ISM's

Realist, that's what most people see when they look at my work. They recognize the subject so it can't be abstract in all of it's forms. What bothers me is the need to attach an "ism" to it at all. Why do we care about the names, the labels, the words. When I look at a piece there are no words in my head at all. It effects me, that's it. A works effect on the observer is all there is. When we start in with the explanations and labels we have started using words again and they are only needed when the artwork is lacking. The piece itself should have already told you everything...without speaking a word.
As soon as I put my work in a category I make it harder to change. If I call myself a realist then how do I load shotgun shells with paint and blast away at a canvas when I want to... realist don't do that do they. No name is real artistic freedom. What kind of art do I do? Whatever is in me that wants to come out. Maybe I should call it Whateverisinmethatwantstocomeoutism and keep everybody happy.

Painting Water

Back when I lived on the water, I just had to mentally close my eyes and I could just see it. All I had to do was paint what was before me. It seems that I have been gone from the water too long. If you were going to represent the human form it would be logical that knowing something about anatomy would be step one. So it is with water. Now imagine drawing a human form that was constantly changing form. To paint water requires a knowledge somewhat like the Wayfinders of the South Pacific. You need to understand that the shape of it is not as random and unorganized as you would think. In fact, it is very organized. Each wave is there because it was caused to be there, shaped by an island that is a thousand miles away. Understanding the ocean swell, the wind driven wave and the ripples of the breeze is the mechanical understanding but the artist needs to feel it within as well. If you don't have it in you, how can you bring it out.
Of course now what color to put down. I guess most people are surprised to find how often water isn't "Blue". It is just a mirror that is both reflective and transparent at the same time. So, the color is just the colors of what is all around it. The more the mirror is bent the more we see of our surroundings in it. Light horizon or dark horizon depends on the weather above. I used to know this like a jazzman knows the scale. It is hard to understand how getting away from the water can cause so much rust.