Hello Friends,
I believe it is a priceless opportunity to be able to sit down with a talented individual and marvel with them at the works of art they have created. An artist knows when they have created something that is beautiful in form and shape, twist and turn, hue and tone. In their heart will be heard the words, "Behold, it is very good!" When that happens the sun shines a bit brighter, the sounds of the forest are inviting, the cool of the stream is refreshing, and all game pieces fall into place perfectly. If that sounds mythical .. it is! Artistic expression is just as different as the individuals who discover the inspiration of a secret moment.
The right eye is connected directly to the Artistic right side of the brain. It doesn't mean that an Artist doesn't use his mathematical, analytical, logical, realistic left brain .. in fact a good Artist will need to be able to exercise both sphere's in a complimentary way as they mold and shape order out of confusion.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with acrylic, oil, or watercolor .. when presented with a set of colors in fresh tubes of paint .. you will likely sit in stunned silence .. frustrated as you wonder what to do with these vibrant pigments. For an Artist it's always an experiment .. not knowing what the end result will actually be. As you learn your tools .. you will also learn how far you can push without making an unrecoverable mess. All good Artists know what that is .. whether it is a piece of pottery, sculpture, painting, photo, poetry, a novel, or a sheet of music. An Artist will draw from an emotional experience with life.
About thirty years ago I met a local artist, Bill Wells. Bill's interest is mainly in old buildings set in the spread of nature's beauty, plants, flowers, and people. As we all know the fruit of any tree will bear testimony to the quality of the tree. When we notice that the fruit is improving .. we must acknowledge that the tree has improved as well. How can the fruit be better than the tree?! Bill's artistic skill has improved over the years and it's a silent blessing for me to witness his craft unfold a vibrant treasure to be coveted over many years yet to unfold. Imagine when 500 to 1,000 years from now someone stands with wonder before such a piece and briefly joins the artist who has recorded some view of life so many years before.
Ever go to some great art museum and look at the historic pieces of several generations past .. and notice the style of clothing, type of food, general culture, and quiet messages speaking from the place of display? Tomorrow's great art is being fashioned by today's artists. Bill Wells is one of these artists.
Bill has put together a nice coffee table book of his art. It has glossy pages sometimes containing two paintings on a page. If you are looking for a nice gift that will keep on giving .. this is one. Not very expensive .. yet many hours of quiet entertainment.
To order a copy of the book .. send Bill an email.
billwellsart@yahoo.com or prlwells@sbcglobal.net
Bill writes, "I encourage my students to paint things they have seen or experienced in their life - things that hold some special meaning for them. In other words, the "magic" has to be there. I encourage all my fellow artists traveling on the road of life to press on, keep expressing. Art is a journey, not a destination."
See my interview with Bill Wells here:
I hope you like this blog and interview. Please share widely with your friends. You never know when your simple click to "like and share" will come before some young artist that needs the encouragement and insight I hope to continue to bring to everyone. This effort is a work-of-art itself as we all strive for excellence in passionate expression.
See ya next time,
~Magic Merwin.
