What I learned at a recent Plein Air Event:
I learned...
More about why diversity is so important to art. True diversity means having many deep and different connections. Spurring others on, encouraging them to be different. Daring yourself to be different!
Weather can be an added value, even when it's raining, there's beauty to be found.
Quick Painting under the town square gazebo during a spring rain storm.
There is great vulnerability and risk in sharing our art and thoughts with others, but there is also great reward when a real connection is made. The reward is worth the risk.
Gold frames make any Plein air art look good.
Ridgefield Oil 14 x 11
There is tremendous value in art, value that goes way beyond aesthetics. It’s the vision of the artist, connecting to people’s hearts, and souls, and not just their heads.
Social collaboration removes geographic barriers, and most everything that comes from those. Embrace it to extend and grow this learning community. Art transcends many barriers: geographic, social, ethnic, cultural. I don’t necessarily have to speak your language or live in your neighborhood to get your art.
If you're not a little nervous before “show time” you might not be pushing yourself far enough. Don't be afraid to ask for help or feedback. What is unclear to you may be visible to the crowd … and it may just be what we need to hear to improve our game. Also, freely give your 2 cents; chances are good it’s worth a lot more to someone else.
Opening Night reception at the Woodstock Art Center.
If you don't have the courage to try new stuff, don't expect new stuff to happen all by itself. It won’t. It needs you to take that essential risk. Dare to be new!
In a flurry of words, art and activity, trust your voice. Your words are a synapse, that when connected to another's art, becomes a shared resonance. This happened so many times these past few days.
It's not about follower-ship it's about fellowship.
And finally;
If you are a person who likes to get a little better each day...
If you like the idea of having a place to listen, observe, reflect, synthesize and share your insight...
If you believe the connections between words, art and the people behind them are real...
If you believe your perspective is strengthened by the perspective of others...
If you want a learning community that never stops growing, never stop asking questions...
... Then doing art and being a connected artist is your thing.
Be committed, model participation and never stop inviting others to join our art experience.
A question is also an invitation, don't you think? ;-)
Feel free to add your own insights below. All are welcome.
Thanks everyone for an amazingly creative Woodstock Plein Air art experience.
... Thanks Woodstock