Talking canvases

"Hatching a Charmed Life" by Kerry Steele

I have been doing a lot of painting lately, hence the lighter than usual blog posts. I have also spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to photograph my paintings. I am starting to hate my light hungry camera. In the photo above you can't even tell that there is a small amount of gold leaf and the grays vary far more than the photo shows.

I digress...

I was flipping through an art book and found these rather intriguing quotes by Van Gogh.

“Just slap anything on when you see a blank canvas staring you in the face like some imbecile. You don't know how paralyzing that is, that stare of a blank canvas is, which says to the painter, ‘You can't do a thing’. The canvas has an idiotic stare and mesmerizes some painters so much that they turn into idiots themselves. Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of `you can't' once and for all.”--Van Gogh

“If you hear a voice within you say „you cannot paint“, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”--Van Gogh

Apparently, one of the greatest artists ever, struggled with confidence. He also went crazy and cut off an ear but that won't stop me from finding a bit of reassurance in these quotes. I suppose they could really apply for anything new that you are timidly testing the waters on.

Figure 2 by Kerry Steele

So, wish me luck. I am sending two paintings out to the wolves for a regional juried show and two(maybe three) more open to a nationwide field of entrants.

Have a great weekend!