I often get a laugh out of reading artist statements - all too
often they seem to be complete nonsense.
Although, when I think about putting on paper, or pixels, my
artist statement - laughing is the last thing that comes to mind.
As a fellow student summed it up best several years ago in a
watercolour class - “What if you don’t like your natural style?”
Yes, what indeed...
On only one occasion have I taken a second watercolour class
from the same teacher (with Heather Crout) at the beginning
of the first class-second time around she introduced me as
someone who paints “beautiful, delicate paintings”. This
surprised me at first but I recovered quickly enough to reply
“delicate yet manly”...
No, I am not fond of what my natural -
default - style is.
I would much prefer a looser more artistic
style... to the right is an example of what I
mean.
Hover over it to enlarge my painting based
on the pencil sketch of Roger de la
Frenaye by Pierre Colle (1921). This is
from the watercolour class at NSCAD in
2003. As usual I took so long to draw my pencil sketch that I
had only a couple of minutes to paint it.
There is a lot in this painting I like. Now if I could just do it on
purpose - and consistently.
As a long time draftsman (42 years as of 2019) I have always
struggled with the seeming opposites of a nicely done technical
drawing and the looser watercolour/pencil sketches I am
otherwise interested in. ... to be continued ...
Recently (OK - May, 2013), as I was about to go to sleep an
idea of how to mix the two occurred to me.
The recent batch of paintings that mix linear, draftsman like
pencil lines and looser watercolour paint are the result.
Whether this is what will be my “style” is something that
only time will tell...
Whether it will be my only style is doubtful - but again only
time will tell...
Whether this rambling discourse qualifies as an artist
statement is debatable - but I say it is.
eric bailey
Sept. 17, 2016
