place for sure, but does little to elevate the human sprit present in every person.
This image captures an old, unused water tower in Portland, Oregon. There are several of these around town and I really should make an effort to capture them all, as they are interesting relics of the past. I love the way this one is lit by the weak late afternoon, winter sun.
Enjoy,
Tom
“If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera.” ~ Lewis Hine
True, but then they say that a picture is worth a thousand words! Story telling is one of the most fascinating, and to me, enjoyable aspects of photography and digital art. Without a story hidden within an image, it’s usually a quite boring proposition. I mean what’s the point, unless you are simply documenting something for insurance purposes, or some similar reason? Most of us want our images to be able to touch the viewer and to do that, we need to tell a story that draws the viewer in.
“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be.” ~Abraham Maslo
I have written quite a bit about creating images for others, however this quote reminds me that I work for myself first and foremost! If one does not work for oneself, the work will never be authentic. By working for oneself the artist is more likely to create work that others will be able to relate to and come to love. One puts ones best into what one truly loves.
This is an image that reminds me of a screen print, even though it started in camera. This treatment, of this particular image feels just right.
Enjoy,
Tom
