Finding something new every time!

As landscape painters, when we are going on the spot, there are two types of painters we see. As said earlier, most of them, are planning in mind what they will paint after reaching, with previous knowledge or experience of the spot. And few will keep a clean slate or open mind and encounter the scene with fresh eyes. But both of them many times are faced with one giant question. What NEW I can paint here, which is not done before?

Now this 'done before' has two connotations. Never done by me or never done before by anybody??? the second question will fast coming to a stage where you wont find an answer. WHATEVER SUBJECT YOU WILL SEE HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE BY SOMEONE SOMEWHERE. YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT SOMEONE ELSE WILL POINT OUT!

The first question is trickier than first thought. You have not seen the whole world and it is not possible. Then you will always find unseen...unseen by you... places to paint. So you may say that this is not painted before. Is it so simple? If one goes deep inside ones self and even enter the memory, most of us paint the same thing again and again! We keep on repeating the same landscape with cosmetic changes. We keep on masticating. So finding something new isnt answered by looking for subjects or places. It is found inside .

It is said, that some artists have a different way of seeing. I paint 'different' kind of landscapes because I have a knack of seeing things differently. Well, there may be some sense in it but the truth is artist sees the way he paints. 

Let me elaborate further. Some people are fond of pretty pictures wherever they go. So they look for huts along the road below a tree. Or say bullock cart or a village well. They will not and cannot see a barren grassland or wide empty highways. They are fond of forests and old monuments. They may not see at modern buildings or shanties. I am giving samples which are most cliche. But the fact remains, artist will look for the subjects he fancies. It is not the other way round as it is said that artist paints the way he sees. But he looks for subjects the way he paints.

So wherever one goes, first step is not to repeat yourself. Be very ruthless to yourself. Challenge yourself. Broadly we find our niche in two modes. One is way of expression, be it style, angle of views or composition or technique. And second is subjects... windows, markets, railways, beaches, monuments or village scenes. In both catagories challenge yourself. Subjects when repeated are easier to be pointed out.... that we are stuck with subjects. But in ways of expression and style, it is more subtle. If you find that you have got this knack of using dark shades and painting 'light at the end of tunnel' feel, go for something else. Or you find that you have got into the habit of painting bold washes and skies...repeating it mechanically... wake up. And let me admit, this mistakes I myself have gone through... being stuck in one particular 'style' and 'angle of views'.

And there is another view on the 'change'. You may paint a 'speciality' subject of yours but then challange on technique and execution front. Rock formations...well look for different way to paint rocks. Windows and doors.... look for different angles. And if you have knack of 'seeing differntly' of composing differently, then challange yourself on subject front. Find different places which you only will be able to see the way you can.

Whenever you feel that I should paint this, then ask yourself, HAVE I DONE THIS BEFORE? Not this particular door or tree, but something similar? I dont need to tell you, that your inner voice will tell you the answer.

And finally, finding something that nobody has done before! Well, that is far difficult and requires 'divine providance' in many cases. And we easily delude ourselves on that.

Abstract artists are in more precarious position. At least we representational artists become aware of similarities but in abstract you see nearly all experimentation is 'seen before'. And I am not talking about repeataion by the same painter. All 'new' breakthroughs are blatantly comsetic. Some texture here, some shape there. But finally the overall visual leaves you with just one feeling...have seen this before!

So it is really a spark that flies out of fire and ignites a new flame. You keep challanging yourself, asking question.... and not repeat yourself. The 'individuality' of artist and his work should be in the 'feel' and 'experience' and not in technical virtuosity or uniqueness of subject or execution.

My master always told me that your work should not be so predictable that it itself becomes your signature.

What I understand now.... your each work should be a new experience with a feeling and acknowledgement that only you can give that experience!

Ask, ask, ask.... HAVE I DONE THIS BEFORE?