A new white canvas, full of promise, is quite like a breath of fresh air to an artist. To turn it over, slash through the protective packaging with the pointy end of a paintbrush and peel off the protective plastic releases the scent of wood and reveals an unblemished surface that will soon be covered by the artist’s inspiration.
My pallet or, rather, the paper plate I use as such, can be a masterpiece within itself. Every single color that goes into the finished product of the painting begins on the plate. Last year I painted a fall camping scene. My bright white plate was weighted down with heaps of yellow ochre and dull red, swirls of umber and sienna, and drops of dark green and golden orange. I blended the colors together to make mossy greens and shadowy browns. With these colors, I conjured up a dancing fire and strained hammock straps. I carved leaves with my pallet knife to give texture and depth and coaxed the burning wood to give way to ashes.
This scene in rich oils was a recreation of a strong visual memory of abundant autumn colors I had experienced myself. As my dad and I were backpacking and climbing a steep slope on a mountain, I turned around to look behind me and gasped at all the color and beauty I saw. The falling leaves and color-decked trees were the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. As we continued climbing the trail, I never lost my wonder. Huddled in my sleeping bag that night, I thought, “I can’t wait to paint this.”
This is a thought I have particularly often. As Frida Kahlo said, “I paint flowers so they will not die.” Many mornings morning as I drive to school, I watch the sun rise over patched roads and power lines, and I think, “There will never be another sunrise quite like this one. I wish I could paint this.” When a bright red cardinal perches on a nearby tree branch, I long to preserve its beauty and contemplate on what shades I would mix to match its feathers. I long to paint harvest moons, but also beauty created by man- unique architectural designs, old barns and girls with bold makeup. It has become a habit to find beauty and character in nearly everything I see, and to study the variations of color and shading. A flower is no longer merely red; it’s yellow mixed with cadmium, permanent rose and crimson, umber and white with intricate creases and highlights from the sun’s rays.
I have taken oil painting lessons since I was in fourth grade, after years of impatiently waiting to be of age. I no longer notice the way the strong scent of mineral spirits fills a room. I no longer stress when I wipe my hand across my face and leave behind a streak of magenta. It’s no wonder I find art in everything; all art students do.
Art teaches its students to be more mindful of beauty and to take time to study the natural world. Artists notice colors others may not (there is an abundant amount of purple in certain skin tones, and in distant mountains too). Like other students in the arts -musicians, dancers, writers - painters have the unique skill of creating something wonderful from nothingness.
The influence of art goes far beyond attentiveness. Art students are statistically more optimistic. My art teacher has ensured that her studio is a no-negativity zone. Students aren’t allowed to say we “can’t,” and we never make mistakes, only opportunities to make our work better. Art creations are a source of happiness and pride for painters. They present a chance to challenge ourselves and to try new techniques. Not only do we study the old masters, we imitate their work and learn new skills in the process. Painting is also a great form of relaxation. For a few hours each week, it is a relief to focus on nothing but the canvas in front of me.
Art has also given me the opportunity to meet new, talented people. Many people have come in and out of my class through the years, and I’ve also met other artists throughout the community. Once, I painted plein air at a friend’s flower gardens with some of the best local artists. Though we were all in the same place, it was an intriguing experience to watch the artists seat themselves around the yard and observe their different visions and styles emerge on their canvases.
Van Gogh once said, “The way to know life is to love many things.” One does not have to paint pictures to experience a full life and appreciate to the beauty around him/her. The important thing is finding a way to express oneself in a way that brings satisfaction. The more a person does this, the richer life can be. Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning and improving and creating and feeling.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” –Theodore Roosevelt
