I am gratified for the kind and enthusiastic words posted in the comments section and via e-mail in response to the mini-exhibition of my paintings. It is also a bit embarrassing because I know the extent of my own artistic talent. I don't want to appear cloyingly modest - but I can assure you it is not much. However, I have certainly become emboldened to put up some more of my art work on the blog in the future after a decent interval. I don't have a huge repertoire and some of the paintings are copies or near copies of published photographs in magazines such as the National Geographic which I made for good practice and interesting subject matter. I hesitate to publish them in a public forum without acknowledging the proper source, most of which I no longer remember except in a vague way. I suppose I can put some up by noting that they were "inspired" wholly or partially by sources other than my own imagination, particularly because some are very nice. I am going to use this post as a response to all the comments and some of Dean's questions. I don't know that I have anything terribly illuminating to say. And it is not a lack of confidence (which I possess in plenty) but a bit hypocritical to speak authoritatively on a subject in which I have limited expertise.
Although Dean kindly insists that my work is indeed "fine art," I have always been a sporadically inspired, moderately competent and wholly amateur artist. I am also quite lazy. The artistic "spirit" is way stronger than the "flesh." But as far back as I can remember, I always liked to draw. My mother had musical aspirations for me as a child. All efforts in that direction were frustrated by my inability to strike the right note and my mother at last admitted that I was blessed with a solid tin ear. Fortunately, my father noticed my much greater enthusiasm for the paintbox than the harmonium and enrolled me in art classes with notable New Delhi artist, Abani Sen (see here and here) when I was twelve years old. During my three years at his studio, I learnt pencil, charcoal and pastel drawings (some watercolor) and how to "look" at objects before putting them to paper. The most invaluable lesson was in learning to "draw" both from memory and live model. (Note to Jackson Pollock : If you can't draw, don't paint). Since I was the youngest member of his class,(all others were serious students training for professional art careers) Mr. Sen was incredibly kind and indulgent towards me. That was the only real stint of formal art training I was exposed to. Soon I had to quit due to increasing study load in high school and then college. I continued to participate in collective efforts in campus art throughout school and even a bit in college where as a science student, my access to the art scene was severely limited. The real dry period ensued after starting a job, getting married and having children although even then I continued to sketch and paint off and on.
As I told Sujatha, I am also a "social" artist. I do my best work in a studio setting when others are working at my elbow. Which is why the period between 1992 - 1998 in Omaha was specially productive. In 1992 I joined a group of amateur artists who gathered in the studio of a fairly well known Nebraska artist Joanie Furrrow, for weekly sessions of art and gabfest. Although most of my work progressed at home, the once a week give and take with my friends kept my creative fervor burning. I first seriously took up oil colors there. The years with Joanie were not strictly lessons. She left us alone to do our own thing but taught us many useful techniques and pointed out blatant errors. Which was great because Joanie's own tastes ran to lush gardens and pretty ladies and I prefer empty spaces, straight lines and sharp angles. Noting the difference in our proclivities, Joanie once quipped laughingly, "If Ruchira ever paints a tree, it is likely to be a dead one." I have not found a comparable milieu in Houston. There are either the highly professional studios geared to sales or very Mickey Mouse ones run by craft shops.
I cannot honestly say that any one artist has inspired or influenced my work in any concrete way. There is a whole host of geniuses whom I have wished I could emulate. Like most non-serious artists, I admire a very wide range of art and artists from all over the world and through the ages, but still end up doing my own personal dabbling at the easel. But as Anna noted in her comment, Joe was indeed on to something. If I were to ever set about consciously imitating just one single artist's style and substance, it would most probably be Edward Hopper - although the tennis scene is entirely my own creation !
Sujatha: Thanks for all the useful behind the scenes information. If indeed I do take up painting again, I will surely talk to you. As for prints, I sold several when I had a small exhibition. They were all photographic prints, matted and ready for framing. I have also gifted some to friends and family. I never want to part with the originals although a friend coaxed me into selling her one that she really, really wanted. What are giclee prints? Are they digital or on paper?
Coturnix: Thanks for your enthusiasm!
Devan: You are perfectly competent to talk about art - as we all are. I agree with you about blogger persona imprinting one's website. That is why I have to be a bit careful about not making Accidental Blogger too much about the blogger. But as long as George Bush rules, there is little danger of that.
Dean: I don't think I answered all your questions very well. Here is the last one. With oil paint, it is very difficult to decide when a picture is finished. The luscious and versatile medium is also very forgiving . It lets you cover up mistakes and go back and change things endlessly. As I said to you, my rule of thumb in deciding that a painting is done is when several members of the household start asking, "You are still working on that?"
Matt: I never doubt your sincerity - after all, I read your blog and as I said once, one of the prettiest colors in my paint box is Cerulean Blue. I am really relieved that you liked my paintings. Otherwise I would have been up for one of your withering "two word" reviews. As for a separate website for my paintings, that cannot be justified unless I start again and produce some fresh work. And how was Mother's Day?
Sondra: I will surely listen to your e-mail advice.
From the about.com website: the following links might give a clear idea about giclee prints and resources for getting them made:
http://painting.about.com/cs/printing/a/gilceeprints.htm
http://painting.about.com/z/js/o.htm?k=fine%20art%20prints&d=Fine%20Art%20Prints&r=http%3A//painting.about.com/cs/printing/a/gilceeprints.htm
Posted by: Sujatha | May 18, 2006 at 06:50 PM