by Tara Bryan | Aug 15, 2015 | oil painting, painting, seascape, summer, Uncategorized |
I am joining Bob Brink, Di Dabinett, Jeanette Jobson, Po Chun Lau, Louise Markus, Mitzi Smyth, and Gerald Vaandering for Pouch Cove Open Studios on August 29th and 30th, noon to 5 p.m. It’s your chance to see what we are working on and talk to the artists about their work. I will have my artist’s books on display as well as a variety of paintings and prints. Have a look at the website here: http://www.pouchcoveopenstudios.comand come out for a visit at the end of the...
by Tara Bryan | Jul 2, 2014 | creative process, design, New work, oil painting, painting, process, progress, seascape, starting, update |
This painting is finished. The photograph I used as reference had an iceberg in it, and when I started painting, I intended to include the iceberg, but move it forward in the composition. I was focussed on the iceberg, although it was only a small part of the image. Hmmm. My struggle is almost always to stick with my “Less is More” philosophy, to pay attention to the image as it gets its own voice, and be willing to let go of my original plan. To find the perfect balance between what I think I’m doing and what the painting becomes. This painting doesn’t need the iceberg. The omission can be called Artistic License, but I don’t think it’s my decision. It’s looking at the painting and realizing it doesn’t need what I thought I wanted to include. I think the creative process flows like a river, and my job is to jump in and become part of the flow. Not to struggle to keep my head above water, but to submit to the current and be in the process, pay attention but be detached enough to hear when the painting says, “enough.” I think writers, musicians, golfers, chess players, salmon fishers, race car drivers and more find a similar groove when they do what they do well. Be attentive and adjust constantly but don’t grasp too tightly. Stay in the flow. Some days are better than others. There is always anxiety at the beginning, my brain telling me I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m not working fast enough, not sticking with the plan, or I could totally screw up. Lose a day’s (or...
by Tara Bryan | Jun 23, 2014 | icebergs, Newfoundland, oil painting, seascape |
The icebergs call. I look at the map every day and see them clustered along the north coast, and consider taking a day trip to look for photo opportunities. It’s sunny and I can’t paint in the morning with full sun blasting the wall of the studio, but the brushes and palette are clean, and I need to mix many blues, pale turquoise to deep blue violet, for the water in the 2 paintings up for completion. I have gone out a couple of times, and here is video from a side trip to Signal Hill and Cape Spear. You can see the people on the hill below to get a sense of scale. I had to be in town for an appointment, and decided to take a short drive to satisfy my curiosity, but mostly I am staying in the studio, looking at the photos posted on line, and hoping there will still be icebergs around when my work is done! A short video From Signal Hill...
FLATROCK, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA
Painter and Book Artist