We
painters have a blessing to do work which gives us joy. Most others
who follow professions of different kind, though earning lot more
money, still envy us. They look upon us as some exalted beings. We see awe in
their eyes when they see landscapes we make. In an exhibition we come
across a plethora of fans, both genuine enthusiastic and some polite.
This
brings us to a new topic. Reading the viewers responses. We landscape
painters exhibit paintings of scenes and landmarks. And it evokes
myrid responses. First
of recognition and it is followed by admiration about skill of the painter. The admission of frailty that we cannot paint like you
artists so we take photos. But unknowingly that kind of admiration is
a criticism of picture postcards. I have dwelt lot on it. So.....
Second kind of response comes when artist creates what is beyond imagination of a viewer. He
has seen that place and but is dazzled by uniqueness of the view and
method and creative depiction by the artist. We have discussed that too in length!
What
happens when the scene in the painting is not seen by the viewer in
person or say in pictures? If a painters goes to some wilderness? Or the most of the audience hasnt gone there?
Well, mostly, the overall type of locale is known. So there is an association
if not recollection. But are we advertising that place for tourists? And are we painting, say one more Himalayan hill station?
Many
a times painter himself is first time visitor. And being a sensitive
creature he is bound to be overwhelmed by the beauty of Mountains or valleys! It will grow
on him day by day. While a normal visitor will be 'done' with mountains in couple of hours after a few photos here and there, artist will always be thirsty for more... at least a real artist is supposed to be! And this blog deals with that kind of painters, you are aware by now!!! And that
awe and joy needs to be transmitted. For a painter each place will be
new and different . Each place will give a different pang. Not just
one more hill station for him!!!! And if he feels the heart racing.... that feel if there will be seen through.
One
of the reasons we landscape painters dont paint different work in
different place, is that we are many times tourists who also paint. We
search different places not to find the joy of search and exploring but
to find different subject. And off course different subject will make painting
different. But in that we get the response of first kind or we
advertise for tourism.
Do
we induce the viewer to go for the joy we felt? Or to visit to feel that
pang... the skipping of heart beat? Will the viewer rush there so he can also take some good snaps or will he admire the 'grace' you have?
Wonder.... that feeling we had in childhood, needs to be alive and kicking for a landscape painter to be creative. Unless we don't get awestruck we wont paint a work of art. Are we as enthusiastic as a bank officer going and reaching his office or we are joyous like a kid reaching sea shore?
For landscape
needs to be so dazzling, we need to search within....
